<p>We just got back from touring Furman (and a couple other schools). D feels like Furman may be her favorite of the trip, but wishes they had linguistics which she'd like to combine with neuroscience. It's a beautiful campus! The info session and walking tour guide were not so great, couldn't hear much of what the guide said (she talked FAST and spoke facing away from the group while walking lol), but we got see quite a bit of the campus and go in buildings, etc. Then they have a riding tour, where they take you around on golf carts to see some things that might be a bit far to walk (although, overall it seems a very walkable campus). he tours were very much preprogrammed, so if there is something very specific you want to see, you'd probably have to make arrangements in advance. Much was under construction since it is summer, and not many students on campus.<br>
What students are like is probably my biggest question about Furman right now, so we will probably need to head back when school is in session. The girls we saw (guides) seemed fairly 'girly, girl"...not extreme, but a bit...and I wonder how my non-religious, non-fashion label conscious, liberal, jeans and t-shirt wearing, D would fit in. I do think she'd love that it doesn't seem to be much of a party school (from what I have read).</p>
<p>One thing, I found odd...the campus has absolutely beautiful and expansive grounds, but the pool is indoors, in the back of the gym. It felt like it was in a basement. Definitely not inviting. You'd have to really want to swim for team practice or exercise, not a place to hang out by the pool. Our tour guide also said that, even though there are tennis courts, they are pretty much reserved for tennis team practice, so that was a bit disappointing.</p>
<p>My D is a rising Junior at Furman. She has found Furman to be an eclectic mix of students both religiously and socially. Her opinion is that Furman students relish in the diversity. She is involved in an interfaith student group where students of all persuasions including atheist, muslims, agnostics, Jews, Hindus etc… get together once a month for dinner and discuss world issues and how they can improve the world stage one day. (Not my college focus for sure.) It has been eye opening for her. </p>
<p>You are spot on about both the tennis and pool. Had the same thought myself but never heard of it being an issue for the students. </p>
<p>I would agree that Furman is not the party school. I think it is driven more from ambition then moral principles or anything like that. The rigor of study is heavy at Furman and I don’t think partying too much coincides with the volume of study required from Furman. </p>
<p>If your D is serious about Furman and getting a feel for the students is paramount then I would strongly suggest she schedule an overnight visit. My D did this and it was the deciding factor for her. She will get to meet many students by just hanging out in the dorms and will get a good sense of the atmosphere and what it will be really like. </p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>Totally agree with srockrae, because she and her daughter did a great job of due diligence in their search. the school is in a period of transition ( I believe for the better) with a search underway for a new president). The interim president is an excellent person and my understanding is some of the faculty would like to see him to stay permanently. We had twins who graduated in 2012-one of whom is employed working in a private equity environment and the other who is stringing together great internships, but still searching for her actual first job. I mention this, because now more than ever, I believe a college search, unless a student is set upon upon medical or dental school, needs to be knowledgeable about the success of the career placement program in the colleges they are looking at attending. Furman is not, primarily, a party school, though just slightly over half of the women and approaching that number of the men are members of Greek life. The idea that Furman is a Southern Baptist holdover is incorrect, and I totally agree with Sockrae. there are a fair number of girls who enjoy their LIlly clothes, etc. but just as many enjoy jeans and t-shirts. </p>
<p>The faculty at Furman are absolutely terrific, and are, in fact, quite liberal. Students find the coursework to be extremely rigorous and the admission rate for students into professional schools is very high. What I would encourage anyone to check out if looking at Furman is the amount of financial aid now given to students based upon merit versus need, and what the post graduate employment rate is for 2011-2013 students in full time jobs within their chosen careers. As much as I loved many things about the school, the career placement office has been a disappointment since junior year, On the other hand, the study abroad programs are exemplary. DD took two courses neuroscience and loved both. Be sure to check out those professors and classes.</p>
<p>I want to echo what srockrae and Georgiatwinshave said. Furman is much more diverse than may appear on the surface. I have a daughter who graduated in 2010 in Political Science. She is very liberal and very political. She just graduated from one of the most liberal law schools in the country, and wants to work as a public defender. While at Furman, though she was in a sorority, she was mostly a jeans and t-shirt girl, and shopped often at Goodwill and the thrift stores. My youngest daughter is a junior, Biology major planning to go to med school. Very different focus at Furman than her sister, but also quite liberal and not religious at all. She is also in a sorority, and more into clothes, but what she loves are the small classes, the ability to really get to know her professors, the ability to be involved in service work and leadership positions related to medicine. Her friends who are pre-med at the state universities with large classes and a large number of pre-meds haven’t had the opportunities or built the relationships with professors and the pre-med advisors that she has. I would definitely suggest an overnight visit and sit in on some classes.</p>
<p>Just wanted to chime in on your question/comments. Son is rising Sophomore from out of state, and has had the best year of his life! He absolutely adores Furman. Son plays some tennis/golf, but has never used the pool. There are other tennis courts on campus for rec purposes, and son played tennis frequently last spring with fraternity buddies. </p>
<p>As others have commented, it is a great idea for your student to spend the night in the dorm at those schools she is seriously considering. It was a the selling point for my student at Furman, and the deal-breaker at another under consideration. Son thought he wanted a large school, but sitting in on the smaller, interactive classes felt right to him.</p>
<p>Son is preppy dresser, but also can be a bit rock-and-roll-ish. He is non-religious, and quirky. However, there is room for this at Furman, which makes for a great match! </p>
<p>Best of luck as you go through the college search!</p>