<p>GPA 4.0 (weighted)
SATs CR: 740 Math: 730 Writing: 620
SAT II's : US History:700 Biology(m): 710
Public school--CT
1/2 Japanese, 1/2 Croatian</p>
<p>AP US - Grade 10 -4 (only AP allowed to take and must take test to get in)
AP Bio - Grade 11 - 5
AP Govt - Grade 11 -3
AP Psych, Chem and English</p>
<p>All honors all years except language which has no honors, and calc this year</p>
<p>National Honor Society (12)
Honor Award (11)
Hospital Volunteer (11-12)
Volleyball (9-10)
Cross Country (11-12)
Track (10-12)
Tutor (12)
Peer Mentor (11-12)
Democratic Youth (10-12)
Young Life (9-12)
Church Youth Group (10-12)</p>
<p>Chances are always difficult to discuss, given the highly competitive pool you find applying to Furman or other selective institutions. However, your academic profile looks very strong. A few questions remain. What is your unweighted GPA? We calculate GPA for Furman Admissions based on that value. Furthermore, in rounding out your extracurricular profile, we hope to see something that you are truly committed to. If you were able to demonstrate that, you will receive a favorable outcome in March. Best of luck to you. I hope to see you at Furman in the fall.</p>
<p>My Daughter has applied to Furman and Davidson. She has good grades at an academically competitive school. SAT 2180. She paints well and has won some awards for her painting. She wants a good art program, but also rigorous academics and will double major. There is a reasonable chance that she will get in to both schools. (You never know, of course). Could people give their opinions about the differences- strengths and weaknesses of both schools?</p>
<p>We visited both. Ultimately, D chose to apply to Furman and not Davidson. It has to do with the fit for her, so I'm not really sure it translates. Her stats are not quite as good as your D's (but not bad, either.) The few little things she felt were - a much warmer reception at Furman. (It was raining the day we visited Davidson, and a lot of people cancelled. Maybe they were mad at us for not cancelling? They were all a bit distant and irritable. We were assigned students for everything - tour, interview, etc. I had to beg to talk to an adult.) Davidson was one of only two schools that seemed to look down their nose at the fact she went to the first three years of high school in Germany. Everywhere else they seemed intrigued by it, and considered it an interesting dimension to her application. At Davidson, everyone kept quoting the "work hard, play hard" mantra, which we took as a euphemism for tough classes/ get drunk. Furman is dry. That's a big difference. D is social, but not a party girl. Davidson gave us a lengthy explanation fo the honor code, but then showed us the special hall for substance-free freshmen. Further questioning found that underaged drinking is not a violation of their honor code, and is pretty common and "the college has no control over that." An interesting dichotomy. </p>
<p>Our guide at Davidson bragged about being one of the top admits academically (various awards) yet only got a B in one of her classes. And hers was the highest grade. That scared my D a bit, as she is a musician, which takes a fair amount of time, and was nervous about having to be so driven. She is a great student, but sees college as a chance to spread out a bit. She felt that Davidson was going to squeeze her, rather than expand her.</p>
<p>I don't mean to dump on Davidson. There was plenty to like, and D probably would have applied anyway, except she got tired of writing essays. Our impression of Davidson was that it was a great place especially for athletic scholars - and especially for sciences. The kids there seem proud of their school, and feel they're getting a great education. My D is not an athlete, and is interested in languages. Furman seemed to have more opportunities for her arts interests, and has a good reputation for languages. Interestingly, my D wasn't overwhelmed with Furman on her first visit, but after her second visit, kinda fell in love with the place.</p>
<p>I think both schools are very comparable. Small Southern LACs. Both about the same size, though I think Davidson is a bit smaller. I liked them both, but our son, though he liked Davidson, ended up not applying there and went to Furman instead. It did seem quiter than Furman. I also got the impression that the students were more serious at Davidson. We too heard the "work hard, play hard" mantra while there. Both Davidson and Furman are known for not having grade inflation. It is very tough to get an A at either school. The current president of Furman (Dr. Shi) is a Furman grad, but taught as a history prof at Davidson for many many years. Both schools have active sports programs. Davidson has a very hig % of students playing intercollegiate athletics. I got the impression that Frats and Eating houses were a bigger influence at Davidson, than the Frats/Sororites at Furman. I think in the end, you just gotta go with your feel. Tough choice. Both are great schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. We'll wait and see where she gets in, but your input is helpful. I have noted many schools have so called Honor Codes, but exclude certain behaviors from them. Therefore they contend that it isn't hypocrisy to have a strict honor code and turn your head to alcohol use on campus which is against the law (for <21 yr old) and against college policy since they define that as not being covered by the Honor Code. UVA, Wash & Lee have the same situation.
Once again, thanks for your input.</p>
<p>My D visited both & applied to both. She had planned on doing overnights at both next week during her winter break (we are from the north!). Unfortunately, Davidson does not do overnights after November (except in April) and Furman has finals next week. So ...</p>
<p>What is your feeling about the prospect of a northern girl feeling like she fits in at Furman? She liked what she saw when we visited, but she didn't spend any one-on-one time with students. She liked the fact that drinking isn't an integral part of campus life like it is at so many schools, and she really liked the many great social activities. My in-laws live in Augusta, GA, so we have family relatively nearby ... and my New England-raised cousin attended FU & liked it so well he stayed in the south. You'd swear he was a born & bred Alabama boy now!! I'm not stereotyping the south. I'm just trying to try to figure out if it MIGHT be tough for a girl to be an "outsider." </p>
<p>Also ... anyone here know stats needed for Lay scholarship? I am so surprised that it is awarded so late. If D is considered for it or any other large scholarship at Furman, the timing seems like it comes AFTER April 1. That's difficult timing! Of course, maybe we don't even need to worry about that ...</p>
<p>kelsmom, I would love to talk to you about all of your concern, especially about the Lay Scholarship. Feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:andrew.barnhill@furman.edu">andrew.barnhill@furman.edu</a> or send me a PM. Best wishes!</p>
<p>I visited both schools this year, and was much more impressed by Furman. During the information session at Davidson, the admissions officer was snobbish and unhelpful, seeming more intent on putting us (perspective students) on the spot and drilling us with questions than giving useful information about the school or otherwise selling its high points. Our tour was led by a student (who was much more friendly), but the rudeness of the admissions officer left a bad taste in my mouth. I suppose what was most unpleasant about it all was the fact that Davidson boasts that they are a school full of southern hospitality, and I can't think of a less accurate description of the man leading that info session.
On the other hand, my experience at Furman was amazing. The admissions officer I spoke with was friendly and helpful, and she did a wonderful job selling the school to me (twice, actually. She visited my school earlier in the year, and actually remembered me). The excitement she expressed during our meeting made me excited for the school as well. I was very impressed.
Anyways, I would highly recommend Furman to your daughter, particularly if she is interested in music, language, rigorous academics, and double majoring. Furman has an excellent (and very intense) music program, as well as excellent language (I sat in on a French class during my visit, and it was very good.) Of course, the academics in general are outstanding, and double majors are common and very doable.
I hope this helps you out. . . best of luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>kelsmom - Our tour guide was from New England. She was a senior, and seemed quite content with her four years in the south.</p>
<p>mauvais_vers - your experiences sound similar to ours. I'm glad to hear that about the French class. We've heard only good things about Furman's language program, but my D was concentrating on the music aspect both times we were there (sample lesson first time, audition second), so didn't get to see any language classes. She did sit in on a theory class, and the students were really friendly to her. She really likes the violin teacher, too.</p>
<p>(but that may have something to do with the fact that i'll be a student there in the fall. i've never visited davidson, but i've heard both schools are strikingly similar.)</p>
<p>one of the things i love about furman is that they're interested. furman's awesome at looking beyond a standardized test score and really trying to understand the applicant behind it. grades are definitely important, as furman is quite a prestigious university, but it's not all that's considered. i appreciate that admissions carefully considers the essays as well - it's a good way for an applicant to effectively and wholly communicate who they are, and furman realizes this. note: they really do read every single essay - really.</p>
<p>the music department - amazing. i'm getting a B.A. (at the very least) in vocal performance, and i am totally convinced that i picked an undergraduate program that will mold me into a more attentive, disciplined musician. the faculty is extraordinarily talented (see: tamara matthews), but they're still willing to sit down with you, have lunch, and just hang out (see: receptions after music auditions). i also sat in on one of emily gertsch's theory classes, and she's equally as impressive as her fellow faculty. she immediately recognized me as a prospective, introduced herself right away, gave me her e-mail address, and invited me to e-mail her anytime if i had questions about the music program at furman. the entire department is just...wow.</p>
<p>i just felt so incredibly comfortable at furman. at the risk of sounding trite (a risk i'm willing to take for my new alma mater!), the feeling of community in this university is intoxicating. on the day of my voice audition, i was just walking around campus, and i ran into a lady i had never met before. we sat down on a bench near the library and in front of some fountains, and just talked...and that was before she knew i was a prospective student. it gave me some awesome insight into the university: if a <em>professor</em> (she turned out to be mary grant, a spanish professor) was so friendly to a complete stranger, the rest of the institution must be just as incredibly welcoming. everything becomes personal, and furman just really...cares, if that makes sense. i feel so blessed to be going to such an outstanding university.</p>
<p>To first address the student about his "chances.' Your stats and ECs look good, but it will come down to the application as a whole, essays, etc. From your ECs, it seems like you will get along very well with many students if you wish to continue some of your activities in college.</p>
<p>I visited both Davidson and Furman, and chose not to apply to Davidson. It was too small for me, and seemed like kids studied, studied, and studied, with an occasional trip to the eating house. Furman, however, offered a perfect balance between academic excellence and an enjoyable social atmosphere. To second milady, Furman is very interested. My Admissions counselor was constanly reaching out to me and communicating with me. I felt like Furman wanted me. Davidson, on the other hand, would occasionally send a viewbook amongst those from local tech schools. </p>
<p>To address the northern student. I have yet to run into a student from the north who has any sort of dislike for the school. When asked why they attended, many of them say, "Because the south is nicer." </p>