<p>My D is considering applying to Furman along with several other schools in the area. Furman seems to be relatively unheralded compared to Wake Forest, Davidson, Vanderbilt. How does it compare academically?</p>
<p>And how would you rank and compare the sororities at Furman?</p>
<p>thanks a lot.</p>
<p>I am no expert on Furman but have visited with DS and done a little research. Wake and Vandy are much bigger and are hard to compare to a LAC like Furman. Davidson is much more difficult to get into and “ranks” higher (#9 compared to Furmans #40-something). That being said, Furman is by far the best school in SC. It has a wonderful reputation in this region and high acceptance rate into med schools. It has a beautiful campus and kids that I know that go there love it. Wonderful music program and good aid, both need-based and merit-based. Don’t know anything about the sororities. Good luck!</p>
<p>The comparisons mentioned by rom828 are correct. Furman is smaller and also ranks relatively lower, but still sufficiently. A lot of students that attend Furman applied to the schools you mentioned including me. From experience, students have chosen Furman due to aid as Wake Forest has a reputation for not being financially generous particularly in comparison to Furman. Vanderbilt is a lot bigger and the social scene is stressed more- meaning greek life is more apparent. While furman doesn’t have the quantity of students involved in greek life, Furman’s greek life is comparatively open in the sense that whether or not you are in a frat or sorority events and gatherings are typically open. Davidson is a lot smaller than Furman and would be more difficult to get into. Davidson is another school a lot of students here seemed to have had on there list as a top choice and did not attend for what ever reason- money, wait listed or simply did not get in.</p>
<p>thanks very much for your responses. we also understand that FU has a high acceptance rate among law and medical schools. does a list exist for the schools (law/med) that FU grads are attending, by year, and how many FU attendees for each? past five years would be extremely useful. thanks.</p>
<p>We have twins who are now sophomores at Furman and looked at every school on your D’s list. Interestingly, the Admissions selectivity index for the 4 school per the Princeton Review are interesting: Vandy -99, Davidson-98, Furman-97 and Wake- 95. Each of the schools has a very different feel to it with Wake and Vandy being somewhat similar in size of undergraduate class and breadth and reputation of professional schools and graduate programs. Davidson, as mentioned by ATLS09 is much smaller, and a truly outstanding top 10 LAC. What our kids decided they like the most about Furmnan is the small, intimate class size and the professor availability/instruction/mentoring-which Davidson is ranked for. also. </p>
<p>Both kids ultimately chose not to apply to Davidson because of 2 friends of our family’s who attended/graduated from Davidson in early 2000’s. The work load at Davidson is unrelenting and both kids wanted the chance to have some social life. Ironically, they were both stunned at the amount of work and course rigor at Furman. Do not let the higher acceptance rate throw you off-Furman is known for students who “self-select” when applying to Furman. The university has a well-known reputation among medical and law schools for grade DEFLATION-so the lower GPA’s that many students earn are viewed more favorably than one would think in the grad. school admissions process. I will try to find the link that details acceptance rate for medical school and law school. I believe the total rate is in excess of 75% with the majority getting their first choice. </p>
<p>[Planning</a> & Institutional Research: Outcomes and Assessment<style>h3{display:none;}</style>:](<a href=“http://www.furman.edu/planning/OutcomesandAssessment.htm]Planning”>http://www.furman.edu/planning/OutcomesandAssessment.htm)</p>
<p>This link shows the past 8-9 years of matriculation to a variety of types of post-graudate work by major. The office of Institutional Research should be able ro provide numbers of students who get into school of their first choice and schools where they attend. For example we know 2 Furman grads who have attended Harvard Law.</p>
<p>Neither of our kids are in the Greek system, but they feel the sororityfraternity scene is fairly significant. Sororities have their own halls within the residence Hall structure so that “sisters” can live in the same area and somewhat get the feel of a “house” atmosphere. The majority of fraternities lost their off-campus housing last year to a number of neighboohood complaints/code violations, etc. The fraternities are looking for new hojses. </p>
<p>Finally, Dr. David Shi, the soon-to- be retiring President of Furman is an old Davidson professor and I believe an alum as well. Dr. Shi’s efforts to increase rigor, promote sustainability of the campus and his prominence as a writer have made a tremendous difference for Furman’s reputation. Furman was ranked the # 3 Up and Coming School in the nation this year, by I believe USNWR.</p>
<p>Georgiatwins, your response is very useful and heartening. my D really liked the FU culture when she visited recently for an overnight. Our take on Davidson is the same, although we think it is a great school. any other insights you would care to share would be valued. thanks for the comprehensive, thoughtful response.</p>
<p>As a current freshman at Furman, I did a lot of research about the selectivity of the school before I ultimately chose to apply here. Most of the other schools you listed–Davidson, Wake, and Vandy–were high on my list of schools when I first started visiting colleges. </p>
<p>Furman is not a big school, and does not have the old name prestige of some of the other schools listed. We haven’t made March Madness in a few years, and our football plays in D-IAA. We don’t have the big names that would garner national attention and we aren’t in a major media market. We have under 3,000 undergraduates.</p>
<p>What we do have is the academic rigour that graduate schools want to see. Our school is known for grade deflation, and professors here will push you like none other. The pre-med and pre-law tracks are both top-notch. Graduate school acceptance rates here are incredibly high. Two-thirds of Furman grads will get an advanced degree within five years. While the name recognition of Furman is not as high in the general populous as a Vandy or Wake, in academic circles it is extremely highly regarded.</p>
<p>The great part of Furman, for me, is that the small school atmosphere means that I can have personal relationships with my professors, who all know me by name. The attendance policies that most teachers have really force students to go to class. I haven’t missed a class here yet, as a result. All professors have office hours, and they are almost all willing to bend their schedules to fit yours. I have no problem stopping by to ask questions, and there are times when I run into my professors on campus. I see my political thought professor in the PAC (physical activities center) all the time, and usually stop to talk for a minute or two. They may be ruthless when it comes to grading, but they are incredibly accommodating when it comes to helping you learn why they gave you such low marks. The deflation also gives incentive to work continuously harder to achieve decent grades.</p>
<p>Because of the fact that Furman doesn’t have incredible name recognition, your D doesn’t have to be an all-star impeccable student to get in here. The admissions process is fair, and the selectivity of the school is high, but not astronomical.</p>
<p>As for the social scene, I’ve talked about that at some length in other posts, but I’ll summarize some key points. Greek life here is big. I would say that slightly under half of the campus is Greek. That said, there isn’t a Greek row. The sororities do not have houses, and most of the fraternities don’t right now either. This has led to a slight identity crisis for the organizations, as they no longer have a designated place to throw parties. Most events are either small and low-key, taking place in the on-campus North Village apartments or the off-campus Vinings, or take place at a club or bar downtown. The campus has delayed rush, and the rules for freshmen girls rushing are very strict. No freshmen girls can be in the same room as sorority members unless at least two sororities are present. Rush events are very highly coordinated, and official rush starts in November, ramping up in December. Bid day is in mid January. I’m rushing fraternities right now, and it’s great fun. For guys, the process is a whole lot more un-official and starts up almost as soon as school begins. </p>
<p>If you have any more questions, feel free to ask or PM me, and check out what I’ve written on some of the other postings for more info.</p>
<p>my oldest son is a Davidson graduate and my younger son is a freshman at Furman. I love both schools. Older son is more intellectual, and is now in medical school, and Davidson was a perfect fit for him. Younger son is more well-rounded, more athletic and Furman is a perfect fit for him. Academically, both are quite rigorous. Both are wonderful colleges.</p>
<p>Many thanks for the excellent information. </p>
<p>Additionally, it would be really helpful to get some insights regarding
<p>Good Questions:</p>
<p>1) Furman has a four-year residency requirement, that is very strict and only allows a few exceptions (each Fraternity is allowed four off campus brothers, some organizations can have a few people off campus, and obviously commuting students). Freshmen will be in one of a few residency halls–each with their own pluses and minuses. </p>
<p>Campus housing is divided in two. South housing is closer to the sports facilities and the PAC, and Lakeside housing is closer to the Arts building and auditorium, as well as the North Village apartments. Lakeside housing is interconnected, so each dorm building connects on the inside to the others. Some dorms have suite-style bathrooms, while others have hall bathrooms. Most rooms are of fairly average size, although the rooms in Blackwell, which is in South, are the smallest, and McGlothlin (also in South) are the largest. Almost all of the rooms have been renovated within the past few years and are in excellent shape. I live in Gambrell, which was the most recently renovated. The beds, desks, and chairs are all in great shape. </p>
<p>In June, incoming Freshmen receive a housing survey that has a few basic questions (What kind of music do you like? Do you smoke? Do you go to sleep before midnight? How neat are you?) and a place to put down dorm preferences. </p>
<p>Furman also has a program called Engaged Living, which I am currently in, which houses about 75 students in the Gambrell dorm. There are six seminar classes that participate in the program, and we’re given additional funding for it. Essentially, students in Engaged Living live with all the other people in their seminar class–at least for first semester. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the program, but I’ve enjoyed my experience with it thus far. Your D will get a mountain of info on it if she does choose to attend.</p>
<p>2) Medical care on campus is taken care of through the infirmary, which is open 24 hours a day and is in the middle of the campus. Serious emergencies are handled through the hospital system here in the Upstate, which is fairly good. I had a friend who had his clavicle shattered in a game of rugby, and he says that his medical care here was fairly good.</p>
<p>3) The culture here is somewhat country club-y, but it isn’t overwhelmingly so. Most upperclassmen dress up for class, but freshmen I’ve seen generally don’t. The campus is very religious for a LAC. I would guess that about half of the campus attends church regularly. Likewise, students here are, on the whole, conservative, but not as much as some sources would make you think. Regardless of your D’s niche, she will find a place here at Furman. If she is the preppy type, she will be in the visible majority. If not, she’ll find her own crowd to be with. Students here also tend to be fairly fit, and work out quite a bit. </p>
<p>The academic load here at Furman is a huge component of the culture. Furman students don’t have the time or desire to party on weeknights, and many don’t even on the weekends. There are always things to do on campus during the week–the CLP program ensures that–but there are not parties. Furman students work extremely hard. They have to. This isn’t an easy school. The general rule of thumb here is two hours of out of class work per hour in class. I’ve found that to be fairly accurate, and I’m a person who didn’t spend much time at all on homework in high school. The campus atmosphere is very conducive to getting work done. </p>
<p>Likewise, the biggest adjustment in coming to Furman is just how much work professors assign here. I haven’t had any problems living away from home (I’ve done it in the past, though), but the workload has been tough to adjust to. Time management is key. </p>
<p>4) Class sizes for freshman range from a max of 13 (in seminar classes) to 25 (in regular classes). Some classes have fewer than that. I have no classes with over 22 students. I don’t think any classes have more than 25 or so slots. Almost every professor here knows almost everyone of their students’ names. There are very few exceptions. The small classes are fantastic for a number of reasons, and there is discussion in all of my classes. Even in a calculus class, there is discussion, questions, and a give and take between the professors and students (Side note: if your D takes calculus, tell her to take Dr. Woodard. I have never been good at math, and don’t particularly care for it, but Dr. Woodard is one of my favorite teachers, and this is one of my favorite classes). Teachers all have assigned office hours, and have no problem emailing students to let them know they need to stop by, or simply letting them know after class. Most of the time, they are very easy to reach, and very willing to help.</p>
<p>woody, many thanks for the insights, and especially for your candor. just a couple of followup questions if you have time:
<p>Good questions. </p>
<p>1) There are a number of options offered to freshman for housing, of which I listed a few above. Two of the freshman dorms are suite style (Judson and Haynesworth)–two adjacent double rooms share one bathroom, and the rest are hall bathroom style. There are a limited number of single rooms offered. Some students in single rooms are part of the hall community and some keep very much to themselves. I would say that it’s part of the college experience to have a roommate, but it’s easy to be in a single and part of the community. Furman does not have triples for freshmen, although there are a few for upperclassmen, and the on campus apartments are four to an apartment.</p>
<p>2) I’ve had a good opportunity to spend time with a good number of the different sororities. It is difficult to condense down into a few short words the personalities of very diverse groups of women, so I won’t go in to too much detail going over each individual sorority in-depth as my opinion will differ greatly from others. Your D will have to come here to get her own sense of the different sororities. There is great diversity in the sense that the sororities here range from the traditional southern belle-type sorority, to the very religious and non-partying sororities. There is also greek life for music majors, as well. I hate to put out my own opinions on the sororities without letting people see for themselves. I will say, however, that there is a greek organization on campus for just about everyone. When your D arrives on campus in the fall, she’ll have a whole semester to get adjusted to college life and get a chance to get a feel for the different sororites and to see which one would fit her best.</p>
<p>3) Furman does not have a formal honor code currently, however, a vote was put to establish a campus creed that would have the effect of formalizing Furman’s commitment to academic integrity and honesty. I believe the measure passed, although I haven’t heard anything about it since I voted on the measure about a month ago. I happen to think that an honor code would be good to have, although I think that Furman is, on the whole, much more honest campus than many. That said, exams are proctored.</p>
<p>Thanks all for taking time to provide such thoughtful responses. Furman has certianly made impressive advances under its soon-to-retire president. Has a replacement been announced, along with his/her intentions? Also, what are the avg stats (GPA, SAT/ACT, etc) to qualify for serious consideration for the Achievement Scholarship?</p>
<p>There is currently a Presidential Search Committee that is vetting and preparing a list of final candidates to become the next President of Furman. I do not believe there is a specific timeline on when the pick will be announced, but it should be sometime in the spring. I can’t comment on the nature of the next President, but I can say that they are looking for a president who can build upon the achievements of Dr. Shi in the academic area, as well as one who will continue Furman’s commitment to sustainability.</p>
<p>As for the scholarship, I can’t comment on the specific requirements, but I don’t believe that there are set criteria for it. I received a fairly sizeable achievement scholarship. My HS stats were about a 3.4uw/4.0w GPA, 2150 SAT, number of ECs, AP National Scholar, and I went to a very competitive public. A lot of these “merit” scholarship programs are really upper-middle-class scholarship programs more than anything else, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Furman uses the achievement scholarships in this regard. The nice part about the achievement scholarships is that all students are automatically entered into the running for them and there’s no additional application to fill out.</p>
<p>As a much older Furman graduate, I can attest to the fact that many Furman grads are high achievers in graduate schools. Furman has world class Chem and Psych depts with tracks to grad schools if you can complete the programs. The science facilities are new and world class. The Poli Sci Dept has graduated many winners of major graduate school pathways on scholarships. There are several well developed study abroad programs. Among my friends are professors at three universities, an Episcopalian Bishop, several doctors and many lawyers, journalists, novelists and clinical psychologists. The close contact with a very supportive (but demanding) faculty results in opportunities for meaningful mentorships in undergrad school and great personal sponsorship of students’ graduate school dreams by the faculty. </p>
<p>I agree that Furman students tend to self select or be there to take the generous merit and need aid. There is less emphasis on party/alcohol in the still dry campus…parties are off campus by and large. Furman students tend to be extremely friendly and sincere. </p>
<p>That said, the admissions committee would like to attract students from other corners of the USA and other regions and backgrounds in higher numbers. </p>
<p>My classmates went straight to Northwestern Music, Harvard Law, Harvard Med, Vanderbilt Law, University of Chicago (chem), Stanford (chem), Univ of VA Law, the CIA, Emory, many to Univ of Ga grad schools due to lots of Atlantans on campus, many to the Medical College Schools of Med and Dentistry in Charleston.</p>
<p>Furman is easier to get into than Davidson but similar rigor exists in many departments and prep for graduate school is excellent. I love Davidson but think Furman’s campus is stunning if you want a lively and accessible New South city to enjoy like Greenville (soooo much more chic now than in my era) plus the glories of the NC mountains and foothills only 30-45 minutes north in the Brevard/Pisgah/Asheville area for your weekend playground.</p>
<p>Furman’s strongest suit, besides the gorgeous outdoors and weather and mountains nearby…is the warm and supportive faculty/student classroom dynamic. Not coddling by any means, but still there is something more supportive and visionary about what teachers want to mean to students at Furman than at some colleges where classrooms are more impersonal.</p>