Warning to high school seniors

I am a current student at Furman university, and am transferring next year. I was allured to Furman by its beauty and small school environment. However, as a freshman, I was SHOCKED at the loneliness I experienced at Furman. With second semester rush, it is impossible to make friends first semester. You hang out with only girls on your hall, and hear about few events. Even after being initiated into a sorority there are little opportunities to go out. Everyone goes to the same places, which are all of campus. Because of this, you always have to have a driver ( throw back to high school). I was bored after a few months because of the limited options and familiar crowd. Furman strictly enforces its alcohol policy, and it is near to impossible to drink on campus at all. Sorority functions are monitored by police, and fraternity houses have security walk through their parties randomly to check for underage drinking. In terms of education, I loved all of my classes and professors. However, skipping is not tolerated, and you are emailed after you skip 3 times. If you are not into the partying scene, there are even less opportunities for you to meet people, as greek life is central to Furmans campus. I have some great friends who truly love Furman. However, I wish I had been warned of these issues with Furman before my parents wrote a 50,000 dollar check.

Again, my daughter’s experience is nothing like yours. I’m not saying that your opinion isn’t valid, but I want others to know that your opinion doesn’t represent the norm. Also, do you think of “skipping is not tolerated” as a bad thing? I have a parental view admittedly, but I think of that as a positive!

“Furman strictly enforces it’s alcohol policy, and it is near to impossible to drink on campus at all”

If you are a freshman, I would guess you are 18 or 19. Of course the college is going to make it difficult for those under 21 to drink - it is illegal. And it is a huge liability for them. Already in SC alone there have been several deaths of college freshmen this year due to circumstances that involve alcohol or drugs. This is a tragedy, and I too have a parental view and am glad they take it seriously. I want students to have drivers rather than drinking and driving.

If you are 21 and live in North Village and the Vinings, alcohol is allowed. There is even a restaurant in campus that serves alcohol now.

Post #1 seems harsh. In my experiences at Furman, taking a few courses here and there during the school year and in the summer, and doing study abroad, the people and classes were fine.

Hmmm… Maybe you should have applied to your closest state “party school” and planned on flanking out the first semester, thereby saving your parents the cost of the next 3 1/2 years at an expensive private school. I hear McDonald’s Hamburger U is accepting applications.

@suremann Your answer is bit bit harsh and judgmental. Because a student feels lonely at a small school with a somewhat isolated campus doesn’t mean they have a future flipping burgers.

@Poliscimajor864 Some think the best place in the world to live is Manhattan while others prefer the countryside. One isn’t “best”. So good luck with your continuing college search. Sometimes it takes some time to figure out what it is which will make for a happy life. Fortunately, you are very young and have plenty of time to figure that out.

It sounds like you should be more outgoing and try to make more friends instead of just waiting for them to come to you. Furman has SO much to offer with a bunch a CLPs and different activities to be a part of. It may not be the right place for you but you should at least try everything the school has to offer. I wish you the best!

I mean this ^ in the nicest way possible!

My daughter’s school also has strict attendance policies in most of her classes. However since the polices are clearly stated in the syllabus, no email reminders are sent.