Academics
Students can’t stop talking about Furman University’s “beautiful campus” and “warm, but challenging, academic community.” This combination of brains and beauty is what makes Furman “an ideal choice” for four years. “Furman is about academic excellence through engaged learning,” says one undergrad. Expect to hear “engaged” used “ad nauseum” on campus, but students claim that such a term “truly describes the kind of personal education available” thanks to “small class sizes,” professors “who love to teach and enjoy getting to know their students,” and “numerous” academic and extracurricular opportunities. Furman’s science programs are “especially” challenging. Professors here are “very qualified (sometimes overqualified), passionate about what they teach, and are not easy graders.” That said, they’re “very willing to help their students.” Students praise the administration, which is “really accessible.” In the words of one undergrad, “They work with students to solve problems and genuinely care about making Furman a better school and not just a higher-ranking institution.” However, some students find that the administration can be “very conservative in their thinking about student on-campus social life.” Ultimately, while “Furman is not for the academically faint-of-heart,” there’s pride in knowing that “you’re receiving a great education that will help you after you graduate.”
Student Body
Many find that Furman is something of a “country club” when it comes to its student body, not just “because it is private and somewhat expensive,” but also because the “typical” student is “wealthy, white, conservative, and preppy.” Some find that “the majority of the student body is obsessed with being as ‘generic’ and ‘normal’ as possible, so that any student who does not fit the norm, be it due to a difference in religion or clothing style, will find it harder to fit in.” However, others have found that there’s more to the student body than first meets the eye. As one undergrad says, “The longer I stay at Furman, the more I realize that many students don’t fit the stereotype.” One thing that everyone seems to agree on is that everyone is “very accepting” and “very committed to their academic pursuits.” That said, some wouldn’t mind seeing the school “improve by attracting a more diverse student body, as well as lowering the cost of tuition.”
Campus Life
With so many students reporting that Furman’s campus is “absolutely gorgeous,” it’s a wonder they ever leave it. However, “the surrounding city of Greenville is great,” and its “thriving, small-town feel” brings in plenty of students on the weekends. Life at school is “busy, but so much fun.” Students here spend “a lot of time thinking about academics, classes, and their future,” but they also “invest a lot of time in their relationships with their friends.” The school’s “inclusive, close-knit community” is complemented with “lots of interesting things to do on campus, from music concerts to improv shows to sports games.” “Weeknights are mostly spent studying,” says one undergrad, which makes the library “a popular social spot.” However, once the weekend rolls around, students spend their nights “out on the town.” “There are tons of bars, restaurants, and clubs for people to go to” in Greenville. While the university “is not as crazy party-wise as larger schools,” students “can find a party if they want to.” Mostly though, students are happy to “meet up with friends for meals, coffee, or just to hang out.”
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