Definitely one of the best schools in the state. If I absolutely had to rank them all on the merit…read moreof their academics alone, I'd say #1 tied between Georgia Tech and Emory, #2 UGA, and #3 Georgia Southern.... followed by everywhere else. My sister attended both UGA and GSU though, and told me there was no difference in the quality of the education between them. The school is very progressive-thinking, and the professors tell it like it is, backed by solid science just like any top-notch university. What is different is the culture of these schools.
First off, I am from Statesboro, and initially loathed the idea of going to school in my hometown. I thought that it would be a repeat of high school in south georgia... basically just camo everywhere and a low quality education, and that would be it. I was completely wrong! Sure, there's still a tiny bit of camo (like 4% of students) and some good ol' boys and girls that are really closed-minded, racist, or bland (maybe 15%), but everyone else that goes here is basically the most awesome person that you will ever meet. Those are pretty good statistics, in my opinion. The people here will surprise you. If you never really found your niche anywhere else, my suggestion would be to come to Georgia Southern. The students here are really like family.
The campus is also absolutely stunning. 90% of the buildings are new construction and totally amazing. The technology here is top notch, in every field. The RAC is amazing, with tons of workout equipment, and gear that you can even rent and take with you! Eagle entertainment offers tons and tons of activities for the students, including de-stressers during exam time (ever wanted to pie someone in the face or smash up an old car?), concerts, food activities, and so much more.
GSU is also located in a quiet town that has a surprising amount of fun things to do and lots of jobs for students. The life in statesboro just can't be beat. The attitude is very much "work hard - play hard." GSU has a notorious party culture, sure, but what can we say? We're high achievers too. I had well above an A average when I graduated, and not for any lack of fun. That's because Georgia Southern is a school of balance. GSU students like to study their behinds off at Henderson library as much as they like relaxing by a pool with a drink in their hands, soaking up the sweet southern sun.
And parents rejoice! The laws will be changing in July of this year, prohibiting all persons under the age of 21 from entering any of the bars, and making it much more difficult for students to drink underage. GSU is also located in a dry county, meaning no liquor is available to be purchased in any store here... and the nearest place to get liquor? Well, it's nearly 45 minutes away - more than far enough to deter most students from going to get it.
As an alumni, I feel really confident saying that Georgia Southern is a special place in this world. It is a lot of fun compared to other colleges, which is something that you should want for yourself if you're considering going here, and for your child if you're a parent. The experiences I had here were once in a lifetime, and I would not trade them for going to any other school.
There is also something about Georgia Southern that brings students together in a way that I have never seen again anywhere else. Maybe it's because all of the freshmen are required to stay in the dorms together, maybe it's the traditions like FYE, first night out, the lantern walk, etc... we all know each other. We all have been through the same experiences. Eagles love each other, look for each other, and stand by each other when they see another eagle in need. It was a great source of pride for me to have found friends that would stand by my side through anything at this school, and those friendships have remained intact despite the fact that we graduated several years ago.
All-in-all, Georgia Southern is a wonderful school and I'm very proud that I went here for my undergraduate degree. Once an eagle, always an eagle!
