Furman University: Narrative Description

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FURMAN UNIVERSITY B-4

3300 Poinsett Hwy.
Greenville, SC 29613
Tel: (864)294-2000
Admissions: (864)294-2034
Fax: (864)294-3127
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.furman.edu/

Description:

Independent, comprehensive, coed. Awards bachelor's and master's degrees. Founded 1826. Setting: 750-acre suburban campus. Endowment: $277.2 million. Research spending 2003-04: $1.4 million. Educational spending 2003-04: $12,839 per student. Total enrollment: 3,359. Faculty: 257 (219 full-time, 38 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 12:1. 3,849 applied, 58% were admitted. 57% from top 10% of their high school class, 84% from top quarter, 98% from top half. 20 National Merit Scholars, 32 class presidents, 47 valedictorians, 176 student government officers. Full-time: 2,698 students, 56% women, 44% men. Part-time: 109 students, 53% women, 47% men. Students come from 45 states and territories, 24 other countries, 71% from out-of-state, 0.1% Native American, 1% Hispanic, 6% black, 2% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 1% international, 0% 25 or older, 91% live on campus, 1% transferred in. Retention: 90% of full-time freshmen returned the following year. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: social sciences and history; business/marketing; parks and recreation. Core. Calendar: 3-2-3. Services for LD students, advanced placement, accelerated degree program, self-designed majors, independent study, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, adult/continuing education programs, internships, graduate courses open to undergrads. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army.

Entrance Requirements:

Options: Peterson's Universal Application, Common Application, electronic application, early admission, early decision, international baccalaureate accepted. Required: essay, high school transcript, SAT or ACT. Recommended: minimum 3.0 high school GPA, 2 recommendations. Required for some: SAT Subject Tests, SAT II: Writing Test. Entrance: very difficult. Application deadlines: 1/15, 11/15 for early decision. Notification: 3/15, 12/1 for early decision. Preference given to children of alumni.

Costs Per Year:

Application fee: $40. Comprehensive fee: $30,680 includes full-time tuition ($23,968), mandatory fees ($440), and college room and board ($6272). College room only: $3488. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility. Part-time tuition: $749 per credit hour. Part-time tuition varies according to course load.

Collegiate Environment:

Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, marching band, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 130 open to all; national fraternities, national sororities; 30% of eligible men and 35% of eligible women are members. Most popular organizations: Collegiate Educational Service Corps, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Baptist Student Union, Student Activities Board, Furman Singers. Major annual events: Homecoming Spirit Competition, May Day-Play Day, Beach Weekend. Student services: health clinic, personal-psychological counseling. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, student patrols, late night transport-escort service, controlled dormitory access. 2,425 college housing spaces available; all were occupied in 2003-04. Freshmen guaranteed college housing. On-campus residence required through senior year. Options: coed, men-only, women-only housing available. James Buchanan Duke Library plus 2 others with 453,211 books, 811,000 microform titles, 2,052 serials, 5,644 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2003-04: $2.8 million. 340 computers available on campus for general student use. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment:

An industrial city, Greenville is in an important manufacturing region with very diverse industry. It is a metropolitan community that enjoys a temperate climate. Part-time employment is available. The city is served by air, rail and bus lines. Community facilities include a performing arts center, 16,000 seat arena, public library, art museum, YMCA, YWCA, 5 general and 1 children's hospital, and over 400 churches that represent major denominations. Local recreation includes several community theatre groups, lakes and rivers for water sports, mountains for hiking and camping, and most major sports, including golf and minor league baseball and hockey teams.

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