For Emory, I had the opportunity to interview Eleanor, who is so generous and took the time to write beautiful and extremely helpful responses to help students interested in Emory! Definitely check her responses out below! Thank you so much Eleanor!
How would you describe the weather at Emory? Does it frequently snow? What would advise students to bring when coming to Emory?
"Being in the south, Emory has beautiful weather during the academic year! The sun is almost always out and shining! In the summer, Atlanta becomes Hot-Lanta but many students are able to avoid this heat through study abroad or internships. It's a running joke that a single flake of snow may fall once every seven or so years so cold weather gear isn't necessary but a thicker jacket can occasionally come in handy on cooler days in December. This year there was a period of time in late winter/early spring where it rained non-stop for three weeks so make sure you pack an umbrella and rain boots!"
What makes Emory? So special to you? Was it your first choice and your dream school?
"I didn't have a first choice or dream school. I had a list of few schools that I liked and that I would be honored to attend at Emory was one of them. I love Emory because every here super kind and super hardworking. The professors here are extremely accessible, caring and helpful. I love the focus on academics and tradition. While we don't have a football and a school culture built around athletics, Emory has historical traditions such as secret societies. Our students are high achieving in the classroom and outside of it. Our pre-med, creative writing, business and many other programs have been known to produce some of the top leaders in their respective fields. The campus is located just outside of downtown Atlanta so we have access to the city while having the beautiful peace and quite of Druid Hills."
Would you say your classes are very rigorous and require work outside of school, or is it more laid back and you have time to go out and hang out with friends?
"I wouldn't say that Emory is 'easy'. It is ranked 21st in the United States by US News and World Report for its academic rigor among many other positive qualities. With that being said, students here love being challenged by the coursework. Everyone I've meet is hardworking and eager to learn. At the same time, we have extremely supportive, world-class professors that want to help students learn and succeed. There is definitely time to go out and hang out. The city of Atlanta and the surrounding areas are full of opportunities to explore- ranging from the High Museum of Art in Midtown, to Six Flags Over Georgia just outside of Atlanta, and Stone Mountain located 30 minutes away! Generally students will use their weekends and holiday breaks (if they're still on campus) to get the full Georgia experience."
What is your major and is it what you wanted to study since high school?
"I'm a Business major! I haven't decided what area in business yet but I am hoping that when I take financial accounting (a business prerequisite), I'll be able to narrow it down! For the longest time I thought I was going to study engineering since is a solid STEM field but after attending an entrepreneurship boot camp one summer during high school, I found a passion and interest in business and new it was the path for me! So, when I applied for colleges, I made sure to focus on schools that had a good undergraduate business school. Emory's Goizueta business school is known for the quality of business education provides and located in one of the best cities, Atlanta, for business internships and jobs!"
What is one thing you wished you did more research on before applying to colleges? Should students pay attention to how good the food is, whether the college is prestigious, or if it’s a good college for their major?
"One for the things I wished I did more research on for Emory is the Oxford campus. It's one of the ways to start your first two years at Emory and is known for the close bonds built between its students. For me, one of things I valued when researching colleges was visiting campuses and talking to students. I would ask myself questions like, "Can I see myself here as a student? Do I feel welcome here? Do students feel a sense of love for their school and what are the reasons for that?". I know this may be difficult in light of the pandemic, but I recommend that prospective students take part in virtual tours, online information sessions, and reach out to current students. While food and prestige may be important to some students, I hope there is a greater focus on "fit" and how a university can provide you resources to succeed in what you want to study/pursue as a career. Your school should be more than a name that gives you "clout". In the end, when applying to jobs and internships, your knowledge and capabilities play a greater role than what school you go to. The school you attend should be one that makes you feel at home and helps you develop skills to shine."