Tips & Tricks For Your Application!

Hello! My name is Gracie Carroll, and I am a junior Communication Studies major and Visual Strategy minor from Aiken South Carolina. Recently, I’ve been thinking back to my college application process and how I ended up choosing Furman.

My Journey

When I was entering my senior of high school, I had no idea where I was going to end up going for college. I knew I wanted a smaller school that was relatively close to home. Keeping an open mind, I went to tons of college

fairs, took many campus visits, and scrolled through so many college websites I couldn’t even keep count.

It was so overwhelming, but I kept searching because I was so scared that I was going to fall behind in the process or skip over my potential dream university. Eventually, I decided that I need to take a step back, relax, and start narrowing things down.

I made an appointment with my high school advisor, and we went through what I was looking for in a university. I summarized my preferences in three ways to help cut down my list:

1. In-state

2. Small school

3. Something special

I chose Furman because it is just a two-hour drive from home, has less than 3000 students, and has so much to offer.  Furman’s “something special” is the landscape, the organizations, Greenville, the scholarships, the Furman Advantage, and more. When I took my accepted student campus tour, I knew that Furman was the place for me. The campus was beautiful, my tour guide was awesome, and I didn’t want to leave when it was over. I committed on the spot and my mom bought me a purple rain jacket from the bookstore, sealing the deal. I was so excited!

 

I continue to choose Furman because of the community, the academics, the opportunities for involvement, and all the doors that are opened for me here. I have met my best friends, made intentional connections with professors, and networked with successful alumni. I have joined clubs that have allowed me to develop leadership skills and learn so much about teamwork. I have found a community of people who I know will support me and who want me to succeed. I love Furman and cannot imagine myself anywhere else!

 

My Word of Advice

If you are struggling to make a decision about where you want to attend college, my advice to you is to just take a breath! Don’t stress, and ask for advice form a counselor or mentor if you need it. Keep an open mind and do your own research! Once you’ve complied a list, narrow down what exactly you are looking for and stick to that. This is what worked for me!

If you ever have any questions about life at Furman or about my college journey, I am here to help! You can email me at carrsa2@furman.edu and I will be happy to answer any questions.