Berry College

Berry is not for everybody.
The faculty are wonderful. I had many engaging classes, even those that were not within my major. Even if I only had one of their classes either for a gen ed or something I took out of interest, they remembered my name and always asked how my course of study was going. The education I received was truly top-notch. I found work outside of Washington DC and feel that my education was superior compared to what my new friends received at places like the University of Maryland, the George Washington University, Virginia Tech, etc. But, you need to be prepared to write and think. You cannot just coast and expect a reward for a piece of paper. I was a history major and had three job offers before graduation in business and education. Outside the region because I knew how to construct a resume and leverage the skills I learned in my work experience (see below).

If you are not from the South, the student body is interesting. One third are from the Atlanta suburbs who are from progressive families originally from outside the area that recognize the value of liberal arts colleges. One third are wicked sheltered students that cannot think for themselves and are disrespectful about other students non-white protestant faith or their parent sent them there knowing they wouldn't be exposed to the vices found at state schools. The remaining third are a little bit of everything. I did make some of my most treasured friends here, but in general, if you don't fit in or make an effort to find a niche, you will be miserable. Dating is difficult. Many girls will expect you to want to put a ring on it. There is also a fairly large LGBT population on campus, despite the unwelcoming (although I believe it has improved some) atmosphere on campus. Yes, there is a large cross section of close-minded, almost outwardly racist students, but the faculty does a good job in cultivating an understanding of other cultures.

The work experience program is also what you make of it. I had a wonderful department with supervisors who "got it." They knew they could trust me with responsibility and gave me a lot of independence to work. I had "a real job" on campus and it motivated me to pursue a career in Higher Education. If you do not take initiative, nobody will hand it to you. Many of the students are entitled and do not know how to work, but like the idea of it (if that makes sense).

Athletics are great. If you are an athlete and have the opportunity to be a recruit, go for it. Many programs are nationally competitive, the coaches are excellent, and the teams are pretty well funded. It is not the Division I experience, but there is a fairly large cross-section of sports fans on campus.

It is not a party school, if you do not know where to look. Partially it is because a large cross-section of the student body are na?ve, but if you are into that kind of fun you can find it. Bar prices are cheap in Rome, especially compared to DC. You can do well after as well if you apply yourself. I have alumni friends in the DMV who work at the State Department and the FDA. Many others have found success at local firms in Atlanta and some of the best graduate school across the country. While I did not enjoy my entire experience at Berry, I had the opportunity to do some incredible things. While I did not necessarily value my Berry degree at graduation, I am proud of the school and the education I received there. It just took a couple of years.