Berry College

I decided to go to Berry College because I had heard that the teachers were excellent. This, however, was the ONLY positive thing I encountered at Berry. Teachers were in fact very caring, interested in their subject matter, and for the most part encouraged intellectual development. However, this was completely overshadowed by the overall campus environment. The school is incredibly conservative. It denied a gay rights club the right to exist, still does not have a sexual assault policy, and until recently told rape victims to sit down and "talk out feelings" with their attacker. The students are also closeminded, very unfriendly, and I had much difficulty finding my own "group" here. The administration is unbelieveably rude and unhelpful, with the exception of the people in the business office.I would discourage anyone from attending this school unless they plan to live off campus, which would enable them to avoid much of the university's ridiculous politics.

1st Year Female -- Class 2003

Campus Aesthetics: A+, Friendliness: D-

The campus is very beautiful. I can't think of a prettier place. For the most part, the students are friendly. Also for the most part, so are the staff. It is very challenging. It really does focus on the head, hands, and heart concept which it thrives upon. The strongest complaint is that they are very picky in regards to what classes they accept; moreso than the average university. They do not have an articulation agreement with any schools due to the arising problem of what they will accept and vice versa. All transfer English 102 work has to be evaluated by previous essays written at your previous college. It is then reviewed by a panel of the English department. To put it into perspective only 20% of students transferring English 102 work in this semester (fall 2003) received Berry's credit for that class. Berry has give or take a few on average 2000 students. I would estimate only 50 to 75 transfers. So out of the transfers only 20% were up to par with Berry's standards. If they deem your class as non-transferable you are required to enroll in Berry's English 102 (only at Berry) then next semester! Advice: Be very careful of the classes you take. Meet with your advisor regularly and make sure that the classes you are taking are definetly the classes you have to have! Also, you are required to attend cultural events in order to graduate (24 if you are here for 4 years and 12 if you are a two year transfer.) This is still my first semester here, (after being at a community college for 2 years)so I am still in the process of working out all of the kinks. I am from Alabama and commute daily, and seriously if I had been aware of everything before I made the commitment to come to Berry, I would have more than likely attended Auburn, UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) or any other highly accredited Business school. My major is in Finance and I believe I would have chosen a college which offered a Finance degree instead of a Business Administration degree with a concentration in Finance. Also, being that it is a private institution it is rather pricy compared to public universities ($15,600 a year just for tuition, nothing else included) Overall this comment is aimed toward the neutral standpoint. I am ok with where I am at right now; however, if I had known some of this stuff I believe I would have went to another institution.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2005

Useful Schoolwork: A+, University Resource Use/ spending: B