Overall, the Emory experience is a good one, albeit very interesting. Emory can be trying at times with its restrictive and sometimes uncooperative administration, cliques, and strange lack of diversity. It can also be very rewarding, with great teachers and classes and a fun, lively city to explore. In evaluating an entire Emory experience, most students note the exceptional education they are receiving from world-class professors. Many also note that they considered transferring once or twice. Like any school, you’ll find great teachers and great friends, you just have to do your research and not settle for what seems easiest.
Many students initially wonder if another school would be better for them, a feeling freshmen experience everywhere. Adapting to a new city, a new school, and new people can be tough. Emory’s student body, while an impressive selection of students, is truly a mixed bag: sometimes it takes continued effort to find the people that will become your lifelong friends.
Most find that, after four years here, they are glad to have stayed, at least for the friends they made and classes they enjoyed. Students are pleased to receive a diploma from such a great academic school, although it is quite expensive. The disappointment at the lack of school unity and community often fades as students focus on their degrees and Atlanta’s rich culture. Finding your niche is the most important thing to do to ensure a good four years, and trying to avoid the rampant Emory apathy is solid advice as well. Overall, the Emory students receive an amazing education on a beautiful campus in a fun city, and there’s a lot to be said for that.