Guilford College
Reviews

The Green Friends School

Guilford is a small, unique, private school where an unusual bunch of students, young and old, gather to pursue a liberal arts education. The faculty and staff of Guilford are environmentally conscious - we have solar panels, recycling, toilets that use less water, and sometimes art exhibits that have to do with nature and recycling. The school is also somewhat different from the norm in its Quaker tradition and values, which are an integral part of the Guilford experience; even so, the religion of the school is not overly imposing (for those of us who are not Christian). Guilford also offers some very interesting classes, such as "Women in Modern Japan," "Explorations of Consciousness" and "Magic, Science and Religion."

Guilford can be summed up easily.

The professors are excellent, the classes are small, there are plenty of great places to eat, and the campus is very pretty and has its own forest you can explore.

But the student body is something to be desired. There are three types of people there. One is intelligent, but incredibly pretentious liberals who will happily lecture their professor (or whomever else) on the merits of their own opinions. The athletes, who make up a small demographic, and usually keep to themselves. They're the party, get trashed every night crowd. The biggest demographic are those with average intellect who happen to be very idealistic but more often than not will do absolutely nothing to achieve them other than post facebook statuses and muse about it during late night toke sessions in the woods.

They're all, for the most part, pretty nice. If you smoke or drink you'll make plenty of friends. Just like art, be a feminist, preach the merits of socialism, and anything else against the grain. These kids just want to feel special. And if you get caught drinking/smoking the punishment is usually pretty mild. Anything bigger, expect a few hundred dollar fine.

Mild?

For some reason this year they've been cracking down hard on our freshman class - like searching rooms when the hallways smell like weed. Even though Guilford has the three strike policy on drugs and underage drinking, which is way more lax than a lot if schools, it's still annoying that those apply to all four years and never reset. If you're not doing shady things though p-safe will most likely leave you alone. Plus if you want to smoke you really shouldn't in your room. Go to the woods, they never go in there. You just have to learn to be smart with your s--t.

Lots of Affilitations

There is a small market area in front of our school that has a few restaurants. Some of these places can be paid for with our own cash, or with cash that we can put on our student IDs, which can also be used as a credit card. There is also a supermarket and a couple of fast food places on the blocks right next to campus. The most popular place with students, is a cold sandwich shop that delivers until 3:00am. The next most visited place is a diner right across the campus that is open 24 hours a day.

The most convenient place though, is the supermarket, which is also open 24 hours.

not fantastic but good

there's a large range of all types of people from the skater, to the prep, to the athlete, etc. as well as those of all races and sexualities. i think most people could find what they're looking for - some just may have to look harder than others

Guilford Family.

Almost everyone in Guilford is friends with one another, they are all accepting of who and what you are. Also. there are no pressures on students to look or dress a particular way, for all we care you could show up in rags, we would still accept you. all in all, there is always a helping hand when it is needed.

Security enforces things when they...

Security enforces things when they really need to, but if you are polite and smart about it, you’ll be fine. Only kids who aren’t careful get in trouble.

It’s gotten a lot stricter.

It depends. If they see it, they...

It depends. If they see it, they stop it. If they smell it they definitely stop it. Mostly, if you’re chill, you probably won’t have too many problems.

If they don’t see it, you’re good.

If you’re careful, you likely...

If you’re careful, you likely won’t be caught.

It’s ridiculously strict this...

It’s ridiculously strict this year. Go conservative image. Rah Rah Rah.

If you act like a bloody moron,...

If you act like a bloody moron, you will get busted.

Security has been getting a lot...

Security has been getting a lot stricter about alcohol on campus. But as long as it’s not an open-keg party—and you’re not a moron—you’ll be fine.

If you’re stupid, then it’s...

If you’re stupid, then it’s strict. If not, security does not seem to care—as long as you’re over 20.

One thing I can say is, if you’re...

One thing I can say is, if you’re into that, it’s there. It will be there at any school you go to. But if you’re not, it’s also really easy to avoid. You can easily live an interesting and involved life at Guilford completely sober. You can also do pretty much the exact opposite.

Like any college, drugs happen....

Like any college, drugs happen. They happen here quite a bit, but nothing dangerous or super sketchy.

Lots of people do use drugs, but...

Lots of people do use drugs, but it’s not in your face.

There are a lot of drugs on campus...

There are a lot of drugs on campus if you want them, but you don’t have to.

I’ve seen at least one drunken...

I’ve seen at least one drunken idiot screw everything up this year. But it’s up to the students if they want to hang with that sort of crowd.

The drug scene is supposedly...

The drug scene is supposedly pretty big, but I haven’t personally run into it.

Weed is like kudzu at Guilford....

Weed is like kudzu at Guilford. It’s everywhere.

You can get involved or stay...

You can get involved or stay away—it’s your choice.

We have a reputation for being a...

We have a reputation for being a pothead school, but there are plenty of people who don’t enjoy smoking.

It is easy to be a part of it if...

It is easy to be a part of it if you want to, and pretty easy to ignore if that is your preference.