Furman University Counselor Fly-In Feb 26-28, 2017 When I was invited to attend Furman University’s Counselor Fly-In at the end of February, I jumped at the chance to visit one of the country’s most popular southern schools for Liberal Arts in beautiful Greenville, South Carolina. When I arrived at the Greenville airport on Sunday evening, a smiling team of admissions counselors were waiting for me at baggage claim. Once a few other counselors arrived, we drove to downtown Greenville and each checked into the Westin Hotel. Later that evening, I and all 21 other College Counselors met in the lobby - between us, we represented all regions of the country, and 15 states in all. During dinner at Soby’s, a well-known Greenville restaurant near the hotel, we were able to meet each other and learn about each other’s schools, students, and college counseling programs. Like me, there were other counselors from small, private (and some, Christian) schools; other counselors were from large, public schools and charter schools. I’m still amazed at how some counselors help over 300 graduating seniors in a year. What a great reminder of how lucky I am to work at HLS! After dinner, we trickled back to the hotel to rest up for a busy Monday. Monday morning, we met for an Admissions Information Session, and a seasoned counselor gave us helpful information on the type of student Furman looks for in their admissions process. Academically, the university is rigorous with a great reputation in pre-health sciences and business, and other liberal arts programs. Furman is “test-optional,” which means they do not require students to report a standardized test score to be admitted to the university. According to the admissions team, if you view your score and feel excited - send it in! If you don’t think it reflects your success as a student, consider withholding that score on your application. One noteworthy tip our counselor shared is that although earning admission does not require a test score, it can be difficult to earn a selective merit scholarship without submitting a score. During this presentation, we also heard from a professor in pre-health who spoke about Furman’s partnership with GHS as well as the Director of Operations for The Riley Institute - a leadership program that helps broaden the perspective for students interested in Government, Politics, & Public Leadership, as they learn about issues in South Carolina. After the admissions meeting, we headed on a campus tour with student Admission Ambassadors - mine was from Louisville! Furman’s campus is lush and beautiful, and the campus walkways were full of students passing each other on foot. Students live on campus all 4 years - freshman and sophomores in dorms, and juniors and seniors in apartment-style buildings. As well, there are learning communities that exist for students with particular lifestyle interests, such as eco-friendly cabins where students learn about sustainable living. When our tour ended, we met Student Admissions Ambassadors at the dining hall. The dining hall was buzzing with activity - the students all seemed to be interacting with each other (few cell phones and headphones) and the “community” aspect of the school was evident. I ate lunch with two students - a senior accounting major, and a junior math major. Both had traveled extensively through Furman’s Study Away program (for both short and long, and domestic and

international opportunities.) Of specific interest to me was the junior math major, who had completed an internship with other Furman students at Disney to learn about the logistics of the amusement park’s ticketing, rides, lines, etc. Turns out, you DO use math in the real world! :) My two lunchmates were so nice and personable, but soon it was time for a run through of the James B. Duke Library (a standard college library, full of productive students on a Monday afternoon) and a mini tour of the Fine Arts department (for Art, Music, and Theater Arts) which I had pre-selected, in lieu of the athletic tour. The Fine Arts tour was of particular interest to me because of past HLS students who had applied (and been accepted) to the program. I was in awe of the resources available in just the building alone - a full music library, and individual performance rooms for students to practice their instruments. As well, we saw a full exhibits of a student’s art show using vintage household items (very creative!) and I walked through a class of photography students analyzing their assignments. We met a senior, double majoring in worship music and business. She described the accessibility of such a double major, thanks to the flexibility of each department and help from her academic advisor. She spoke highly of the enthusiasm of students to learn, and collaborate within her music program. The most fruitful part of my day was a Campus Partner Fair. In a “speed dating” style, I moved in order through over 10 tables to speak to representatives from various offices for 4 minutes each. The offices included Academic Advising, Undergraduate Research and Internships, Rinker Center for Study Away and International Education, Shucker Leadership Institute, Malone Career Center, Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection, Heller Service Corps, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and more! With tired feet (and a bag of materials to bring home) we had one last dinner at The Lazy Goat, another southern-style Greenville hotspot. Tuesday morning we were back at it! Breakfast at Mary’s Cottage allowed us to eat with more student ambassadors. The students sprinkled themselves in between us, and we were able to glean more information about the campus culture at Furman, as well as their plans for life after college. After we finished breakfast, they stood in a line and answered questions. I really enjoyed learning about Cultural Life Programs (CLP’s) - speakers and events outside of the classroom which student can choose; between 8 semesters, students must attend 32 CLP’s in all. (Here are upcoming CLP’s) After breakfast, we went to class! All 22 counselors were broken up in groups of 2-3 to attend classes. I attended “Labor and Economics” - something I did NOT take in my own undergraduate English program! As the professor reviewed a recent test with the students, though, the issue of minimum wage came up. A few students engaged in discussion, while others respectfully listened. I was surprised to see only three students with laptops. When I asked about this trend after class, the admissions team said most students at Furman still embrace the pen and paper method, for better understanding and less distraction.

After class, we went back to the Hartness Welcome Center for a very informative Q&A with Brad Pochard, Associate Vice President of Enrollment & Dean of Admission. Many counselors asked about a lack of diversity, which he said was a goal of the university and something they were conscious of in the admissions process. Financial Aid was also a major topic of discussion. As Furman works to decrease the gap in a family’s estimated family contribution and the cost of attendance, he said they currently meeting about 80% of financial need. My trip to Furman offered a refreshing dose of undergraduate energy; opportunities for growth and learning in a beautiful, sunny setting. I recommend Furman to HLS students who want a medium size student body in a southern town. Because students are not required to declare a major until Sophomore year, Furman could be a great fit for someone who would like to spend their first few years exploring various subjects. I highly encourage prospective applicants to apply early (Furman has an Early Admission deadline of November 1.) Check out these tips for more information on the admission process. Pictured: 1. A view of the fountain on campus 2. A statue of Charlie Peace - for whom a wing of the library was named. Below the bust is a box of props student can use to “dress” Mr. Peace, including these Mardi Gras beads 3. Visitors take campus tours in extended carts, driving by student guides and admissions counselors 4. The famous Bell Tower on Furman’s campus.