To give a general overview of the college, it is very disappointing and overrated.
Critical challenges facing Guilford College include the shrinking programs of Economics, the lack of a Statistics department, the failure of the school to develop relationships with area companies to promote job placement, and the monolithic student body.One of my major subjects, Economics, is suffering from limited interest and resources. Furthermore, student complaints against one instructor who is extremely talented appear to have succeeded in having the school decide not to invite him back. In this subject, classes are 'dumbed-down' to bolster GPAs. I blame the overall culture of the school that teaches young people that 'there are no real answers.' In most vocations and certainly Economics, there sure are correct and incorrect answers!
Tied to this is the lack of a strong statistics department. A natural pair to many subjects such as Economics, this addition could greatly improve the earnings ability of graduates. Instead, money is wasted on left wing endeavors and pointless 'anti-racism' workshops (activities that really just stoke racial tensions).
Another key point that an applicant must consider is that about 45% of the student body is comprised of adult (i.e., older than 23) students. Personally, I am a committed proponent of non-traditional education. Certainly, there are those who are older (myself included) who do study seriously and wish to learn. However, due to financial considerations, the school has apparently eliminated requirements beyond signing a form and a check that will not bounce. Worse yet, some teachers dramatically inflate the grades of some of the least qualified students. Sure, this maintains the enrollment count on the short run, but eventually parents are going to cease sending their children to an institution known for low standards.
While this is a challenging economy, to receive absolutely no support from the school in terms of job placement is disheartening. There are major companies just a mile or two from the college and yet the school has not developed a relationship with them.
There are good teachers, but there are more who are deeply opinionated and outwardly left-of-center. If you do not conform to their world view, you will probably not enjoy yourself here; your GPA will likely take a hit too.
If you are a Christian, Protestant or Catholic, you will find the campus less friendly than others. I cannot comment on things more specifically because I am not a traditional student and do not live on campus, but this anti-Christian culture permeates the classroom.
It is very hard for me to write this because I have stuck with the school after being accepted to an Ivy League university (personal reasons helped keep me here). I want to see Guilford do well, but it should take a page from Elon's book to turn around the downward trend. Recruiting hippies with wealthy parents or those willing to take out major loans might work for a while, but eventually the school will need an alumni network that is strong and willing to support the school. Though I am generalizing here, the student body does not apply itself and since so much of the coursework is academic politics, there is even less of an incentive to do real work.I would recommend that parents look elsewhere for now. In its present condition, I would not even think about sending my children here.
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