Francis Marion University

FMU does a lot of promoting which makes them on paper seem like a very nice school. From the website to the application to pamphlets about the school everything seemed to match up and look great. Even visiting the campus went well, they showed the pretty campus and a "mock dorm" (they told us they all looked that way, not true) and said all the right things. It wasn't until freshman orientation that you can really seem the true colors of the school.

The campus is pretty and the education suffices for a basic liberal college. People are usually nice and the students are friendly.

Professors can go either way, typically they want to challenge their students but everyone comes across the horrible professors. I just ended up with three of the worst for my first semester, I guess thats just luck.

In terms of safety this campus is a joke. It’s a lot of talk about how much campus security does with little action. Campus police are too busy writing speeding tickets to take care of anything important happening across campus. I never truly feel safe around the city or the campus are would never walk on the campus at night without someone with me.

FMU and Florence are pretty boring with little to do unless you’re involved in Greek life. There is rarely something to do on campus and the city of Florence is pathetic. Most students go home for the weekends and the parking lots are practically empty after 1:00 on Fridays.

Dorm life with any school is pretty lame. The dorm they show you during a campus visit is about twice the size of 1/2 of the dorms. There's always something that needs to be fixed in the dorm (shower, leaking sink, air condition ext.) The dorms are always loud and disturbing when trying to sleep or study which gets old quick.

Overall I would not recommend this school to anyone unless they are familiar with the Florence area in which they would not be shock with the campus and town. Otherwise I got my hopes up and was highly disappointed with FMU

1st Year Female -- Class 2011

Campus Aesthetics: B-, Education Quality: F

I came to this school because I am an athlete and FMU was the only school who offered me a scholarship. At the beginning, I was excited about the opportunity to live in SC, then I discovered it is really a third World in the United States. Florence is the worst city I have ever seen and FMU seems to mirror that reality. Frankly, calling FMU a university is a farce. Academically, it is much lower than any high school I have seen. As for social life, there is no such a thing and don't ask about it. I gained over 20 pounds in a year because there is nothing to do. Now, after I read the positive postings here, I agree and I am convinced fmu's administration is involved and I have no doubts about it.

1st Year Female -- Class 2011

Education Quality: D-, Social Life: F