Morehouse College

Date: Dec 07 2007
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I am a senior biology and international studies major and public health minor. As a pre-med biology student, Morehouse College's biology department provided wonderful preparation. However, I found the the introductory level physics and inorganic chemistry classes necessary for pre-med studens to possess insufficient content.

For those searching for research opportunites, multiple opportunities do exist, though possibly not in one's exact area of interest. One's best hope of acquiring a research position is through applying to the various research programs offered to freshmen, then applying to the other programs available to upperclassmen as one progresses. One can also pursue summer research internships with several other major research institutions, as Morehouse typically has a good relationship with them.

In regards to the International Studies program, I found the political science department under which the program resides to be understaffed due to insufficient funding. I also found the program director and main instructor in the program to be guilty of awarding grades in a biased fashion, grading diligent students harshly while permitting the majority of the class to be habitually absent, submit assignments late or not at all, and cheat on exams. However, the other professors in the program were very thorough and dedicated.

Despite some of the shortcomings of some of the professors such as that mentioned in the previous paragraph, the majority of the professors are truly dedicated to developing the students. As a result of this dedication, they are frequently available at multiple times outside of office hours. However, as a senior applying to medical school, I would also warn students that certain tasks such as acquiring letters of recommendation require reminding professors multiple times to the point of annoyance, so that they do not forget or submit the work late.

Campus security is also woefully understaffed and therefore undermanned, resulting in frequent criminal activity around the campus. However, I have not yet been involved in a criminal incident, and have found that simple prevention strategies such as being aware of one's surroundings have been effective.

While the faculty is largely supportive and dedicated, the school's administration is very inefficient and at times apathetic to the concerns of the student body. From personal experience, I have had to argue with adminstrators regarding F's accidentally placed on my transcript and I have had to resubmit portions of my graduation paperwork because it was apparently lost. Furthermore, a lot of the staff can be very rude and abrasive.

In retrospect, while Morehouse College has numerous issues that it needs to resolve, it still served as an institution that invests in its students with a personal dedication that few, if any, schools can replicate. Though many of the issues were very tiring, I also have to admit that the indolence demonstrated by some at the college, merely taught me to increase my discipline, resolve and creatively when pursuing a goal; a lesson that I am sure will prove beneficial in the future. I would therefore recommend Morehouse College to interested students, with the warning however that one must acknowledge the reality of the institution's positive and negative attributes rather than entering with idealistic delusions.