Meredith College

Date: Jul 26 2010
Major: Perfomance Arts (This Major's Salary over time)
After graduating, I realized just how stagnant and fractured the overall environment at Meredith really is. It's an old college that seriously needs some updating in its priorities; it's starting to crumble due to the lack of diversity on campus and the unbalanced way its gone about modernizing. Though there is a gigantic new eyesore of a track for our division III athletics, boys still can't be in dorms past a certain time, exploring life outside of campus influence is not greatly encouraged, and you're pretty much cut off from the student body if you don't participate in their traditions. Cornhuskin', formals, the overpriced ritual of getting your junior ring…all of it just wasn't welcoming to people like me who worked off campus throughout the semester and didn't want to join the campus-wide sorority attitude. The faculty really is the students best asset here - they helped me get full-time credit hours for my internships in big cities that gave me a big dose of reality. My best memories of my time at Meredith are of teachers and material I covered in their classes. On the flip side, there is a considerable amount of arrogance in the faculty and staff the students put up with because they know no better - that's just how it is. I wish I could have been more assertive in dealing with that when I was there, but I'm glad I recognize it now. As for quality of education, some majors are cutting edge with new buildings and top notch resources. These majors are traditionally "women's studies", like child development and teaching. If that's what you want to do, I would strongly suggest considering Meredith for school. Otherwise, take a hard look, visit, and ask questions to the faculty, staff, and students of what your interested in to get the truth. I'm grateful for some of the things I encountered at Meredith, but when I look back, so many other things just leave me incredibly underwhelmed. I really wish I could have had a better college experience. I transferred in because it was convenient at the time for me to be in Raleigh and attend a private school due to my unique offer of financial aid, but now I really wish I could have gone to a more dynamic school where the environment wasn't as structured and students were encouraged to discover themselves.