Georgia State University

Date: May 10 2011
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I'll be honest, this school is only good for helping your GPA before transferring to another school or as a back-up school. And that's not a lie when the retention level is so low. Yeah, they might be good for some majors, but not all. The history department is limited in its courses and those that do teach it are not the best. Political science is also limited when you have half the courses being American Government and U.S history.

Also, the campus is not safe! GSU police are there, but they could not stop the series of robberies that students faced in Fall 2010 that went on for months! And even in the main campus, someone got rob when they came out of the restroom, so it is not about not being stupid. I don't feel safe, so I am going to transfer. Plus, alot of people communte. I do for two hours! So, I can't be involve in the school as I don't want to stay late. GSU is in the middle of Atlanta, so you will see the homeless, drug addicts and crime and GSU doesn't protect against that! Hell, someone shot another person near the Aderhold building (which is about ten minutes away from the main campus that you have to walk into in incoming traffick)near the Atlanta police station! That says something!

The dorms are not near, so you will walk to class in a campus that's not close together into streets with traffick and the unsavory. The school has some nice buldings, but they have updated instead of having a football team, that you really don't care about. Sparks Hall makes me laugh because the floor where admissions is located is so nice, but the floor underneath and above are awful, especially the restrooms where you have to wrestle with the doors to even get inside then because they are so close to the toilet to even open. Another building the GCB is alright, but some floors really need an update. Hell, all that money for football should have gone to something else.

The school does have some services, but their tutoring needs help. It called SI, but all they care about is the number of people showing up and not the individual. Really. They even stress that in training and it is tutoring, but they don't want to call it that and the SI leaders do not help you. I had a friend that went to SI always and didn't get a good grade on anything. Another quit because they got angry that he gave out mock test to everyone in the class and not just the select few that came to SI and some can't even come in the first place, so you are screwed! Plus since it is not tutoring they give out handouts and let you work with others to figure it out. Hello, I am in SI to get help, not do more work with someone that is as clueless as I am. Does it help? No, I get high grades without showing up b/c they are useless; some SI leaders might be alright, but most aren't. Also most of those classes with SI are in the social sciences, which are not bad, but what about math and science? Limited. And those will kick your behind if you don't get the right teacher.

The library is great, but I hate printing there. Only in the first floor can you print without getting a computer, but the lines can be long and the rest of the floors you have to get a computer, which can be hard. Apparently, students are hired to keep order, but they don't do their jobs. Wait until finals or midterms when you have to print and see loads of people on Facebook doing nothing but waste time or sit near computers and talk like its a hangout place and distract you. It's very annoying.

They also have FLC, freshmen learning communities, for incoming freshmen, but they can be a waste of time if you have alot of AP/IB credit. I did, so I barely saw the rest of my group and when I did they were in classes I would have taken anyways. Honestly, they hold you back from doing the rest of the core requirements. I could have taken science and math and be done, but they didn't really give me any information when I asked, but very vague answers. Plus, it lasts more than one semester to the whole year. Liars! I had to be in a class I never wanted and would never use, but b/c I was in an FLC I had to be in. Wasted credit! Apparently, it is suppose to help you adjust to college and meet people. It can, but it depends on your group. I tried to be friendly and nice, but since they saw each other every day they formed cliques and were very snobbish when they had no reason to be.

It's in the middle of Atlanta, so at first it may seem to have alot of places to see and have fun, but lets be real. Going out after dark is not a good idea. Also, it gets old fast. There are only so many time you can visit Coca-Cola, GA Aqu. and the Arena for concerts, which are limited. Five Points where the underground is located is ghetto! Ghetto! I am not lying. This school does not challenge you. It is easy. And college is more than that. Alright, you don't want to have classes that are made to fail you, but GSU doesn't help you grow as a person nor does it increase you knowledge. Departments are not the best, ex. history and pol sci (hate FLC because they have now increased in numbers, so most classes that you need you can't sign up for because they are reserved for them and so the ones that are left are few, which are late at night or early in the morning and that's hard for communters.)

Again, come to this school to improve GPA or get the core classes done with and transfer out. Use your money where it can help you grow and live and not be afraid of the crime that surrounds you. And it does and those that say it doesn't are lying. Please take this into account and not ignore it because there are more positive reviews. Diversity? Yes. Will you meet them? Maybe. Smart? No, these people are not the brightest, so expect to be bored. This is a waste when I could have gone to Tech or UGA. All of the details mention above build upon each other and results in dislike. Gods, I can't wait to get out.