Franklin and Marshall College

Date: Jul 16 2019
Major: Art & Design Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I went to Franklin and Marshall College from 2018-2019. They lured me in with good tuition (I'm a low income student). I hated the school so much that I transferred.

First of all, the student population is mostly privileged and prissy jerks. Unless you fit into that population, you won't feel happy or included at all.

The college likes to say that there is diversity but the college couldn't care less about students of color, LGBT students, or students of different economic backgrounds. They treat you like a number. The school definitely feels like a business instead of a place of learning.

I would say that most students are generally stressed, depressed, and reliant on drugs and alcohol to cope with the severe amounts of work thrown at them. It's sad how many times I would hear people talking about their alcoholism in Blue Line or at the dining hall.

My biggest point of contention is with professors and the academics. They're labeled as "rigorous" but I would just call it unnecessarily difficult for no reason. I would have hours and hours of work per night. So many people are working in their rooms or the library constantly so you never really see people outside. It felt like a wasteland walking around campus most days.

Also, housing is really subpar for the price. The first thing I saw in my dorm was a huge house centipede. Most college houses have super small rooms that feel claustrophobic as hell. Plus, the bathrooms in my dorm were absolutely disgusting.

The food definitely doesn't boost morale either. Most times, it was either unpalatable garbage or freezing cold. Most of the food employees hate their job and you can tell.

To make it worse, the college doesn't really have any helpful ways to destress or have fun, so I was constantly on the verge of a breakdown because of the stress. Just because service animals come once a semester doesn't mean that the mental health problems are solved. Way too many people I knew got sent home on medical leave because of mental illness.

I know way too many people there who wish they would've transferred from all different departments. That really says something about the school.

In my freshman experience, I would do homework 90% of my time, rarely sleeping, eating or socializing. When I did make friends, they were really overworked and could barely hang out. It sucked. My family was so worried about me taking my own life because of how much the school wrecked me. I withdrew as soon as I got home from spring semester of 2019 and transferred to a state school. I have zero regrets about leaving. Franklin and Marshall ruined my spirits, mental health, and almost cost me my life. Please explore your other options before you try and attend this school.