Jacksonville State University

Date: Mar 11 2010
Major: Education (This Major's Salary over time)
I?m a sophomore education major from Paulding County, GA., so I am fortunate to get in-state tuition and a small scholarship for playing in the Marching Southerners. It?s also easy to get on-campus jobs that work around your schedule, which is great! My boyfriend business major plays in the Southerners, too and gets a small stipend.

I chose Jacksonville State over UGA- imagine that! I have an older sister at UGA, and hearing her complain about the Athens bar scene, 500+ students in her lower division classes, grad assistants teaching who don?t speak English, professors who are a-holes totally turned me off from UGA, even though I really wanted to be in the Redcoats. But I started thinking about Jacksonville State when I saw the Marching Southerners at a marching exhibition in Atlanta.

Best decision I ever made was to come here to Jacksonville State. My friends thought I was crazy coming here instead of Athens, Statesboro, or Kennesaw. They thought Jax was rinky-dink, but nothing could be further from the truth! The criticisms about the surrounding town is just nonsense. You have WalMart, strip shopping centers, and anything you want to eat in Anniston, Oxford, etc. Sure it doesn?t have the bar scene like Savannah, Athens or Statesboro, but so what? Grunge rockers, frat boys & girls puking all over themselves getting arrested for public drunk & DUI by the police & all the issues that come with the clubs, who needs it? Or having to walk past bars just to get to classes in Statesboro! Also, don?t have the parking problems & fees that you have at the other schools. And less than 80 miles from home, this is a no-brainer.

I have more than enough to do here with band & I will be joining a sorority next year. The frats & sororities here are great- nice folks, not too much of the wild parties, and they are big into public service. It really is like a family here.

I have lived in Dixon Hall for these 2 years. Nothing fancy but being with your band friends is pretty cool. I may move into the new stadium dorm in the Fall and stay on campus. That dorm is suite-style and we toured it-it?s incredible! And the stadium expansion is gorgeous! This place is just big enough to give you all the stuff you have at a UGA-type school without all the crap. It?s quality education, good professors, great friends for a lifetime, and I?m doing well. If I have questions or problems, I can go to my professors. Try doing that somewhere else- it?s rare. My boyfriend has ADD, and the special services & counselors will stay on top of your progress- all you have to do is go see them. If you want to succeed, there?s no excuse with a minimum amount of effort. If you care & treat them with respect & gratitude, you will be golden here. I think it?s all about accountability- the faculty is accountable and so are you! The world is your oyster here. No regrets- would do it again hands down. Don?t come for a preview day- make an appointment and come on your own. It?ll give you a whole different perspective.