Ferris State University

This school, academically speaking, is pretty lax. I was able to get through first year on the Dean's list without having to crack open a single text book.

Socially:

This school can feel a bit like High School at times. Rumor has it that this is a new phenomenon. Apparently, back in the 90's the campus was not very cliquey at all. Now that's not the case. People tend to stay in their own little groups.

Plus, there are way too many rednecks. I was surprised to see how many backwards people attend this school. Some people in my classes could barely read. It was pretty strange to see the vast amount of people that couldn't even write a decent one page paper. .

On top of that, there are very very few decent, available women on campus. This is due primarily to the fact that the guys outnumber the girls 2 to 1. 7s get treated like, and act like 10s. They have plenty of options at one time and utilize those options regularly. If your game isn't strong, and you're not willing to settle for a fat chick, don't expect to get laid. If you do happen to find a decent chick that isn't taken then chances are she's probably straight up crazy. Parties are usually sausage fest and if there are girls there, expect for there to be a fight over them.

Another thing that surprised me was the vast amount of Bible thumpers at this school. You know something is fishy when "The Bible" is listed as #1 favorite book on the Facebook Network Page. I thought colleges were supposed to be all types of liberal, but instead it seems like the Republicans rule the school. I remember in my econ class having to listen to some slack-jaw give a 5 minute tirade about how France is one of the worst countries in the world and how evil it was for not helping us in Iraq. But don't worry, it's not like you'll have any meaningful discussions about anything other than what brand of beer is the best for beer pong. (Bud Light)

The people are nice for the most part but everyone seems to have this prevailing sense of disparity about having to attend this school. The student body is not very spirited at all. In fact, most people here are more passionate about surrounding schools actually. That must be the reason why half the campus leaves on weekends.

The social organizations here are pretty good, though. My favorites were the Pi Lams and B.L.A.C.K. Both are great groups of guys to chill and party with.

The Campus:

Aesthetically, Ferris is actually pretty nice. The facilities are constantly being upgraded and they're usually well maintained. The only real negative aspect of the campus is the dorms. They're very small for the most part and they feel like jail. Cramer Hall is the only exception. The rooms are big, but it feels like a mental ward.

The Surrounding City:

The fact that Ferris is in Big Rapids is probably the worst aspect of the school. The town is small, conservative, and closes at 9 PM. On top of that, it has four police forces that patrol the streets: Campus Police/DPS, City Police, Mecosta County Sheriff's Dept., and Highway Patrol. Since there is not much in the way of actual crime that goes on in Big Rapids their main task is policing the college students. That means they hand out A LOT of MIPs.

On top of being small, there are very few opportunities for employment outside of fast food. If you want a job you're going to have to fight to get it, or settle with dirtwork.

Also, the weather here is terrible. The whole town seems to die during winter… except for the campus. Ferris NEVER closes due to weather. The only reason why it closed last winter was because apparently there had been serious accidents occuring off campus. Winter seems to drag on forever. Yes, you're probably used to it if you're going to Ferris, but he social scene suffers greatly during the winter months. It's unfortunate.

I'd like to finish by saying that Ferris is not a terrible school. The people are nice and the professors are very friendly for the most part. Even if your specific professor is a douche there is probably someone else in the same dept. that is the complete opposite and is completely and totally helpful. I think that's the only aspect of this school that I really am going to miss. People at Ferris are largely treated as individuals you get the sense that the school is really trying to please you… something I'm sure that is missing on larger campuses.

Oh yeah: If you have to take anything to do with Advertising/Marketing try to take a course with Mehl at least ONCE. The guy is a riot and actually has a lot of care for his students.