Georgia State University

LakeWashington
Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:27:27 +0000

I’m not a student but I have some familiarity with the school and have visited the campus from time to time.

This urban school is trying hard to expand its appeal beyond undergraduate commuter students. The campus is literally in downtown (not to be confused with Midtown) Atlanta, just a few blocks from the municipal/state capital center, so at present it is not a traditional residential campus. However, since the 1996 Olympic Games efforts have been expended to create more of a campus feel; new dorms and a commons area were built following the Olympics and believe that there is a move to further expand the commons, which I think is actually part of Woodruff Park (other posters help me out here), a small downtown open space.

As for academics, the university appears intent on focusing on Biomed and Biotechnology. Whether or not these are undergraduate majors, check for yourself. Finally, GSU probably is not as comprehensive as U of Georgia in Athens. But that is not to say GSU is weak. GSU’s Law School and the Business school attract a lot of business executives and other professionals in the metropolitan area who seek such degrees.

Regarding student life, GSU can’t compare to Athens. However, some have said that social life is more at ease at GSU because of its urban quality and because of the greater ethnic diversity at GSU than at U of G. Besides, GSU is a stone’s throw away from Georgia Tech and the attractions of Peachtree Street and Midtown Atlanta. At this time GSU sports programs are all NCAA Division I, except there is no football.

One more thing, in the recent past there has been felonious incidents at GSU, which I imagine can be expected to some degree at a “downtown” campus.

Good luck.