<p>I am a currently a freshman at Furman. Although most of what was said holds true, I feel like I might be able to give you a little perspective from the student side as well. First of all I would consider Furman to be very rigorous. I recieved the IB diploma in high school, and I still don’t consider myself prepared for FU. It is a school that is very interesting but very challenging, and it’s difficult to make A’s. Class sizes are small, I’ve had classes from 16 to 24 people and they are all taught by professors. Socially I would say FU is much more homogenous. It would be a lie to say that there isn’t a Furman stereotype of white upper middle class. However, this is getting challenged more and more every year and I think it has gotten a lot better. I don’t see races or economic status as a real social divide though. Furman is also ranked as one of the top five research schools in the country, they work really hard to make everything related to practical life and life outside the classroom. The school is technically a dry campus, that is to say that drinking does occur, but most of what does occur is in the apartments or off campus. Drinking in the dorms really doesn’t happen because of the policies, but like anywhere if you want to find it you will find it. Altough statistically furman has a not as active greek population, I beg to differ. I think the greeks are very present on campus, but differently from other schools. Parties are centered around frats and it would be a lie to say that there isn’t drinking, but for guys I don’t think it really creates as much of a social divide. It’s not a big deal if you are or aren’t in one, and if you do or you don’t drink. There are less guys in frats than girls in sororities, or so it appears. For girls I think sororities are very different from state schools, it isn’t as much hoopla and hustle and bustle. I was very anti greek when I got to Furman, but I changed my mind and decided to rush, eventhough I didn’t join a sorority. I would say sororities are more important to girls than frats are to guys but its hard to understand without actually being a student here. As for athletics we have a national championship rugby team, and a very good football team. I hope that helps let me know if theres anything else i can address.</p>