Emory University

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: I’m undeclared but am applying to the business school and also want to major in German
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: East Asian Straight Male

Summary

Currently, just the German Culture Club.

Background

Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: East Asian
Sexual Orientation: Straight

High School Experience: Public school in a suburb of Chicago, IL with a graduating class of about 750 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Major: I’m undeclared but am applying to the business school and also want to major in German
Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities: Currently, just the German Culture Club.
What impact has the German Culture Club had on your experience so far?
It helped me meet more upperclassmen in the beginning of the year

Academic Experience

Can you describe the weekly coursework for your pre-business and German classes?
For pre-business classes, we have readings, homework problems, and tests. The homework isn’t too bad but the tests are really hard. For German, we have some reading and studying, but it’s generally less work compared to the average course load here.
How would you describe the learning environment? Is it particularly competitive or collaborative?
In the business school, you’re ranked based on the grades you get and there is a curve based on how many students can get what grade, so it’s pretty competitive. In my other classes and German courses, they have been more so small seminar-type classes where it’s more interactive and collaborative. I still don’t really study with other people in those classes, I more so stick to myself.
How accessible are your professors?
Very accessible. They clearly state their office hours which are usually two-hour periods two times a week. They’re also very open to appointments.
Do you think people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Last semester in my freshman English class, people weren’t afraid to express their opinions and connect them to real life, so people felt pretty safe doing that. People were open to opinions that were different from the consensus.
How was transitioning academically as a freshman? Were there any resources in place that helped you?
Like most colleges, Emory has a freshman orientation class that they make you take first semester. Even though I thought it was pretty cheesy, it did introduce me to resources that Emory offers.
Why did you pick your majors?
I ultimately decided business would be my main thing because my mom is an accountant and she had had a pretty huge influence on me. German is a passion that started in 9th grade.

Reasons to Attend

1) The very rigorous and reputable academic standing of Emory.
2) If you want to be part of a very accepting and diverse community.
3) Emory is in a very strategically beneficial area just outside of Atlanta, which is a fast-growing city.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) Don’t have high expectations for the social scene.

Around Campus

Where have you lived during college?
Freshman: Longstreet Hall in a suite with two shared rooms and a shared bathroom. I have one other roommate.
How was transitioning from living outside of Chicago, IL to Atlanta, GA?
I was very unpleasantly shocked by the very humid weather at the end of August and September. Otherwise, we’re not technically in Atlanta, it’s more of a suburban area so it’s pretty similar to my hometown.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
I feel really safe walking around campus any time of the day or night. We have the Blue Light System in case there is an emergency.

Social Opportunities

What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in at Emory?
Anything from going to SunTrust Arena to watch a baseball game or going to the AMC movie theater at the mall. I have gotten into going to some parties because of my roommate, but usually we have to go to a bar and grill type place because the fraternity parties can be lackluster. There isn’t an abundance of things happening. We have had trouble finding things to go to, especially at the beginning of the first semester.
What’s the impact of Greek life on nightlife?
There isn’t too much of an impact because most of the students here are here to excel academically and I think most of them, even in Greek life, put academics first.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Emory? Is there anything you would change?
I’m relatively happy but not super happy. I’m more than just pleased because I feel like the friend group you develop in a smaller student body like Emory’s is usually enough to pass the time. I wish there would be more social events within walking distance.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
It was mostly through my roommate and the first orientation day. My roommate knew a bunch of people from a club who I quickly became close with.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Emory?
If there is an “average,” I would say Emory would fall below average. But, I wouldn’t say it’s terrible because there is fraternity and sorority housing on campus and there is fun stuff that happens about twice a month.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
It’s mostly seamless. I haven’t personally experienced students being xenophobic or discriminatory. My friend group is pretty diverse, we have Indian, White, Asian, and Jewish people.
How would you describe the student body?
The student body is pretty studious and competitive. It’s competitive in the sense that they aren’t paying attention to how people are doing around you, but more so understanding why you’re at Emory and why you’re paying such a high tuition, and that is to ultimately succeed and do better than people who aren’t at good institutions like this one.
How would you describe the Asian community on campus? How strong is it?
We have the Asian fraternity Xi Kappa, which is a cultural fraternity and is different than a social one. That’s a place where Asian-American can bond. There are also many Asian culture clubs on campus.
How do you like the size of Emory in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has that impacted your experience? [There are about 8,100 undergraduates.]
I would say it’s perfect. It was a seamless transition.

Careers

Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages that have been or will be especially helpful professionally?
Not yet, but I expect to be using Excel in my business classes.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, how easy are they to work with?
I currently am on work-study and have a grant, but that’s about it. I personally have not had to deal with the office so far.