Erskine College
Due West, SC, USA

Reviews

Erskine College

H from SC

a current student here
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Erskine College has wonderful opportunities that allow all students to achieve their goals. With rigorous academics and many opportunities for extracurriculars everyone can find their niche here. Professors and faculty are always available to help making this a wonderful experience for all who attend.
Tips for prospective students
If you are thinking of attending Erskine College it is important you understand that it is not for everyone. Erskine has very high standards and wonderful opportunities, but the academics can be very challenging for some. However, if you choose Erskine you will not regret your decision because Erskine has a wonderful reputation and will help you in any way they can.
Academic Rigor
The level expected of Erskine students to perform and succeed is one that surpasses many colleges and universities in the area. With a liberal arts core education a student receives instruction from a wide variety of subjects and in your field of concentrated study. There are programs offered that can help students succeed academically but a personal commitment must exist.
Dorm Life
Living in a dorm at Erskine is expensive. However, Erskine college is a residential college in which all students are strongly encouraged and required to live on-campus. The dorms are very clean and up-to-date with the necessities to live.
Food and Dining
With its own on-campus restaurant and cafeteria Erskine offers different choices for meals! The food is good and there is room for student input as to what the students would like to see offered. Students are given a meal plan and a declining balance so no out-of-pocket money must be spent.
What to do for fun
Erskine is located in a very small town, Due West, South Carolina, and often students must make their own fun. However, Erskine does have seasonal and other events that make being a student worth the tuition. If you are looking for other kinds of fun such as shopping, Anderson and Greenwood, South Carolina are nearby with Greenville being only one hour away.

Sarah from Bloomindale, GA

a current student here
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Erskine has a beautiful campus, fantastic professors, and a great community. There is too great of a focus on academics, though, and the administration/Student Services are not always working with or for the students. Overall, worth it because of the people I have met along the way.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure that you speak with those outside your tour group. You want an honest picture of the college, that way you know if you will fit in here. I know many people who had a lifestyle that wasn't fit for the small town of Due West and a great deal of my class has transferred out. Talk to the professors and students in your major.
Academic Rigor
Most classes are rigorous and you learn a great deal.
Dorm Life
I have lived in all of the female dorms. Carnegie, the freshman dorm isn't great, but Bonner is decent, and Kennedy is the best. Carnegie rooms are fine, but the bathrooms are community bathrooms are often disgusting. Bonner is suite-style, so it has a shared bathroom between two rooms. Kennedy is a small, quiet dorm with community bathrooms that are kept up well. Campus police are located next to the freshman women's dorm, which is nice. There is also a women-only dorm in Bonner.

The housing regulations get worse every year. Now, both genders must sign in and the punishments for breaking rules are outrageous and build on each other. Four strikes and your are out. Thankfully, I have yet to break a rule, but it sucks for freshmen.
Food and Dining
Erskine has the average dining hall. It also has a restaurant and coffee shop. Off campus there is a Subway, small restaurants, and further away there are more chain restaurants.
What to do for fun
There are a LOT of clubs and groups to get involved with. Additionally, sports and such are a great option. However, other fun things are in surrounding towns such as Greenwood, Anderson, or Greenville.
Bang for the buck
I haven't gotten many scholarships or grants, other than what Erskine has given me, so I pay a decent amount to attend. That being said, it is expensive for a college most have not heard of. Yet, I am glad that I attended because I am an involved student and have met great people.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Candlelight: it is a ceremony that we hold to announce an engagement. We sing a song and pass a candle around in a circle, the person to blow it out is the one who is recently engaged. They used to get dumped in the fountain, but now we pour water on them and they have to show us the ring and tell us how he proposed.
Great for these types of students
This college is fantastic for students who are serious about their studies and want a solid professional relationship with professors. It is also a place for "genuine" people who want to be involved or make life-long friends. This is not a party school; you need to take your classes and yourself seriously, or no one else will.
Clubs and Activities
There are so many organizations for such a small campus. Most people get Erskinitis where you overcommit, but it provides a great deal of chances to be in a leadership role.
Greek Life
There are some "Greek" societies, which are here and only here. I am a member of one of these. They are fairly active on campus and a decent way to get involved. Some can be drama-heavy, though.
Campus Safety
It is a fairly safe campus. There have been times where people have gotten creeped out by strangers or a car was stolen (once, and they found it and the thief). Other than this, it is pretty safe.

Student

a current student here
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The teachers are fa-nominal! They will work with you, and want you to succeed. The school is so small that it is honestly like a family.
Tips for prospective students
As long as you work hard and put effort into your work then you will do just fine! The classes aren't easy, but the teachers are exceptional and are more than willing to help you. The small environment allows for students to live in a close-nit community.
Academic Rigor
The academics are challenging. However, with hard work then you will succeed. Just make sure to STUDY!
Dorm Life
Everyone is so nice and friendly. The students are like a family. Each dorm has their own SLA and dorm parent to help students be more accustomed to college easier.
Food and Dining
There are two locations for dining, as well as a coffee shop. Both dining facilities are exceptional. Whatever they don't have you can suggest and they will add it to the menu, because this school tries to please the students any way that they can.
What to do for fun
The town of Due West is very small with little to do. Despite the small town the students find ways to entertain themselves. There are plenty of activities like Rock Climbing, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee and so much more to keep students from getting bored.
Bang for the buck
This school will work with you financially. It is a private college, so the tuition is more. However, the school will help you find scholarships, and do their best to ensure that you have less debt when you graduate.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There is a barn that students go to on Sunday evenings. It is off campus, and all students are welcomed. At the barn, students worship and form a bond in the Christian community.
Greek Life
Erskine has literary society's. Each society is friendly and eliminates the usual discrimination that most colleges have with sororities and fraternities.
Campus Safety
Campus police are always around and helpful to ensure student safety. They are located by the women's dormitories to help provide extra security.

Sarah from Hendersonville, NC

accepted here and planning to attend soon
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
Erskine has one of the highest acceptance rates to graduate school in the country.
Will enjoy being here
Beautiful campus with constant outlets for involvement
Bang for the buck
If you want to attend, Erskine will make it financially feasible for you.
Tips for prospective students
Definitely consider attending Erskine College. Don't be afraid to contact admissions with questions. They are the nicest people in the world, and they want to help you in any way possible, even if you decide not to attend Erskine.
Great for these types of students
Students who prefer small classes and want to engage with their teachers (who are professors, not grad students) and higher learning.