Mercer University
Macon, GA, USA

Reviews

Mercer University

Molly from Garnet Valley, PA

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Mercer provides students' a comprehensive liberal arts education comprised of engaging discussions, service learning and professors who care about your overall well-being. Classes are primarily discussion based and allow for student input and one-on-one interaction with professors. Additionally, Mercer offers all of the amenities of a large research institution through its multiple pre-professional programs, engineering school, research opportunities and expert professors. Mercer also believes in a holistic approach to education; not only will you gain theoretical and academic knowledge but also practical knowledge through your work in the Macon community as well as the global community.
Am enjoying being here
Since arriving at Mercer in 2008, I've broke a world record, made fantastic friends, made personal relationships with my professors, watched the Bears play in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, traveled to Mercer's original campus, heard Jimmy Carter speak, been present for the press release informing Mercerians that we will be receiving a new football team, witnessed the impact College Hill Corridor has had upon our loving community and been able to Be the Bear.

And that's just to name a few of my Mercer memories :)
Bang for the buck
While the sticker price of Mercer might be a slightly overwhelming, 95% of students receive a merit scholarship to attend Mercer. I can't tell you of one person who pays full price to attend Mercer, so don't rule it out because of the price!

The only reason I'm only giving it four stars is because campus housing can be a little more expensive when you become an upperclassmen.
Tips for prospective students
1. Visit campus. Some school's have fantastic websites but upon arrival to the campus, you say Their marketing department must be phenomenal, this is a letdown. In my personal opinion, a website doesn't do Mercer any justice. You will never be able to fully understand the atmosphere and culture of the campus until you visit!

2. Talk to current students! Current students are going to be honest with you about their university and provide a much more sincere explanation than a counselor.

3. Be open minded. You never know when you're going to stumble upon your perfect college if you do not look past your College Wants List.

4. Be honest with yourself! College is going to become your home away from home and therefore, you must LOVE it. Don't go somewhere just because the price is right, offers a program you are mildly interested in or because you like the football team. Go somewhere you can see yourself enjoying for four years!
Great for these types of students
Mercer is perfect for students who are service-oriented, want to be actively involved on their campus and in their community and believe that education is not confined to the four walls of a classroom. Mercer is a university that is student oriented and a place where every student has a voice. If you are the type of student who wants to blend into the background, receive your degree and move on; then Mercer is not the university for you. Mercer is not only a university, it's a community; a community that cannot wait to welcome you!

Kelsy from Tifton, GA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Mercer University is a great college for students who want academic rigor, professors who know their names, and a place to meet all kinds of people.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure that you visit the campus before committing. Talk with potential professors, students currently attending, and your admissions counselor.
Academic Rigor
Mercer is known for its quality education. The classes can be rough but as long as you don't procrastinate and study you will be fine. Every class though is taught by a professor, unlike some major schools. Mercer also offers the Great Books program which can replace the common core requirements.
Dorm Life
The freshman dorms are not that great but they are liveable. I mostly use mine for sleeping as I'm in class, studying, or hanging out with friends for the majority of my time.
Food and Dining
The cafeteria at Mercer is outstanding and if you don't find anything you like there, there are plenty of restaurants on and around campus.
What to do for fun
There is plenty to do on campus. Between intramural sports, midnight movies, sporting events, you will never be bored. In addition, there is plenty to do in Macon. :)
Bang for the buck
Mercer is costly but most students coming in are able to get scholarships. I'm currently paying the same or even less than anyone that is attending UGA or GA Tech. Mercer is well worth the money.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are many special traditions such as rubbing the Jesse Mercer statue as a freshman for luck and then as a graduate for luck in future endeavors.
Great for these types of students
Academic, outgoing, and community service oriented are some just to name a few.
Clubs and Activities
There are so many ways to get involved on campus. If you're not involved in anything, you really have to be trying not to get involved.
Greek Life
There are plenty of sororities and fraternities for one to get involved with on campus. Our Greek Life has won many awards for charity work and high GPAs.
Campus Safety
The Mercer Police, or MerPo, does an amazing job at keeping the campus safe. In addition, the dorms are equipped with locks that only students can open, in order to prevent outsiders from entering.

Jabria from Lithonia, GA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
Before coming to Mercer, plan ahead for the rigor and the demand from professors. However, do not be too afraid of professors because they are all willing to help each student in any way that they can once you reach out to them. Be prepared for lots of discussion and sometimes one-on-one conversations.
Academic Rigor
Mercer is an academically challenging university; it did not get the name Harvard of the South for no reason. The academics are challenging but well within reach. Professors often begin to schedule assignments around the same time, so making schedules and being academically-minded is key.
Dorm Life
Dorms are dorms. Honestly, you should not be spending that much time in them any way. You can decorate however you'd like to, spend time with friends in them, and feel safe with the necessary precautions (Bear Card access) to get into the buildings.
Food and Dining
The cafeteria serves all meals of the day and has a variety of options for any eater. The University Center also has a food court with fast food places that are good for quicker food. Overall, just try not to be too picky and be willing to try some new things.
What to do for fun
There are TONS of things to do around campus outside of the classroom. On nice days, you'll see tons of people on Cruz Plaza playing games or reading. There are numerous events from bingo, karaoke, trivia, etc. that happen throughout the year to participate in with friends.

Josie from Epworth, GA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Mercer University is a small, private college in the South that although creatively small in size, it is still a highly respectable school with great opportunities for achievement. The campus is much like a large family, and every individual student has the opportunity to establish personal connections with professors. O believe Mercer provides the highest quality education for the superior quality of education and research opportunities in practically any field of study.
Tips for prospective students
Prospective students should definitely visit the campus at least once and try to participate in an overnight stay.
Academic Rigor
Mercer University is obviously a challenging institution of learning with high expectations of every student. Applying yourself and dedication to school work is crucial for success.
Dorm Life
Dorm life is an amazing experience that gives you an opportunity to create life long friendships with your peers, despite your very different backgrounds.
Food and Dining
There are always 5 or more options in the cafeteria available to students everyday. If you choose to go elsewhere, we also have a few restaurants on campus such as burger studio, chick fil a, and subway.
What to do for fun
Quadworks is an awesome, student led program whose sole purpose is to plan fun events for students to get involved with on campus. A few examples of this are $2 movie nights and campus-wide midnight hide and seek.

Mercer Student

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Attending Mercer University is one of the best decisions you can ever make. The environment is nice, friendly and there are many fun things to do around campus. The price is really expensive but it is not unexpected considering it is a private university.
Tips for prospective students
If you want to have the best possible experience at Mercer you can not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. You will probably here people continuously say that as you progress through your freshmen year and though it may be annoying to at first, the idea will continue to hold true. Also, stay on top of your academics, it can be easy to get rapped up in the fun and freedom of college but remember why you came there in the first place.
Academic Rigor
It is sometimes believed that just because you got good grades in high school that it will automatically translate into good grades for college; but you have to realize that this is not always the case. Pertaining to Mercer, if you do not study hard first then play hard you will find yourself on the wrong side of the 4.0 GPA scale. The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to get help if you need it and teachers are more than willing to help you understand the material if something is unclear.
Dorm Life
When talking about dorm life there are no better RA's than at Mercer. This being said, the freshmen dorms are not the best thing in the world. Do not fret though because things do get better as you progress in years. It is also mandatory for freshmen-juniors to live on campus, which can be worked around depending on circumstances, but is not such a bad thing considering the amenities on campus.
Food and Dining
The one word that will ring true for cafeterias around the college world is, buffet style dining. There are many choices for different people and that can be a good thing when dealing with kids who all they've known all their life is whatever mom cooks, I'll eat. It is also not as good as mom's home cooking but what chef can compete with mom's homemade insert food here.
What to do for fun
There are many things to do for fun around campus and the surrounding Macon area. The student led activities committee for Mercer makes sure there is plenty of things to do for Mercer students ranging from time with friends during Midnight Movie, to the rocking good time of Bear Stock. There are also plenty of things to do downtown if that is more of your scene.
Bang for the buck
It is a little expensive to say the least but there are plenty of things to do at Mercer to make sure you have the best time possible. Not to mention the fact that many graduate schools and professional schools recognize the rigorous course load that Mercer puts on its students. Mercer also offers free admission to all athletic games held on campus as well as an initial scholarship, based on a combination of high school GPA and SAT scores.
Great for these types of students
Mercer is a great university for those students looking for a challenging academic work load and small classroom sizes.
Clubs and Activities
The clubs at Mercer are abound and well worth looking into for any perspective member. Clubs range from liberal arts, religious, sports, and career based. There is just about any club you can possibly have an interest in and if they do not have it, you can make your own.
Campus Safety
Campus Safety is a big concern on campus and no one takes their job more seriously than the Mercer Police force, known on campus as MerPo. MerPo has their own police station located on campus, and can be seen patrolling the campus in their cars, bike, cart and on foot. Mercer Police work 24/7 to make sure students and faculty are safe and protected.

Angela from Macon, GA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Mercer University is a challenging college with rigorous courses. The college is a small college with a very friendly vibe and people always looking to hang out and have fun. Mercer's programs prepare you for the real world if you are successful and do not give up.
Tips for prospective students
Look for lots of scholarships; Mercer is pretty expensive. If you're looking for a small school where you like to know your professors and everyone around you then Mercer is a good pick!
Academic Rigor
Mercer has difficult classes that require you to study and get extra help if needed from SI sessions.
Dorm Life
The dorms may not be the best of the best, but there are always people around who like to goof off and have fun throughout the dorm halls.
Food and Dining
The food at Mercer's caf is alright. Sometimes they have good food but usually the food is just ok. The UC has Chick fil a, Subway, Burger Studio, sushi, and other snacks that can be purchased with dining dollars which are included in your meal plan.
What to do for fun
Usually you can have fun just hanging around the dorms or chilling in the caf. On weeknights people usually hit up the local clubs or greek parties on campus. Some clubs people usually go to are Asylum, Envy, and Power Station.
Great for these types of students
Mercer is great for people who like a strong sense of community and being able to interact with their peers. It is also great for students who like to be academically challenged.
Greek Life
There is something for everyone. A lot of people participate in Greek Life but everyone is friendly with each other regardless of the sorority or fraternity they are in.
Campus Safety
MerPo, Mercer's campus security, is just a call away. They are usually found patrolling the campus at night.

Kaylee from Fortson, GA

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I love the classes here. They are small enough to get to know your professors. Also, I love that the classwork is challenging but not completely overwhelming for me. Help is offered and encouraged in a variety of ways from talking to your professors to study groups to tutoring.
Am enjoying being here
I love living on campus in Macon. The only drawback to the Macon campus is when you leave the college town you have to be aware that there is a lot of crime in the area and need to be smart to prevent putting yourself in vulnerable situations. If you are smart, you will be okay.
Bang for the buck
Mercer is completely worth the cost. Also, they make it worth your while to pay that much because they are equally as helpful for providing each student with the best financial aid package possible. I love it and think it is a worthy investment.
Tips for prospective students
Don't wait until the last minute to start looking for financial aid. The earlier you start researching, the better scholarships will be available to you.
Great for these types of students
This school is great for students who like the one-on-one, smaller class sizes.

Morgan from Hampstead, NH

researching this school
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The campus is absolutely gorgeous. The facilities are very nice and nothing is too close together or too far apart. The school itself seems to function like a small town with its own community
Food and Dining
There are a lot of options for food, so everyone can be happy with what he or she is eating.

Beth from Waynesboro, GA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Mercer University is my home away from home. When I applied I did not think I would be able to afford it but they were really helpful with financial aid. Attending Mercer is the best decision I have made recently.
Tips for prospective students
Get to know your professors! They are there to help you at Mercer but you have to make the effort.
Academic Rigor
Being a private school, the academic courses are difficult but the professors really love each student and will help you to get your best grade. All my professors knew me by name and face and would always say hi if we saw each other outside of class.
Dorm Life
Dorm life is THE best paart of college. The dorms may be slightly dated but I love living on campus. The hall governments and RAs are pretty great too.
Food and Dining
The caf is all you can eat buffet style and freshmen are required to get unlimited meal plans. The food is sometimes touch and go but you can always rely on salads, cereal, and bagels!
What to do for fun
I am a member of the Residence Hall Association, serving as community service chair of my Hall Government. I am also a sister of Alpha Gamma Delta and serve as COR. I am in the Mercer Pre Med Club and also work on Bearforce and Event Staff for the University Center.
Bang for the buck
The tuition is steep but financial aid helps. Plus I would rather pay more to attend Mercer than paying less to be anywhere else.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who want independence but do not want to be lost in the crowd.
Clubs and Activities
There are so many activities going on all the time. The only way you could be bored is if you made absolutely no effort to leave your dorm room.
Greek Life
I personally love Greek Life at Mercer. It is much more laid back than at some bigger state colleges. Friendships among the Greek community are the best.
Campus Safety
Merpo is always patrolling. You can literally say Merpo and they will be there. In all of Macon I feel safest on campus.

Kia from Mableton, GA

a past student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Wonderful, intimate setting. Challenging, but it is easy to receive help in your classes. Always something to do, from sports to clubs to food!
Tips for prospective students
Make a friend with a car if you plan to go off campus often. The trolley is helpful and goes to the store once a week, and it takes you to Downtown Macon. Never be afraid to ask for help. Go to the academic resource center to get help, form a study group, or set up a meeting with your professor.
Academic Rigor
Difficult! But its so rewarding and you learn so much!
Dorm Life
They really should knock down all the dorms and rebuild them. The freshman dorms are cramped and old, but the upperclassman apartments are nice.
Food and Dining
The caf is pretty and diverse, it caters to vegetarians too. There are some food places right outside of campus, as well as restaurants within driving distance
What to do for fun
Clubs downtown, on-campus activities, intramural sports
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Every freshman signs the tower of the administration building, and every freshman goes to Pilgrimage to Penfield to learn about the heritage and history of Mercer. Also, upon graduation, you have to rub Jesse Mercer's (statue) head before the ceremony starts!