Converse University
Spartanburg, SC, USA

Reviews

Converse University

Christina from Aiken, SC

researching this school
16 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
All the teachers and faculty that I came in contact with were extremely nice and of all the students, they could remember each and every students name, even mine and I was only visiting. I visited the library and it is a great facility, and the classrooms are small so you can spend more time with the teacher learning.
Will enjoy being here
Amazing things to do on campus, and it is right downtown. Something to do, always.
Great for these types of students
Students who want to feel accepted and have a desire to learning.

Margaret from Spartanburg, SC

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Courtesy the small nature of the campus, faculty is always finding new ways to keep students engaged in the classroom. While the faculty is well respected, the intimidation factor is minimal and their assistance outside of the classroom can easily be accepted as if coming from a knowledgeable peer.
Am enjoying being here
Also due to the small campus, there is less of a daunting college campus feeling and more of a community or family vibe. Through campus-wide activities like Big Sis/Little Sis week and other traditions that go back generations upon generations, there's a bond between Converse students that just can't be found on other campuses.
Bang for the buck
Don't let the price attached to Converse get you down. There's a reason U.S. News & World Report ranked Converse the best value in the south. The Financial Aid department is incredibly helpful, and the Converse community offers several opportunities to earn scholarships, the price dwindles before you know it!
Tips for prospective students
Converse Admissions is generous in offering travel vouchers for students to come visit the campus. I encourage you to come stay for an overnight and get an inside look at college life with more than just a campus tour.
Great for these types of students
There are classes geared towards any kind of learning style, it's just a matter of learning which classes click best and adapting to the others.

Kayla from Inman, SC

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Converse College is a great school for atmosphere. It's very small; so, it is welcoming and fun. I wouldn't have went to another school.
Tips for prospective students
Be very open minded when you come to Converse. We love seeing new people on campus and can't wait to get to know you more. Connies are very welcoming and fun loving; so, don't be shy when you come.
Academic Rigor
I'm a music major and I have a huge work load. It takes a lot of determination and will power to get everything done in a timely manner. I know my professors do it to try to challenge me.
Dorm Life
Our dorms are old for the most part since it is an historic school. They school is remodeling a lot of things. I love living in the dorms even though I live ten minutes from the school. I like having a roommate and seeing my friends all the time.
Food and Dining
We are a veggie friendly school. I'm a complete carnivore, for the most part, so trying to find something to curb my appetite is hard sometimes.
What to do for fun
We have a group called CAB that sponsors activities during the school year. We have different performers come (such as B.o.B. this April), dancing lessons, and trivia.
Bang for the buck
Converse is expensive, but it's worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
When you get engaged we have a fountain behind the dining hall that your friends throw you in.
Great for these types of students
Converse is very diverse and doesn't have a type, but I would say you need to be hard working to be able to keep up.
Clubs and Activities
We have a variety of clubs on campus. I'm a part of Ally, our gay-straight alliance club on campus. We also have a huge Spring concert every year where big names such as B.o.B. and Darius Rucker come.
Campus Safety
We have campus safety around 24/7.

Miranda from Orlando, FL

a past student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
Academically, I was able to gain knowledge due to the small learning environment; I was never in a class of more than 20 students, my smallest being a class of four. This calls for a very intimate connection with your teachers and since they were so available outside of the classroom, there was almost unlimited access to one-on-one attention. Outside of the classroom, I was able to learn who I was as a person with the variety of programs available to every student.
Did enjoy being here
Going to an all-women's college takes a very special type of person, and I'm not sure if I was one of them. The community and atmosphere were phenominal, everyone knows everyone, and it made me feel very safe at all times.
Bang for the buck
With what I paid to attend this college I definitely feel like I got my money's worth. I was availed to many amenities without any extra fees, and there were numerous events almost every day that I was able to attend such as movies, parties, concerts, comedians and acrobatic shows.
Tips for prospective students
This is a very safe and well secured campus, with many activities available on and off campus. With the town being so small, Converse gives you many opportunities to get out and be involved in the community. All girls may sound intimidating to most people, but it is really nothing like people say. You hardly even notice there aren't boys and it honestly does make for a much quieter learning community.
Great for these types of students
Any student that is worried about transitioning out into the real world, who doesn't feel safe going to a large college, who has any sort of problem with learning or understanding material, or anyone who wants to get a very well rounded education.

Jordan from Little River, SC

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Converse is great for a wide variety of students. I am an Art major who not only understood my required Biology class, but I made an A for the course. The Converse faculty and staff are very dedicated to their students.
Am enjoying being here
I've made some of my best friends while at Converse. There is always something to do going on and great people to hang out with.
Bang for the buck
Converse is expensive, but it is totally worth it. The Financial Aid office is always willing to work with you.
Tips for prospective students
Bring rain boots! When it rains at Converse, it floods.
But seriously, come for an overnight. You really can't get the full feel for a school until you've gotten one on one time with the current students and gotten the opportunity to see how they live.
Great for these types of students
Driven women who love to learn.

Green

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Converse is a place of powerful women. We are one sisterhood. The academics are rigorous and interesting.
Tips for prospective students
Don't let the fact it's a single gender school push you away! It's a tight knit community and the girls here easily become your best friends!
Academic Rigor
If you take the right classes, then you're going to get the right challenge. There are a wide variety of courses and a large range of difficulty. It's college, so it's meant to make you think. Converse does an excellent job providing classes that make you think.
Dorm Life
Dorm life is wonderful. It truly is part of the college experience--and if you don't opt to live in the dorms, you're really missing a lot. The dorm is where you get to meet people whom you can become attached to and become really great friends with. There are a few problems with dorm life--issues with roommates, issues with the buildings themselves--but other than that, it's a really great experience.
Food and Dining
Food is a little hit or miss. Some days, the food is really good; others it's just...alright. However, Converse provides options for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike. Also, the Innovation Station provides great meals at lunch time. The food isn't as great as I'd hoped, but at least there are plenty of options to choose from.
What to do for fun
Spartanburg is a college town, after all, so there's plenty to do. Converse throws plenty of parties and dances to keep us busy. There's also a mall nearby, a couple movie theaters, and downtown is fun to visit. Greenville is also just an hour away, and is a great place to go out for an evening with your friends. There's plenty to do for fun so long as you've got the time to do it.
Bang for the buck
Thought it is nice that the tuition has dropped, some of us that would have had more scholarships before are a little bitter. I, for example, would have actually had to pay less before the tuition drop and it's very frustrating.
However, it is a great price for a private education experience.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Converse has a lot of ghost stories. There's even a tour for them and it's a lot of fun. So if you come to Converse, be sure to check out the stories and wacky traditions that exist here due to the sheer amount of time Converse College has been in existence.
Clubs and Activities
If it's not here, you can start it. That's about as to the point as you can get here. There's something for everyone, and you're really pushed to be involved. The clubs make it fun to become involved on campus.
Campus Safety
I feel very safe on campus. We're a closed in campus, with campus safety readily available through a phone call. There are also several call stations scattered about campus, and if you're scared to walk alone, campus safety is willing to escort you. It's a comforting thought.

Victoria from Murrells Inlet, SC

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A tight knit women's college community with plenty to do. Not perfect by any means, and not for everyone, but to those who find themselves here, it is a home. Welcome to the sisterhood.
Tips for prospective students
First, there are certain things you shouldn't come here for. This school isn't great for nursing majors, and if you crave constant male attention. This school teaches you that women can do anything they strive for, and that you can rely on the women there.

Second, be prepared to be busy. Orientation events, performers, information sessions, Learning Over Lunch, clubs, movie nights and dances. This place always has something for you to do.

Third, don't fret. If you are struggling, there will always be someone here to help you: your resident director, your adviser, the Dean, the President, the lunch lady, your big sis, your academic coach. Someone can, and will, help you. All you have to do is ask.
Academic Rigor
Converse provides some challenging courses. The honors program, especially, challenged me. They have a fairly extensive general education program, which is to be expected from a liberal arts school. They cover courses in a wide variety of areas, from The Economics of Middle Earth, to The Biology of Sexuality, to The Statistics of Games and Gambling. The classes will challenge you, but many will also catch your interest, and that is where their strengths lie.
Dorm Life
As usual, dorm rooms are not perfect. Small, poorly laid out, and with the age of the school comes the struggles of the aging buildings.

However, the environment is wonderful. Your best friends is right down the hall, or just upstairs. You can go to the kitchen and make what you want, you can hang in the media room, play air hockey in the lobby. Walk from Dexter and Pell to Williams, Belk, or Cudd, and see your big. Enjoy some TV, hang out. Study in the 24 computer lab in all the dorm buildings.

The senior apartments are to die for. Recently constructed, beautiful apartments, with full kitchens, living spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms for its residents. Trust me, many people put up with the dorms just to get to the apartments.

Also, the majority of amenities are provided, from laundry, cable, phone, printing, meal plan, everything. As a person who isn't from the Spartanburg area, and can't go home, this is perfect.
Food and Dining
Okay, I know what you're thinking. The dining hall can't be great. The food really is wonderful. The chef, Daniel, listens to our requests and tries to implement them. You can submit recipes that you want them to make or specific foods you'd like to see, and they will make them. The cookies and desserts are wonderful, and believe me, this is why the Freshman 15 is a thing. However, as with all dining halls, the food can get repetitive or boring, and there can be the occasional screw up when trying to feed so many people at one time. However, for times like this, there is the on campus Sub Connection, where you can use your meals to get subs, wraps, salads, or soup, instead of the dining hall food.
What to do for fun
Like I said before: this place will keep you busy. Magicians, comedians, and musicians all perform on the regular. There are chorale recitals and musicals and open mic nights: and that's just at the school.

Spartanburg has plenty to do: Westgate Mall, restaurants and bars in downtown (just a stone's throw from the school), clubs and nightlife, like the ever popular South 29, and so much more.
Bang for the buck
Converse, a private women's college with an award winning model program, unbelievable comprehensive special education and deaf education program, lowered its tuition by 43%. It made the New York Times. This institution is for its students, and they certainly learned that with the tuition drop.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Oh goodness. We practically have to tell people that this school is not a cult because of all our weird traditions.

We have stories of ghosts, from duels in the school's bell tower, to a hall mother who still watches over her hall. We throw pennies onto the school's seal and Dexter Converse's grave for luck (oh, and you can't step on the seal).

We have Big Sis/Lil Sis week, where we are given a big sister who helps us along the way, but we wear the attire for our class (odd numbered years are the Red Devils, and even numbered years are the Pink Panthers).

We fountain hop, trying to jump into each and every fountain on campus. Its harder than it sounds, and yes, it's allowed.
Great for these types of students
This school is great for a student who wants a good support network, who wants to be challenged; a student who wants to be well rounded and well versed.
Clubs and Activities
OUR CLUBS RULE OUR CAMPUS!

Seriously.

The Converse Activities Board plans and runs almost everything.

The clubs run sales and events, parties and dances, you name it.
Greek Life
Sorry, we can't help here.

Converse may have no Greek life, but we refer to the school as one big sorority.

We have orientation, we do Big Sis/Lil Sis, we have mixers and events to meet each other: we even have events that you would not expect to be school sponsored: casino nights, Halloween parties, big overnight blowouts.
Campus Safety
This school makes safety a priority. All dorms are under double locks, with all access cards requiring a key code to gain entrance, and all academic buildings after a certain time require this as well. Most dorm rooms have safety locks, so that if the door is closed, it is locked, and that's it. Campus safety will drive you back to your dorm room from anywhere on campus, whether it be a dorm building, the library, or the entrance of the school.

Rose from Greer, SC

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
I love Converse College. It is a wonderful private school. And it also has a beautiful campus.
Tips for prospective students
Remember this is an a women's college
Study daily
Make time for fun
Academic Rigor
Academics can be a challenge, but as long as you work hard you will be fine. The professors are really helpful. Ask lots of questions.
Dorm Life
The dorms are nice and you get to know your roommate and hallmates well.
Food and Dining
The food is always different. They may have the same things, but it will be cooked at new way. You can always find something to eat.
What to do for fun
Converse is in Downtown Spartanburg, so stuff is always going on here, or not too far off campus.

Spartanburg, SC

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Converse College is a great College for women because it is a place where women are being empowered. The teachers in Converse College also contribute to the lives of women because they try as much as possible to create a very conducive environment for learning. Women are also provided opportunities to become involved in the society by encouraging academic success.
Tips for prospective students
I encourage prospective students to go ahead and come to Converse College. They should be ready to experience a change in their lives academically, socially etc. Converse will create an inevitable impact their lives. Prospective students, be determined, ready to learn new ideas and share the beliefs of other people !
Academic Rigor
When it comes to academics, Converse provides great teachers who are willing to help students any time. Students are encouraged to ask questions and study diligently in order to step up in their academics. At Converse, academics is very important, therefore students who do well are recognized and awarded.
Dorm Life
The dorm life at Converse is interesting. Facilities to help students have a good environment are provided. People in charge of the environment try as much as possible to maintain a clean environment. Some students try as much as possible to maintain good communication with their fellow students.
Food and Dining
Food and dining services are quite appealing but sometimes, students wish they were at home because no matter how tasty a food is or one tries to make the food, it can not be compared to home made food. Some times, provision of the kind of foods students need are not provided.
What to do for fun
There are a number of things or events students do to have fun like hanging out with friends, visiting their friends in other colleges, watching athletic games, watching musical performance, attending church programs and so many others.
Clubs and Activities
There are several clubs and organizations students could participate in such as the international students organization, Nisbet Honors Program, crescent, Bonner leaders Program and so many others.
Campus Safety
There are good security men at Converse who are always ready to help students and safe guard them when the need arises. They are always available any time even at nights.

Vanessa from Chester, SC

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
there was something about the enthusiasm of the admissions counselors that just drew me to converse. i was able to connect with them, and felt drawn to the school. as i learned more about the school and attended open house in november, i fell in love with everything it has to offer.
Tips for prospective students
look for scholarships as early as september! vonverse does a wonderful of keeping up with the commitment and offers scholarships to deserving students. however, don't limit yourself to certain types of scholarships. sign up for as many websites to help you in you scholarship search, and go for large-scale, national ones to small local ones. coming from someone who is currently in this search, seeing your hard work pay off is worth the work,
Academic Rigor
everyone seems ready to learn! i had the opportunity to talk with several professors at an open house event, and they seemed genuinely interested in my opinions and intended major. the classes are small, and seem geared toward individual attention. i am very excited to see a class first-hand.
Dorm Life
the residence halls are very nice. t had the chance to see the new senior housing apartments, and i thought i was in a condo at the beach! the halls have full-scale windows that contribute to a very warm, open atmosphere. the dorms are well kept, and are very comfortable.
Food and Dining
the lunch provided at the open house in november was delicious. the food was fresh, and prepared nicely. although i haven't had much of a chance to see the food facilities that are there, i am sure they will have a good and nutitious variety.
Bang for the buck
remember scholarship applications, scholarship applications, scholarship applications! while converse may seem too expensive, it is not! a quality education, beautiful campus, and exciting school events all make the price well worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
i was excited when i read about the big sis/lil sis events. each year the incoming freshman are wither a pink panther or a red devil depending on their year of graduation. even years are pink panthers and odd years are red devils. during big sis/lil sis week, all freshman are assigned a big sister. because of the pink panthers and red devils, there is a friendly competition between the two. each year instills pride and further connects new students to current students.
Great for these types of students
motivated students who want a unique, rewarding college experience. also, one that fosters a deep sense of community.