Going to college - Macon or Savannah (great)

[ellie]

That's sounds great, but what is GC&SU?

[xxman777]

Georgia College and State University

[ellie]

Wow, I've lived in Georgia most of my life and had never heard of it. Went to UGA myself.

I'm due a visit to Millegeville. It's one of the few places in the state I've never gone, at least that I can remember.

[pickleswanson]

Oh yeah you should visit. Like most any other place in the south you have to take certain aspects of the city with a grain of salt but I worked in Milledgeville for 3 yrs. The people are very easy to talk to. I think it has something to do with the huge age differences of most of the population. You have your college crowd with people from all over the world and then you have a huge 55+ community. Of course people exist here with ages in between but these are the two largest groups. While there make you enjoy "The Lake", Lake Sinclair is this community's pride and joy. Everything in Milledgeville occurs either at the lake or at the college. Lots of fun for people who don't need a true city atmosphere. I'm sure you know that at one time it was the state capitol and that very noticable when you are there. Very interesting how that was incorporated and still means a great deal to some of the population. Many good hometown resturants. My favorites were Amci's (spelling ?) downtown and I can't remember the name but it was on the right hand side of 441N at the lake. Many outdoorsy things to do to if you like that and don't mind looking for them in the surrounding county at state parks. Most people also find it fun to check out the kaolin mines just down the road and explore the restricted history of them. Hard to info about it until you learn how to research it and still hard to learn exactly how it is managed or how profits are dealt with. Don't know where you are comming from but my guess would be Savannah area from other posts. I would recommend following Hwy 80 to hwy 18 to hwy 243 to experience the area by driving or if you are coming in from the north and west I would follow hwy 16 (not I-16) to hwy 22. Close by Sandersville has an interesting connection because of kaolin too. Great story to read.

[ellie]

I've been to Sandersville many times on the way to Athens. A friend of mine grew up there. The kaolin mines are fascinating.

Milledgeville has never been on the way to anyplace I've ever needed to go, but I would like to.

[new28moon]

jhsrichards, Choose a school that has the major you are interested in. Sometimes credit hours can be lost when transferring from one institution to another. Armstrong does not have a business major so keep that in mind too.

[Hyun-Soo]

I suggest GC&SU.

Here are the reasons:

-It's a better school
-Much less crime than the other area [Savannah]
-Milledgeville is a thriving college town with out of class functions.
-Many cheap bars, restaurants, and stores that cater to college students.
[The other college in Savannah is not a college friendly area]
-Milledgeville is conveniently located in between Athens and Macon and at easy reach of Atlanta.
-Macon is a very nice city was the largest mall outside of Atlanta and a one of a kind culture and arts scene.
-The area is currently in a boom with a new mall, restaurants, shopping centers opening up frequently.
-The history in Milledgeville is quite interesting.

I hope you take my suggestions to heart.

Thanks
-Hyun Soo

[geopruden]

Originally Posted by jlchitwood96

I am graduate of GC&SU, so I get all the stats in my alumni magazine. The SAT average at GC&SU is 1130(3rd highest in the UGA system) and the retention rate(freshmen who come back for their sophomore year is 84% third in the state as well. Forget any preconcieved notions if you haven't followed GC&SU since 1996. Armstrong academic standards are not even close GC&SU. GC&SU is closer to UGA than Armstrong is to GC&SU. Look it up and you will see the facts. Armstrong is a commuter college with no campus life and a SAT average that barely breaks 1000. Of course GC&SU has some down sides and is a suit case college to an extent, but it's the closest thing to a classic college experience to UGA within the state system. If you can't get into UGA or your looking for a cheap alternative to the private colleges GC&SU is a good choice. It's considered to be HANDS DOWN the third best college in the system behind GT and UGA.

Some of your information is out of date: AASU has 6-8 recently constructed dorms (suite style) housing almost 900 students, so there is more campus life than once was the case. I grant that GC&SU has a good academic reputation, but to put down Armstrong as "not even close" is unfair and largely inaccurate. My bias is based on teaching there for 20 years (1982-2002). Both universities no longer accept students who require remedial courses, so average SAT scores of entering freshmen has risen. Armstrong no longer has a business school or department (court-ordered program swap with Savannah State in the late '70s), but it has a fine Dept. of Economics, whose graduates do quite well in securing employment in the business world -- some jobs arise out of a fairly large number of internships. (Savannah has a thriving economy and is the fastest-growing port on the east coast.) You can see the housing units, and get a lot more information on the AASU website: www.armstrong.edu.

[jhsrichards]

is the nightlife in milledgeville and macon 18+ freindly? or is it all 21+ like savannah?

[willathompson123]

Amazingly, I was going Law school home work and happend across this msg somehow and felt required to post.

I Lived in Milledgeville (aka MillyVegas) for 4 years doing my UnderGrad, then came up to Macon to Mercer for Law School. so, I can answer this question better than most.

First: By saying you value your freetime dearly, I'm guessing you mean "When I get to college I am going to Party untill my brains hit the floor. Keep in mind thats what I'm going on here, but I doubt I'm far from the truth.

Macon: If I had to use on two words to decribe this town, it would be "Ghost Town." This town has been slowly but steadily passing on each day since they moved the capital out of Middle GA a long long time ago. Due to such, the only people tha have stayed have been locals, or those that can't afford to live. There is a large amount of poverty and low income here, thus a higher degree of crime. ( I grew up in Gwinnett County, so I know where your coming from. Last week was doing some work and needed census reports. Curious, I glased at Comm. Reports for 2006. In 2006, Gwinnet had a poverty rate of around 12-13% (Im working off memory here.) and Macon had over 30%.) On top of that, this creates low amount of revenue and a stiffled economy, thus the town looks like someone took a poop on it and never clean it up ten years ago. Only good looking areas are subdivisions about 5 miles out... and all of us from Atlanta know just how cool those are. On top of this, There used to be a mental inst. here, which was shut down. The state, in its brillancy and lack of funds, let go those who no one would take. Due to such, There is an amazingly large Homeless base, who all just "happen" to be bat stir crazy. Go figure.

Nightlife... hmmmm.. You know what I do on Thursdays? I play Halo. Why? because this town is dark and creepy. There are one or two bars I go to, and they are filled with 30 year old white collars. Granted, I'm in law school, so I don't know what undergrad does around here, but I NEVER and I do mean NEVER see them out. Maybe house parties, I don't know. Wait, mark that, I just learned from my neihbor in the libary here at the Law School one of those bars I liked was shut down for not having a liqueor licence for 3 years. So, make that one. That also shows you how this town works: operating without a Booze permit... for 3 years??!?
The schools good (undergrad), and it looks nice. It's built in a community style so everyone really lives on Campus. Helps with the safety, and prob. the fun factor some. The law school is not located there. But, It's expensive as balls. But in it's value, if your all about the job after 4 years, its going to rank higher than GCSU... maybe. GCSU is shooting up quick. Also, I don't know about the Biz dept. Only the Law Dept.

MillyVegas: In reality, the Best four years of my life were spent in this town. Pertaining to your crime question Milledgeville is amazingly safe. The town has had three murders in 5 years. A man killed his wife and daughter a few yrs back, and a drunk student killed another student on Halloween night at 4 A.M. in a fight in the middle of the street. (though, the death was accsidental). Though, and this is VERY important to note, No crime can also be a bad thing. Due to that factor, the Police in this area have NOTHING to do. This translates into almost weekly road blocks for DUI's Very heavy police presence at night downtown, and alot of tickets if you drive fast. This is not a terrible outcome, untill you get that first underage and see it is 700... and the next one is 1400. Dollars that is. And they aim for you. Of course, it's mostly legal... when your drunk and underage it's fairly obvious.
The reaosn they give so many tickets is to make up for the "freedom factor". The booze flows freely in the town... to all. Bars normally wont serve you right away (first 2 or 3 months when it is hot), but its a small town. After that, its almost a free for all. They might still ask for your ID, but that's becuase your either out on a busy night (they dont need your money compared to the minimal risk to them), they dont like you (it happens) or your obviously not 21 (in which you "could" get a fake (i dont support illegial acts, i'm in law school, remember?), could get someone else to buy it, (one attempt to stop you is enough for most) or pocket a flask (cheaper option).
As for the bars, there is 9 of them, and all are for students. This town is Small in size, so they all except one occupy one square. This makes for fun bar hopping and high sociable-drunkness/1:15 hunting (you will learn that one later). All of them are also resteruants during the day, with good, affordable college foods. There is a wing night on EACH day of the week (amazing really). Drinks are cheap. 2 dollar beers, 3-4 well drinks depending on night out.
I don't know your sex, but when I went down 4 years ago, the female to male ratio was 8 women to 1 man. I go back about every three months... not much has changed. I beleive it's more like 5-1 now... but its all good. The students tend to come from Atlanta area (like us) or Augusta. Thus, most are social and carry the same type of mindset. The woman, being from our areas, look like the ones back home (ATL style... good looking, but not prim and proper for the most part) or being form Augusta, are knockout beautiful for the most part, and tend ot be either Hippies, Hikers, Farmer's daughters types, or simple sorority type. Majority of them from August are blond... from ATL it's a toss up. (Odd note: your hard to find a girl from Augusta who ever smokes ciggaretes... kinda nice.) If your female, you have good options simply by the fact your a woman. Though, if your the drool over a guy kinda gal, not the mind over matter but the matter an't bad type, then your ratio is going to be off. If your sociable though, you wont have any problems. The population of Baldwin County (the entire counnty enclosing Milly and outlying areas) was 20,000 as of last year. 15,400 of those are students from college. Thus, 3 out of four people you see int he avg. day are students.
One of the best tihngs is the poeple and bizs of the town (if not the city council) relaize this, and everything is basically aimed at, and in support of GCSU students. You get a bobcard, which is norm. what you use in most schools to get intot he cafeteria and go to Chickfila. In Milledgeville, it works at All resteraunt establishes, with a few exceptions. That means 3:A.M. Taco bell on Mommy and Daddy, atleast till the figure it out. (Also, u can go to Eckards, w/ the card, get a 20$ visa Gift Certificate, then go spend it on beer --- but its against the rules--- but its ignored.)

In general, the downtown is Beautiful. Old school hoses kept in good shape, and kids live in all of them. Though, because they are so old, the city council does not play around about enforcement policies. (Ex: Leave your trashcan out for longer than 7 days, and after a three warning, it's a 1000 dollar fine.) In reality though, it's not to bad.
If you like Greek life, GCSU is almost 35% greek. These are the same people that compose 90% of the social activities. Being that the male/female ratio is so high, being in a fraternity opens man, many wonderful doors for you. My old Chapter, Kappa Sigma, now has 100 memebers, and is 2nd largest in the nation. and thats at GCSU. I'd suggest Greek life, but if that not what u like, then there are still many other social options. You spend your first year int he dorms, thus you meet alot of new friends who you see everyday for the next 4-7 years. (alot of people like it so much they stay to long, thus 7 years). Christian groups are real big and offer the less consumption approach to fun, but alot fo people love them. Intermurals are real big, and get VERY competative. It quickly becomes a major issue at flagfootball season time. All in All, Milly Rocks, but it will take you 2 months to get used to the diffrence in lifestyle. Middle Ga and ATL are two really Diffrent places, and rat tails and lack of teeth are accseptable down here.... thats not a joke. also, economy is good, and goods are cheap. Thus, cheap living is fullfilling in college. Though, you will NEVER and I mean this: EVER FIND A JOB. They are coveted and fought for. So get a loan, or be rich.
If your a Pot smoking guy, there is alot fo that here to... though it is highly unaccsepted by the city, school and officials. They catch you, they will attempt to nail you to the wall. GBI just busted up some kinds for selling marijuana, found a few ounces... and they were on the front page for three days, mug shots and all. You can do it, and find people to do it with, but you get caught and your up the creek and there is a steamboat coming at you.
Teachers are good, education is fulfilling. If you like learning alot, its hands on. small classroom size (no more than 23 in most, 48 in major classes) prof. focuse on teaching, not publishing (thus no nuclear facilities and spiderman mishaps in milly), and if your a skimmer, you can skimm by with min. effort in 2.5 range. You party to much, your gonna pop D's before you know it though. I had a 3.0 out of highschool, put forth effort Mon - Thurs. and got out with a 3.8.
Biz dept and education looking in form the outside... I don't know. If your expecting a 60,000 a year job out of school, your not gonna get it with a 4 year biz degree. ATL tends not to consider them a prime player right now in the education realm, though it has changed considerably, and is moving up very fast. You take 4-5 years, it might be held consistent with the high graders, but will alway be third. Anyone I know who had 60K a year or more jobs either had: Connection in the family, Did a biz. degree with Accountant degree (double major - 5 yrs.) full on accountant CPA degree (6 including Grad school), had fraternity connection or slept with someone. Oh yea, all bars are 18, none are 21, and Lake Sinclar is nearby, but so is a powerplant, which only makes the muddy warn water worthwhile in the dead heat of summer and a six pack later. Lots of students liv eon the lak though, so acsess to it is free and open.

Ok, I got to go get back to homework, so Im gonna rap this up...I think thats about it... Oh yea, rents cheap. I had a nice house for 300 a month with an acre for my dog... Here I pay 650 for a crappy, Small apt, which INCLUDES a guy who diggs thorugh the dumpster outside my window and talks to himself while he gathers cans for recycling..... go figure. Also, and most important of all, In 88% of this town I wear a sidearm b/c I don't feel safe... that is something to think about. I do not go out after 10 without it. Last year not 4 houses down a law student shot a guy who broke in thorugh the window... the dude was cracked out and kept coming toward him after he SMASHED the window out and crawked thorugh it, cut up and all. Something to think about.... I got beat up one time in Milledgeville, But I so deserved it.

I'll never be back on here, so email me if you have any questions. And sorry, I do not believe in spell check.
willathompson123@gmail.com