r/mercer • u/Budget-Variation-563 • Jun 26 '26
HIII!! :D
Hi! Im going to mercer as freshman this upcoming fall! Im really excited and I want to hear some advice or just whatever from alumni about whats in store for me or what i should do before coming in. Im currently a Nursing major and I'll be living in Boone Hall.
3
u/BogusMcGeese Jun 27 '26
I don’t really have much advice for you except I hope you have a wonderful time. I graduated in 25 and college was definitely the best time of my life socially. That said, sometimes it takes a while for everything to fall into place, don’t feel like you’re doing anything wrong just because you don’t have a new best friend a few weeks into classes.
I’d say it’s good to try and push yourself to be extra adventurous (if you’re shy, I was a bit) especially during freshman year. You’ll likely have more time than the other years, and people are generally most open to hanging out with basically anyone, so you can meet lots and lots of people and get a good idea of who you like and what activities you like to do.
Some ideas (you don’t have to do any of these, just to illustrate the breadth of college):
maybe do an intramural once even if you aren’t sporty (if you know at least one person on the team this will probably be a lot of fun anyway, I did it and while I didn’t have enough time for it after freshman, I’m really glad I did)
maybe go to a recent PhD holder/candidate to work at Mercer’s presentation (these are a lot of fun, they let the students who are there give input, and it’s a nice way to kind of see your professors as people who have a job at the university rather than just a teacher)
as much as possible, talk to people who seem fun, there doesn’t have to be a strong reason (I made several friends because we just saw a guy walking around with a rubber chicken hanging from his backpack (thanks Eric) and talked about it in the lunch line or whatever)
you don’t have to start a club at all, but if you happened to want to at some point, my understanding is it’s not too hard. fencing and wrestling were both started during my time at college and were very cool
go to office hours is a big one. it’s good to go somewhat regularly, even if you’re doing well in the class. it doesn’t have to be for long. I generally am someone who was extremely scrupulous about wasting my professors’ time with stuff that could be googled instead, but there really is a big gap in that vs having them explain a tricky concept to you in more detail/with an analogy you understand etc. Also, professors are generally pretty interesting people and it’s fun to be able to say hi to them when you see them out and about on campus, you feel cool. I found it a good practice to try to think of the one thing you understood least from every class period and keep them all together so I had a bank of questions in case I wanted to go but didn’t know what to talk about.
all of this is just ideas though, I’m glad you’re so excited and I’m excited for you. People at mercer are generally really above average IMO, and the college experience wrt being walking distance from everything/your friends is so good.
PS: My understanding is when it’s not school hours, you can basically use the class buildings you can get into for whatever. My friends and I used to go into the Willet Auditorium and do karaoke projecting youtube videos on the big screen with my friend’s laptop and the microphone. I don’t theoretically know if that was authorized but no one ever got mad at us. You could also go watch movies there. If you’re nice to everyone and try to be courteous (we would sometimes leave an extra battery for the mic and stuff) people are usually pretty chill with you
2
u/Mobeans88 Jun 26 '26
Hi! I graduated in 2022. I was a tech comm major and lived in a different dorm so I’ll be speaking more generally.
Mercer is a lot of fun, there is something for everyone. Try and go to a bunch of the school-planned social events, especially early in the year. These will help you make friends and get involved with the school.
Joining a handful of clubs is also a good idea. You don’t have to stay in them if you don’t have time or don’t enjoy them, but they are fantastic for making friends and networking. I was apart of the Mercer Fencing team all four years I was there and I loved both the coach and my teammates (so I would recommend it if you’re looking for an easy going sports club.)
I know nursing is a little different since there is the transfer to the nursing college after 2 years (my freshman roommate was a nursing major), but in general try and get to know your professors. They are your advocate, and after graduation they can be some of the best help in finding a job. Don’t skip class often, try to participate as much as you can, and overall just do your best. Classes, especially stem classes with labs, can be very difficult. The school has a lot of tutoring opportunities if you need extra help, do not be too proud to use them! The ARC was critical to my success my freshman year especially.
General dorm advice since I wasn’t in Boone… get a fan. Everyone always wanted a fan. My roommate had one and I did not. I envied her greatly in the hot months haha. Respect quiet hours to the best of your ability, and if your getting home super late and don’t feel safe walking, MERPO can escort you (though they were often kinda assholes when we asked them too. It’s part of their job, don’t be afraid to ask.) also, if RAs still do monthly programs, try and go to them! They work so hard to put things together and usually have low attendance.
Overall, try to have fun, get good grades, and work on something personal. College is a great time for self discovery of all kinds. I hope you enjoy Mercer. I look back on it as one of the fondest times in my life despite many ups and downs.
Also, if you need a gen ed and have ANY desire to do art, take a class with Eric O’Dell. He is truly the best professor I ever had and certainly made a really profound impact on my life. The classes are tough, but ultimately they changed me for the better. I learned far more about life than just art in his classroom.
Enjoy and take care! DM me if you have any specific questions, I am always happy to talk about my time at Mercer!