Don't go to Millsaps and expect to skate through without a great deal of effort on your part. Millsaps students and staff will support you in every way, but you must be motivated to excel!

Millsaps is an excellent school! People are very friendly--they definitely have the "Southern Hospitality" thing going. The registrar, admissions, and other school officials are also excellent. I had nothing but good experiences with them. The food, however, is another story. I spent a lot of money eating off-campus. They did build a new on-campus restaurant my senior year, and the food there was pretty good, but not excellent. Oh, and Millsaps is a wet campus, which means you are allowed to keep alcohol in your room, if you are 21. They also serve alcohol in the restaurant. I wouldn't call it a "party school," though. Students tend to be responsible drinkers...for the most part.

It's a small school, but growing. The year I graduated (two years ago), they had to build a new dorm just to accomodate all the students they had. Jackson is not a big city, but it still has a lot of things to do. The local coffee shop is a popular place to hang out and way better than Starbucks! Not much to do on campus most weekends, except for the occassional party at a fraternity house. If you prefer going out, there are some fun, hip places to go to in Jackson, many of which offer student discounts, so things are cheap! The social scene, for the most part, is one of the biggest things people complain about. It definitely exists, but it may feel like you have to work a little harder to find it. People who join Greek organizations have fewer complaints in this area than those who don't. One of the best things about Millsaps, though, is their commitment to community service. There are tons of opportunities to serve the community. Also, the dorms are super nice--some of the nicest dorms I've seen on any college campus.

Since graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1976, I have attended graduate school in Texas and I have taught high school sciences and worked in industry in several disciplines including oil and gas, environmental and now explosives (including pyrotechnics, propellants and high explosives). Thirteen years ago my partner and I started our own consulting firm and are now completing a state-of-the-art production facility to produce military products. I have never regretted having attended Millsaps and I am always quite proud when I encounter folks who know of Millsaps. Millsaps provided me with an education and training to undertake whatever I have encountered along the way. I regret only that I was not more mature in my actions, my mind-set and my faith in Jesus Christ while at Millsaps when I could have benefited so much more from the experiences there.

Millsaps is an excellent school! People are very friendly--they definitely have the "Southern Hospitality" thing going. The registrar, admissions, and other school officials are also excellent. I had nothing but good experiences with them. The food, however, is another story. I spent a lot of money eating off-campus. They did build a new on-campus restaurant my senior year, and the food there was pretty good, but not excellent. Oh, and Millsaps is a wet campus, which means you are allowed to keep alcohol in your room, if you are 21. They also serve alcohol in the restaurant. I wouldn't call it a "party school," though. Students tend to be responsible drinkers...for the most part.

Yes, for the most part. I mean, there were some students who weren't all that intellectual or intelligent, but most students would rather have a conversation about climate change than the boy in their geology lab. And, of course, not all students who claimed to be politically liberal were actually active. At one point, the College Republicans was actually larger than the Young Democrats. I think the professors tend to be more liberal than the students, and that's where the stereotype comes from.

Millsaps prides itself on being "progressive." They are very culturally diverse, having everything from an annual Indian festival to an Ash Wednesday service to a Ramadan celebration. Many students are Catholic, but nearly every other religion is represented and respected. Students are very politically active, and vary to both extremes. What is wonderful about Millsaps, however, is that students like to dialogue about the issues, then are willing to shake hands and walk away friends after. There are no hard feelings or name calling, really. Young Democrats and College Republicans got together to do a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims one year, so the two sides do work together frequently. They also host debates together from time to time. Economically, students come from all backgrounds. Many are on scholarship, and Millsaps is *really* generous with financial aid. They have extremely generous alumni who allow for this (hint, hint as to what you could be one day). Students who are closed minded could feel *very* out of place at Millsaps. I don't mean this in a harsh or derogatory way, but students who are unwilling to see both sides of an issue are often ostracized. I, for one, am a fairly conservative Christian, but I had friends who were liberal atheists. I also had friends who were conservative Christians. We were all open about who we were, we dialogued about our differences, and it made for an excellent learning experience for all. Millsaps students pride themselves on their open-mindedness and service to the community.

The professors are AMAZING! Academics are taken very seriously at Millsaps--even partying students can be found in the libraries during the week. The motto could probably be summed up as, "Work hard, play hard." The students aren't very competitive, though. Students tend to work together a lot, and study groups are a common sight throughout campus. I was an English major, and not only did I know every professor in the department, but they all knew me. Many of my friends had similar experiences in their departments. Rather than a teacher/student relationship, you often feel more of a mentor/student relationship, as professors are willing to take the time to work with you one-on-one. Millsaps learning is definitely about learning for its own sake, so don't expect any specialized majors. It's a liberal arts education, and they take that very seriously. The comprehensive exams to graduate are pretty intense. It's a great education, though. I moved to another state after graduation, and when I applied for a job at a prestigious academy, the Headmaster was impressed that I had graduated from Millsaps. This cannot be expected everywhere, however, as Millsaps is a small school. But the quality of the education rivals some bigger "ivy league" schools.

The personal relationship one has with professors at Millsaps is invaluable to students. When I attended graduate school at a large state university in Texas, I experienced the same personal relationship with professors. But it was somewhat alarming to see how many undergrads were stuffed into freshman and sophomore level classes at that same university.

About half the campus is involved in a Greek organization. That being said, Greek life at Millsaps is a bit different than Greek life at other schools. The Greek organizations at Millsaps are very commited to community service, participating in several high-profile fundraising events throughout the year. They are also the hub of the social life. I had not intended to rush my freshman year, but once I got on campus, nearly everyone I met and friended was a part of a particular sorority, so I decided to join that sorority. It was one of the best decisions I made at Millsaps. I met my best friends that way, and gained valuable life experience in the process. Guest speakers/lecturers are frequent and are well-attended. Theatre is extremely popular, and the college has an excellent theatre program. I went to nearly every play, and some twice! Sports programs are not extremely well attended, but people do go. More people play sports than attend them. I also met a lot of great friends playing tennis. A lot of the social scene takes place off campus, though. The local coffee shop is a hot spot, as are several bars and restaurants in the area.

Don't go to Millsaps and expect to skate through without a great deal of effort on your part. Millsaps students and staff will support you in every way, but you must be motivated to excel!

This is not your low priced state school (if there is such a thing)! You do pay a premium price for a premium educational experience. I was fortunate in the days when an athletic scholarship paid tuition. Most of the students are from Mississippi and the surrounding states, but a fair percentage are from all around the country.