Q. What is Firsthand Friday, and who can attend?
A. Firsthand Friday is for high school seniors and transfer students who are seriously considering Berry College among their college options. Parents are also welcome to attend. This event provides an inside look at academic life at Berry, and it offers students an opportunity to get to know professors and current students.

Q. What time does Firsthand Friday begin and end?
A. Firsthand Friday will start at 9am and end around 3pm. Click here to view the General Schedule for the day. You'll receive a schedule specific to your area of interest when you check in with us on Friday morning.

Q. Is there a cost to attend Firsthand Friday?
A. No, all of our events for prospective students are free of charge to our guests.

Q. What if I can't come on February 8th?
A. If you cannot attend on February 8th, we encourage you to schedule an individual campus visit on another weekday so that the Office of Admissions can work with you to visit classes or meet professors in your interest area. You can schedule an individual visit by clicking here.  

Q. I'm not sure what I want to study. What should I do?
A. If you are still exploring academic options, that's totally fine with us! We encourage you to select "Undecided" as your program of interest when you register. We'll show you some ways that we help you explore your choices through a liberal arts and sciences foundation, and you'll learn more about the process of choosing a major at Berry. However, if you're "undecided" between very similar programs (biology and chemistry for example), we'd encourage you to select one of your interest areas so that we can place you with an appropriate group for the day.

Q. I'm planning to bring friends/siblings/family members who are also prospective Berry students. How should they be registered?
A. We prefer that each prospective student register for the event separately using different email addresses. This will allow us to be prepared with a personalized information packet when you arrive for check-in.

Q. What will students do at Firsthand Friday?
A. Students will spend time with their chosen academic area exploring a variety of firsthand possibilities. You might observe a real class with current students, hear a student panel presentation, or even participate in a lab or classroom exercise with a professor. You'll also have the chance to ask questions and engage with professors and current students, eat lunch in the dining hall, and take a walking tour of campus if you'd like. 

Q. What will parents do?
A. While students are with the academic areas, parents will have the opportunity to attend an academic life session with faculty and in-depth session with the admissions staff. We'll talk about the admissions and enrollment process, financial aid, and the ways that we help students become successful members of the Berry community. Parents will join the students for lunch in the dining hall and have options to tour campus in the afternoon.

Q. I’ve been to Discover Berry. How is this different?
A. Discover Berry programs offer a very general overview in a large group setting. Firsthand Fridays, however, are designed to give you a more in-depth look at academics and opportunities that augment the academic experience on campus (work, study abroad, research, etc.) Firsthand Friday might give you a view of Berry you haven't seen before.

Q. I’ve already been to Berry for an individual visit. Should I still come to Firsthand Friday?
A. Absolutely! Firsthand Friday offers you the chance to meet some people you may not have met while you were here for your individual visit. It’s a great way to explore our academic programs and interact with a number of current students and faculty.

Q. What if I have a question about the event that hasn’t been answered here?
A. Please contact Kinsey Stout, Assistant Director of Operations, at kstout@berry.edu or (706) 238-7918.