At Emory university, the culture is known for its long-standing and beloved traditions. One of the most unique traditions is centered around a skeleton named Dooley which takes the first name and middle initial of the current university president. Each year a student represents Dooley, dressing as a skeleton and donning a black cape, a black top hat, and white gloves. The student’s identity is kept secret, but Dooley makes an appearance at notable campus events like the Annual Town Meeting and Dooley’s Week. It is an endearing spectacle that is loved by all.

Emory university’s campus is overflowing with hundreds of student clubs, initiatives, and organizations. These include numerous student government, special interest, and service organizations. The Student Government Association charters and provides most of the funding for other student groups, and is a representative of students' interests when dealing with the administration. The Student Government Association also oversees divisional councils, each coinciding with the undergraduate, graduate and professional schools of the university.

The university is located in the suburbs, but just a scant 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta, and the school’s innovative and popular “Experience Shuttles” take students out to various attractions in the city on a weekly basis. Much of life at Emory revolves around extracurriculars, and the opportunities to get involved on campus are abounding, with “many volunteer, language, arts, and sports organizations. In addition to these activities, many students “hang out at coffee shops on campus, explore the Atlanta area, hike in Emory’s sprawling natural landscape, or go to social events on Greek Row. Greek life is very prominent here, so “there is always something going on, whether it is an open social event, a philanthropy event, or commitments within your organization.” While many people go to parties or club meetings during the majority of their free time, everyone is perfectly happy to “just chill in the dorm rooms and watch a movie on the free television Emory provides” as well.

This top research university in Atlanta offers more than eighty undergraduate programs spread across nine schools, and affords students the academic freedom to customize their own curriculum and pursue multiple programs of study, no matter how strange the combination might be.

The diversity within the student body is a massive attraction, for not only are students “from all over the United States and from around the globe,” but the perspectives represented on this campus are “truly astounding.” Everyone at Emory is “extremely curious about the world around them” and passionate about both their areas of study as well as their extracurricular commitments. There’s “a niche for literally anything and everything,” and “the mood on campus is overall happy and light-hearted.” The spirit of Emory encompasses “a community of care, embracing diversity, and providing a learning environment conducive to academic success.”