Florida International University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Eric

Class: Freshman
Major:
Gender: M

High School: Charles W. Flanagan High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

FIU is different from many other choices within the Florida State University System, because it is located in a metropolitan area rather than a "college town." The school also has a more modern feel since the buildings were recently constructed as opposed to the stereotypical campus style of brick buildings. The reaction I often get when I tell people that I go to FIU is "Why?" presumably because other Florida schools have more of a historical representation, but these people are often not aware of FIU's growth an expansion, including new medical and law schools. FIU's administration, like any bureaucracy, has its flaws. It is a typical college complaint, but athletics are put above academics in many instances. While this does have the opportunity to pay off for universities since athletics generates revenue, with the record of the Golden Panthers football team, it is sucking more money than it is bringing in. Especially with the recent budget cuts, many programs and services are suffering at the university, and it's hard to say that out of order priorities are not to blame. Yet, all that aside, FIU is a fine and diverse learning institution with positive aspects not well known to the general public.

Academic Life

Whether or not professors know your name at FIU depends on the size of the class you are enrolled in. While many classes are auditorium-sized and your face will never be seen up close by the professor, there are many opportunities for smaller learning environments, including the Honors College, where students are paired with a professor for interdisciplinary learning for an entire year, and FIGS, where first-year students are grouped with each other and have several classes together. Class participation, at least in lower division and core curriculum classes seems low, but are mostly lecture based.

Student Body

FIU's student body is very diverse. You will find every ethnicity and nationality here, though predominately Hispanic. There are student groups lauding and supporting all student causes, racial, religious, LGBT, etc.