University of Colorado--Boulder | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Kristina

Class: Senior
Major: Communications
Gender: F

High School: Green Mountain High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

The best thing about Boulder is the variety of activities available for everyone. I have never been somewhere or experienced anything where whatever you put into the University, it gives back you you even more. Boulder is a college town, and everyone here is a Buff Fan, most for life. You meet the friendliest people here, and would be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn't love it here. The weather is a bit unpredictable, but the mountain views are breathtaking. The administration has undergraduate education in mind, and never loses sight of that. The students have challenged the University to give them a degree that they can take pride in, and CU has answered that challenge, and made our degree something to prepare us for the world. My favorite part of my 4 years was the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, and make friends for life.

Academic Life

As a current Communication Major, I remember being elated when I was accepted into the program. Since then, both my major and non-major classes have been challenging, and informative. All the professors have been approachable, and most know me by name. Office hours are a wonderful tool, and CU itself does not employ any professors exclusively for research. All the professors on campus teach a class, making them committed to education before research. The academic requirements are rigorous, but leave you with a degree equipped for the real world. The students here have a passion for learning, but rarely a competitive outlook. Instead, I feel they learn from each other, taking experiences from each person they meet, and using that to enhance their education.

Student Body

Though statistically not very diverse, I have found Boulder to be one of the most interesting towns I've ever been to. Students are focused, but laid back, and seem to thoroughly enjoy all their time here. There's always someone to study with, someone to go to the gym with, someone to go hike with. Sitting outside in the fall with friends watching the trees change is one of my favorite things to do. The campus does not have high dress code standards, mostly just jeans and a sweatshirt on normal days, though there are some students who choose to dress up. Professors maintain a business casual attire, making them seem part of the flow. There are 45% out of state students, so there is always someone in the same position as you. There are a variety of political backgrounds and current beliefs, all which are celebrated on campus. Campus isn't cliquey, and no one cares if you are a freshman, or a graduate student. Your dorm mates become your first network on campus, and as you join activities that interest you, the campus becomes your small network. You never feel like a number. My favorite thing is walking anywhere on campus and seeing at least 5 people I know.