University of Iowa | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Katelyn

Class: Sophomore
Major: Other
Gender: F

High School:
Transfer Student: Y

Big Picture

I love that the school is big but it has a small feel too it. I can blend into the crowd when I want to, and I can choose when I want to be noticed. I honestly feel that this is MY campus, which is really cool. I also love the surrounding town. Businesses, bars, and restaurants are centered around college kids, so it feels like you're constantly being catered to. Its a great feeling. The Hawkeye spirt is pretty amazing, especially during football games. Everyone is really into where they go to school, and we all band together. I love that I can call myself a Hawkeye. A major drawback, however, is that Iowa is basically in the middle of nowhere. Getting to places like malls, movie theaters, and grocery stores, if you don't have a car, can be a big hassle. My best advice: make friends with someone who has a car on campus.

Academic Life

A lot of freshman and sophomore gen-ed courses are definitely weed-out classes, and so are the pre-med and pre-pharmacy classes. There are so many people in the lectures that the professors make them extra hard, to make sure that only the top 5% of people get an A. Some classes though are really small and intimate. Classes like Interpretation of Lit. and Rhetoric (Classes that ALL undergrads have to take.) are no bigger than 20 students, so you get to know eachother really well. Class participation is encouraged and required, and teachers are supportive and open about everyone's different opinions. Definitely one of the perks of the required gen-eds at Iowa. Competitiveness ranges from major to major. For example, communication and sports studies majors are notoriously lazy and can pass classes with just doing the bare minimums. Highly ranked programs at Iowa, such as Pre-Pharmacy and Speech Pathology,are incredibly competitive, and some students live in the library during midterms and finals.

Student Body

Racial diversity at Iowa is definitely lacking. Its been said that Iowa is the whitest place on earth...and well, that's probably somewhat accurate. However, I haven't ever obseved any racism on campus EVER. The majority of Iowa students are from small Iowa towns or from the suburbs of Chicago. There are very few from the East coast, and a good size come from Texas and California...but thats it. International students? Haven't met one yet. Iowa School uniform during weekdays: Girls: Northface fleece/jacket/vest, jeans, and uggs. Boys: Iowa football sweatshirt, jeans, tennis shoes Iowa School Uniform for going to the bars: Girls: A dressy top, jeans, and heels in winter, and a lowcut, short dress with heels in fall and spring. Boys: Jeans and a button down shirt. Iowa School uniform on game days: Complete head to toe black and gold. Period. Facepaint is not an option.