Student Profile
Anna
- Class: Freshman
- Major: Neuroscience
- Gender: F
- High School: Reedsville High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
The best thing about UMN for me is the wide variety of majors and other extra groups that smaller campuses don't have. I think the school is too big. If I have a problem that I need to fix I have to go to many different places and jump through many hoops just to fix it. When I tell people from back home that I go to the U the main reaction is how far away it is from home, or something about city life. Not many people know a lot about the academics or specifics where I am from. Most of my time spent on campus is working. I feel that the U overcharges their students and should give out more financial aid. The U's administration doesn't really instill an opinion on me much. I think the system treats you like a number, and as long as you are willing to be treated as one appeasement will get you through. I don't feel that there is much school pride, but that is because I compare it to Madison's school pride. There just isn't the same aura like at Homecoming or football games.
Academic Life
About half of my professors I've had knew my name. It is something different if they can still remember it in a year. Education at the U is definitely geared at getting a job. I learn the stuff to take the test, most of which I will never use again. My favorite class is my academic success strategies class. I like it because I have a group of friends in there and then we all go to lunch together afterwards. The professor is pretty cool and knows us by name, but doesn't seem very scholarly. My least favorite class was Global Politics. The course description didn't really match the class content and it was boring and impersonal. The first bad history class I have ever taken. In most of my classes the students don't participate, but it seems like the professors have gotten used to it. I don't think that the students are very competitive because of the size. You have to compete against yourself more so than anyone else. The most unique class I took was a Biology class entitled, "What Sex Should I Be?" It was taught by Jane Phillips and covered unique sexual determination characteristics and variants that could alter sexual preferences. I am double majoring in Neuroscience and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Both of the departments are smaller and extremely specified. I've met with a few of my professors outside of class. I've talked to all of them at least once because of some medical conditions that I have. Two professors from last semester I have met for coffee and chat at least once a month. A few other ones I have bumped into outside of class randomly. I think that some of the U's academic requirements are a bit much. Because I am double majoring in two different colleges I have to meet double the requirements. I find this to be unfair because it is literally impossible for me to graduate in 4 years.
Student Body
I think every student feels a little out of place at the U. It is so diverse that one could never feel completely comfortable. I notice that most of the students are from upper-middle class families.
The Best Things
options and a reputable education when you leave
The Worst Things
the cold people
