Student Profile
Jessica
- Class: Senior
- Major: Biology
- Gender: F
- High School: Los Alamos High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
UNM is cheap for New Mexico residents, something to consider if you intend on paying for a house, car, or graduate/professional school. The campus could have been built in a better part of Albuquerque, though. The size of the school is fantastic because you can have whatever experience you want. If you want to be noticed there are classes of 10-25 people, but if you want to fade into the background and skip class then there are 850 people classes. UNM is definitely the best recognized university in New Mexico, with top academic and athletic programs compared to the surrounding schools. The physical campus is beautifully landscaped, some really old buildings seem trashy, but there are lots of brand new buildings as well. The dorms are disgusting, so most people live off campus. There are plenty of opportunities to take part in school functions and organizations.
Academic Life
At UNM, as with any other college or university, you chose your academic fate. If you want to be known by all of your professors, go to office hours and ask questions in class. If you want to stay under the radar, that is easy to do. Depending on the size of classes you chose, most will not take attendance but will encourage active participation through questions or clickers (Biochemisty was my favorite class, while History was my least favorite. Most students spend at least 3 or 4 hours every night studying, but some classes demand that much alone. Most students in my department are pre-med, so they are extremely competitive. The biology department is fantastic, offering neat classes like infectious organisms and bioterrorism agents. The requirments for our department are extensive compared to others (like psychology), which are more relaxed. Many supporting courses, such as calculus, organic chemistry and physics are required for a degree in biology. There are many resources to help biology majors find careers suited for them.
Student Body
The UNM student body is very diverse, so anyone can fit right in. Many students are associated with athletics to provide financial aid. The majority of students have some form of financial assistance, including the Lottery Scholarship offered to all New Mexico students entering a New Mexico university with a 2.5 GPA. This scholarship almost covers full in-state tuition. Most UNM students are New Mexico natives and most are financing their own education while working at least part-time, many full-time. Many UNM students are obtaining degrees that will allow them to pursue a career in New Mexico. Politics are not a major component of campus life.
The Best Things
The health science programs and faculty
The Worst Things
The location of campus in Albuquerque
