Student Profile
Amanda
- Class: Senior
- Major: Journalism
- Gender: F
- High School: South-Doyle High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
On-campus living is very involved and there is a wealth of nicer off-campus apartments. Knoxville is a city built around a huge university. The school is downtown, making the scenery spectacular and bars and restaurants accessible. Although UT is downtown, the area surrounding it is a whole different world with its own apartments, houses, clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. It is community oriented as well. During football season, 3/4 of the Knoxville population piles into the stadium and its surrounding parts to tailgate. Football time in Tennessee is certainly something that cannot be explained. It has to be experienced. Out of all of the other SEC football games I have attended around the South, UT has the most passionate fans, revered traditions and energetic atmosphere.
Academic Life
UT is a very large university that boasts an array of tailor-made graduate programs and research opportunities. Most of the classes are large, making teacher-student connections hard. This is not a school to go to if you tend to slack off or need to be accounted for. The professors are very hard when you get to upper-level classes. They are not going to e-mail you if you miss class, and late work is not forgiven. It is a challenge if you make it a challenge. Many people go in with a party hard mindset and fail miserably. You have to be responsible and diligent to attend UT because there are a lot of social activities that surround the university.
Student Body
Knoxville is located in the heart of the Bible-belt. Unfortunately, some UT students and community members have radical views and racism is still a big issue. However, UT offers several programs and groups about diversity, cultural integration and international experience. Several of the schools at UT have international outreach programs. These programs result in a large number of international students from around the world that choose to study abroad at UT. Therefore, it is hard to feel like a minority due to one's race or religion. Most students come to class in casual clothes, jean and t-shirts. However, the 8 a.m. classes usually see sweat pants and messy hair, but that is not frowned upon at all.
The Best Things
The wide variety of programs and clubs
The Worst Things
For me, it is the greek life. I am more excited about the educational and philanthropical resources that UT has to offer. I feel like fraternities and sororities are a blemish on the UT community.
