Student Profile
Lucia
- Class: Alum
- Major: English
- Gender: F
- High School:
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
The best thing about UVM might be the location, you've got lake champlain to one side with a view of the adarondaks, and then you've got the Green Mtns to the other side. You can get to the mountains for hikes (free) or skiing ($$$$$$) in 30 min, or just go down to the bike trail to the lake where everyone and thier golden retriever are out exercising. The "City" is not bad, small with some great college bars that not too many normal people go to because the college students and recent alum dominate the scene. Some good restaurants, a posh grocery store...nice things and lots of organic food and recycling goes down. Very earth-conscious. The school is just the right size, you always are meeting new people, but don't feel lost, even as a freshman. The professors have time for you, and really do mean it about visiting in their office hours, so definately take advantage of that. School pride, not so much united school pride. Some around the basketball team I suppose, but you know, a lot of cynical new englanders who want to set themselves apart from the masses. I love the place. Beautiful old central campus buildings, horrible buildings and dorms from the 70s and some good architecture recently. However the new construction leaves less room for ultimate frisbee, so thats a downer. Unusual? one nice thing is that there really is something for everyone at UVM, so you won't be lonely. Because the school is pretty small, you can get the student gov't to fund all sorts of things, both legitimate and not. Even republicans have friends at UVM, although there are not very many of them.
Academic Life
THe classes are great, the profs are really dynamic. You always have the opportunity to go to office hours, and if you make that small step to show the professor that you really are interested, it will pay off hugely. If you get to know a professor early on in your four years, they can be a great advocate for you, and you will end up hanging out with them outside of class. It is not competitive, students show off thier smarts in more laid back ways that grade competitions. People definately have intellectual conversations outside of class, but it is because they are interested in the material that they are learning, not because they are showing off to freshman girls- although obviously that happens too, I could name a few Nikon-toting culprits- and that leads us to the indie-hipster scene. Pretty causal for a hipster scene as those go, so don't be intimidated by the people chainsmoking marlborough reds and american spirits outside the bar, they recycle too.
Student Body
Really, almost anyone can feel at home at UVM. There is a mini version of any scene you can imagine, and because the school is small, if you have an interest, you will find friends. It is very white. There are a lot of people who's parents support them financially for the 4 years, but always pretend they are broke. There are also the people who have a part time job all 4 years. It pays better and is more fun to get a real job in town instead of do the work study thing, especially once you move off campus.
The Best Things
THE WEED....no, actually, the professors, the location
The Worst Things
UVM Police and Burlington Police
