The University of Hartford

Went to school here for 4 years. All my business classes were easy. The school seems to nickle and dime you at every turn. Do not live on campus. The only good housing is hawk hall which is freshmen only all other dorms are jail cells or temporary tailor housing(which have been there for years and are not going to be replaced anytime soon). This university has one of the lowest retention rates for freshmen in CT.(72%) It also has one of the lowest graduation rates in CT (52%). The only classes I have been challenged in were graduate level.Every semester the business school has always screwed up my schedule and changed stuff without asking me first. The only student administrator, Beth Kaveler, does not know what classes are required in each major and consistently drops me from classes I need. Both the Dean and the assistant dean of the business school resigned this past year. They know the entire school is going down hill.

4th Year Female -- Class 2013

Education Quality: A-, Campus Aesthetics: F

The University of Hartford is a school that students either LOVE or HATE. Usually, the students who hate the university don't do too much and just focus on going to class and back and fourth. As like other schools, you really need to put yourself out there if you want to make friends.

2nd Year Female -- Class 2015

Individual Value: A+, Campus Maintenance: C+

I was a transfer and started here as a sophomore. I transferred, because this school just got my major of a combined Bachelors to Masters in Prosthetic and Orthotics. I had heard a lot of bad reviews about this school and wasn't sure if transferring was going to be the best move for me, but was I wrong. College is all what you make of it, if you don't go out and make friends or join clubs or anything, then you probably won't enjoy the school. I went out right away, joined clubs, got to know my professors, made friends and joined a sorority. I can say that joining greek life will definitely keep you busy, because not only will there be events to go to, you will have an amazing group of girls that will always be there for you. There are some people that feel like they just don't fit in, and a small campus isn't for everyone. I came from a school with 21,000 people and transitioning to this school with barely over 5,000 was a change of pace. The smaller classes sizes here are amazing and I'm sure people take them for granted. Being able to email your advisor and meet up with them the next day is virtually unheard of where I transferred from. I think most professors here are willing to help their students if they just go and ask for help.

Dorm wise, the Villages can be nice, but for the most part they are run down apartments with sinking floors and paper thin walls. You have a full kitchen, 2 closets and the apartments are either 2 person, 4 person or 6 person apartments. Another thing to be aware of, is if you don't bring any lights to your apartment then you will literally have no lights. They don't provide any sort of light in the bedrooms. One of my friends was actually sitting in her downstairs apartment when all of a sudden water came through the ceiling and drenched her entire bedroom. It ruined all of her clothing and she actually was ill for a few weeks. As for bedroom size, in these apartments you share a bedroom with someone but unfortunately you also share a tiny closet with them too. Each people can probably fit 10 hangers. You are also responsible for all of the cleaning and supplies you may need. This style housing is literally living on your own.

Regents Park is probably the worst housing option. The floors literally squeak when you walk through the halls. You can hear peoples conversations as clear as day inside your bedroom from down the hall, and this is no exaggeration. Here you share a living room a half kitchen (no over) and one bathroom. There are only 4 person apartments available in this one. Also, weather wise, if it is hot outside it will be boiling inside and if it's cold outside the heat sometimes doesn't work inside. There is no A/C at all.

Park River is a bit nicer than both of these, there is A/C, heat and etc. They have full kitchens available and are 4 person apartments. There aren't a lot of downsides to this place except for the fact that it is the most expensive place to live and you can't really through parties here. A lot of health issued students and upperclassmen live here.

The complexes are where most freshman and transfers live. They are considered normal dorms and there are doubles and singles. Usually there are 4 bedrooms per side per floor and 2 bathrooms to share between all those people. These are also single sexed floors and there is also 1 common room per floor. These are the cheapest options and they aren't that bad, except that there is no kitchen at all and the laundry is in the basement with only 4 washers and 4 driers for everyone. Hawk Hall is the newest place to live for freshman only and you need to write an essay to get in. I don't know much about them since I've never lived there though.

1st Year Female -- Class 2014

Education Quality: A, Individual Value: D-