The University of Iowa

I'm a freshman here at UI and I'm about to finish my first semester. I really can't stand it here and want to transfer! All people care about this school are getting drunk and hooking up. All the girls i've met are prissy, not friendly, and not open to becoming friends unless you live in their dorm hall. My hallway is quite big and no one ever has their doors open, so no one knows each other. I've tried making friends and going out, but it's just not fun doing the same thing over and over again - drink, drink, drink, go to the bars. The only thing I actually enjoy here is the football - but even with that, you're expected to wake up early and tailgate and get completely wasted. I'm already bored of the nightlife here and I just can't stand all the sluts and tools.

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

University Resource Use/ spending: B+, Surrounding City: F

University of Iowa is a typical big state school. Many of the classes are mass lectures where you furiously take notes in an auditorium and there are a lot of exams with grading curves that are designed primarily to weed out unmotivated students. In general, to be a successful student, you're expected to memorize information and apply principles on exams. You don't necessarily have to attend every class and fully understand the material. You just need to be the best on exams which isn't too hard to achieve when you're in a room full of people who really don't know why they are in college.

University of Iowa is a degree-granting machine. It does not inspire you to really pursue knowledge/research and does not prepare you to succeed in any real job. Generally other students don't care about anything more than passing classes with good grades. Professors are more focused on academic research. There is little academic support if you're struggling in fundamental courses like principles of physics (I had to rely on going to office hours of TAs from China who did not really have the competence to provide adequate help).

Attending the University of Iowa was the biggest regret of my life. I only went there because my parents pushed me to go there for the low in-state rates, somewhat respectable national reputation, and because I really didn't know better at the age of 18. If I could do my life over, I would have fought much harder to go to a smaller private school like Brown, Northwestern, or University of San Diego that would provide better education quality and the direction/support I feel that I need to succeed.Thinking about the time I wasted at Iowa just makes me a really sad panda.

4th Year Male -- Class 1995

University Resource Use/ spending: B, Education Quality: D