StudentsReview :: Old Dominion University - Comments and Student Experiences
-or-
Search for Schools by Region
 

or within distance of city

Similar Schools
Virginia Commonwealth University -- Richmond, VA
University of Virginia -- Charlottesville, VA
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University -- Blacksburg, VA


  Who's got the Best?

Perceptual Rankings:
You Make 'Em.
We Post 'Em.
You Vote 'Em Up.
You Vote 'Em Down.
Aww yeah.


Old Dominion University

There are 216 Comments

View:

Sort By: [Date] [Major] [Rating]

Select Comments:

Positive Negative Neutral Advice
ODU isn't bad, it's just not as goodBrightCommunications
ODU isn't bad, it's just not as good as it could be. It treats transfer students shamefully. Half your credits won't transfer so you'll end up spending an extra year or three in school. Even if you have an A.S. they'll still try and make you take 100 and 200 level classes and you might not get Junior standing. Really, that deal with the community colleges is false advertising.

Please understand that the administration hates you and all you love. The sooner you realize this, the happier you'll be.

ODU is a commuter school with an identity crisis. They've torn up the parking and they keep putting in student housing. Most of the students are locals and we're all very unhappy with this. Also, the cost of parking decals is absurd. So you'll pay a lot and then end up parking off school property because there's nowhere else. There's a train or something that's supposed to be OMGWTFBBQ amazing! but it kind of just sits there and takes up school money. It also gives us bragging rights. 'We have a train that doesn't work!'

The individual departments are pretty good. The Engineering Dept. gets most of the school's resources, so everyone hates them. All the engineering students work on the train and all the opportunities at the job fairs are for them. Haaaaaaaaaaaaate.

My major's department (Communications) was very good. I found all my teachers were approachable and knowledgeable in their fields. My minor was History and while that department seems very narrow in what it offers (history of sports four semesters in a row, the Middle Ages once every two years when the moon is full and the cacti are in bloom?) the teachers were good and I enjoyed my classes.

If you're an Art major, just go kill yourself now. You will never graduate. I have friends who were there a year before I came and they'll be there long after I leave. ODU does not like it's art majors. You won't be getting a job after college anyway.

ODU is getting a football team (I'll be long gone when it comes, but my tuition paid for it!) and we're all pretty excited about that. Now we can beat the other schools that turned us down. Take that, William and Mary! Our girl's basketball team is hardcore awesome. Seriously. They pwn all who cross them. The fraternities and sororities are kinda scary. They'll attack you during student club day and try to suck your blood and hypnotize you to join their organization. I went to the anime club a couple of times. I like anime, but they chose some of the lamest titles to show and the people acted like they were still in high school.

The campus is getting better because they keep buying up the surrounding area and fixing it up. We've got trees and flowers and a soft, grassy lawn for people to play frisbee. Norfolk is pretty bad, but the surrounding cities are nice enough. You've got Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and the beach close by, so see if you can get to those on a weekend.

We have a large military community and a great ROTC program so if that's your thing, we've got it. The problem with all this is ODU could be a really great school if it played on its strengths of local commuters and ROTC. Instead, it throws money at a train that doesn't work and develops a bad reputation for transfer students. It doesn't make sense, a lot of students come from TCC and ODU acts like we're second class citizens. I spent two days trying to get my stuff counted and I had an A.S.

4th Year Female -- Class 2008
Education Quality: A+, Individual Value: C-
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
Question
Don't go to this school.Quite Bright
Don't go to this school. If you are going because of cost, go to TCC instead and transfer to a better in-state school after 2 years. Administration is horrible. They constantly submit charges that they can't even explain, then seem insulted when you question them if you can get a response at all.
5th Year Male -- Class 1989
Innovation: C, Education Quality: F
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
Question
Insist that the schoolOther
Insist that the school offer real world education and experience. Explore options outside of your major, that is where I gained the most knowledge that helped me after graduation.
Alumnus Male -- Class 2000
Rate this comment:
Useless (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Helpful
Question
Compare ODUSave ODU

StudentsReview Advice!

• What is a good school?
• Statistical Significance
• How to choose a Major
• How to choose your Career
• What you make of it?
• How Ivy League Admissions works
• On the Student/Faculty Ratio

• FAFSA: Who is a Parent?
• FAFSA: Parent Contribution
• FAFSA: Dream out of reach

• College Financial Planning
• Survive College and Graduate
• Sniffing Out Commuter Schools
• Preparing for College: A HS Roadmap
• Talking to Your Parents about College.
• Is a top college worth it?
• Why is college hard?
• Why Kids Aren't Happy in Traditional Schools
• Essential College Tips
Ah, college. Considered by many to be the time of a young person's lif... more→
• Cost of College Increasing Faster Than Inflation
According to NPR, the cost of college... more→
• For parents filling out the FAFSA and PROFILE (from a veteran paper slinger)
Just so you know, filling out these forms is a lot more than penciling... more→
• How to choose the right college?
My name is Esteban Correa. I am currently a second year INTERNATIONAL ... more→
• Create The Right Career Habits Now
Getting ahead in your career can be easier if you make the choice to b... more→

• Senior Year (Tips and experience)
It's the end of junior year and everyone is anticipating the arrival o... more→
• Informational Overload! What Should I Look For in a College or University?
We are in an instant information age, where you can find almost anythi... more→
• Personality Type and College Choice
Personality type is something very important to consider when deciding... more→
• A Free Application is a Good Application
As a senior finishing her scholastic year, I feel that it is my duty ... more→

• College Academic Survival Guide
The leap from high school to college academics is not an insignificant... more→
• Getting Involved: The Key to College Happiness
As a tour guide, the absolute, most frequently asked question I got wa... more→
• Choose a Path, Not a Major
Unless you're one of the fortunate souls who's already found their cal... more→
• The Scoop on State Schools
A recent college graduate, I vividly remember touring campuses as a p... more→

• The Purpose of a Higher Education
You are one of the millions of people this year applying for admission... more→
• The Importance of Choosing the Right College Major (2012)
One of the most important academic choices you'll make while in colleg... more→
• How to choose a college major
I was not sure what college major to choose. When you are in your late... more→
• How to guarantee your acceptance to many colleges
Are your grades are not what you think they should be from high school... more→

• Nailing the College Application Process
College applications seem to always be put on top of students procrast... more→
• What to do for a Successful Interview
Interviews seem to become more commonplace in every facet of life as o... more→
• I Don't Know Where to Start (General College Advice)
Preparing for college is a difficult time for every student and it?s o... more→
• Attitude and Dress Code for an Interview (General College Advice)
An interview is something we all have to go through when we get a job... more→

• Starting College (General College Advice)
College is a huge milestone in your life. You?ve seen the castle like ... more→
• Boston Apartment lease: Watch out!

Are you a student and about to sign the very first lease in your li... more→

• What college is right for you?
When thinking about their choices for colleges, many students and pare... more→