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The University of Colorado - Boulder

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB Faculty AccessibilityA-
Useful SchoolworkB Excess CompetitionB+
Academic SuccessB Creativity/ InnovationB-
Individual ValueC University Resource UseA-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA+ FriendlinessB-
Campus MaintenanceA Social LifeB-
Surrounding CityB- Extra CurricularsC
SafetyA
Describes the student body as:
Arrogant, Broken Spirit, Snooty

Describes the faculty as:

Male
ACT:25
id='quarter' class='snapshot' style='color: #977500; line-height:80px';float:left;
Super Brilliant
Lowest Rating
Individual Value
C
Highest Rating
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty
A+
He cares more about Extra Curriculars than the average student.
Date: Jan 26 2008
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
CU is almost like some mythical beast—for better or worse, most perceive it to be some wild hippie paradise full of wild parties, brilliant marxist profs, and lots and lots of beer.

There's lots of beer at CU…but the rest of it is largely myth. The school is a pretty good school. It's not Harvard or Yale—or even Notre Dame or UCLA—but it's a quality place especially for Coloradans. If you're willing to spend the 30K to come here out of state, you're probably just coming here for the skiing and booze and you have amazingly wealthy parents. In fact, most out-of-state kids fit that profile: wealthy, smart, into skiing, and very, very party-centered.

Of course, it's a huge school with a major mix of students. Almost 40% of the student body is not from Colorado. While there are lots of parties with weed, there are also huge Christian frats and sororitiees and the College Republicans is the largest student group on campus. Some ski, some don't. Some spend their Fridays getting high, some spend it at Bible studies.

The academics are pretty solid. I wouldn't spend 30K on it, but it's a fine place to learn and have a good time at college.

Boulder is a beautiful town, close to Denver (my hometown), and very active. But it's also an insanely liberal place (Colorado as a whole is actually pretty conservative…Boulder totally stands out). The students have nothing in common with the rest of Boulder and the town/gown relations are awful.

Basically, you get what you give at CU. I think a lot of people come here simply because it's a popular school and they can be far away from their parents while they smoke, drink, and live wildly without anyone knowing. That's too bad—because while they're wasting their lives away acting like high schoolers, there's an amazing education to be had. Unfortunately, kids are too focused on the weekend party to notice that.

The take away message: if you come here, you can get a great education. But don't get swept away by the extra-curricular stuff. Focus on school, don't bother partying, and don't give up if you can't find your niche at first. If you're an evangelical, conservative Christian…yes…this place is also for you. If you're a tree-hugging Democrat…this place is for you too. You just have to relax and focus on the great education you're getting and branch out to new people.

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The University of Colorado - Boulder
The University of Colorado - Boulder
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