Northern Kentucky University

Date: May 02 2008
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
If you are interested in sports, drugs, alcohol, current movies, sex and Kentucky, then this is the university for you. At least 85% of the student conversations revolve around these topics, and very little else. Remember that this university did accept students with an ACT score of "14" and only recently increased the minimum to an ACT score of "18"—still 2 points below the national average of "20." This entirely defines the NKU experience.

Do not attend this university if you are accustomed to intellectuals. They are almost impossible to find. A significant percentage of students have close family in jail for petty theft, sex with underage minors, etc, and students loudly chatter endlessly about these topics in the study lounges. But, drug use, binge drinking and sex make up the majority of conversations.

The campus aesthetics have been improved (there is a lovely duck pond). The university is very clean and safe. The weather is great and the students and faculty are friendly.

Studying Atmosphere: 80% of the students are not aiming for anything other than a "C" to pass classes. Cheating is rampant: At least 20% of the students in every class openly cheat when the professor is not looking (students copying entire Chemistry tests from the student next to them and I have seen students boldly dig through their textbooks during tests).

About four years ago, there were advertisements for orgies at local clubs set in plastic holders next to the salt and pepper shakers on every table in the NKU lunchroom for several weeks. I'm not sure how this related to education.

Words like "ain't" and expressions like "He's a 'done did it' boy" (which indicates one's true Kentucky roots) are not uncommon among the student body. One of my english professors said that my style of writing was too formal and that she would give me an "F" if I wrote any paper with the words "I shall" or "I will," claiming that "no one ever talks like that anymore." Perhaps she meant too formal for NKU and the surrounding area.

If this sounds like the environment to which you are accustomed, then by all means take advantage of this educational facility. However, if this is not the environment which you are seeking, find a university that has a higher ACT acceptance minimum or find a university that is ranked or reviewed by a college guide (US News, Times Higher Education Supplement, Princeton Review).