Valparaiso University

Date: Nov 12 2008
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
Unlike a lot of reviewers, I have had a very rewarding experience at Valparaiso University. Yes, things were dull Freshman year before I got a car, because the weather can be extremely cold and it is difficult to get to downtown Valparaiso in the winter. Yes, the VUPD are overzealous in their persecution of students on campus who are drinking socially. Yes, I had quite a few friends who ran into trouble with VUPD after drinking freshman year.

Still, many of these trends are changing. VUPD just got a new chief of police, and she seems to be much better prepared to deal with students than our former chief of police. If you can get there, downtown Valpo has a few nice restaurants available, and there is a new movie theatre and shopping center not far from campus. The University has just completed construction on a new union, and has campus looking much more appealing since I got here freshman year. Campus has a nice mix of political (if not ethnic) diversity, although both are available if you know where to look.

If I had a single word of advice to any potential VU students or current underclassmen, it would be to get involved in Greek Life. Valpo has a very nice Greek Life program, and is generally free of the pompous self-important Greeks that seem common on other campuses. Greek Life at Valpo has allowed me to get involved with numerous other campus organizations, and has allowed me to skirt the strict dry campus policy.