Drake University

Date: Nov 22 2010
Major: Genetics (This Major's Salary over time)
Drake is an excellent choice for the vast majority of college students. The student body is friendly and welcoming. To be fair, there is a significant number of students from the wealthier areas of Chicago, and as a result there are students that think rather highly of themselves. But this is something that you will encounter nearly everywhere you go. It is important to remember that Drake is in Iowa, and therefore there is also a large number of farm kids on campus. The variety of backgrounds is helpful in preparing you for the social interactions you will have upon graduating from college. The professors are incredibly knowledgeable in their respective fields and I have never had trouble in speaking one-on-one with my professors. I have had two teachers with extremely strong accents, but nothing that made it difficult to understand them during class. Drake doesn't have TAs that teacher courses, so you can be assured that you are learning from the people whose salaries you are paying. The thing I enjoy most is the amount I can accomplish in four years; I am a Biochemistry, Cell, Molecular Biology major, but also a Politics major and International Relations major. I will also graduate with a minor in Chemistry, and I am currently in the honors program, meaning I will graduate with honors as well. Lastly, I sing in the Drake Choir, among other extracurriculars.

On the negative side, Drake thinks very highly of itself, and the pompous attitude of the administration grinds my nerves on occasion. Des Moines in a good location, but if you are under 21 you can't go to bars, and regardless of age there isn't much you can do off campus that doesn't get very expensive very fast. My last complaint is the food. The dining service here is literally one step above prison level. The provider also caters to prisons, and according to their ranking system, prison is a 1 and Drake is a 2. You have been warned.