The University of Iowa

Date: Nov 06 2011
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I've lived in Iowa City my entire life and wanted to go to the U because it would be cheap. I regret this decision. I got into Luther and U Chicago as well and really regret not going. If you are moderately intelligent and want to actually learn something, the U of I is probably not for you.

If you plan on going into the sciences expect to spend the first two years fighting through incomprehensible introductory courses meant to weed out those who shouldn't be in college or don't actually want to be in college. Odds are also good that you'll have a professor who cannot teach,

but are really cool/funny/entertaining.

You'll spend the next two/three years struggling to relearn everything you didn't learn the first two years because you were bored out of your mind by classes taught for the lowest common denominator while completing ridiculous amounts of coursework.

There's probably one good professor in the linguistics department (where I started out.) The others are old/slow/confused or can't teach and then call students out individually for not understanding in front of the entire class. Hopefully you'll have an awesome TA or text book because the professors generally are mediocre (as are the useless text books they've written and force you to use.)

Also, Rick Altman doesn't actually teach anything so don't get too excited about that.

As for social life, if you want to have one let's hope you're an alcoholic. The U is really just a babysitter for rich Chicago suburb babies that want to party. I bet more money is spent by the university trying to keep underage kids from getting caught drinking than providing resources for people who are actually here to learn. Oh, but that's okay

they're the good kids.

They don't need help, they've always been independent.

The university will start begging you for money starting your sophomore year. Er, sorry, they'll start asking you about philanthropy and why your definition of it is not giving all your money to the U.

The one awesome thing about the university is that it is in Iowa City. It's a UNESCO city of literature, the library and pedestrian mall are amazing (when not completely filled with drunks.) The campus itself is beautiful tons of green space/places to throw a Frisbee.

If you give a shit about school, chose a real one, or go to community college for a couple years because you're probably better off.

If you still want to go to the U, or have few other choices, I recommend living at home if you can and catching a bus/driving to campus. Apartments in Iowa City are overpriced and rarely in a condition to be lived in. If you must live on campus/in Iowa City just live in a University apartment. They're hot without an air conditioner (a small window air conditioner makes it livable) and slightly depressing but at least it will be decently taken care of and there's no management company that's going to nickel and dime you (read: steal all of your deposit and then some for things they legally have to do and cannot charge you for.) See also Apartments Downtown Lawsuit.