The University of Nevada - Reno

Date: Jan 23 2012
Major: Physics (This Major's Salary over time)
So I graduated from the university of nevada, reno december 2011 in physics in 3.5 years … I could have graduated in only 2 years if I started in physics.

The physics program is a joke. Theres only 2 professors who were decent, but unfortunately I was stuck with this teacher called derevianko who was this pumpus russian who couldn't speak a lick of english. Since the physics department was under staff, I was stuck taking him for 4 classes. Also there isn't many classes they offer so you will have to take the graduate courses if you want to do something interesting. The atomic grad class that I took was a joke; the easiest B+ I ever got.

My entire physics in career was competing against a curve. Unfortunately the people I competed with were all vale victorian scholars at their previous schools of whom cheated their way through school. The students are just as arrogant as the teachers. Also, the research at this school is a joke. Some professors do like their research, but others are there just to make a quota. Though its safe to say that none of the research serves any hint of some scientific contribution than how to spend government grant money other than throwing it in a fiery pit. Don't even get me started on NTF.

As far as the social life, everyone is into the hipster rave culture. If you don't like electronica music, do snow sports, drink, or participate in school sports, good luck finding a clique… which brings me to my next point; Reno works in cliques. If you are not in a clique, then you don't have a social life. End of story. The cliques begin in the dorms, and the friends you make in the dorms pretty much serves you your entire college career. The clubs are a complete joke, the social events suck, and its fairly difficult to make friends in class. The only thing to do in reno is drink, snowboard/ski, and thats pretty much it. However even if you are into snowboarding/skiing, unless you are in a clique which has a 4 wheel drive truck and does snowsports/can afford it … good luck. There are no bus shuttles that the school provides to take you to do those things. Now I personally love biking and doing other outdoorsy things, but the problem is that Reno has shitty weather which means that all those great things that you could be doing outside … goes away the fourth week into the school year. Reno is no procrastinator when it comes to starting winter early. In my experience, it usually begins to snow in the middle of october and it doesn't stop until you leave school in the spring. So much for outdoor stuff. You then realize that since you can't go outside, you'll have to stay inside … but the only thing to do inside is drink since there is nothing to do in Reno. Good luck having a sober moment to your self when you turn 21, because thats all you'll be doing come winter.