The University of Colorado - Boulder

Date: Jun 21 2013
Major: Civil Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
I had some amazing upper division professors that taught classes more focused in my major that did everything they could to help me succeed in all aspects of college life. From jobs (both during and after school) to financial help to course work, they knew what to do or who to talk to. I will forever be greatful to a handful of my professors.

I had problems with the Bursars or Financial Aid office every single semester I have attended. There was always something wrong with my scholarship, work study award, even tuition and fees. I learned to never talk to student workers and ask for a full time staff employee as soon as I go to any of the offices. Otherwise I would be told 10 different things, none of which were right.

The lower division courses were "weed out" courses. The course work, especially the tests, would include material that was never covered in the texts, lectures, or any other course materials. I understand that we need to be challenged and should think beyond what we are told, but that idea was taking above and beyond what is reasonable. They were also more focused on their research than the courses they were teaching.

I was placed in the engineering honors dorms, but was in a prep program to get better prepared for later course work. The program was great, but being in a dorm full of the "smart" kids was TERRIBLE! As soon as anyone found out that I wasn't in their same courses our your parents weren't fellow engineers, scientists, professors, or made a ton of money, they would never want to hang out with you or be your friend.

If you didn't find a good group of friends freshman year, it was really hard to find new friends. Everyone was very clicky. They will work with you and get it over with, but nothing more. I had multiple lab partners who I worked with every week all semester and they still didn't have a clue what my name was at the end, only because I wasn't their friend outside of class.

I was thankful to become really close friends with a couple people in my program as well as some transfer students, but it was rough until then. I also found an amazing university job where I learned a lot in engineering and real world business practices, made a ton of connections, but was still understanding and flexible to meet my school needs.