(UTampa) After my first semester at UT, the only positive

How this student rated the school

Educational Quality	B	Faculty Accessibility	B-
Useful Schoolwork	C	Excess Competition	C
Academic Success	B+	Creativity/ Innovation	B
Individual Value	F	University Resource Use	D
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	A	Friendliness	B+
Campus Maintenance	B	Social Life	B
Surrounding City	B	Extra Curriculars	F
Safety	F

Describes the student body as: Arrogant, Snooty, Closeminded Describes the faculty as: Friendly

Male

Quite Bright

Lowest Rating Individual Value	F

Highest Rating Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	A

He cares more about Safety than the average student.

Date: Dec 28 2015
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
After my first semester at UT, the only positive thing I can really say about the university is the quality of the professors. They are engaging and enthusiastic about what they teach, and are willing to help you if you truly want it. The rest is pretty much all negative.

The vast majority of students are from New Jersey and Long Island, and are very arrogant, unfriendly, and stuck up. Obviously not all students are like that, but there are few who are not. I also feel that the general population of students are just plain stupid, and don't really care for an education. Most party at least 2-3 times a week, and are only getting a degree to please daddy.

Tampa is a very dirty city, and if you walk a few blocks and venture downtown there are homeless people everywhere (who are ruthless about asking for money or food). I feel very unsafe living in my dorm, as we have already had 2 break ins during my first semester here.

During Club Rush there were virtually no actual clubs, just fraternities and sororities. There are few actual clubs and it is hard to find out information about the clubs that do exist.

A letdown for me was that I thought the beach was close, and I could take the bus for 10 mins and be at the beach. The closest beach, Clearwater, is a 45 min drive away so don't be fooled.

I would not recommend this school to someone who is not a partier, and wants to focus on their education and actually have a good career. If you want to get a degree while partying 24/7, this is the place to be. But for me, I am definitely planning on transferring.

Responses

I am not a "partier" and I have enjoyed all four of my years here at UT. While New York and New Jersey are two of the most represented states other than Florida, we have students from all 50 states and many countries. To say that most students are arrogant and stuck up simply is not true. Some yes but most no and I'm not from NY or NJ.

Also,

Calling the general population of students "plain stupid" is pretty ignorant of you considering most students either go on to top graduate schools or have a job waiting for them when they graduate because of connections they received through the university.

The two "break-ins" you are referring to were more like let-ins. The university stresses to not hold the door open for others but some choose not to follow. Those two occurrences are the only ones in my four years here and they happened in the middle of the day and by same person who was simply let in the building by another student.

There is no such thing as club rush so that is why you did not see any clubs and organizations. "Rush week" refers to fraternities and sororities only. There are over 200 clubs and organizations on campus so when you say "it was hard to find information" tells me you didn't really try and look considering all you have to do is go to the UT website and there is a list of all of them. Then if you see one you like click on it and it brings up the president of the club or organization with any contact info and meeting times. There is also advertisements all over the campus at the beginning of the semester for different clubs and organizations. You could also create your own if you don't see one that you wish UT had. I know several people who have created clubs.

As for your comment about the beach, the university never advertised that the beach was 10 minutes away and you could take the bus there. This issue of yours could have been avoided by a simple google search or asking one of the universities representatives. Clearwater beach is the closest beach on the ocean and you are correct it is about 45 minutes away however there is a beach 10 minutes away on Davis island that is open to the public as well as Ben T Davis beach which is 15 minutes away and within a short taxi or bus ride. This is just another example of how you didn't really put any effort into looking and searching.

Finally, it doesn't matter what college you go to there will be a group that party's more than others but there are also kids like myself you don't at every single college. Saying you wouldn't recommend the university based on the effort that it seems you put into the university based on your comments doesn't seem valid to me. UT is a very diverse school with students who are interests in all types of things. You can't just come here and expect everyone to be interested in the same things and depending on what you're interested in as I stated above you can create your own clubs and others will join. You just need to put in some time and effort during those first few weeks to meet the people that have the same interests as you.

Sorry you had a bad experience. The label and title as condescending, mean or arrogant gets old … just because someone is from there. When you realize these students are children of teachers and Medical Doctor's, would be mistaken not to extend to them some friendship on the fact a reference is worth much these days. Sounds to me you had unfair expectations of one and some, in all fairness maybe that was on you. I have always liked University of Tampa students, and yes, we are from New Jersey. Some schools in New Jersey have accepted students with less then commendable and stellar grades and references. Impressed with the manty co - ed fraternities and sororities the school offers. If you need a reference, please do contact. I wish you well.

Rows=6 cols=34 wrap=virtual

I posted this original review and it popped in my mind recently as I am graduating soon. Reading it over again, I realize that while it may have been harsh, the things I said were true. I transferred to Villanova University in Pennsylvania after my freshman year and have enjoyed it much more than my time at Tampa. Clubs were much easier to find at Nova, and I made great friends in the few months who I am still friends with today. I called the kids at Tampa plain stupid because that's they came off to me- only caring about partying and not about courses. I can remember the students in class talking about what new drug they going to take that weekend. I just knew that I belonged at a better school.

Ask a Question or add a response!