The University of Connecticut

Date: Feb 27 2011
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
There are so many people who read these comments (like me) and are extremely influenced by them. At the end of the day, a school is what you make of it. Only you can decide whether you enjoy a school or not. In all honesty, I really could sit here an all out bash this university. There were a lot of individual experiences that happened here that I could divulge into, but I will not. No matter where you go, there's going to be problems and things you don't like, thats just life in general. You just need to be positive and make the best of it.

My entire life, I never wanted to go to UConn. I'm instate (and idk why the hell people pay 40k outta state to come here). I wanted to go far, branch out, new people, new places. Unfortunately, finances were an issue. At the end of my senior year, I couldn't attend my dream school, and I was admitted from the waiting list at the last minute. At that point in time, I seized the opportunity, and committed to UConn. I was extremely excited to attend.

UConn truly is a great school in terms of academics and athletics. It has a lot going for it. Whether you will like this school or not really is dependent on what type of person you are. I was not that "in state kid" who loved his hometown, had awesome hometown friends, and was a huge Huskies fan. That WAS NOT ME. There is a good deal of diversity, but that is the typical UConn student. A large percentage of my high school class is here, and its hard to escape your hometown (esp freshman year).

Social groups are rather tight and exclusive, most just stick with their High School groups, and don't feel the need to meet new people and experience new things. Its almost like the people are colder than the weather is.There are many clubs to join here, but it takes a gooood while before people really open up to you. As a freshman, and as a guy, nightlife is very limited in terms of options. You simply cannot get into frats, and its the most difficult year to get with girls. Younger girls want older guys, and older girls refuse to get with younger guys. That's just how it works. Storrs has 3 bars. Literally, 1, 2, 3. That is it. It truly is in the middle of nowhere. If you're all about house parties, this place is for you. But if you like the urban bar/club scene, there is nothing.

The weather is just plain terrible. The first week we had a heat wave in the mid 90s, and now its currently in the teens as I write this (its February) with a foot of snow on the ground. The campus is also placed oddly in a valley, and the wind is horrendous. You drop a piece of paper in the UConn wind tunnel? Its gone. Your face freezes within seconds out here.

Academics are very good, but you are completely solo here. I mean nothing. Do not expect any assistance. Nothing is spoon fed here. Ever. I finally met my "academic advisor" for the first time, and it literally was a joke. Ive only had a few bad professors. The big problem is the TAs. 99% are international (whether its canada or india) and many are difficult to understand. They are also busy grad students and ones you have the most interaction with, which doesnt exactly help either.

Personally, I hope to transfer to a school where the weather is warm and the people are down to earth and more approachable. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of students who love it here. But you are looking for a more enriching, diverse experience, this really is not the place for you.

At the end of the day, it really is what you make of it.