Indiana University - Bloomington

Date: May 18 2007
Major: Education (This Major's Salary over time)
The university may be massive, but it shrinks considerably after a short while. I really do feel like I'm at a small school much of the time as my class sizes are very small and almost always know my proffessors on a first name basis. It can be a rough transition for less outgoing and adventurous people, but stick with it, and you'll find the beauty and quality that is IU.

The campus is great, architecture is beautiful, the student body can be difficult to sift through, but you can find your kind, no matter what that may be. The town itself can get a little boring, but essentially, the pros and cons of the environment are the same as any non-urban university. Working through administrative levels and paperwork can be frustrating and impersonal at times.

In my field (education) I can honestly say that I feel I am getting a much better education than most of my peers at other institutions. The SOE profs and instructors really want students to be successful and will be honest with you in the differences of theory and practical application. In the SOE, you gain much more field experience and actual teaching that at other schools of education. You are treated as a professional and as a teacher very early on.

Reviewing my education at IU, I feel very prepared to go into the workforce (and would quickly find a job) or to pursue grad school as I am hoping. It is difficult to find an institution with as many high quality opportunities and highly ranked programs, especially for the price.

If you're considering IU, look at your program and the things you want. IU offers endless opportunities and has a great reputation for job placement in many fields. I've also noticed that IU grads and students feel much more prepared to enter the work force than the students of many other universities, even more prestigious ones.