University of Minnesota Reviews

"The graduate program in Studio Arts at the University of Minnesota has a lot of great opportunities for graduate students. Some of the best aspects is that there are fellowships and grants to cover the tuition, and there are multiple opportunities to travel for your research. The negative part would be that the department feels understaffed, and everyone is working really hard. So it can be difficult to find support at times when you need it. Mostly, it is a great place and I'm really glad I came here."

"Incredibly valuable stepping stone to future opportunities, chance to gain exposure to so many formative experiences, academic, professional, and social"

"Good place to work, live, and go to school. Plenty of resources to help you out throughout college, and plenty of activities to get involved in. Professors are decent, and get a lot better when you get into your degree program. The mechanical engineering program is a solid program, and myself and most of my peers landed jobs while still in school or directly afterwards."

"While at the Carlson School of Management, I was provided with many opportunities for growth. Not only was I able to take awe inspired classes from some of the best renowned faculty members throughout the world, At Carlson, I was able to work at a rewarding internship; fulfill my dream of becoming a teaching assistant; and able to get a first hand view of what it would be like to be a PhD candidate crunching numbers as a research assistant."

"I was basically on my own. On a campus of 50,000 students you don't get a lot of one-on-one attention from advisers or professors, which can make staying on track a challenge. In retrospect, I would have preferred to attend a smaller campus with a better sense of community."

"The U of M is a very reputable college. It offers diversity, opportunity, and a sound education."

"Computer science program is top notch however the IT program is young and needs improvement. Would recommend this college for its campus and faculty are very good."

"The business school (Carlson School of Management) is well connected with Minnesota's big business, and the metropolitan area is a hug of coprporations in agriculture, manufacturing, and retail. The downside is the sheer size of the classes, so creating meaningful relations with faculty is a challenge for students."

"It's a very large campus, but it doesn't feel big after a couple of months. Class sizes are big in the entry level classes so you need to be self motivated to succeed. As you move towards a major there are smaller classes and there are lots of options"

"This is a large institution, so you won't receive a lot of personal attention or guidance. The B.A. theatre program is uneven - more physical and experimental versus textual and classical. Physical and experimental training is essential, but textual and classical training rounds you out as a performer. Any of the design programs (sound, set, lighting) are the strong suit of the theatre department. If you prefer musical theatre, this is not the best place for you - not many musicals are produced and some of the instructors do not even consider it a true art form. Also, do not chose this university if you are more interested in film - there isn't a whole lot for you here in that regard. Finally, if you do choose this university to complete your B.A. in theatre, then use it as a networking experience. Almost all of the instructors in the department are highly involved in the local theatre community. Because the theatre community in the twin cities is so large and diverse, make sure to audition for productions outside of the university - you will have many more opportunities if you do."

"This is a large institution, so you won't receive a lot of personal attention or guidance. The B.A. theatre program is uneven - more physical and experimental versus textual and classical. Physical and experimental training is essential, but textual and classical training rounds you out as a performer. Any of the design programs (sound, set, lighting) are the strong suit of the theatre department. If you prefer musical theatre, this is not the best place for you - not many musicals are produced and some of the instructors do not even consider it a true art form. Also, do not chose this university if you are more interested in film - there isn't a whole lot for you here in that regard. Finally, if you do choose this university to complete your B.A. in theatre, then use it as a networking experience. Almost all of the instructors in the department are highly involved in the local theatre community. Because the theatre community in the twin cities is so large and diverse, make sure to audition for productions outside of the university - you will have many more opportunities if you do."

"Graduate school is a different ball game than undergraduate. In undergraduate you are expected to take classes. In graduate school you are on your own and it is more risky. You take just a handful of classes and the real work is independent. Many advisors have different approaches and I was with an advisor who was hands off. Essential communication with you advisor is essential because sometimes they can be vague and you may work on a problem that has little interest if you do not communicate with your advisor."

"Great campus and a few instructors are hidden gems. Most instructors were lazy or just not great at teaching and the education I received wasn't really a fair exchange for the cost."

"I loved my experience at the U of M. It's wonderful to live in a college community in the middle of a big city. It is possible to have small class sizes depending on your major - all of my classes were quite small once I was done with my liberal education requirements. There were so many options for classes and things to do. Gophers at night activities were fun as well on the weekends if you weren't the partying type - though there were plenty of options for partying too. It was just a great time overall academically and socially."

"Great college where the opportunities are astounding. Minneapolis is a great city to live in. Was a bit far from home, but I do not regret going here for school."

"I had a good undergraduate experience. A number of great degree programs, wonderful research opportunities. Vibrant campus."

"Well rounded, solid, marketable, approachable program with well respected track record and room for flexibility"

"Attending the U of M was a great experience. Even though it is a very large school, I always felt like I received enough attention in my classes. The campus is expansive and feels like its own city, full of energy and ideas."

"The university campus is very overwhelming when you go on tours or go to orientation, but the campus "shrinks" within a couple of months. There are a lot of interesting, historical buildings mixed in with very new and modern which makes it interesting. The University of Minnesota puts a lot into its science and technology programs and, in my opinion, gives students a wide variety of classes. For example, you can choose to take a fast track for entry level biology and take biology 101 and 102 (normally two semesters) as one class, which is helpful for students with a strong background in the subject already or a student who takes a bit longer to choose a major and wants to hurry things along. Classes are very large in the first couple of years and it is very easy to get lost in the crowd so you need to be able to work very independently or seek out help during office hours. Once you have chosen a major and completed the initial required classes the university demonstrates why a bigger school can be very nice. Rather than being forced into a specific track there are many choices to fulfill different requirements so you can choose classes to fit your specific interests and many are much smaller. If you can handle the first couple of years of large classes where you may never speak a single word to any of your professors, there is a lot of great opportunity."

"I love the Humphrey School! The Masters in Public Policy offers me a fundamental understanding of policymaking while allowing me to explore the issues that I care about. The faculty and students create an exceptional community for growth and exposure to the professional world. Also, ass a Twin Cities native I love everything about the University of Minnesota. Go Gophers!"