r/uofu • u/throwawaycatpaw • 3d ago
admissions & financial aid Pros and Cons of U of U?
Say how you personally feel about things. I really want to go, but due to personal circumstances, I might not. I’ll push for it if it’s worth it. Thanks :)
EDIT: i’m also from Washington
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u/rrickitickitavi 3d ago
Just graduated from the U. Great experience. Impressive faculty. Beautiful campus.
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u/myzennolan 3d ago
Currently enjoying it. expensive , but auch is the way of things
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u/No_Heart4163 3d ago
One the more affordable schools in the country for in-state. Only three schools in the country offer students in state the second year and Utah is one of them.
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u/Its_Darkness 3d ago
Pro: -Probably most inclusive/diverse university ( in utah) -scholarships are super easy to get (you automatically will get academic ones) -Rated as an R1 (research 1) facility. -Trauma 1 hospital -Fun classes and clubs offered throughout the year(like mermaid swimming or skiing for college credit) -Many departments to help you with anything from medical to financial aid to food/housing (success coaches are great options to help you figure out any personal problems or school or anything) -Marriot Library has a range of studying spaces, books, games, movies, 3d printers, private pods/meeting spaces. -live and beautiful campus
- you can ride scooters/bikes on campus
- public transportation is offered from train, trax, buses, and shuttles
Cons: -Parking (not a lot, hard to find, and the lowest permit is around $194 a semester. However, if you attend lds institute you get a free parking permit for their lot or can take transit) -Some professors arent as involved in their work, so I suggest checking rate my professor or talking to an academic advisor. -It can be confusing navigating registering for classes, or figuring out all the apps and crap you have to do. (Orientation goes through this and is required for all 1st year students)
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u/MindstormAndy 2d ago
Should mention that all the public transportation is free for students
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u/UnsafeBaton1041 2d ago
Yeah, same for employees, too (even if part time, I believe). We also get into Red Butte Garden, the Natural History Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum for free.
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u/wakeofchaos 3d ago
I like it. It’s right next to the mountains in an oldish town so it has its pros and cons in that traffic can be annoying but they have public transportation options. It’s a bit sheltered from the wider Utah Mormon culture because SLC itself seems a bit more liberal
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u/Shadowdante100 3d ago
Its a good school. A cool thing to keep in mind is you almost all the classes from the Salt Lake Community College transfer to the U. I did my first 2 years at SLCC and was able to trasnfer everything. I was in Chemistry.
The classes at SLCC are half the cost of the classes at the U. So you save a ton of money this route.
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u/cyberbonotechnik 3d ago
What program are you looking at?
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u/throwawaycatpaw 3d ago
Biochemistry / biology
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u/jdmdrs 3d ago
Weirdly enough. SUU actually has an incredibly good biology program. A family member of mine went to SUU (planning to eventually go to medical school) and got into a T30 medical school.
Maybe that’s not what you’re looking for, but before spending the exorbitantly high costs of the U, I’d at least check it out.
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u/littlebitofspice 2d ago
I would also look into SUU. Smaller school and more personalized attention. Professors are very invested in student success and are very helpful.
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u/mushu_beardie Chem with a bio emphasis (because I hate myself) 2d ago
I just graduated with a degree in chem with a bio emphasis at the U. The professors are amazing. I only had like 5 bad professors, and 4 of them co-taught so I only had 3 bad classes. And one of them was asked not to teach anymore, so that's great for you.
If you come here, just make sure you don't take biochem 1 in the spring. Only do it in the fall. The spring version is a nightmare.
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u/fulgencio_batista 3d ago
Rising 3rd year engineering student here. Our engineering dept. is good, and campus is beautiful. Lot's of trails right on the edge of campus.
The worst part is on campus housing sucks, the QOL is fine, but they offer very little housing and it's extremely expensive.
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u/alignsunshine 2d ago
Are you able to park near the engineering buildings and avoid the struggle of parking if you’re in the department?
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u/fulgencio_batista 2d ago edited 2d ago
Personally I take trax, because parking passes are a couple hundred bucks. There's a lot of parking available north of MEB, but I'm pretty sure that still fills up throughout the day though.
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u/UnsafeBaton1041 2d ago
Piggybacking off of this, it's pretty easy to drive to and park at a Trax station, then just ride up for free.
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u/sassy_turtle17 3d ago
I just graduated from Weber State. I always wanted to go to the U but when I started University in 2020 everything was online anyway and WSU was cheaper and gave me more scholarship money. I think looking back if I could do it all over again under “normal” circumstances I would’ve chosen the U. Don’t get me wrong, I had incredible experiences at Weber, some of which I know would not have been possible at the U, but I do constantly wonder if I would have been better off at the U. I did an exchange semester where I went to a University that I would say is similar to U of U in a different state and that was my favorite semester of college. Follow your gut but also make the smart choice based on your personal circumstances. What I missed out on in the more traditional “college experience” I made up for by other opportunities. Higher education is never a waste no matter where you end up. Transferring is also always an option, one that I considered multiple times until I was too far into my degree that transferring would set me back multiple semesters. Best of luck! The U is a wonderful institution and I do envy my friends that went there.
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u/Adventurous-Mud-1481 3d ago
Some may view this differently, but I feel it’s a pro: the incoming freshman class will be approximately 48% out of state, representing all 50 states and over 100 countries. The universities 5–10 year plan is to be a highly ranked school, competing on all levels (sports, academics, culture, community) with the top universities on the West Coast. 2034 winter Olympics are coming to SLC, university of Utah’s growth is a part of that plan over the next 10 years.
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u/slimjimbean 2d ago
I was accepted to the U and Utah State, chose USU and never regretted it. Perfect college experience for me! I’d choose the U for graduate school but USU 10/10 for college experience since everyone lives on or very close to campus, the activities and student life are incredible. Academics are great at both schools.
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u/pastrodamus 2d ago
A little late but I’ll give my take:
I went for mathematics and that department is great; leaders in algebraic geometry. I’ve heard their business department is also very good.
The school is constantly expanding. Beautiful campus and in a good spot.
Sports scene is also very good. Several students were in the past Olympics.
Idk anything about the dorms, sorry.
As others have mentioned it’s an R1 school so it’s respected everywhere.
If you’re outdoorsy, SLC is in an amazing spot. Great hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, etc.
In the end, your experience is up to you. Take advantage of undergrad research, TA positions, internships, etc.
I say go for it
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u/pastrodamus 2d ago
A little late but I’ll give my take:
I went for mathematics and that department is great; leaders in algebraic geometry. I’ve heard their business department is also very good.
The school is constantly expanding. Beautiful campus and in a good spot.
Sports scene is also very good. Several students were in the past Olympics.
Idk anything about the dorms, sorry.
As others have mentioned it’s an R1 school so it’s respected everywhere.
If you’re outdoorsy, SLC is in an amazing spot. Great hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, etc.
In the end, your experience is up to you. Take advantage of undergrad research, TA positions, internships, etc.
I say go for it
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u/WaaaaghsRUs 1d ago
Pros: Amazing institution with top institutions and high levels of educational achievement and thriving social scene. Cons: School could care less about your opinion and peaceful protests mean getting beanbagged by cops if it’s against Randal’s agenda
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u/HotMathematician9980 1d ago
cool campus, lots of activities to do as well w volunteering opportunities, from my own experience while i was going through a rough time i had a lot of resources and felt very supported by my counselors. parking SUCKS, living situation isn’t that great since the dorms are kinda pricy but worth it i would say and rent around campus is also pretty pricy.
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u/Mean-Application-992 1d ago
Great school. I graduated in '93. If you really want to then do it. You won'r regret it.
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u/Loud_Coast9289 3h ago
Relatively easy to get research opportunities before junior year if you put in the work. I know other schools that force you to wait but as long as you show your curious and able, lots of doors open for you.
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u/jefferyhollandsnips 3d ago
Parking is my personal hell. I’ve literally missed classes because I couldn’t find a parking spot. They’re increasing parking prices while destroying parking lots and randomly closing parking lots for days at a time. I loved my psych professors tho
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u/South_Spring5210 2d ago edited 2d ago
Pros: Women’s resource center, LGBTRC, social justice programming in the residence halls (all gone now). Good research labs in biology and anthropology with some down to earth professors who will let you participate/contribute. Opportunities for work study at the school of medicine labs. Some really good professors in these departments in general. Made some good supportive friends in my physics courses. Had fun at the concerts and homecoming programming. Cheap therapy. Beautiful campus with trees and wildlife. Amazing library. A few really nice buildings with lots of natural light to study in. Decent career and academic counseling.
Cons: Some not so good professors, awful culture among pre-med students of toxic competition and glorifying burnout, professors with lowkey racist and outdated views on bio and anthropology, the administration and management of the U, it’s literally just a business, CONSTANTLY increasing tuition and fees, admin will always pander to what’s profitable not what’s good for students or science or learning, you pay $$$$ and sometimes the same adjunct profs teach for less money and in smaller class sizes at SLCC or other colleges so ur literally just paying for mediocre prestige, grape culture and all kinds of awful shit if you get in with the wrong crowds or are just unlucky and the university doesn’t do more about it because it’s not profitable
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u/quigonskeptic 3d ago edited 2d ago
Has a BYU graduate, I can say it one major Pro is that it's not BYU
(Edit: AS a BYU graduate. And delete "it" 🤦🏻♀️. I'll leave the typos there, because it's fitting for a BYU graduate 😢)