The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Top Questions

Horrible.

The best thing about this school is that it is easy to hide in the crowd. If you're simply wishing to get away, there are multiple spots on campus that allow you to do that. There are three common complaints about the campus: One is that there are very busy roads dividing the campus into two halves, which detracts from the overall feel of campus unity. The second being an ugly sculpture right in the middle of pedestrian walkway. The third is lack of green space. I would change all three of these, and currently the campus administration is planning to do away with the roads and as well as plant more trees and such. The student body is too large for me, but for one who wants a large campus feel, it would be just right because the student body (being around 20,000 students) is small compared to other state schools. In fact, it is even smaller than MTSU. On game days, every single one of these students wear orange in support of their football or basketball teams, which is actually an incredible sight.

Beautifuly part of the country. I loved how you could see the snow caps on the Appalachian mountains on clear days. Mild climate, great professors, small classes, down-to-earth students. Big football and baskeball school, but it is the SEC. Great greek scene. Sigma Chi and PKA rule the boys scene, and Phi Mu and DDD are the best on the women's side of campus.

Looking back at my college career, I can say that UT has provided a lot of opportunties, especially in the college of engineering. I have done two engineering co-op rotations and one internship with a prestigious organization. I don't think I could have attended any other school with any other major(s) and have been quite as satisfied. From my challenging engineering classes and my professors, to Neyland stadium on any given Saturday, I have truly enjoyed my time at UT. This school has equipped me with valuable tools to be successful in life.

UTK has a very large campus. It is very hard to find a computer to use in the library if you do not own your own laptop, but I usually spend most of my time in the library because I do not live on campus.

Best thing about UT? Football Season. You've never seen so many people in your life. The school is about 26-28,000 kids, and if you're looking for the "college" experience, you'll find it at UT. In Tennessee, if you go to UT, you kind of think you're a badass. It's no Vanderbilt, but then again, you're not paying 30,000 dollars more for the same undergraduate classes you'd take at UT. I spent most of my time on campus on Fraternity Row, or in Circle Park. Knoxville is a comfortable college town, with great night life, a fun downtown area and the mountains 45 minutes away. What else could you want? UTK's administration likes to screw students on everything from graduation requirements to parking tickets, so watch out for the "Big Orange Screw." There is a tremendous amount of school pride, especially when it comes to sports. Unusual? Probably that they take better care of the mascot (Smoky) than they do the students. Student complaints are always about parking tickets, that the UTPD are idiots and that you could hire trained animals and they'd probably do a better job than the police do about keeping campus safe at night. One experience I'll always remember...my sophomore year when we were losing to Florida, 5 seconds on the clock, we kicked a 45 yard field goal to win when everyone in the stands had already accepted that we lost. The crowd went NUTS.

One of the best things about UTK is the ability to meet all different types of new people. The student population is very diverse but everyone is interconnected with their school pride. UTK is full of people wearing orange and white every day, but especially on game days. The biggest controversy lately was when the administration decided to have students pay for football games next fall. The students already are charged an activities' fee which was supposed to cover all sports and et cetera at the university. Knoxville is a college town. There are several parts of town that are mostly swarming with college students. Several students also travel to the mountains for the weekend or to go shopping. A lot of students' time is spent in the library studying or catching up with friends. Several people go down to the "strip" and catch a meal at one of the many restaurants. Some of favorite experiences so far at UTK have been meeting so many new people, and the football and basketball games. It is an exciting time to just be on campus during a football game even if you're not planning on going to the game. UTK is like a campus that never sleeps. There is almost always something going on, no matter what time of day or night.

For me, UT is the perfect size because there are so many diverse people, there are numerous ways to get involved and find a place to fit in. Also, there are always new people to meet! When I tell people from my hometown I go to UT I always get an "in awe" reaction. Most people from my high school go to ETSU and live at home, so seeing someone move out on their own (even though it's 90 mins. away) is sort of a big deal to them. There seems to be lots of controversy about the administration here, I don't really know a lot about it, but all I know is there are protesters on campus and tuition keeps going up! One controversy going on now is having students pay for football tickets next year. Luckily, I won't be here, but a lot of people are upset about it. Normally, all sporting events are free to students.

Too greedy, cramming students in so fast that they can't even provide air conditioned rooms for many, and stacking them in like firewood to the spaces they do have. Were supposed to remodel/replace some residence halls years ago, but instead are finishing recent remodel of stadium where you need two ticketed seats in order to sit down and not be in someone else's lap. Expecting record growth in enrollment, can't provide parking for all the permits they sell at $150 each, just seem to be adding fees to everything but air (that's for next year) and charge you transportation fees whether or not you use the broken down buses that sit by the side of the road more time than they drive on it. The University president has everyone including staff angry over his methods and runs the campus like it has to make a certain profit or get cut. The 2006 budget listed $20.5 million NET profit( that's the take home after bills are paid.) But despite this, if you happen to be one of the DOZENS of students mugged here and also happen to be injured by such in one of their unlit parking garages, don't expect to sue the university for even medical bills, they have stated for the record in a recent public case-THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR STUDENTS' SAFETY. After all with 26K+ of full time and expecting 32K+ soon, how can they be expected to do anything like pay for security other than directing traffic for games, pay for lighting with the cost of materials and power these days, or even trim the overgrown bushes where the girl was beaten with a brick along side the parking garage.

The school pride here is incredible. There is absolutely nothing like football time in tennessee!