University of Denver Top Questions

Not so hot in the gen-ed department, which is a large consideration because DU is a liberal arts school and requires that you study a broad spectrum of subjects to graduate. Some students DO have great conversations outside of class, but the general gist is that the support network from other students is lacking. DU provides awesome research grant opportunities - Cherrington Scholars, Partners in Scholarship, but teachers are not informed OR do not inform their students of the opportunities.

i think my experience may have been a bit different from others, because i was in arts and humanities instead of buisiness or some of the other things du is reknowned for. most of my classes were very small. all of the professors knew my name and were very willing to help outside of the classroom (many were even willing to meet with me to discuss things like my thesis or graduate school). du is quite well rounded. i think the requirements make all students delve into many different subjects. my favorite classes were what they call core classes- a requirement that all students must take. many of the topics were so interesting and were nothing that would be offered in other departments ( for example, the multiracial individual or jack kerouac in denver). the only problem was that since they were requirements many kids did not take these classes seriously. also, these classes were much bigger, at around 30-35 people per class so it made it more difficult to have class discussions that were stimulating. my major was great but uncommon- cultural and critical studies. i did not know any other person with the same major. but it was amazing and i would definitely encourage people to do it so the area of study can expand and have a great influence on the campus. many of the professors in the major are also professors in other areas so they are very knowlegeable and passionate about what they do.

The academics are great. Class sizes are mostly pretty small and professors actually know your name and tend to remember you even after you finish the class. Most classes do have a relatively tough course load because of the quarter system, but it's nothing that someone who was qualified to be accepted to DU couldn't handle. In my first year at DU, I definitely learned a lot!

An up and downside is the quarter system, it doesn't allow for down time, which can be bad or good. I like it because I'm always doing something, but you do sacrifice the real "bond" you might have with your teachers, but again, if you want them to know your name, they will, the classes are small but go bye quickly.

The class sizes are just right, intimate enough to create a valuable learning experience every day. The faculty are great; there have been very few instances when you solely deal with TAs for class. The professors are affable and approachable, always available to help.

The classes are extremely small. This leads to teachers knowing your name and being willing to meet you outside of class to give extra help. Daniels employees tend to be a bit more qualified than the average DU teacher. Expect to be in at least 2 classes where the guy in front of you wrote the textbook. Real world application is key. Buy a suit if you are an HRTM major.

Take the AP English tests to get out of the WRIT classes. They're taught by lecturers/professors who half the time think they know everything and will criticize even the best of papers. Do the same for the NATS classes. I really enjoy the business and HRTM classes, though, probably because they relate to my major. Also, there are a lot of really cool electives like Northern Indian Dance. Professors are really interested in helping students out and I've gotten to know mine quite well outside of class. While learning is often geared toward getting a job, there are some professors who just want to teach you so you can learn. Students vary in competitiveness; because it costs just under $50,000 a year, there are a lot of kids whose parents are paying for college and don't really care how they do but there are a lot of kids who really want to do well too. It just depends on who you choose to hang out with.

Small class size, interesting classes, too many Core and foundations courses, not enough participation and interest from students. Rarely will you sit in on or participate in intellectual conversation outside of class. It's hard enough to get students to have them inside of class. The English department is very helpful and fairly well organized. I feel as if the classes are geared more towards learning for its own sake than towards getting a job, but with English its always subjective. As I mentioned before, there are too many Core and foundations requirements.

Most of my professors here are awesome, but there are definitely a few to steer clear from. The professors in the language department are amazing. I learned more in 2 quarters of spanish here than 4 years of spanish (including AP) in high school. There are a lot of required courses, but they vary the subject matter of each

Most of my professors know my name, especially if I take the time to approach them. My favorite classes have been through International Studies, with Kevin Archer and Woj Wolfe. Least favorite are some of the foundations, like music because I have no interest in that. Students are very dedicated to studying, and participation in class depends on the teacher. There are frequent intellectual conversations outside of class, which is nice because all of the students have a high level of intelligence. The most unique class I have taken is International Politics because we did a real UN simulation. I love all the IS classes and professors! The classes open you up to so many opportunities! They also broaden your knowledge of the world so much. I do not spend time with teachers outside of class, unless I see them walking and walk with them or say hello. The requirements seem do-able and okay. The education is both geared towards getting a job and for learning.