University of Iowa Top Questions

We were named No. 1 by The Princeton Review as "School Where Students Study the Least." I'm not surprised by this designation, but I would guess the amount of time devoted to academic work varies widely between majors. Many academic programs are very strong (journalism, creative writing, astronomy, pre-medicine, construction management, speech pathology/audiology, printmaking, athletic training, business all spring to mind). Some departments are overlooked by their respective colleges, so I wouldn't say Iowa is capable of giving the best opportunity to every student. I've been fortunate to have some exceptional professors who take it upon themselves to look out for student welfare. This is especially important, given the complete lack of academic advising.

I really like how the academics at Iowa are set up. Most courses you have a big lecture with a couple hundred other students but you also have a discussion with a graduate student (TA) with has around 20-30 students in it. Those TA's generally all know everyones know. Also attendance is not manadtory for most classes so if you do go the professors will usually recongize you. Students are competitive more so at the end of the class since a lot of classes use a bell curve. I do go to my teachers office hours a lot and if you can't make it they all email back very fast. Education at Iowa is geared to learning for the sake of learning at first, requiring many gen. eds. but focuses in pretty quickly after your freshman year.

There is school there. Way too big to say anything specific.

My professors were always willing to help and be a larger part of student life outside of class. I met some of my best friends in classes. Academic requirements were challenging at times, but in the end- it's worth it!

Academics at Iowa are very high. We have some of the best professors and educators. I believe there is a lot of competition among students, but at the same time, we all help each other out cause we know how difficult certain classes can be. The academic requirements are easy to obtain and the education given here will give you a rewarding career after you graduate!

Overall, the university is very large, so a lot of general education classes are very large, so you do not know your professor personally and a lot of times you are taught by teaching assistants the majority of the time. Within my department, most professors do know me by name since my department is quite small compared to the rest of the university majors. Most professors are available outside of class for you to be in contact with and email is used very frequently to keep in contact.

Right now, I am in very big lecture classes for Chemistry and Biology, so the professors do not know me name, and I don't expect them to because the classes are so big. However, all of the TA's know you on a much more personal level and you can interact with them as frequently as possible. The students are extremely competitive in my classes becasue they are basically all science classes, which is good because it pushes me even harder.

I'm a nursing major, which impresses a lot of people. The nursing program is very competitive here, mostly because it is so well respected. It's also a very tight-knit program. All my professors know my name, and they aren't shy about coming up to me in the mall and chatting a bit. Now, the nursing program is hard. I mean, that first year that you are accepted into the program, there is like, no social life at all. I studied a ton. After that first year, though, it's not bad. It's completely worth it, too, because I know that I can get a job anywhere with a nursing degree from Iowa.

Iowa is an everybody gets accepted, but not everyone graduates type of school. Class is easy for the most part, but tests can be difficult. Many classes base grades almost solely on tests. Business students do A LOT of group work for classes, so if that's not your thing then look elsewhere. However, you mine as well learn to work in groups before you reach the 'real' world.

Teachers here know your name if you make the opportunity to get to know them. The education here is also geared towards getting a job.