University of Nevada-Las Vegas Top Questions

UNLV is only 50 years old, which is actually really nice as our students get to be apart of building the universities history. The size is just right. I think we have around 30,000 students which makes it a rather large school, but you still get to know a ton of people on campus. When I tell people I go to UNLV, most of them ask “How’s that going?” or “What’s that like?”

The campus is actually very pretty, if you like the whole desert landscape. There really is no history to the buildings as they are all very modern. However, the stories behind the dedications of the landmarks and various plazas on campus have an interesting background. The campus is just about the right size, however there is barely ever anyone on campus as it is a commuter campus. The only way to get a sense of unity is to join a sorority or fraternity, which I refuse to. When I tell people I go to UNLV they are usually very confused about what I just said until I say I live in Las Vegas and I am studying Hospitality Management. Now that I have changed my major there really is no justification for others as to why I attend this university. I spend most of my time in the library, it is wonderful, as is the Student Wellness and Recreation Center which is brand new and has amazing facilities. I could live there. The area around UNLV is very strange. You feel very safe on campus but right when you walk across the street you have to watch your back. Do not walk alone at night. This is very unsettling for me and for my parents, but then again everything is a learning experience we can't always be so sheltered. All of the students complain about the lack of school pride. I think the food is actually very good and I am doing my part to make sure it is even better. Our recycling program is growing and I am very excited, Vegas deserves it.

One of the best things about UNLV is that the university is always expanding. This is a greater incentive and a greater investment to attend and graduate from UNLV. By the time you graduate from UNLV, 10-20 years down the road, your degree from UNLV is going to worth much more than it is today because of the continuing expansion. I think the size of UNLV is just right at the moment. However, one thing I would like to see is the renovation of the classrooms. They should be more technologically advanced and in better condition. In the states around Nevada, people know where UNLV is, and people normally have a pretty good image about UNLV. I heard from many people that extraordinary attractive girls attend UNLV. I am not sure if that is true, but I suppose it's worthy to check it out. I spend most of my time in classrooms or at the Lied Library. I also like to go to the new Student Rec Center. The Student Union is also a great place to hang out since it is close to the Business Building (BEH). UNLV's administration has been very helpful to me. Whenever I have a question, I am always able to find an answer in a timely manner either on the internet or by phone. There was one time where the Registrar added a late fee to my tuition because of a computer error, and the cashier fixed it right away. I don't think there are a lot of school pride, but I think it's something that is doable. UNLV students are so friendly that if they were to know about events, I am sure they will attend. UNLV is a very active university. Any time of the day, you will find the library with people studying or hanging out. Since we are expanding, students benefit a lot from the new technologies and new buildings. I think we have the coolest library I have ever seen, and I have seen many libraries in the US and in Hong Kong. We also have the coolest student union and rec center available to its staff and students. Also, UNLV students usually have jobs, and this is awesome because you get to meet a lot of people who will become somebody later on. And you are meeting them in college, so you are kind of ahead of the game! I will always remember my first day of college. I didn't know where I was going, and there were these informational booth set up around campus. So, I was able to ask them where my classrooms were, and their smiles just reassured my choice of UNLV. The most heard complaint is parking!!! We don't have enough parking spaces!

I think the student body population and the campus size is great. I can walk from one end of campus to the other in about 20 minutes and it's pretty condensed. THe only complaint is parking, but I can still always get a spot as long as I plan ahead. The buildings are pretty damn new compared to a lot of campuses I've visited, but the school is only 50 years old. The library, student union, and recreational center are all brand new. The rec center is awesome. The dorms are also really nice compared to a lot of schools I've been to. Each room has two people that share a sink and mirror thing. Then between two rooms there's a private bathroom with a shower so you don't have the community bathroom situation which I loved. I lived in a coed by room dorm which I think a lot of them are. Definitely Tonopah or Dayton are the best to live in. Another perk is that you can have a car your freshman year, which you'll really want because there's so much to see! Las Vegas is definitely definitely not a college town. If you think you want a college town experience, I'd say screw that. Once you've been to Vegas and see all the opportunities and variety of jobs and entertainment, you'll wonder why you ever wanted to go to a school where the biggest event of the week was meeting at Dairy Queen. The people are somewhat sketchy, but that's just my opinion. Plus, all your friends want to come visit you! I don't think there's a whole lot of school pride, which sucks because that's something I was really looking forward to when I came here. However, the tailgates at football games are always packed and the basketball team is really good so those games are always fun to come watch. There isn't really anything unusual about UNLV, except that it's in Las Vegas which itself is unusual. I've had really good professors and my class sizes have been like 20-30 people with only 2 lectures of about 100. I think the most frequent student complaints are the parking situation. My personal complaint is that the dining hall's food get old really quick. But the student union has a decent variety of food (taco bell, panda, sub connection, some italian place, jamba juice, starbucks, and some burger place).

People usually react negatively when I tell them that I attend UNLV; some are even shocked that Las Vegas actually has a university. A wide-spread misconception is that Las Vegas only consists of "The Strip" and that the city's residents are either casino-workers or professional gamblers, so it is understandable why it isn't taken seriously as an academic institution. Those that are aware of UNLV's existence think that the student body is only being primed to serve the gaming industry (something I reluctantly agree with), so it is very difficult for other students to gain recognition.

Its a good campus, the only thing is you have to be self motivated. It's really easy to fall into the trap of the clubs or just not being involved.

Gambling and bitches is a habit. Good School

it's rare to see a lot of school pride unless a sports team does something spectacular. Students don't seem interested in campus organizations because they're not widely known.

My school is just right. I spend most of my time in the student union.

The thing I would like to change are the older building structures, some of them are soo ridiculously undermaintained that there are leaks in the building, the bathrooms are digusting, and it just isn't to date with things (especially the BEH bathrooms). Well, when i tell people to go to UNLV at least they give me good comments that I go to a University and how I'm continue on with my education. But coming from an Asian ethnic background, some people are just like "why not some where else"? I do spend most of my time in the MSU, there's food and friends.