Review of California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
from Bayside, CA
Do you feel you’re learning a lot?
Humboldt State is an excellent university for the science majors. Their science programs are very impressive, even more so for the natural sciences. As a Botany major I am well challenged at the classes, some of which I would say are at the same level as some UC classes.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Humboldt is a community, and when you go to HSU you join that community. I enjoy the close feeling we have the with the locals, and the scenery here is amazing. The beach is 5 minutes away, the redwoods right behind campus, and hiking, biking, rock-climbing, and much more not far away. One downside is that Humboldt has virtually nothing shopping-wise. Mostly mom and pop stores, the biggest superstore being Target in Eureka. But I like it, it feels more relaxed and slow-paced than the city.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Because HSU is a smaller university we get much smaller class sizes and are able to participate on a much more intimate level with the material and the professor. We can directly ask questions from our professors, and there are even times when we will run into our professors at the grocery store or at lunch and they will remember our names. I just find the education a lot more satisfying, because one learns alongside the masters instead of just from a book. It is not rare for a student to be asked to help with a faculty's research project, so the opportunity for hands-on work is greatly increased.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
As everyone knows Humboldt is the weed capital, but truly HSU is not that bad. There aren't really any more pot-smokers there than anywhere else. Also, because Humboldt is so small it is pretty easy to survive without a car, especially since parking at HSU is absolutely horrendous. We get the entire bus system free so its easier to just ride the bus around. One thing that does suck about Humboldt is the weather. Its pretty cold and foggy most of the time.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Definitely a great match the outdoors type of students. And its also a great stepping stone for undergrad science majors. People who like close-knit communities would fit in perfectly here. Definitely not a conservative school, a pretty liberal-thinking school focused on green-energy and working with the environment, which some students will probably find appealing.
Humboldt State is an excellent university for the science majors. Their science programs are very impressive, even more so for the natural sciences. As a Botany major I am well challenged at the classes, some of which I would say are at the same level as some UC classes.
Humboldt is a community, and when you go to HSU you join that community. I enjoy the close feeling we have the with the locals, and the scenery here is amazing. The beach is 5 minutes away, the redwoods right behind campus, and hiking, biking, rock-climbing, and much more not far away. One downside is that Humboldt has virtually nothing shopping-wise. Mostly mom and pop stores, the biggest superstore being Target in Eureka. But I like it, it feels more relaxed and slow-paced than the city.
Because HSU is a smaller university we get much smaller class sizes and are able to participate on a much more intimate level with the material and the professor. We can directly ask questions from our professors, and there are even times when we will run into our professors at the grocery store or at lunch and they will remember our names. I just find the education a lot more satisfying, because one learns alongside the masters instead of just from a book. It is not rare for a student to be asked to help with a faculty's research project, so the opportunity for hands-on work is greatly increased.
As everyone knows Humboldt is the weed capital, but truly HSU is not that bad. There aren't really any more pot-smokers there than anywhere else. Also, because Humboldt is so small it is pretty easy to survive without a car, especially since parking at HSU is absolutely horrendous. We get the entire bus system free so its easier to just ride the bus around. One thing that does suck about Humboldt is the weather. Its pretty cold and foggy most of the time.
Definitely a great match the outdoors type of students. And its also a great stepping stone for undergrad science majors. People who like close-knit communities would fit in perfectly here. Definitely not a conservative school, a pretty liberal-thinking school focused on green-energy and working with the environment, which some students will probably find appealing.