The campus is beautiful, in a bowl of mountains and bordered by west Denver. The amenities on campus aren't as shiny as some, but they're everything you could need for any sport or hobby you may have. They do a really good job of keeping campus safe; the entire campus is well lit, and campus PD is friendly and always around to crack a joke and keep everyone safe.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Do your work. Really do it. Understand what you're doing, and why. If you adopt a reflective approach to your learning, you'll go miles above the rest, here.
When it comes to housing and your meal plans, only pay for what you need. It doesn't seem like much now, but when you face the bills, you'll be glad you saved where you could. On that note, save your munch money! Don't spend it all before your first round of tests. You'll want a milkshake from Elements after your first physics test - I promise.
Know what you need. I need to eat breakfast everyday. Some people need 30 more minutes of sleep. Maybe you need to go to every class, maybe you don't. But find out what you need (not just what you want), and stick to it. I need a class before 10am so that I don't sleep until noon!
If you can find a TLC that's right for you - GO FOR IT! I'm a member of the Visual and Performing Arts community and it's the best thing I could've done. You have a family walking into the semester, and people to look for in your classes so you're not alone. Make those friends, but look for a community if you can. It goes a long way.
Explore your resources. Between the design lab in Brown, the 3D printers sprinkled around campus, and the design lab below the engineering annex, there's not a project you can't take on. Go to the library, print on nice paper. Take advantage of CASA help hours on subjects you feel shaky on.
Go to office hours.
Go to lab every week.
Don't skip classes you can't afford to miss.
Don't forget to get out and appreciate the world. Golden is a cute little town. Walk around Golden at 2am, sit on Kafadar Commons at 1 in the afternoon. Soak in the experience, and the sunlight.
Keep a low-calorie snack on hand. Gum works. You'll want to eat something while you study, but the freshman 15 can get real.
Sodexo sucks, and you'll feel it after week 3, but you can make it better in little ways. Ask the deli to toss your cookie in the toaster if they're not busy. Get...
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
If you don't manage your time, and your responsibilities, Mines will eat you alive. 2 lab reports a week on top of 3D modelling homework, lon-capa, and a paper for NHV is too much to handle the day before you have all of these things due. Get ahead on your homework and stay there. Usually assignments open up either a week or two weeks before they're due.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Some of the dorms have inherent disadvantages. The traditional dorms are older, Elm is huge and hotel-like, Maple is smaller than Elm but newer, and Weaver has suite-style living. Find what you like the best (I live in Weaver, and the suite-style has really fostered a great sense of community on EVERY floor). If you like to keep to yourself, maybe one of the other dorms better suits your needs. The trads are closer to some buildings, and maple is right up against a few others. Know what you need from your building - and remember, the longest walk on campus is maybe 12 minutes (Ford to the annex).
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Like I said, Sodexo really sucks. The stations are all open around the same time, and only operate during 'normal' hours for eating.
Breakfast: 7am-9:30*
Lunch: 11:30-1:30*
Dinner: 5-7*
*The end times vary based on the volume for the day.
Outside of these hours, you have a few options - sandwiches, cereal, bagels and toast, and sometimes the salad bar. I think 10am is a perfectly reasonable time to want eggs and bacon but I'm proven wrong all the time when everything is closed but the deli.
However, all things considered, they're not the worst. Mass producing food is hard, and they do an okay job at it. There are a few golden dishes like Mac&Cheese pizza at the Brick Oven, mac&cheese at the pasta bar (in the little casserole dishes, not the big pans) and chicken sliders at Grillworks that make you think for a minute they might not suck so badly. Cherish these meals. They'll help you deal with crappy days.
Judy at the front is a lovely woman, and you should spend a little bit of time to say hi in the mornings. She gets a lot of unnecessary flak for the bad food - she has nothing to do with it!
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Bring a hammock and tree protectors! Hanging hammocks on Kafadar and chilling or studying is very popular. We also have a pretty active slacklining community, as well. If you're a HP geek, there's also Quidditch this semester on Thursdays. If you like to dance, the Sliderulers would love to welcome you to swing or ballroom dances. Watch for recruiting weeks for the fraternities and sororities; even if you don't plan on pledging, they're full of good food and fun activities. If there's something you're interested in, you can probably find a club on campus that's also interested in doing that thing!
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
If you can make it through your classes and get to graduation, it's absolutely worth it. You'll pay the same you would anywhere else, but your degree frankly means more. Mines is held in high regard for a reason, and it pays off if you earn it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The M climb will be the best and worst few hours of your life. You'll trudge up Mt. Zion and get soaked with water, learn the fight song, all while carrying a heavy rock. It'll be kinda miserable, but ultimately worth it when you dry off at the top, even if it's just for a few minutes (oops!).
There's also a tradition you'll need to fulfill on your own with a few friends - hike South Table at night. It's a gorgeous view up there, overlooking Golden and Denver.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Hard working, dedicated, procrastinating students who want to do something significant with their degrees.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Mines PD is great. They cooperate very closely with Golden PD, and they're genuinely good guys. Don't be a problem, and realize they are a "real police" department. They can arrest you. They can give you a ticket. And they will. But they can also be really cool dudes who really just want everyone to stay safe.
The campus is beautiful, in a bowl of mountains and bordered by west Denver. The amenities on campus aren't as shiny as some, but they're everything you could need for any sport or hobby you may have. They do a really good job of keeping campus safe; the entire campus is well lit, and campus PD is friendly and always around to crack a joke and keep everyone safe.
Do your work. Really do it. Understand what you're doing, and why. If you adopt a reflective approach to your learning, you'll go miles above the rest, here. When it comes to housing and your meal plans, only pay for what you need. It doesn't seem like much now, but when you face the bills, you'll be glad you saved where you could. On that note, save your munch money! Don't spend it all before your first round of tests. You'll want a milkshake from Elements after your first physics test - I promise. Know what you need. I need to eat breakfast everyday. Some people need 30 more minutes of sleep. Maybe you need to go to every class, maybe you don't. But find out what you need (not just what you want), and stick to it. I need a class before 10am so that I don't sleep until noon! If you can find a TLC that's right for you - GO FOR IT! I'm a member of the Visual and Performing Arts community and it's the best thing I could've done. You have a family walking into the semester, and people to look for in your classes so you're not alone. Make those friends, but look for a community if you can. It goes a long way. Explore your resources. Between the design lab in Brown, the 3D printers sprinkled around campus, and the design lab below the engineering annex, there's not a project you can't take on. Go to the library, print on nice paper. Take advantage of CASA help hours on subjects you feel shaky on. Go to office hours. Go to lab every week. Don't skip classes you can't afford to miss. Don't forget to get out and appreciate the world. Golden is a cute little town. Walk around Golden at 2am, sit on Kafadar Commons at 1 in the afternoon. Soak in the experience, and the sunlight. Keep a low-calorie snack on hand. Gum works. You'll want to eat something while you study, but the freshman 15 can get real. Sodexo sucks, and you'll feel it after week 3, but you can make it better in little ways. Ask the deli to toss your cookie in the toaster if they're not busy. Get...
If you don't manage your time, and your responsibilities, Mines will eat you alive. 2 lab reports a week on top of 3D modelling homework, lon-capa, and a paper for NHV is too much to handle the day before you have all of these things due. Get ahead on your homework and stay there. Usually assignments open up either a week or two weeks before they're due.
Some of the dorms have inherent disadvantages. The traditional dorms are older, Elm is huge and hotel-like, Maple is smaller than Elm but newer, and Weaver has suite-style living. Find what you like the best (I live in Weaver, and the suite-style has really fostered a great sense of community on EVERY floor). If you like to keep to yourself, maybe one of the other dorms better suits your needs. The trads are closer to some buildings, and maple is right up against a few others. Know what you need from your building - and remember, the longest walk on campus is maybe 12 minutes (Ford to the annex).
Like I said, Sodexo really sucks. The stations are all open around the same time, and only operate during 'normal' hours for eating. Breakfast: 7am-9:30* Lunch: 11:30-1:30* Dinner: 5-7* *The end times vary based on the volume for the day. Outside of these hours, you have a few options - sandwiches, cereal, bagels and toast, and sometimes the salad bar. I think 10am is a perfectly reasonable time to want eggs and bacon but I'm proven wrong all the time when everything is closed but the deli. However, all things considered, they're not the worst. Mass producing food is hard, and they do an okay job at it. There are a few golden dishes like Mac&Cheese pizza at the Brick Oven, mac&cheese at the pasta bar (in the little casserole dishes, not the big pans) and chicken sliders at Grillworks that make you think for a minute they might not suck so badly. Cherish these meals. They'll help you deal with crappy days. Judy at the front is a lovely woman, and you should spend a little bit of time to say hi in the mornings. She gets a lot of unnecessary flak for the bad food - she has nothing to do with it!
Bring a hammock and tree protectors! Hanging hammocks on Kafadar and chilling or studying is very popular. We also have a pretty active slacklining community, as well. If you're a HP geek, there's also Quidditch this semester on Thursdays. If you like to dance, the Sliderulers would love to welcome you to swing or ballroom dances. Watch for recruiting weeks for the fraternities and sororities; even if you don't plan on pledging, they're full of good food and fun activities. If there's something you're interested in, you can probably find a club on campus that's also interested in doing that thing!
If you can make it through your classes and get to graduation, it's absolutely worth it. You'll pay the same you would anywhere else, but your degree frankly means more. Mines is held in high regard for a reason, and it pays off if you earn it.
The M climb will be the best and worst few hours of your life. You'll trudge up Mt. Zion and get soaked with water, learn the fight song, all while carrying a heavy rock. It'll be kinda miserable, but ultimately worth it when you dry off at the top, even if it's just for a few minutes (oops!). There's also a tradition you'll need to fulfill on your own with a few friends - hike South Table at night. It's a gorgeous view up there, overlooking Golden and Denver.
Hard working, dedicated, procrastinating students who want to do something significant with their degrees.
Mines PD is great. They cooperate very closely with Golden PD, and they're genuinely good guys. Don't be a problem, and realize they are a "real police" department. They can arrest you. They can give you a ticket. And they will. But they can also be really cool dudes who really just want everyone to stay safe.