Valparaiso University is an excellent place for students to learn, grow, and find themselves. This university succeeds in shaping students into whole and well-rounded thinking individuals who are ready for the real world. Not only do students become well-rounded, but they are more than sufficiently qualified to walk into the work force of whatever field of study they chose while in school.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Valparaiso University is a home away from home. It is a small school, both in numbers and in physical size, so one learns the in's and out's of the school and gets close to its students and faculty very quickly. This intimate understanding of the university really makes it feel like home. Because of its smaller size, the class sizes are smaller so that the professors (many of them being being some of the top experts in their fields) can provide more individualized learning and care for their students.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Valpo as a whole is very academically rigorous. The intention of this is not to screw over the students with copious amounts of unnecessary work, but this is done out of care to fully prepare them to make a difference in the workforce.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life is quite wonderful. 95% of the RA's are very nice, and because each RA is in charge of only 20-30 people, one can really get to know and be on good terms with them. Since starting here two and a half years ago, most of my fellow residents are pretty nice, and my roommate is great. Obviously, there are those couple dorms that are not in the best shape and have the kind of people living in them that are the same way, but that will be found at any university. Overall, if you respect and be nice to your fellow residents and RA (which many of them have become my friends), then they will be respectful and nice to you.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The food is pretty good at Valpo. There are two main areas to eat on campus that provide different varieties of food everyday. If one gets tired of that, there are a number of eateries right off campus that one can chose from.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
Throughout the school year there are a number of sports events that go on. The largest attraction is the basketball games. Though we are a small school, we take pride in our basketball team, which went to the NCAA tournament last year. There are many other activities as well. UPC, the main organization that provides these activities, routinely provides things such as movie viewings, rock concerts, and comedians. There are numerous other organizations that provide fun things to do, and one just has to look at the advertisements put up on campus.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
At first glance, Valparaiso University looks ridiculously expensive. However, Valpo provides a boat-load of scholarships. I personally have about half of my tuition taken off due to the scholarships that Valpo has given me, and it was not too difficult to get these scholarships. With half the tuition gone, Valpo is much cheaper than other private schools, though it has such a high academic standing. So, when choosing Valpo for a school, one gets an academic backing that's worth so much more.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Valparaiso, Indiana (the location of Valparaiso University) is famous for its Popcorn Festival. The Festival is given once a year in late summer/early fall when school starts. This is a remembrance and celebration for for Orville Redenbacher, whose hometown is Valparaiso. Valparaiso is also famous for its very delicious and very smooth Valpo Velvet ice cream.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Valparaiso University is great for all kinds of students! I have seen so many people from diverse cultures and backgrounds and have seen so many degrees, organizations, and programs that appeal to every kind of person, that it seems like Valpo is home to every kind of person and student.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are so many clubs and organizations on campus that I could not count them. If you have an interest in something specific, there is probably an organization for it. There are fraternities and sororities that provide activities, and for a school this size, there is a decent size intramural sports programs. There are also a number of music ensembles as well that one can participate in whether he or she is a music major or not.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
I am not associate with Greek life, but I can say that we do have a good number of both fraternities and sororities on campus that one can get involved in.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Our university has its own police department besides the city's police department. There is an alert system that sends out emails and text messages to students in case there is a threat of any level to university life, whether that threat be weather or human. Placed conveniently along walkways and major public areas outside are blue Help poles. In case a person is in trouble, he or she can go up to one of those poles, hit the button, and the police department is automatically contacted. There are not very many threats to worry about, though this school does have a number of precautions in case there are, as mentioned above.
Valparaiso University is an excellent place for students to learn, grow, and find themselves. This university succeeds in shaping students into whole and well-rounded thinking individuals who are ready for the real world. Not only do students become well-rounded, but they are more than sufficiently qualified to walk into the work force of whatever field of study they chose while in school.
Valparaiso University is a home away from home. It is a small school, both in numbers and in physical size, so one learns the in's and out's of the school and gets close to its students and faculty very quickly. This intimate understanding of the university really makes it feel like home. Because of its smaller size, the class sizes are smaller so that the professors (many of them being being some of the top experts in their fields) can provide more individualized learning and care for their students.
Valpo as a whole is very academically rigorous. The intention of this is not to screw over the students with copious amounts of unnecessary work, but this is done out of care to fully prepare them to make a difference in the workforce.
Dorm life is quite wonderful. 95% of the RA's are very nice, and because each RA is in charge of only 20-30 people, one can really get to know and be on good terms with them. Since starting here two and a half years ago, most of my fellow residents are pretty nice, and my roommate is great. Obviously, there are those couple dorms that are not in the best shape and have the kind of people living in them that are the same way, but that will be found at any university. Overall, if you respect and be nice to your fellow residents and RA (which many of them have become my friends), then they will be respectful and nice to you.
The food is pretty good at Valpo. There are two main areas to eat on campus that provide different varieties of food everyday. If one gets tired of that, there are a number of eateries right off campus that one can chose from.
Throughout the school year there are a number of sports events that go on. The largest attraction is the basketball games. Though we are a small school, we take pride in our basketball team, which went to the NCAA tournament last year. There are many other activities as well. UPC, the main organization that provides these activities, routinely provides things such as movie viewings, rock concerts, and comedians. There are numerous other organizations that provide fun things to do, and one just has to look at the advertisements put up on campus.
At first glance, Valparaiso University looks ridiculously expensive. However, Valpo provides a boat-load of scholarships. I personally have about half of my tuition taken off due to the scholarships that Valpo has given me, and it was not too difficult to get these scholarships. With half the tuition gone, Valpo is much cheaper than other private schools, though it has such a high academic standing. So, when choosing Valpo for a school, one gets an academic backing that's worth so much more.
Valparaiso, Indiana (the location of Valparaiso University) is famous for its Popcorn Festival. The Festival is given once a year in late summer/early fall when school starts. This is a remembrance and celebration for for Orville Redenbacher, whose hometown is Valparaiso. Valparaiso is also famous for its very delicious and very smooth Valpo Velvet ice cream.
Valparaiso University is great for all kinds of students! I have seen so many people from diverse cultures and backgrounds and have seen so many degrees, organizations, and programs that appeal to every kind of person, that it seems like Valpo is home to every kind of person and student.
There are so many clubs and organizations on campus that I could not count them. If you have an interest in something specific, there is probably an organization for it. There are fraternities and sororities that provide activities, and for a school this size, there is a decent size intramural sports programs. There are also a number of music ensembles as well that one can participate in whether he or she is a music major or not.
I am not associate with Greek life, but I can say that we do have a good number of both fraternities and sororities on campus that one can get involved in.
Our university has its own police department besides the city's police department. There is an alert system that sends out emails and text messages to students in case there is a threat of any level to university life, whether that threat be weather or human. Placed conveniently along walkways and major public areas outside are blue Help poles. In case a person is in trouble, he or she can go up to one of those poles, hit the button, and the police department is automatically contacted. There are not very many threats to worry about, though this school does have a number of precautions in case there are, as mentioned above.