Valpo is a great school, however it is not for everyone, meaning that it is not your typical party school. People are really friendly and nice, and it is pretty diverse for a school in Indiana. The campus itself is beautiful and the financial aid office is quite generous.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Apply as early as possible, most of the financial aid is awarded first come first served! Valpo is expensive, but most people I know are here on pretty hefty scholarships.
If you're unsure whether you like a school, come visit the campus for yourself! Then you'll truly know if a school is right for you. I recommend scheduling a Valpo Overnight Visit, where you'll stay with a current student (usually a freshman) for a night. I did that and it solidified by decision to come here. :)
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The overall rigor of your schedule depends on your major, but Valpo definitely challenges you! I'm a Nursing major and I spend more time in the library studying than I do in my dorm room haha. My friends that are Engineering majors also study a lot. The academics are challenging and prepare you for your career (the goal of a college education) but they are not impossible. There is also tutoring available in many subjects.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I believe most freshmen are required to live on campus, and I can see why. Living on campus definitely gives you the whole college experience and I love it and don't regret it. However, if you live nearby and finances are an issue, I suggest strongly considering that as well. Living on campus has a lot of perks, but of course it is more costly than commuting. (Hello loans...) There are 3 freshman residence halls: Alumni, Lank, and Brandt. I live in Alumni, which a lot of people agree is the nicest.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
The two main options for food are Founder's, which is the large cafeteria, and the Campus Cafe. Both are located in the Union, which is convenient. Freshman have a really large meal plan so it's not uncommon for some students' meal plan money to roll over to second semester. However, it doesn't roll over from second semester to next year so you have to make sure to use it up by May! The food itself isn't gourmet cooking, but it's honestly not bad! Founders has a variety of options that change every day, and has healthy options like a salad bar that's pretty yummy. The cafe has more grab and go type of items such as pizza, chicken nuggets, etc but there are healthy options there too. There is also seating at the cafe. As for hours, Founder's closes at 8pm most nights, while the cafe is open fairly late. (Midnight on weeknights and 1am on the weekend) so if you're hungry late at night, you can use your meal plan money and don't have to go off campus to eat.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
As I mentioned before, Valpo definitely isn't your typical party school, but it's not boring either! If you are into the party scene, I recommend getting to know people in Greek life because that's where most of the themed parties are held. If you're not into partying that's cool too, plenty of people aren't. The surrounding town is really cute and there's farmers markets, a movie theater, etc that people go to. Mainly you just hang out with your friends and something comes up haha. Also, Chicago is about an hour and a half away via train if you're looking for a night in the big city.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are lots of activities on campus for all types of people! Be sure to attend the activity fair at the beginning of fall semester.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I never feel unsafe walking back from the library late at night. The surrounding town of Valparaiso is pretty quiet.
Valpo is a great school, however it is not for everyone, meaning that it is not your typical party school. People are really friendly and nice, and it is pretty diverse for a school in Indiana. The campus itself is beautiful and the financial aid office is quite generous.
Apply as early as possible, most of the financial aid is awarded first come first served! Valpo is expensive, but most people I know are here on pretty hefty scholarships. If you're unsure whether you like a school, come visit the campus for yourself! Then you'll truly know if a school is right for you. I recommend scheduling a Valpo Overnight Visit, where you'll stay with a current student (usually a freshman) for a night. I did that and it solidified by decision to come here. :)
The overall rigor of your schedule depends on your major, but Valpo definitely challenges you! I'm a Nursing major and I spend more time in the library studying than I do in my dorm room haha. My friends that are Engineering majors also study a lot. The academics are challenging and prepare you for your career (the goal of a college education) but they are not impossible. There is also tutoring available in many subjects.
I believe most freshmen are required to live on campus, and I can see why. Living on campus definitely gives you the whole college experience and I love it and don't regret it. However, if you live nearby and finances are an issue, I suggest strongly considering that as well. Living on campus has a lot of perks, but of course it is more costly than commuting. (Hello loans...) There are 3 freshman residence halls: Alumni, Lank, and Brandt. I live in Alumni, which a lot of people agree is the nicest.
The two main options for food are Founder's, which is the large cafeteria, and the Campus Cafe. Both are located in the Union, which is convenient. Freshman have a really large meal plan so it's not uncommon for some students' meal plan money to roll over to second semester. However, it doesn't roll over from second semester to next year so you have to make sure to use it up by May! The food itself isn't gourmet cooking, but it's honestly not bad! Founders has a variety of options that change every day, and has healthy options like a salad bar that's pretty yummy. The cafe has more grab and go type of items such as pizza, chicken nuggets, etc but there are healthy options there too. There is also seating at the cafe. As for hours, Founder's closes at 8pm most nights, while the cafe is open fairly late. (Midnight on weeknights and 1am on the weekend) so if you're hungry late at night, you can use your meal plan money and don't have to go off campus to eat.
As I mentioned before, Valpo definitely isn't your typical party school, but it's not boring either! If you are into the party scene, I recommend getting to know people in Greek life because that's where most of the themed parties are held. If you're not into partying that's cool too, plenty of people aren't. The surrounding town is really cute and there's farmers markets, a movie theater, etc that people go to. Mainly you just hang out with your friends and something comes up haha. Also, Chicago is about an hour and a half away via train if you're looking for a night in the big city.
There are lots of activities on campus for all types of people! Be sure to attend the activity fair at the beginning of fall semester.
I never feel unsafe walking back from the library late at night. The surrounding town of Valparaiso is pretty quiet.