Joseph is a current senior at DePaul University. He is majoring in computer software engineering, and specializes in C++ tutoring, study skills tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at DePaul University:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Joseph: DePaul has two campuses for students to take advantage of. The campus in downtown Chicago is only a 15-minute train ride from the more suburban campus located in Lincoln Park. Both are great campuses where students attend classes.
How available are the professors, academic advisors, and teaching assistants?
Joseph: The professors are very available. They are all required to have a minimum amount of office hours weekly. I highly suggest seeing professors outside of class and getting to know them because, at the end of the day, those professors are the greatest assets the school offers.
How would you describe the dorm life—rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students, etc.?
Joseph: DePaul dorms are located at the Lincoln Park campus. Most school events take place at this campus, as well. While there aren’t university dorms at the downtown campus, students who live near this campus share housing with students from other area schools—including Roosevelt University, Robert Morris University, and Columbia University.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why?
Joseph: I came to DePaul to study game programming, though I feel other majors are better represented. The most common major at DePaul is business. Game programming, however, does fall under the computers and digital media school, which is generally well supported and a favorite among students.
How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Joseph: It was extremely easy to meet other students my freshman year. There’s a lot of diversity at DePaul, so it's easy to find where you fit in. There is Greek life, but it's not very large.
How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services?
Joseph: The student support centers are located at both campuses and serve both appointments and walk-ins. Those that staff these services are almost always very helpful and can point you in the right direction. The Career Center also has a website where students can post their resume and search for jobs.
How are the various study areas, such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges?
Joseph: By far a favorite of students is to go to the library located at the Lincoln Park campus. This library has spaces for both group study and quiet work.
Describe the surrounding town.
Joseph: Lincoln Park is a nice area for exploration. It's a quiet area, but there are plenty of things to do. During the warmer months, many students will walk about a mile to go to the beach and relax. The downtown campus is much more business oriented. This area has many large buildings and shops. Many tourist attractions are also in this area and lots of students love to spend time by the river.
How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Joseph: The student body is about 23,000 undergraduate students. Each class has about 25 students, while the large lecture classes have around 40 students. This way, students have a better opportunity to interact with their professors.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Joseph: I remember one class that really set the tone for me was a game engine class with one of my favorite professors. It was a time when I first felt that I was becoming a programmer, seeing how all I had learned was coming together into a large project that I was very proud of.
Check out Joseph’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
