Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Marquette University. She specializes in geometry tutoring, engineering tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at Marquette University:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Sarah: Marquette is situated on the border of downtown Milwaukee. There are tons of great things to do downtown or in the surrounding area that are only a short walk, bus ride (the bus runs through campus), or LIMO (campus shuttle service) away. It is really easy to get around without a car, and you can essentially make it to any of your classes by walking.
How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Sarah: For the most part, the faculty is really good about making themselves available for questions and for instruction. They understand the value of a good education, and work to make sure that you are satisfied with the quality of education you are receiving.
How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Sarah: I really enjoyed dorm life. I lived in Carpenter and Straz, where I shared a room with one other girl and we had our own bathroom. The rooms were nice sizes and had great views of Milwaukee. I am a big fan of dorm food, not only because I’m not the one making it, but also because there are so many options. Recently, they have made the selection for vegetarians/vegans more extensive. So, whether you are hungry for pancakes, burgers, stir-fry, or a salad, you will always find something to fill you up.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?
Sarah: I think Marquette is well known for a lot of different programs, including dentistry, law, physical training, nursing, and engineering, but that’s certainly not a comprehensive list. I studied environmental engineering with a minor in Spanish for the health professions. I chose this because I like solving problems and I have a love for the environment and for people. So, environmental engineering was a way for me to improve the quality of life for all people. I think the university did a great job of supporting me; there were always professors who genuinely cared about me as a person and as an academic and were able to guide me to develop my career.
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?
Sarah: I found it relatively easy to make friends because of the way Marquette sets up its orientation week. The freshmen come a couple of days early and have a ton of activities to mingle with each other. On top of that, RAs (resident advisors) on your floor made sure you knew everyone on the floor and that you knew what was happening on campus. I myself was in Greek life and found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever done. It created lasting friendships and great professional opportunities that I don’t think I would have otherwise had. It’s best if you put aside the stereotypes that you think you know about Greek life and try it for yourself.
How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services?
Sarah: The Career Center on campus is extremely helpful. They host a few career fairs each semester where companies come and talk with students about internships, volunteer positions, jobs, and co-ops. The Career Center also will help with your resume, print out free business cards for you, and conduct mock-interviews to help you sell your best qualities. When it’s time for graduation, they help you get in touch with alumni in your field.
How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges?
Sarah: There are a lot of nooks and crannies for studying at Marquette. I think I was still finding new places up until my final semester. As with any school, the libraries get crowded around midterms and finals, but they do a good job of opening up other study spaces around campus to compensate for this. The student union has some good study spaces, as do the individual academic buildings.
Describe the surrounding town.
Sarah: Marquette is situated in Milwaukee, so there is a lot to do. The Rave, a popular concert venue, is a couple blocks off campus to the west. To the east, you have downtown where there are plays, restaurants, ice skating, jazz concerts, and literally anything you could want to do. Miller Park, home to the Milwaukee Brewers, is a bus ride away for those who like baseball.
How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Sarah: I think Marquette is about 20,000 students, including graduate students. This was a manageable size for me. There were always new people to meet, but also you knew most of the people in your classes. I was generally pleased with the sizes of my classes. Some of the more general classes, like chemistry and physics, might be in a larger lecture setting, but as you get more into your major they become smaller, with around 25-30 students.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Sarah: I think one of my most memorable experiences with a class was service learning. At Marquette, one of the values is giving back to the community. So, with some classes you are able to do service learning where you volunteer once a week for the duration of the class doing something related to your class work, but also helping the community. For one of my medical Spanish classes, I volunteered at a dental clinic as an interpreter for the patients. It was a fantastic experience to use my classroom knowledge to do something in the real world.
Check out Sarah’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
