The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach – they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Nadine is currently a sophomore at University of Denver majoring in Spanish and Communications. She specializes in first grade through ninth grade Math tutoring, as well as English tutoring and Spanish tutoring. Check out what she had to say about University of Denver:
VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. How urban or safe is the campus? Are there buses or do you need a car/bike?
Nadine: The University of Denver campus is quite small, so transportation never seems to be an issue. I personally longboard around campus, and many of my friends bike, but you can get from one side of campus to the other with a 15-minute walk. Students are given free RTD passes, which enable us to use any form of city transportation (i.e. buses and the light rail), but it is honestly unnecessary unless you are living very far from campus. University of Denver is located on the outskirts of the city. It is a very safe campus, but a 15-minute light rail ride can take you right into the heart of Denver.
VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Nadine: The professors and advisers I have had so far have been very available. If you email with a question, they will undoubtedly respond within 24 hours. If you are looking to meet during hours outside of their normal office hours, they are more than willing to work with you and to find a time that suits you both.
VT: How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Nadine: Although I currently live off-campus, I thoroughly enjoyed my dorm experience. I lived in a Living and Learning Community, which anyone is able to apply for, and that is where I met the majority of my friends here at University of Denver. Living in the dorms is a great way to socialize with new people, but there are also plenty of clubs and organizations that one can become involved with—I have also made a large amount of friends through my club involvements. There are two main dining halls, which serve a variety of food, as well as a few other places to each at, such as Subway or the late-night pub.
VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study?
Nadine: University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business is by far the most represented and supported here; many students come here specifically to study Business. However, I am currently double-majoring in Spanish and Communications. I chose these two majors because I am genuinely interested in them, and I know that I will choose a more specific subject related to teaching when I get my Master’s degree. Although the main focus is Business, University of Denver supports all majors, and it even has an opportunity where you can create your own.
VT: 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?
Nadine: Because I was very involved in clubs, club sports, and my Living and Learning Community, it was very easy to meet new people and make new friends. I would say that as long as you are willing to put in the effort to try new things, you will be successful in finding compatible friends. About 20% of students at University of Denver are involved in Greek life. I have many friends who enjoy it, but I personally decided not to be a part of it, and I have never felt my social life has suffered because of that choice.
VT: How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus?
Nadine: Although I have limited experience with the Career Center, the few times that I have visited were very helpful. The counselor I met with provided me with advice on applying to certain internships, and she goes out of her way to inform me of company opportunities that I may be interested in.
VT: How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious?
Nadine: I spend a lot of time in our library, which was built about two years ago. The library is beautiful and very spacious. There are multiple floors with varying silence levels. During midterms and finals, the library becomes much more crowded than usual, but there is never a problem finding a quiet place to study and get work done.
VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between? To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus?
Nadine: We are very fortunate to have Denver very close to our campus. It is a very unique and spacious city with a lot of opportunities. Some choose to go downtown for various reasons, but there are many choices around the general campus in terms of restaurants, bars, etc. If there is something you are looking for that is not near University of Denver, I am sure you will be able to find it with a quick ride on the light rail.
VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Nadine: The undergraduate population at University of Denver is around 5,500, which I believe is the perfect size. It is small enough where you are always running into someone you know, but also large enough where you are always meeting new people too. I have been very pleased with my class sizes so far. My largest class, which was a general science class, had about 60 students, and my smallest class had about 8. This year, my largest class has been about 25 students. I am very happy with the class sizes here. It was a large factor in picking University of Denver for my undergraduate education.
VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Nadine: For my Freshman Seminar Class, I took a course called Revolutions and Revolutionaries in Latin America, which I very much enjoyed. The professor was absolutely wonderful, and I learned a tremendous amount. One day in the spring, I was with a friend throwing a Frisbee around before our biology class, and my professor and his friend saw us and joined in. We played for about 15 minutes together, discussing random current events and joking around. I do not believe that at many schools I could have a close connection with a professor like this. I believe that the professors genuinely enjoy what they teach here, and it makes it much more enjoyable to be a student when the professor is passionate about what he or she is here for.
Check out Nadine’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
