University of Colorado—Boulder (CU Boulder)

Students praise the University of Colorado Boulder from the strength of its academics (particularly its "strong physics reputation" and business and environmental offerings) to "all the perks of a big state university," while maintaining the much-desired atmosphere of a "college town" filled with "young intellectuals." In-state students add that "the price for an education of this caliber is phenomenal," with one student adding that they found CU Boulder's education to be "significantly better" than that of the private school they'd transferred from. The school's "top-notch leadership program" facilitates teamwork, problemsolving, and communication in a hands-on, challenging setting through the Mountain Research Station (MRS), the Outdoor Pursuits Challenge Course, and Peak to Peak Leadership. CU Boulder's "amazing" and "approachable" faculty lists five Nobel laureates and nine MacArthur 'genius grant' recipients among its ranks, but there's no need to worry about any big heads in the hallways or classrooms, as professors are "interested in students personally" and "will treat you as an adult." One student assures that professors are "consistently excellent across the wide variety of subjects I have taken courses in, from geography to astronomy and economics to literature." CU Boulder "provides a modern, researchbased education that focuses on creating aware citizens [who] go on to change the world (while having fun)." Students agree, with one adding that the school has "excellent diversity in subjects and courses, [lots of] school spirit, [and] packed sports games." And one environmental studies major shares, "In my four years as an undergrad, I have traveled places and learned things that I never imagined I would or could experience."

Given how they spend their time, it should be unsurprising that CU Boulder students are often described as "outdoorsy, outgoing, and always up for anything." They "love to be outside and often will spend their weekends in the mountains." Students at CU Boulder have "diverse passions" and "diverse backgrounds" and are described as "kind," "genuine," "smart," and "athletic." In addition, many agree that "there isn't really a typical student, which is awesome." An additional benefit of CU Boulder is that "the school is so large everyone fits into a group, no matter what your interests are," with one student noting that those "who make an effort to meet new people and try new things will be very happy and have a great time at CU Boulder." Another student raves: "When I stepped foot on CU's campus, I immediately felt at home...Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. It's such a community atmosphere. Everyone watches out for each other and has each other's backs."

Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, students appreciate nature and the great outdoors and sing the praises of their "fun, beautiful college town." Many students "go skiing in the mountains on days that [they] don't have classes," join in the "extremely popular" campus pastime of snowboarding, or "go hiking when the weather is nice." As one student states, "Being active and outdoors is a staple for students." One doesn't necessarily need to climb a mountain to have fun, though, and at the center of campus, "Farrand Field is always busy on nice days with students playing Frisbee, football, soccer [or] tanning." Students also consider themselves fortunate to live in "the best college town in the U.S.," citing Boulder's "diverse and active" music scene and a "prominent nightlife at the bars." Although "partying is big," students are devoted to their classes, and "most take school very seriously and are irritated by [its] depiction as a 'party school.'" While some students do "[like] to go out and party on the weekends," others prefer to "go shopping and eat out on Pearl Street," and "regardless of the time of day, students can be seen outside relaxing, exercising, or just hanging out with friends."

Students at University of Colorado Boulder are flush with career opportunities. Clearly, the fantastic Career Services office ensures that these undergrads know how to compete in competitive job markets. Freshman start with the StrengthsQuest program, to learn how to better maximize their skillsets on campus and beyond. Then the Buffs Professional Program leads them through professional development activities to help them stand out to future employers. Throughout the academic year, the office sets up a number of information sessions. This allows students to both network and explore a variety of career paths. Aside from the usual internship and job searches, the office helps undergrads find research opportunities that align with their interests and passions. In fact, many students are involved with cutting edge research. Of course, undergrads who have their sights set on finding a job will be happy to discover that CU hosts numerous career fairs. Even better—they are organized by industry. Therefore, students can attend events based around creative jobs, green jobs, finance jobs, and more.