UNT Journalism Major

That we are hippies, that we are stupid and that our school is a 4-year community college.

No!! I've met the most intelligent people at this school and it is rated top in the nation for several degrees. We are "hippie" like in that everyone at UNT is artsy and open-minded. We don't judge other people and being different is a good thing here.

UNT is such a fun, awesome school. Denton is a wonderful college town and everyone is so friendly! The town supports UNT students and it's a great feeling. The size is big but not too big. I've been in classes where there are 200 students, yet I have had many where there are only 20. A lot of students hang out off of campus, since it is a big commuter school. The downtown historical square in Denton has 24-hour coffee shops and homemade ice cream so a lot of people hang out there. When I tell people I go to UNT they say, "Oh, couldn't get into a better school?" This is such a horrible stereotype of UNT. It is a very good school and I actually transferred here from a different university and I'm so much happier. UNT is rated top in the nation for several majors and although it is a commuter school and a lot of people attend after they finish their basics at a community college, the standards are very high and everyone is very insightful and smart. I actually learn when I go to class, something I can't say about every school. There isn't a lot of controversy on campus. The liberal atmosphere and students are very laid-back. People do their own thing and no one downs them for it. Parking is a problem sometimes and people get mad about it, but that's a problem at other schools too. There isn't a lot of school pride and that is one thing I wish there was more of. Many people live far away so they come to campus, go to class and then leave. We don't have a great football team so attendance at the games is small, but we have a new coach and everyone is hopeful that the program will turn around. Maybe spirit will increase soon. We have a homecoming bonfire every year and that's a lot of fun. Fry Street was a big part of the fun of UNT and Denton and a big developer from Houston has come in and ripped the historical buildings town to put in a CVS, Starbucks and other commercial chain stores. The thing I love about UNT is that the students don't want that. We want the 80-year-old buildings and the Tomato, a pizza joint only in Denton. We don't want to be like everyone else, and students here love to protest wrongdoings. When they tore down buildings, we protested outside and signed petitions. That's one thing you'll find at UNT that other schools don't have---students with backbones and opinions.

Most of my professors know me by name and it's awesome! You do a lot better in a small class of 20 where you can discuss topics and your professor can get to know you. My favorite class was Sociology. It's not my major or anything, but I've never paid attention or learned more than I did in that class. My professor was amazing and he brought up social problems and really made us think about the society we live in instead of being blind to the problems that really exist. Students study a lot. Every time I go to the library, I can't find a place to sit because the tables are all taken. Class participation is very common. Students at UNT love to voice their opinion and although you might not agree with the person speaking, we all respect each other's voice. Jupiter House is a coffee shop in Denton that students sit in for hours drinking coffee and talking about politics and school. Intellectual conversations are frequent so get used to hearing them. My major is Radio, Television, Film and I'm narrowing in on Broadcast Journalism. It's a great department, every professor is amazing. The department is rated something like sixth in the nation and North Texas Television is Emmy award winning. I walked into the News station for NTTV and said I wanted experience and to volunteer and they said, "Come on in!" They love volunteers and it's so much fun! UNT's academic requirements are easier than they should be. I think the standards could be raised a little more, but they are geared towards educating more students. The requirements for certain majors are overwhelming and you often wonder how you will be able to graduate on time...but it IS possible!

My experience with all other social, economic, racial and religious groups has been great. Everyone is very open-minded and no one judges anyone. UNT is VERY diverse in all aspects yet everyone comes together and you don't see colors or statuses or religions. No student would feel out of place, everyone likes everyone. Most students wear jeans and a t-shirt to class, which is very comfortable and easy. I came from another school wear girls wore high heels and skirts to class and I didn't fit in. Some people still wear high heels at UNT, yet they fit in too. No one will judge you for what you wear. Different types of students are definitely friends. I know a girl who was "prep"-like and wore polo shirts and skirts and she hung out with a guy who had tattoos and piercings all over. If there were four tables of students in the dining hall, they would all be mixed with different people...honestly. If you sit down with all the jocks and you are clearly not one, they will talk to you and make you feel welcome. Students are very politically active and protests are staged probably once a week. Students love to voice their opinion and ban together. I would say the majority of students are liberal or democratic. Most of the students at UNT are there for the awesome RTVF, Music or Education programs so they are already choosing their love of what they do over their paycheck. Most students know they won't make a living but if acting or singing or making low-budget films is their passion, they would rather do that than be rich.

Sororities and Fraternities are pretty popular, but it's not a cult like it is at other schools. People join to make friends but they don't shut themselves out of other social circles and they don't shut anyone else out. I'm in no way associated with the Greek system yet I have been invited to several frat parties. My friends are very into studying and having fun. We study when we need to, yet we love to go shopping, go the movies or go out to eat. A lot of my friends go to Fry street a lot and drink or go to bars in Dallas. My closest friends are actually from my job. We all work at a restaurant in Lewisville, yet many live in Denton and go to UNT. We carpool together for the commute. If I'm awake at 2am on a tuesday it's probably because I'm either studying for a test, on the phone with my boyfriend or watching television. Each year the square in Denton has a lot of events going on. I know that Dog Day in Denton is every June or something. The Homecoming parade and bonfire happen every year and so does the Fry Street Fair. People party a fair amount. Apartment and house parties are the most frequent but usually they aren't too crazy. Wine-tasting and dinner parties are becoming more popular among students. On a Saturday night if you don't want to drink, you can do a lot. The square in Denton has coffee shops and Beth-Marie's Homemade Ice Cream Parlor is opened till 11. It's a fun hangout spot. Also, Loop 288 has a ton of shopping and restaurants and there is a Cinemark and mall. Lewisville is only 15 minutes down the highway and there is a Main Event and even more restaurants. Dallas and Forth Worth are only 30 minutes away and there are tons of things to do there.