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The best thing about UConn is the pride that comes from our athletic teams. If I could change one thing, UConn wouldn't be located in the middle of nowhere. UConn's large size is overwhelming for some people but in my opinion it's entirely manageable. When people find out I go to UConn, they mention our sports teams but have nothing to say about its academics. I spend most of my time all over our sprawling campus, since it's huge. We do not have much of a college town yet but there is currently construction underway to create a downtown area. The school's administration, especially President Herbst is doing a superb job, especially considering the challenging fiscal environment. People were very upset when UConn lost Spring Weekend but unfortunately I can understand why a weekend of mayhem was a huge burden on the school and had to be ended. What makes this school unusual is that we have a school of puppetry and our very own ice cream. I will always remember when the Men's Basketball team advanced to the finals of the NCAA championship my freshman year. Most frequently students complain about the wind and other weather related discontent.

The academics at UConn are great if you show some initiative. Professors will not know your name if you do not make it known. Every Professor I have had, though, has been willing and ready to assist if the student shows initiative. They will not chase after you for late assignments or invite you to come to office hours.

The challenge and rigor of academics varies at UConn. You can choose a science, math, or engineering degree, or join the honors program and you will be very challenged. It is also possible to pursue a history or communications degree and skate by for four years. Class participation is uncommon except in discussion sections and honors classes. Students do not have intellectual conversations outside of class. There are lots of academic-based extracurriculars but on the casual level students do not discuss their intellectual curiosities. The most unique class I have ever taken was UCann cook at UConn, a freshman seminar class that taught cooking.

I spend time with professors out of class if I am struggling with an assignment or want to review the answers to an assessment. Professors aren't just a fixture on campus. Many of them commute to UConn and you must come to office hours or make an appointment if you want to find them.

The education at this school is geared toward getting a job, after all, the purpose of a state university is to enrich the state.

UConn is huge and thus it is very diverse in every sense of the word. Racially it is diverse and there are multiple cultural centers for racial minorities. There are religious centers for all major religions on campus. There is a rainbow center for LGBT students. Socio-economically it's also diverse; you have students from Bridgeport on full scholarships and preppies from Greenwich.

I really don't think anyone would feel out of place at UConn, its just a matter of finding the group within the school they'd feel comfortable.

UConn is generally cold and very casual. There's a range of fashion styles but generally it's all casual, whether for you that means sperry boatshoes and khakis or ripped up jeans and a disgusting oversized hoodie.

Different types of students don't really interact much on campus. Everyone has groups that they belong to as a part of their identity.

Most of the students are from UConn and are middle class students. It's a challenging school to get into academically speaking so going to UConn isn't a joke, but there are also obviously far more prestigious schools. Therefore, I'd say its mostly middle class.

Most students are not politically aware or active but they are predominantly left, just like the state of Connecticut.

Greek life, although it only makes up less than a fifth of student at UConn, is very visible on campus. Fraternity parties to make up a large chunk of the party culture at UConn.

Athletic events are very popular. Basketball games always sell out.

Dormitories are very inviting freshman year but then generally people find their niche and stick with those people, often originating from people they met their freshman year.

There isn't much traditional dating going on a UConn. it's very much a hookup culture.

If you're awake at 2AM on a tuesday you could very well be at a bar night or in the library finishing a paper.

People party every weekend, usually at least two nights a week.

UConn has lots of fun activities and performers that they bring to campus to encourage students to do things besides drink.

If you want to get off campus Boston and New york city are accessible.

The quiet floors of the Homer Babidge Library are strictly adhered to. If you need to get something done, you can always come here and enjoy complete silence.

My favorite campus tradition is the simple UConn chant. Everyone knows the UConn chant (they teach it at freshman orientation) and it's not uncommon at all to hear people yelling it whenever spirits are high. Whether you'e at a bar watching the game, walking across campus, or just somewhere with a lot of Huskies, unrelated to athletics, you know what to do when someone starts, "UCONNNNNNNNN...."

Most people really don't care about what they wear to class. People frequently, especially in the dead of winter, roll out of bed and throw on sweatpants and a hoodie and come to class. There's definitely a bit of showing off at the beginning of the school year when the weather is still warm and people want to show off their tans, but this gradually begins to fade. This is not to say that UConn students don't care about their appearance. Most people do try to look their best when they go out on the weekends, but class is class, and most people don't care about what they're wearing.

No it will not. There is a prevalence of drinking on campus, but people are not pressuring eachother. The stereotypical image of beer spouting from everywhere and people pouring shots into eachother's mouths really is not the case at UConn. As long as you're okay with dealing with intoxicated people, there is no social pressure or outcasting on those who do not imbibe.