Iowa State University is known for having rich traditions
and a student body who treats each other like family. “The student body here at ISU is a very welcoming and warm group of people,” says a freshman. “When I came here on a college visit, everywhere I walked people I didn't even know would smile at me as I passed by them on the sidewalks.” ISU students say the friendships they make
here are often for life. It’s just one
reason why school spirit runs high on campus. A recent alumna writes, “The best thing about Iowa State is the school spirit! Even when the football team sucked, thousands of students still attended the games religiously, and there many ways to get involved in school spirit on campus.”
But it’s certainly not the only reason. ISU isn’t just a
school for partying and making friends - the strong academics are another source
of ISU pride. It’s best known for its agriculture program (which counts among
its graduates George Washington Carver and three U.S. Secretaries of
Agriculture), but the school also offers noteworthy programs in engineering,
design, and teaching. One senior in the
engineering department comments, “Aerospace Engineering program is pretty unique in that freshman are able to actually take some aerE classes their first year. I really enjoyed this as it let me meet my classmates early on in my college career.” ISU does tend to have large classes, typical at a university that has as many
students as ISU, but class size usually
shrinks as students get more involved in their major-specific classes. “Most lecture classes for gen. eds are relatively large, but recitations make the large classes seem smaller. By the time you're into your major, most professors recognize students in their program (especially if you're involved in extracurriculars as well).”
Students also observe
campus traditions religiously, and these school-wide rituals keep alumni coming
back for years after graduation. “I have been a Cyclone since birth,” says a
sophomore from Sioux City, “and my dad and I can share stories about taking part in the same events.” VEISHEA, a celebration of ISU’s colleges and
students, features live performances by popular bands, and Homecoming brings
out alumni and other members of the ISU community, who join in the festivities
along with current students. Another popular ISU bash is Greek Week. According to one student, “I'll always remember Greek Week at Iowa State. It takes so much preparation and is a week of pure fun for everyone on campus, most specifically the Greek Community.”
The school suffers a noticeable lack of diversity, compared
to other colleges. But students stress
that this is more a reflection of Iowa’s
statewide demographics than an example of institutional intolerance. Indeed,
many students say diversity at ISU is greater than it is where they grew
up, which they learn to appreciate. “We have a great Student Government if anyone is interested in politics and having a say in the University's decisions, multicultural Greek organizations, LGBT clubs, diversity groups, hip-hop club, Future Families of America, and many more!” says a senior. “The student body is very accepting of all sorts of views and backgrounds.” Students tend to be fairly conservative politically, and those with more liberal
views may feel left out. “Students are not very politically aware as a whole, and quite conservative for a university campus,” says one student.
Students like their parties and make an effort to get out a
couple of nights a week. But they’re not
opposed to spending a night in and buckling down when they have to. One sophomore writes, “If you wanted, you could find a party every night, but if you don't want to party, you don't have to.”
Because there are always students who are looking to party, Greek organizations
dominate the campus scene. “The Greek system is the largest system to be involved in here on campus,” says a sophomore. “I am biased, but I feel like the Greek system is a lot more active than anything else at Iowa State.”
But Greek organizations also devote time to philanthropy and service
initiatives, and for students who’d rather not imbibe, there are a number of
dry organizations on campus. One student
writes, “As far as nonalcoholic events, we'd sometimes go to the free Friday night flick on campus or hit a movie, but honestly in college most weekends involved drinking.”
Students agree, however, that the greatest part of the
school isn’t the excellent education they receive, the great sports teams, or
even the parties. The greatest part of ISU, students say, are the lifelong
friendships you’ll make. One recent alumna said of her school, “I miss it every day and wish I could go back. I made so many lifelong friends and really grew into a person that I am proud to be.”
