NSCS Chapter School
UNIGO SUMMARY
Despite its party-all-the-time reputation, WVU students say they’re just as drawn to its in-state bargain tuition and diverse academic offerings as they are to the weekend ragers.
Located in Morgantown, WVU offers an impressive array of practical,
hands-on training in specialized fields like agriculture (complete with a fully
functioning learning farm), forestry (using West Virginia’s best natural
resources), nursing (students complete their training in Morgantown hospitals), and forensic science (with one of the best-respected student labs
in the country) Most students live off-campus after freshman year or commute from home, so what binds the community together is Mountaineer pride—-game day isn’t just a huge deal for students, but for all West Virginians. While the diversity reflects the state's own racial composition, WVU has been aggressively expanding the number of international students at its school. Only 10 percent of students go Greek, so while frats and sororities have a presence, many students prefer to party at local bars or at each others’ houses and apartments. Or, since they’re in West Virginia, an open field will do—-after all, WVU has one of the strongest party reputations in the country. While the spread-out student body makes the community less cohesive, most students say the sheer size allows them to find someone or something that fits their niche.
UNIGO REVIEW
It’s hard not to feel the WVU pride in Morgantown. “The state of West Virginia bleeds blue and gold as much as the students,” writes one sophomore. “The whole state is a Mountaineer.” This large state school has a “big campus with a small campus feel,” according to one freshman. Students divide into two groups: those there to “study very hard…and get great grades” with WVU’s “dirt cheap” tuition and those there to “party and drink a lot.” After all, WVU repeatedly ranks at the top of party-school lists, and you won’t find any Mountaineers denying their ability to have a good time: “We are the #1 party school, and we are very proud of it,” says one junior. “We all get our work done, but always find time to keep our party status.” While WVU students are used to the way “the university is looked down upon by outsiders,” (the kind who think West Virginians are all “hillfolk,” “shoe-less, cousin-marrying hicks,” or that they “don't even have indoor plumbing”), students report that WVU is way more than just a state school for hillbillies. “You have to step foot on campus so you can really know what kind of magical place it is,” says a sophomore.
WVU’s three campuses are located near one another, all within “walking distance or…through the PRT (Personal Rapid Transit),” a mass transportation system that was cutting-edge when it opened in the 1970s but has since become a constant headache for in-transit students in the winter, when the “damn thing breaks down 4 or 5 times, at least,” one student reports. Morgantown is one of WV’s bigger cities, and the bars, restaurants, and entertainment options are all designed with WVU in mind. The sheer size of the student body, however, can leave Morgantown congested and overwhelmed, “with about 23,000 students in a town built for about 10,000,” per one student. Parking, too, is a constant complaint, both on- and off-campus: “Parking sucks,” grouses one student. “Many of my friends will drive to class and look for a parking spot for 30 minutes, and, not wanting to get a ticket or towed for parking in an illegal area, they just leave.” But by and large, the town embraces the college crowd, with late-night eats always available and 18+ door policies at local bars, so underclassmen don’t get turned away. Morgantown’s no bustling metropolis (although Pittsburgh is only an hour up the interstate), but outdoorsy types embrace the natural surroundings. “The state is gorgeous,” raves one sophomore, and “some of West Virginia's most picturesque state parks,” lakes, and rivers offer a variety of options unavailable on city campuses.
WVU’s academics offer virtually something for all students’ future career paths, whether they’re into fashion merchandising, forestry, or finance. The classroom experience can be tough at the outset, with “up to 400 people” in the largest lectures, but, according to one junior, “as you progress into the 200-300-400 level classes, the sizes continue to get smaller. I am now in classes with sizes of about 20-30 students, and I find that to be perfect.” While one senior says she “would not recommend it for someone who likes to know everyone in every class,” a junior biology major found “many professors are very easy to get a hold of for help.” Students report wanting to see “more guidance from teachers and advisors,” but, on the plus side, administrative policies can help party-struck freshmen get back on course after a bad semester. “They understand that is can be hard transitioning, so they offer a few policies that allow you help yourself if you have done poorly in a class,” says one freshman. For students looking to get ahead, other academic policies make early graduation easier, honors college classes provide an extra challenge, and, according to one student, “there are many opportunities to do research here if you are interested.”
The first thing that strikes non-West Virginians is the welcoming atmosphere that greets them. “West Virginians are some of the nicest people you will meet,” enthuses an out-of-state student. While “WVU is a predominantly Caucasian school,” she continues, “all ethnic groups are present, as well as a large international group.” About half the student body is from in-state, and the majority of the rest draw from around the mid-Atlantic, all 50 states are represented somewhere. The “student body at WVU ranges from redneck to socialite,” says one freshman, but barring a few minor clashes, most find their peers comprise “a laid-back student body.” The majority of student-body conflicts, it seems, come from the tension between study-all-the-time students and their party-all-the-time counterparts.
Speaking of parties, make no mistake about it: “WVU is credited for being the #1 drinking college, [and] it definitely lives up to that name,” says one student. “Nightlife starts on Wednesday nights, and some weeks, Tuesdays,” but pretty much any night of the week you can find students drinking in downtown Morgantown, dorms, houses, open fields, and pretty much anywhere else the party’s happening. Not all students are so devoted to the alcohol-fueled way of college life, but the entire community rallies together for WVU sporting events, especially football and basketball. A big win can result in a long night of couch-burning or other drunken revelry, but it’s not all about the alcohol: “Football games…are the heart of this school, and there is always so much fun and love in the air at them,” says a junior. It’s no wonder, then, that “the most popular student group on campus is the Mountaineer Maniacs,” according to a sophomore. “The group offers discounted bus rides and tickets for away sporting events.”
Students who’d rather not indulge may be at a loss for things to do in Morgantown, but WVU is trying to add more on-campus social events. WVUpAllNight takes place in the MountainLair (the student center) and offers activities from movie screenings to comedians and, on one occasion, even laser tag. Beyond that, some non-drinkers suggest “go[ing to] see bands play at 123 Pleasant St, go[ing] to the mall or movies, do[ing] something outdoors, or just hang[ing] out with your friends downtown or at their place.” On the weekends, “Cheat Lake is a great place to go boating, if you care to rent one, or the Cheat River has some of the best whitewater rapids in the state,” recommends one student. “Coopers Rock State Park is a great place to grill out and spend time on their hiking trails.” Most students move off-campus after freshman year, but the initial on-campus experience is where the majority met their friends and bonded for the first time: “Doors are always left open, and when you go out at night you always have a huge group to go with,” says one student.
While the WVU stereotype jokes get old after awhile, and some students become disillusioned with the drink-friendly campus, one of the adjectives WVU students used most often to describe their experience is “awesome.” “If you want to come to school and have a lot of fun but get a good education, then come here,” urges one student. But be forewarned: “There’s almost so much school pride that you feel weird if you don’t ‘bleed blue and gold’ like I do,” says a junior.