Sioux Falls, SD
Augustana University

My experience at Augustana has been excellent! Many aspects of my college career have created my positive experience at Augustana including real-world experience through clubs and the classroom, J-term options, weekend life, and the community aspect. I am studying business communications and marketing at Augie. Many of the business classes are focused on providing real world experience through creating marketing and public relations plans for local clients or hearing about a business professional’s experience in their position. Augustana’s plethora of student organizations also allow students to get involved and gain real-world experience outside the classroom. Another aspect that is unique about Augustana is the offering of J-Term—a time when students can either take one class or study abroad with Augie professors. During my time at Augustana, I have utilized both opportunities and LOVED both! If you are on campus, you can either take a fun elective class or a class towards your major that might be more difficult—only taking one class allows a student to give their full attention to that class. Augustana’s weekend life options have also led to my positive college experience. There is one club on campus that is dedicated to planning entertainment options every Friday night—musical acts to comedians to movie nights and everything in between are offered on Friday nights during the school year. With the weekend offering of other clubs on campus and new-found college friends, many students—including myself—find themselves WANTING to say at Augustana on the weekends. Augustana truly is a community. With the small campus size, there is always someone you know and always someone new to meet. The professors care not only about your class performance, but also about your well-being—they become friends outside the classroom!

Augustana is a place that epitomizes a campus community. Plenty of different student groups hold events for the entire campus. The professors truly care about you and your well-being. The administration takes student input to heart. I am so glad to call myself an Augustana Viking!

Attending Augustana University has been fundamental in my career development. The classes that I’ve taken continually challenge my perspective and are paired with meaningful hands-on learning experiences. More than anything, it’s the relationships within the campus community that stand out to me. The faculty and staff take the time to develop meaningful relationships with students. They remember the small details, making you feel like a person rather than just a number on campus. Ultimately, these relationships have helped propel me into my career and to discover where my passions meet the needs of this world. For that, I am deeply grateful.

Augustana University is an excellent place to receive a quality education. The best part about Augie is that the campus truly feels like a community. The professors are friendly, approachable, and intelligent. They look out for you and will engage you in your learning. I would highly recommend this University to any student who wishes to be challenged academically, live in a welcoming and friendly community, and wishes to become involved on campus.

If I had to name one thing I love most about Augustana, it would be the 2,000 member family that I gained as soon as I accepted my admission to university. At Augustana, not only are you a student, athlete, or activity leader, but you are someone who is cared about by their peers and professors. Everyone on campus is outstandingly relational and wants what is best for you in life. In my time on campus, not only have I made lifelong friends within my own class, but I have also gotten to know a majority of the upperclassman and faculty. While education may be the reason you come to Augustana, being a part of the campus family is what makes you stay.

Augustana certainly lives up to its reputation for high-quality academics, activities, and community. I especially love that I am able to continue my interest in music while also completing a Biology major and Spanish minor. By far the best part of Augustana is the community. The students, faculty, and administration make me feel like a valued voice in the community and encourage me to achieve my goals.

Augie is all about what you make of it! Students get resources to plan their own vocational path. I love Augie because I can be involved in clubs, support Viking athletics and visual arts, study abroad, graduate early, double major, do research with professors, travel to academic conventions, and most importantly, engage in communal relationships with faculty, staff, and students. Augie truly is the "place for possibilities," and the community wants YOU to leave as the best version of yourself.

Augustana University, a place where opportunity knocks and invigorating careers tend to follow. Like any transition, leaving home can be difficult for first year or transfer students. One thing Augustana offers is a First-year Seminar class. Although the First-year Seminar classes can feel redundant and very literary focused, they enable students to learn good study habits, learn what it is like to have a lot of homework, meet individuals from across the country (and world), and most importantly learn what resources are available on campus. Even as a sophomore here at Augustana University I am amazed by the time that my professors put in to make my education worthwhile. One of my favorite memories from my freshman year at Augustana was always going to the Morrison Commons and having a cookie after both lunch and dinner. I cannot tell you how many cookies I have eaten at my time here! The commons was and always will be a place where one can catch up with their friends, and enjoy good food (most of the time, everyone has a bad day here and there). If you are looking for a safe activity on the weekend (both Friday and Saturday nights) then you won't have to look any farther. With activities most Friday and Saturday nights students can enjoy singers, comedians, speed painters, henna tattoos, carnivals, mini golf, laser tag, ice skating, and so much more! Overall, I could not be more satisfied with my choice to pick Augustana University as the place where I would call home for four years of my life. The opportunities are endless, and the relationships made between peers, faculty, and others are truly magnificent.

My overall opinion of Augustana University is that I love everyone I have met there in the past year and I think I will continue to be great friends with them for the rest of my life and if it weren't for going here I would never have met these great people. The classes are hard but very interesting and I like the challenges. The elmen center is my favorite place to be because of the people and the activities they offer.

I think Augie is a great school and campus. The class sizes are pretty small which I enjoy because you are able to get to know your classmates and professors individually. The staff at Augustana is pretty helpful and cheerful and very welcoming, which is something that drew me to Augustana. I think Augustana needs to work on their on campus housing, as well as parking and also need to improve diversity on campus. Augustana has pushed me academically and I really appreciate that because it has caused me to have a deeper appreciation for education and forced me to focus on my studies. I am glad I chose Augustana and am excited to be an alumni of such a great community.