Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University

I'm a Humboldt State Ambassador, so my opinion may be a little biased. However, I love the overall atmosphere and vibe of Humboldt State. Everyone, including students and staff, are very welcoming and helpful. My professors are always there when I need help. Our school also very much focuses on the STEM majors. There are so many hands-on opportunities that I have/will take advantage of. For example, we have a Vertebrate Museum on campus and every sample is a one-on-one work with a professor and students! Plus, you can't beat Humboldt County. From the Redwoods to the Coast, you're sure to fall in love!

I am extremely disappointed in Humboldt State. I, too was initially drawn in by the culture and location of this institute. The harsh realization is that there's nowhere to live, the school is broke and cuts programs every semester (like the football program and school radio), parking is a nightmare, and staff doesn't care about student's success.

Humboldt State University isn't perfect, no school is. But there are constantly things to do which is rare for a small town due to all of the outdoor activities such as surfing and hiking. The community also always has festivals, parades, and other activities going on as well. As for the schools majority of the students seem to be pretty socially aware and let their voices be heard. The majority of the student body is academically driven and doesn't let the administration take away their voice.

It’s a great school. There’s an atmosphere that’s very conducive to learning and there are so many dedicated and passionate people here. Living on campus provides many opportunities to be involved, and usually your major will have a club associated with it that you can join. Overall, a great school!

I like how liberal and nice everyone is. The professors extend their office hours at times to accomadate the schedules of students. The school and students alike are very enivormentally aware with limiting the waste in and around campus. More than the majority of students care for making the world a better place. Not to mention the environment surrounding the campus; the beautiful scenery of the big red wood trees next to the ocean.

I really enjoy the calm and welcoming culture. The people are so kind and relaxed. Since it is so small, the class sizes allow you to connect with your professors. As a STEM major, I was worried about not being able to have access to my professors when I needed to ask questions, but every time I have needed help, they have been there. There is lots of access to research, even as an undergrad. I highly recommend HSU for nature-loving students who want to go to a school that fosters that love.

Humboldt State University is a beautiful campus backed up against a redwood forest. The campus features tables and benches nestled in quiet, serene pockets of redwoods for students to relax at in between classes. Most of the professors I have encountered are eager to share their knowledge and experience with students and are more than happy to provide after-hours assistance, provided that the student has demonstrated a good work ethic and is already trying their hardest. For those with animal-related majors, the vertebrate museum is an invaluable resource and features some skulls found nowhere else. The issues with HSU lie in the budget. The campus has very little money and it shows in the antiquated lab devices and moldy smelling lecture rooms. Administrators make significantly more money than professors and would rather students lose some of the best minds the university has due to pay cuts and class cuts rather than take pay cuts themselves. It is a struggle to plan out semesters because classes are not offered on a predictable basis, and some are only offered every year-and-a-half. Furthermore, administration pushes "15 to finish," which encourages students to take 15 units per semester, even if it is detrimental to the student's GPA and mental health, all in the name of pushing students out the door of a severely overcrowded campus more quickly. Overall, the campus is beautiful, the faculty is wonderful, the administration is atrocious, and the parking has caused too many students to miss class.

I have visited the campus on several occasions. Multiple times for Gate Academy, and several times for concerts and science fairs. It is the school I intend to transfer to in the somewhat near future and I only have good reviews of the campus so far. It's very beautiful. the teachers I have met were very nice and helpful. The other staff there that I have met, including transfer specialists and people who work the booths on College nights have been very nice and informative. This has allowed me high hopes for the classes I will attend at Humboldt State and all of the college professors that will be helping me to achieve my higher education.

It is a beautiful campus but I only recommend attending if you are extremely into wildlife-type majors. I was an athlete at Humboldt and they just cut the football program. I think the school doesn't think highly of the athletes and sports events are last on the list of "things to do" on campus.

This school was a huge waste of time and money. I had a scholarship so I was tied to this school, but I hated every minute of it. There is nothing to do in the area and the students are very niche. The on campus housing is absolute garbage(there were a couple rats in my building), and there is a huge housing problem in the area so many students become homeless since on campus is a lottery system. There is a huge drug problem with the locals and students. You’ll see crackheads on campus and there’s no security or police in sight. The buildings are deteriorating and outdated. This past year they cut lots of program’s budgets in half(at least). There is no school spirit for sports and all of our teams suck. Go Jacks!