Arcata, CA
Humboldt State University

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!

The campus is stunning. The beach is not too far and the red woods are every where you look. Coming from Oregon, I feel very at home. The people are so kind and welcoming. I'll never get over how cute the down town is. Humboldt is known for it's science programs and it definitely lives up to that. Because there is so much untouched nature surrounding the campus, the opportunities are endless. I'm so glad I picked this college to attend. Class sizes aren't huge so I feel like I'll achieve a more personal connection with my professors.

I love HSU. I was a great learning opportunity in a beautiful region of Northern California. If anyone is interested in Natural Resources, Wildlife or Forestry I highly recommend it since you have a forest and other outdoor areas so close to study in. My major was very hands on and I learned so much. I love HSU and the whole area around it.

Humboldt State is a very cultural and nature loving school. We use our nearby beaches, forests and on campus wildlife area to help out our students with their classes that include what their major is. We are also a very green campus and we love to take care of the earth and make sure we all recycle or have reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones. Our campus is also into getting involved with the different cultures and the clubs that are behind each and every one whether it is joining a club or supporting that club when they have important activities going on.

Clear, starry night skies and refreshing forest air along with diverse humans is what I am embraced in at Humboldt State University. While studying for classes, you cannot forget that you are a human on this Earth only once. The forest and the delightful people remind me of this. And to be able to attend a university that reminds a person that he or she is a person, a human body with a soul, is a blessed thing. I'll tell you something: Academics are not a top priority for me, school is not one of my values. So if you, dear reader, are not a scholarly student either, but you do value knowledge, then I recommend Humboldt State University. And if you do not plan on attending this school, then I highly recommend visiting Arcata, or some other far-from-the-city place. Connect back with your spirit, with Mother Earth, with the Universe.

When college first became a consideration, Humboldt was always my first choice, but my family would still not let me attend without at least a visit to tour the campus. It was everything i thought it would be. Beautiful, friendly, small, and surround by the most amazing giants. The community forest is my favorite part about the campus itself. Being a wildlife conservation and management major, there is no better opportunity for such a resource. The wildlife program in and of itself is also great. There is overall concern and respect for nature throughout the wildlife department, and I truly feel that I belong there. The class sizes make it easy to get up close and hand on experience with the wildlife we all hope to work with and help preserve. So few schools in California offer such a program, so it really is dream to be attending this school. The housing can use a bit of work, but the price is reasonable which allows individuals such as myself in need of financial assistance to attend college. Overall, Humboldt is a quiet little school out in almost the middle of no where, but the opportunities they provide through higher education and quality programs has had a big impact on my future aspirations.