University of Denver Top Questions

The stereotype of DU is somewhat accurate, but the students are definitely not snobs. There is a lack of diversity and a lot of privilege, but they do not create a negative environment.

The stereotype of DU students is that everyone there are snobby, rich, white ski bums. Frankly, there are a lot of students at DU who fit that description. But there are far more that are different. Because of the significant amount of financial aid DU distributes (I know, because I work in the financial aid office) there are students from all socioeconomic backgrounds at the school. Also, because the academics are rigorous and people usually work hard to get into the school, people care a lot more about school than they do about skiing and goofing off. It's fun to do when you have free time, but most people are there to study.

Like i said in my previous answer, a lot of the stereotypes (especially regarding athletes and white rich kids) are only true to an extent. Since it is a smaller university, most people are open and willing to be friends with people outside of their stereotyped "group." It really makes the whole college experience more fun and it is easier to learn about people different than you when you are friends with them.

I think that if you believe DU fits a stereotype of a private school, then you have never actually gotten to know our students and staff. This is such an inclusive, diverse school where anyone and everyone are welcome. There tends to be a stereotype that greek life rules campus, yet less than 25{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of undergraduate students participate in greek life. The DU students break these steroetypes about greek life and rich backgrounds. With such a little percent in greek life and 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students receiving some sort of finincial aid, you'd have to not pay any attention to believe these rumors floating around. Walking around campus will solidify that DU students are much different than the title we have been named. Take a chance and open your eyes, the atmosphere, integrity, kindness and inclusiveness of this university is truly one of a kind.

There is a stereotype at every school, and every stereotype is more likely to be broken than true. Even though people think that DU is a rich white school full of athletes and ivy-league rejects, most people truly want to be here, are on some sort of scholarship, and are athletic but not a division I athlete! Diversity is more than just the color of your skin, it's where you're from, your experiences, your background, your major, etc. One thing that I will say is true about DU is that our students lead rather laid-back lifestyles but are very serious about succeeding academically and aren't afraid to study hard and party hard.

The commonly perceived stereotype of DU is that it is mostly a white population. While there are many white students, we also have a strong population from other countries. Our foreign student population increased by 300{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} this year! Also, we have the Center for Multicultural Excellence and latino/latina fraternities and sororities.

In my opinion, no matter how little the negative is, it always outweighs the positive. There are not that many "rich, white kids" as outsiders think there are or those students that are here aren't taking enough time to get to know those real "rich, white kids". Once a student meets two or three students that come off as rich, rude, and "white" it ruins it for the rest of us who are far from that.

Absolutely, but there are exceptions of course.

I would say that this is somewhat accurate.

Absolutely... It sucks but it's true

There are many students who fall under this catergory of being both very wealthy and very smart. However, not all of the students who attend DU are rich, however the smart stereotype pretty much goes across the board. But that is one stereotype I would like to have on me.

To some degree, yes... But I've been able to meet so many individual, unique, fun people from all types of different backgrounds and with all types of different interests. There is a reason the stereotype exists, but I wouldn't say that it is overwhelmingly true.

I think most kids at DU are pretty well off. I haven't really run into a great deal of diversity either, so that really backs up the white stereotype. I don't really feel like it's a problem, but I do feel some people think they are better than others just because they are wealthy. As far as the athletes, its a very athletic school, but I don't think this is a bad stereotype.

Overwhelmingly accurate. This school feels like a private high school.

Partly true. Most of the students do seem to come from well-off families, so expect to be outspent at bars and clubs. Then again, the university's liberal administration has taken big steps to make the campus more socioeconomically diverse. Ethnic minorities and queer students receive a good deal of support from the university. Liberal campus, but not as liberal as CU Boulder.

There are definitely a fair share of rich kids, but not all of them are stuck up. You will find that over breaks almost everyone goes on exotic vacations to Mexico, Europe, Africa, etc. like it is no big deal. But I have found some great friends-rich and average and everything in between.

Yes 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} Admissions tends to focus on the postive sterotypes, but the negative ones are overwhelming....

To be honest, there is not a lot of diversity on the campus compared to other schools, so yes, there are a lot of white kids. Many of them are on scholarship and are working during the school year to support themselves though, so I would say that although it is an expensive school to attend, not everyone here is rich.

I would agree that that there is a scale of economics within the DU population that may be higher than the state colleges like CSU and CU. I would however say that there are the students here are just like any student at any other university. The thing that makes DU students different is the fact that we are on a much smaller campus with a smaller population of students. While most of the DU population is from somewhere other than Colorado... Contrary to the stereotype everyone on this campus knows one another and are friendly to those they don't. I cant say for certain that the rich kids spending their parent's money is any different from any other school that I have gone to. The students here will push you to succeed regardless of financial background.

No, we have a diverse group of students from many economic levels. However, the business school in particular is not very diverse in terms of race. Daniels, unfortunately, has a majority of white students.

No - DU's another group of individuals with their own takes on life and action.

kinda. there not as much diversity here as I would have hoped, though they are trying to work on it. when i first came to the school i felt like there was no one there like me because everyone looked the same. i was quite upset at this but, as the time passed, i realized that i had a lot in common with an array of people. Unfortunately, i think a lot of the minority students tend to stick together so the reach of these diverse backgrounds and ideals does not have as big of an effect as it could.

Not necessarily. Like any existing stereotype, there will always be people who live up to it, but as a whole, DU has a diverse student body with people of all backgrounds with all different interests.

Sure the campus has a party atmosphere but it's more of a "work hard play hard" sort of thing. I don't think the partying is TOO crazy, I also think it's a laid back atmosphere that allows you to say, "no thanks" at any time, you aren't going to stand out.

Not really, DU has many faces, it just depends on who you surround yourself with and how you perceive the student population. Believe it or not, there is diversity at DU, you just might have to look a little harder than other schools.

somewhat. We are definately not a diverse campus. And the majority of certain majors, business mainly, are made up of rich students. Students do tend to be a full of themselves but they study hard and play hard.

In reality, while some of the students fit these stereotypes well, I find that everybody is at least really nice. The majority of our population is white, rich, and dresses preppy but will hold the door open for you and say hi. However, there are many students on scholarship who help round out the campus population. And while skiers, tennis players, and golfers are everywhere, they're not at all elitest.

Sometimes. It is a private college near the mountains, but there are a lot of people here on scholarship and who don't ski.

For the most part. There are always exceptions to the rules, but stereotypes are given for a reason: that aspect of DU is the most obvious to anybody who looks in on it.

You will meet more wealthy people here than you will i your entire life. Its easy to get into, generous with scholarships, and about 1/2 of your freshman classes have more than 60 people, but then it tapers off.

yes, I think for the most part they are. however, many students are here on scholarships or paying their way with their own earned money.

A lot of students are on full or partial scholarships, though you will encounter the occasional student whose educational costs are being completely covered by his or her parents. As for the political bent of the campus, it seems to be split about 50/50 between conservative and liberal (which is conservative for a college campus).

unfortutely some of them are true

Somewhat. It applies to some DU students.

Yes the campus is pretty homogenous but there has been an increase in students from the middle east as well as african americas. I have partied at both CU and DU and I have way more fun in the city of Denver than I do at Boulder. Maybe personal preference but that is just my view on the subject.

Unfortunately, yes, but not so much in my department (INTS)

No...not at all! DU is very down-to-earth and friendly!!

I think that they are the more visible personality types, but if you take the time too look at the people organizing most events the student body really is diverse, and made up of people from all walks of life with every imaginable background.

Absolutely. The Hyde interview will tell you differently, but I feel that the diversity at DU was GROSSLY overrepresented to me, and as a minority student I feel extremely uncomfortable here.

Yes.

First of all, like at any college, not all the students are the same or even similar. There are absolutely kids attending DU that are privledged and people who fit that stereotype. However, the majority of students are attending DU with financial assistance. A lot of students are either working at the school to pay off funds or have a job of some sort in order to gain spending money. In addition, there is a wide range of backgrounds and interests, and although DU does not have the largest percentage of diversity in comparison to other colleges, there are still a wide range of people at the university.

Not all of them. We are not boring and you know where parties are if you are social. Not everyone here got here because their daddy's rich, lots of people are here on scholarships and academic accomplishments.

While DU is not the most diverse college campus, there is a lot of diversity and acceptance. You just have to put yourself out there, be friendly, have an open mind and have a fun outlook.