University of North Dakota Top Questions

Describe the students at your school.

Laura

There are groups of every kind on campus. I really think most people can find their niche here or at least people with similar ideas. We have many international students which adds another dimnesion to the student population. UND has a good number of service groups and students are usually interested in helping out. I have made friends with students from every field of study, it seems that different types of students find have opportunities to meet and form relationships. The aviation school definitely increases the diversity of the student population by increasing attraction of students from all over the world.

Cassie

I'll be honest - I'm generally the only female in my classes and I don't mind. Being a minority is not a big of a deal as some groups make it out to be.

Andy

At UNd there are so many different types of people, and the fact that Aviation attracts students from all over the world, creates an extra diverse student body. You can almost always tell who "belongs" to which group; footballplayers, greeks, theatre people, anthopology students..etc, but when it comes down to it, everyone is able and more than willing to interact in spite of these labels. This is something I have appreciated alot at UND, because I have made so many friends from all corners of the school, which means that wherever I go, chances are I will meet some friends.

Laura

Studends wear jeans, sweatshirts, dressy clothes, just whatever style the student feels most comfortable in. During the winter you must dress for the cold weather. UND is split politically I believe, there are both republican and democrat organizations on campus, and are very involved in student government as well as state, local, and federal government. All types of backgrounds are present, the aerospace school brings in a lot of diversity. Most students are from a middle-class family, but there are both extremes.

Ryan

the student body is relaxed and easy to talk to there is always a group to find something in common with, there are people representing every walk of life

bethany

N/A

Shannon

It seems as though the average student is from right here in the upper-midwest. They come from middle to upper-middle class families and appear as though they were involved back in high school, usually athletically so. I don't believe there really exists racial or religious problems on campus, though we are quite diverse. Sitting in class the most common clothes being worn are sweats, jeans, and on occasion the random person in business attire. Students do also care about politics with the entire scope being represented.

Sarah

Most of the students wear jeans and sweatshirts to class unless they have a presentation or something then they would dress up.

Emmerson

lots of students

Allie

I don't think there are any huge problems with race or religion on campus. I don't know that any student would feel out of place at UND because the majority of the people here are very welcoming and accepting. Most students wear jeans or sweatpants to class...very casual stuff. The dining hall that I eat in is very mixed, you can't really determine between different groups of students except for when the football team is there eating. I think students here are politically active, and it seems that most are democratic.

Ashley

I think the UND student body is pretty diverse if you know where to look. There is a place for everyone as long as you know where to look or to go. I think students are pretty typical overal and that each major has their own types of students.

Lauren

A more conservative school, but definitely open to everyone. Groups for everyone to get involved. I don't think anyone would feel out of place here. Most student go in sweatpants to class, but there are a bunch of people wearing jeans and t-shirts. A lot of UND students are from all over the twin cities area, but a lot of aviation students are from all over the US. Most students are middle to upper middle class.

Chelsea

Most UND students are from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Aimee

What to wear to class: whatever you want. It's North Dakota. There is no suck thing as high fashion in this state.

Rachel

i have never experienced any racial problems on campus... which is really nice because I come from a town where every time you turn around there was another fight do to racial violence. A lot of the students are actively aware of politics and it was really fun when obama and hilary came to speak in grand forks

Reese

a lot of diversity. good people

Krista

I feel that the student body is prodomiately North Dakota and Minnesota students, and if you are not from there your crazy or aviation. Most students are fairly laid back, but most athletes think they are better then everyone else. Hockey teams are the worst. They are the "kings" of UND. Most of them are just taking easy classes just to pass.

Amy

Students wear whatever to class. Rarely do I see anyone very dressed up, but some do. Most people roll out of bed and go to class pretty regular and unshowered.

Chelsea

There is alot of controversey about the nickname.

Lindsey

Most of UND students are from North Dakota or Minnesota. However, because of the wonderful aviation program on campus there are students from all over.

Jody

UND's student body can be very closed. There are definitely groups of people that stick together, in that sense, it's kind of like high school. The thing is that it really is easy to meet people if you are willing to get involved in outside activities and you aren't too shy. If you are waiting for other people to meet you, it's not going to happen. People won't really go out of their way to be your friend. The majority of people that I have met here are from upper-middle class families, and when you grew up poor in the projects it seems like a whole different world. The thing is that most people don't care, so it has never been an issue for me. On the other side of that there is not a great deal of racial diversity on campus. I grew up in a city and attended a prodminatly minority high-school. Coming to UND was a big change from what I was used to. Although I have never heard or seen any racial discrimination on campus I don't know what the overall feelings of the minorities on campus is. The other thing surprised me when I came to UND was the wide variety of fashions. I had never before seen people wear PJ's and slippers to class before. That was different. Also, in the middle of winter you still find people wearing short skirts and heels. When it's 20 below outside, you don't look hot...you look stupid.

Beth

I think that this is another great part of UND. There is always a group that a person can join with any interests that they have. You can find friends in these groups which makes the school a very easy place to fit in.

Amanda

I don't have much experience with other groups on campus. The kinds of students that might feel out of place are probably minorities. Just because it seems like the majority of students here are white. Most students wear sweatpants or jeans to class. Yes, different types of students interact. Most UND students are either from the Minneapolis or the suburbs of that. Also from Fargo or Moorhead, and really close towns in ND. There are some people who are from far away but that usually means they are aviation majors. Middle class backgrounds are prevalent. Students are politically aware and active.

Amanda

no comment

Nick

Not very diverse.

Katelyn

One thing I love about UND is that the student body is so laid back. Some people wear sweat pants to class, and some people dress up so you're never left out. The students are also very involved in politics. In fact, my sorority just changed its intiation date so we could all go to the North Dakota Democratic NPL State Convention. I was surprised to find out that 51{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my freshman class is actually from out of state.

Rachel

UND students are an interesting group of people. I wouldn't say that everyone is the same, but I don't notice any high school like cliques here either. People wear whatever they want here. There are some students who come to class everyday in sweatpants, and then there are some people who prefer to wear more fashionable clothes. I would say that the most common is jeans, with hooded sweatshirts or other comfortable clothes like that. We aren't known for being extremely fancy, but someone who dressed that way wouldn't feel out of place either.

KJ

As an African American, I have yet to witness any racial or derogatory comment about me. However, I have experienced certain organizations performing unintended racist actions that would potentially harm our university in the future. North Dakota is a place where isn't much diversity, so not a lot of students understand how harmful certain actions can be on certain races. I feel like UND needs to educate its students more on the cultural diversity of our nation. It's hard to understand several different cultures when the population here is mainly Caucasian, but somehow we should come up with a way to inform students about the consequences of their actions.

Brett

Most students either look like they just rolled out of bed, or put on their nicest clothes. There really isn't just one thing students wear to class. Most UND students are from North Dakota and Minnesota. There are many students that are politically aware/active, and many that are not. There are people that are predominantly left, right, and center.

Jamie

The Internation House and nights they host are a great way to learn something new and meet people. There are also many other organizations on campus that make a point to reach out to the student body by hosting other events themselves. I do not think that any person, student or otherwise would feel out of place at UND as there are so many diverse groups and people that there is a place for everyone, although a specific place is not needed for any one person, you can be involved in whatever you chose, no limits. The point of college in certain ways is to meet people, whether they are study abroad or from another state, you may not always like someone, but at least you have the opportunity to meet them. That's the point, you can chose who you are friends with without judgement, hopefully not letting steroptypes color your views. Everyone likes to call themselves middle-class, its the most all-encompasing social strata in the US. The democratic convention is coming up, and I know a ton of people (including me) that are going. I would say that students are politically aware, or at least have the interest and opportunity to be so.

Megan

I have been briefly involved with FOCUS, a Catholic group, despite my not being Catholic at all. They were all very kind to me. As for racial issues, I feel like UND, while having a fairly active policy on non-discrimination, has some issues with integrating the non-white students. Part of that is because this area is predominantly white, and anyone who is not white is a visible minority, which is not UND's fault. But I think that the other part of it is that international students especially may not have much of a way to get involved with things. As for LGBT, I did attend one TPS meeting, but did not feel like it was a group I wanted to be involved in. A student that was not fairly "normal", in colloquial sense of the term, would not really feel like a part of the active student body and I think they would feel out-of-place. Students generally wear jeans and t-shirts, sweatshirts and other stereotypically "student" clothes. Different types of students, I feel, have a hard time meeting each other. I feel that students tend to socialize with others of the same major, and it can be difficult to break that circle. I do not go to the dining halls. Most UND students are from the Midwest area. I feel that most of them are middle-class or upper-class. UND is a less-expensive school, though. Students are somewhat politically aware and active. I feel most of them are center, leaning slightly right, but the next group would be center, leaning left.

Jess

I dont really have experience with other races. Many students that come from small, conservative towns that usually have all white peopel would have a hard time adjusting to UND. Yes, different types of students interact. 4 tables: jocks, wierdos, normal people, others. Most UND students are from either minnesota or north dakota. The most prevalent financial backrounds include middle class to working class. Most students are politically aware or active. Most students are liberal. Not really students just want to be happy I belive.

Amanda

I participate in cultural events usually. Any student who is not from the midwest might feel out of place, or who is very liberal and open minded (like me). I interact with a wide variety of people. I couldn't describe the tables of students in the dining hall. UND students are mostly from the Dakotas and Minnesota. Financial backgrounds vary, mostly middle class. Some students are active and politically aware, again I am one of them. Some students care about what they will earn, personally I want to travel and learn as much as I can and am less interested in money. I don't need to make hundreds of thousands a year to be happy, but some students feel like they will need to.