University of South Dakota Top Questions

I love it. It's homey and cute. The people are nice, and it's nice living in a small town for once. I wouldn't want to live there after I graduate though. There aren't many jobs available. I wouldn't have wanted to go to a different university. Go yotes!

The University of South Dakota offers a high-value education. Where as other schools may spend more on advertising, name recognition, or aggressive recruitment, USD chooses to invest our tuition wisely, by maintaining a top-notch staff of educators and a unique campus environment. These efforts have culminated in the University being named one of the nations best value schools by the Princeton Review. There is also a strong pedigree of excellence here at USD, and you can't help but to feel proud of your school when you cruise into town on University road, with the enormous Dakota Dome looming to your right and the pearly white top of Old Main peeking out above the treeline ahead. It's truly a magical place, with modern buildings, bordering on works of art, interspersed with the beautifully upheld brick and mortar buildings that have housed students for the past 150 years. In response to the rest of your questions, I'll try to be as concise as possible, as I'm not sure what type of details are expected or appreciated. The U. has a population that rivals the rest of Vermillion combined. With roughly 10,000 students and 10,000 citizens, Vermillion can certainly be described as a "college town." Most often while on campus, I can be found at the ID Weeks library, either working at the reference desk or working on homework. Another popular hangout is the newly built Muenster University Center, which is a state-of-the-art facility affording students with ample room to form groups, watch tv, play billiards, grab a bite to eat, or just overall relax. Controversies are few and far between, here in Vermillion. School pride is the opposite- we're pretty proud of our athletes and students here at the U. Students often complain about the lack of parking on campus, and that tuition is too expensive. Having lived in several much larger cities and attempted to attend other institutions, I firmly believe that USD is doing fine in both departments.

The University of South Dakota has a very liberal feel as well as a diverse student demographic based on the variety of majors that are offered. There is a blend of artistic and theatrical students as well as students in medicine or law programs, to psychology, education, and business majors. In my experience, the faculty is definitely helpful and you can tell how much the professors care about the education of their students. Although it is a large school, I think that the size still feels comfortable and there is room for individuals to shine. I will admit that, although rarely, the large number of students can be inconvenient in terms of waiting in line for certain resources (food/drinks, library computers/printers, student services, etc.). While on campus, I spend most of my time either in the Muenster University Center, when I feel like being social, or at the library to study and I also frequent the Wellness Center, which is fairly new and very nice. At USD, there is a lot of school pride and you can easily see it in the sports teams and within the sororities/fraternities. The town of Vermillion is small and quaint, but it has a unique atmosphere unlike other small towns in the area. It is also nice that the town completely revolves around the university and students are received quite well within the community. There are several stores including a Wal-Mart, a few fast food chains, and several local restaurants to enjoy, and if you get bored with all that there are two much bigger cities located less than an hour away! One downfall that many students will complain about is the cold winters...and I mean COLD! Otherwise, I think USD is a great place to be and I have had an amazing time so far.

The University of South Dakota has a very liberal feel as well as a diverse student demographic based on the variety of majors that are offered. There is a blend of artistic and theatrical students as well as students in medicine or law programs, to psychology, education, and business majors. In my experience, the faculty is definitely helpful and you can tell how much the professors care about the education of their students. Although it is a large school, I think that the size still feels comfortable and there is room for individuals to shine. I will admit that, although rarely, the large number of students can be inconvenient in terms of waiting in line for certain resources (food/drinks, library computers/printers, student services, etc.). While on campus, I spend most of my time either in the Muenster University Center, when I feel like being social, or at the library to study and I also frequent the wellness center, which is fairly new and very nice. At USD, there is a lot of school pride and you can easily see it in the sports teams and the sororities/fraternities. The town of Vermillion is small and quaint, but it has a unique atmosphere unlike other small towns in the area. It is also nice that the town completely revolves around the university and students are received quite well within the community. There are several stores including a Wal-Mart, a few fast food chains, and several local restaurants to enjoy and if you get bored with all that there are two much bigger cities located less than an hour away. One downfall that many students will complain about is the cold winters...and I mean COLD! Otherwise, I think USD is a great place to be and I have had an amazing time so far.

The Univeristy of South Dakota has a very liberal feel as well as a diverse student demographic based on the variety of majors that are offered. There is a blend of artistic and theatrical students as well as students in medicine or law programs, to psycology, education, and business majors. In my experience, the faculty is definitely helpful and you can tell how much the professors care about the education of their students. Although it is a large school, I think that the size still feels comfortable and there is room for individuals to shine. I will admit that, although rarely, the large number of students can be inconvienent in terms of waiting in line for certain resources (food/drinks, library computers/printers, student services, etc.). While on campus, I spend most of my time etiher in the Muenster University Center, when I feel like being social, or at the library to study. I also frequent the wellness center, which is fairly new and very nice. At USD, there is a lot of school pride and you can easily see it in the sports teams and the soroities/fraternities.The town of Vermillion is small and quaint, but it has a unique atmosphere unlike other small towns in the area. It is also nice that the town completely revolves around the university and students are recepted quite well within the community. There are several stores including a Wal-Mart, a few fast food chains, and several local restaurants to enjoy and if you get bored with all that there are two much bigger cities located less than an hour away. One downfall that many students will complain about is the cold winters...and I mean COLD! Otherwise, I think USD is a great place to be and I have had an amazing time so far.

I think USD is the perfect size. It is large enough for a student to get all the benefits of a large institution, but small enough so that a student feels their presence is noticed. For example, USD offers a large varity of majors and minors (a few of them including "International Studies," "Anthropology," and "Religious Studies" are only offered at USD versus the other universities in SD). It is small enough that I feel that my professors know me personally as long as I make the effort to get to know them. USD has tons of extracurricular clubs and activities. I am the secretary of the "International Students" club. We organize social events for the international students including, "Festival of Nations," which is a celebration of ethnic food and dance. As an officer of this club, I see myself as an advocate for international students who need help adjusting to a new environment. When I tell people that I attend USD, they usually smirk and say "University of Sex and Drugs?" (USD) I don't think this is accurate of my university. From what I have seen and heard about other public institutions, and indeed private ones, the level of sex and drugs found here at USD is the same as anywhere else. This less than clever acronym doesn't reveal anything original about us. I am a total nerd. This means that I spend alot of time at the library. It is definitely my favorite place on campus. We have a wonderful library that includes helpful staff that are willing to help you use computers, scanners, search engines, and research guides. There are tons of quiet nooks and collaborative study spaces. Students can rent individual study rooms or group study rooms. Our computers are also super fast. Wifi reaches across the entire campus, so connection is never a problem. The complaint heard most often by students is that USD is more concerned about being a successful business than a successful learning center. Unfortunately, this is true for most other universities as well. USD spends a ridiculous amout of money on advertising that could be better spent within USD itself. They estimate that they spend $10,000 dollars per student that eventually chooses to attend. School pride is definitely found at USD! The student section at the football games are always packed. From what I have heard, most students are excited to say good things about USD. Some of our school pride stems from the fact that USD and SDSU are huge rivals. (SDSU is the other largest public SD university.) If nothing else, USD wants to make sure they have more pride than SDSU. If there was one thing I could change about USD, it would be the resources given to the athletic department. Athletes have alot more monetary support and learning privileges. I feel that some of the athletes are only at USD for the status. Their scholarships are huge compared to students who are here to actually get an education. Since USD's upgrade to division 1, alot of funds for other programs have been cut to accomodate sports. Because the main goal of any university should be education first and sports second I believe USD has not made good decisions regarding the sports issue. I have been blown away by the originality of some of my professors. The experience I will never forget is when I received "insect candy" for getting the highest number of points for my insect collection. I received bacon flavored crickets and a sucker filled with ants. My entomology professor also offered me a job in his lab growing an endangered species of dragonfly. Overall, professors here at USD encourage personal interaction. They are happy when students choose to visit during office hours. Several of them have also written very nice reccomendation letters for me that has opened up new opportunites. They are easy to talk to and always ready to help.

My overall opinion of my school is that it is excellent. People are very friendly and the professors are very nice. The campus is small so walking from end to end is very easy. There are many things taking place and it is very easy to become active. My favorite part is all the amazing friends who are like my USD family.

My overall opinion of USD is very positive. It is a campus of opportunities. This is one of its best qualities. However, I must admit that the school sometimes seems small. When other students from different schools visit, they seem to be surprised at just how small the town is. Some like it, some do not. Being from a small town originally, I have always been accustomed to a small population. I believe that it is the student who can make the best of their own situation. When I tell people that I attend USD, they usually are welcoming to the idea. They will usually respond with a tale about D-Days (our homecoming), or a friend they know who also attends. Many students who attend SDSU come down for a visit for our friendly atmosphere. Campus activities are very numerous. One of our best attractions would have to be our new Wellness Center. It includes basketball courts, an indoor track, raquetball, and a very large rock wall. Also on campus, there is the MUC in the center of it all. The MUC holds tons of activities such as dances, movie screenings, and much more. It is nice that everything is in walking distance as well. There is two movie theaters downtown and the bars downtown have karaoke, where all are welcome. Like any school, USD does have some flaws. The biggest one is the lack of school spirit. We have some, but when it comes to football games there are more parents than students. It is a little upsetting. Those who are there usually leave around the end of the first quarter. I believe it is just a lack of students. That is what students complain most about. They claim that our football games stink, but I think otherwise. The Coyotes are a very good team. The other complaint that we get is we do not have enough entertainment. The students are looking for big names to come to town. We have had Mac Miller, Doug Benson, and One Republic. In my opinion, those are pretty big names for a smaller school. Finally, one experience that I will always remember is my first day of college. I remember being thrown into a mix of friendly chaos. The move-in students were so inviting that is was easy to feel comfortable. After getting moved in, the activities began. In a mere few hours I was able to make some of my best friends. It was all because of the structure of USD. They had it planned out so we could be comfortable and still have opportunites to meet new people. I was exhausted by the end of it. Our day was packed full of things to do. There were bouncy castles, pizza, a bonfire, a magician, and that was just the second half of the day. It was a really comforting experience. Leaving home did not seem like a daunting task anymore.

To be fair I haven't gone to any other schools, but I love it at the University of South Dakota. The professors are great and are very sociable and easy to talk to. I highly recommend getting to know your professors because it helps to connect yourself to the class. It makes learning and accepting the information being taught to you easier to grasp. Not only that, but the campus is of good size with decent facilities and many fun places that are also good for studying and meeting friends when needed.

I believe the University of South Dakota's most valuable asset is its teaching staff. Every professor I have worked with is overtly excited to teach his or her subject to the students. Our highly qualified staff is always willing to write letters of recommendation, help with internship opportunities, or simply offer help on an assignment. The one thing I would change about USD is the weather in Vermillion. We tend to have very harsh winters, and no matter what the season, there is always wind in the air. I believe the school itself is a wonderful size. Upon hearing that I attend USD, most people simply ask if I like living in South Dakota. I absolutely love this state. The people are so friendly and warm. Vermillion itself is definitely a college town, as the majority of the jobs in the town are centered around the university. I spend much of my time at the Muenster University Center, or the MUC, which is the student union on campus. The MUC offers a convenience store, a coffee shop, numerous types of food in the cafeteria, and many places to lounge or work on homework. There is often entertainment in the MUC, ranging from movies to music to comedians. USD's administration is incredibly helpful to students of all majors. Recently, a sophomore at USD committed suicide. The action was tragic for every student at the school, and the administration has been terribly helpful in providing students with guidance and encouragement to help us through the terrible tragedy. There is so much school pride at USD. Our school was recently changed to Division I in athletics, which has helped our sports teams improve immensely and challenge themselves constantly. Dakota Days is our homecoming celebration, and we have people from all over the state come to help us celebrate as we cheer for the USD Coyotes football team. The only unusual thing about USD is the very small campus, which I love. Students can walk anywhere on campus in ten minutes, which is wonderful, particularly when the weather is bad. The only frequent student complaints are about finals and tuition rates. All students complain about these two parts of college, but USD has a very low tuition rate, so there is little room to complain.

Overall USD offers a nice balance between education and socialization. USD has many regionally recognized programs that will enable student whether they're interested in graduate school or moving straight into the workforce. The campus is large enough to offer all the major amenities (workout facilities, new commons area, dormitories, excellent library and many computer labs) but small enough to navigate with relative ease. Athletics is an important part of the campus life but one is still free to involve themselves in varying degrees. The University has many fraternities and sororities if greek like is of interest to you, though greek life does not dominate the social scene. Overall USD is a very nice school, the weather can occasionally get you down but the faculty is great and there is quite a bit to do, whether it "partying" or one of USD's many other extracurriculars.

The best thing about the University of South Dakota is the interaction between professors and students. Though the school is of substantial size with a student population of 9000-10000, professors take an active interest in student involvement and well-being. This is especially true of difficult, upper-level courses that are important for the student's major (which also tend to be smaller sized classes). People have positive attitudes about the education one receives at USD, and react positively when I tell them about the school I attend. I spend most of my time on campus in Churchill-Haines (the Biology department), the library, and the Muenster University Center, which is the student center that was finished only a couple years ago. The recently renovated library is very spacious and provides vast access to technological resources for students; in addition, the student center has ongoing activities such as live entertainment and movie nights so there is always something to do. Though my favorite place to spend my free time is the newly finished Wellness Center, which houses numerous state-of-the art fitness machines, spacious courts and exercise studios, as well as a rock climbing wall. The best thing about the Wellness Center is that access to rock climbing, machines, court usage, and fitness classes are all free of charge to students. Because USD is a substantial size school located in a small town, there are just enough activities to qualify it as a "college town". Additionally, if you can't find what you're looking for in Vermillion, the town is centrally located between the cities of Sioux Falls, SD and Sioux City, IA. I have found the school's administration to be very helpful and prompt in assessing my academic and financial needs. Even though school pride isn't as robust and on display as other universities, students on campus regularly participate in tailgating and attending sporting events, as well as getting involved on campus. Out of all the experiences I'll remember from USD, the overall experience I'll take with me is that I felt like I always mattered as a student. Never once at this school have I felt like just another number, as I was always surrounded with faculty that truly cared about me and my education. While I've heard complaints about little things such as quality of the commons food, I don't regularly hear students complain about big issues that they have with this institution.

The University of South Dakota is a great institution from its faculty, campus, students, and activities. USD is a smaller campus, which is great for getting to classes easily. No class is more than a ten minute walk when you live on campus. The town of Vermillion is also centered around the campus, making Walmart runs or going out to eat a quick and easy trip. Another great thing about a smaller campus is the comradery and friendliness of students. You can't walk across campus without seeing someone you know, making college a more comfortable place. Enrollment at USD is continuing to grow, but class sizes remain at a reasonable number. Professors are willing to spend one on one time with students and make college classes as pleasant as possible. The faculty here wants to help you, by providing study sessions called SIs, or supplemental instruction, teachers and teacher aids work with students to help improve students grades and studying experience. The biggest problem that students have is that Vermillion is a small town and students often leave for the weekends. Although Vermillion is a small town it is located 30 minutes from Sioux Falls and Sioux City, so a weekend away with your friends is always an option. However, there are plenty of students who stay on campus during weekends and the Munster University Center provides activities for students every weekend, including movie and game nights. My favorite part of USD is the new wellness center. The wellness center not only has a track, cardio equipment, free weights, strength training machines, the tallest rock climbing wall in South Dakota and three athletic courts, but USD also offers a range of exercise classes. Yoga, cardio sculpt, pilates, cycling, kisado (kickboxing), and sweatshop are only a few of the classes offered at the wellness center. The student center is one of my favorite places to go play a quick game of basketball, soccer, volleyball, or just get a good sweat. Overall, USD is an excellent instituion with great faculty, students, and opportunities.