Iowa State University (ISU)

Iowa State University is the state's largest research university, offering more than 100 majors, most notably in the science and technical fields, including an engineering program which is "practically unrivaled." Other standouts include the aerospace program and the journalism and design schools. The school is "quick to add new courses on developing technology" and even make some courses available online, and an excellent job placement rate means "if you're looking to not just get a job but build a career, you're in the right place." Due to the size of the university, there are a lot of opportunities (such as "getting to tour and even work at some of the cutting-edge research locations in the world"), and teachers will bring in people who work in the field "to talk to you about what their job is like so you can network and learn about your opportunities." In addition to all the classroom and professional resources, there is a largely popular campus lecture series on various topics, and the university is also currently building a student innovation center. "If you are willing to work hard, you can accomplish a lot."

The faculty at the school are "outstanding" and "represent some of the best instructors in the country." Professors "have so much knowledge to share" and include "innovative approaches" in which students "use technology and applications to do assignments." "Not only are they great teachers, but they're great people," says one student. Classes are handson and coursework is "challenging in a way that helps [students] know that [they] will be prepared to perform well" in their future careers, but for anyone struggling with their work, "there's a lot of help if you look for it." Overall, students find that Iowa State "offers everything a student needs to succeed" and strives to ensure that every student "succeeds and performs at a high level academically, professionally, and in their personal lives."

According to some students, Iowa State University "lacks diversity as a student body." But students consistently feel that their peers are "very kind, hardworking, and smart," and tend to be "generally a mix of engineering, design, and agriculture students," all of whom comprise "a good mix of people having fun and studying." There is a sizable number of international students at Iowa State, and the entire student body "looks after one another and are always very helpful toward newcomers." The "Iowa Nice" idea is "clearly embodied by the students of Iowa State," and this is "a special breed of people displaying hospitality and kindness in any situation."

Ames is "the perfect college town." Since Iowa State is the main focus, "everyone that lives here cheers for the Cyclones." The school as a whole has "Midwest values," as well as "a plethora of extracurricular opportunities to be involved as a leader or for fun." All of the classes and buildings are located in the same area or near each other to help students avoid being late to class and "a walk across campus is usually only 10 minutes." The fun usually happens on the weekends, with students heading to parties, bars, or sporting events, and there are also "great places to go for dinner, movie theaters, and lots of volunteering opportunities" to keep busy. Clubs (over 800!) "are huge here" and "everyone has their niche." One student says, "Living in a dorm is the best choice" you can make as a first-year student. Dorms often host game tournaments, movie nights, and other events. There's a "state of the art" recreation center (and other facilities), and during nice times of the year, people around campus hammock in the trees and go hiking.