Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU)

Slippery Rock University is a medium-sized school in western Pennsylvania that is growing tremendously, yet, remains "fairly small compared to" other schools in the state. SRU has a "wonderful business school" and notable programs in music and physical therapy. The education majors are "excellent" as well. Academics at The Rock are solid but not overly demanding. "I don't feel like I'm wildly intelligent," muses a senior, "but when I hear that people have honest trouble making it through this school, I worry." Many professors are "very good teachers." Once you get into your major, "professors start to care about you." "I have been pleased with the availability of the professors, their willingness to work with students, and their reliability," reflects a senior. SRU's administration "rocks." "They are very personable and take the time to listen to students." However, some students note it can be hard to get into the classes you need.

It's a "blue-collar" crowd, "not a bunch of spoiled rich kids." For the most part, "the people here are real people who have to actually work their way through college." "Most of the students come from the Pittsburgh area, or smaller towns" in the region and they "have a lot in common" with each other. Nontraditional students will find many kindred souls and so will students "straight out of high school." The Rock is "more diverse than a small farm town" but only by a little. "There are some foreign students" and some kids from different ethnic groups, but not many. "There is a variety of personalities on campus," though. "The stereotypical prep or jock" is well represented, but "cliques are pretty diverse, ranging from social partying crowds, to study groups, to tree-hugging hippies."

This "breathtakingly beautiful" campus "in the middle of nowhere" is rather enormous. "It is a hike to get to some classes" and the "hilly layout" doesn't help, particularly in the winter. ("The school is called 'Slippery Rock' for a reason.") The recreation center is excellent. Six out of eight campus dorms were built less than a year ago and the remaining were renovated. "I think some of the classrooms and buildings could be fixed up," says a sophomore. "I know [the administration is] trying to change the look and feel of the campus and that is great [because] it really is a beautiful place to be." Clubs and organized activities are abundant. Posters and sidewalk chalk describing various happenings are reportedly everywhere. "Intramural sports are huge." "Greek life is big enough to have an impact, but not too big where you can't have a social life without joining one." However, Slippery Rock is basically "a commuter school that is trying to become a stay-on-campus school." Students who remain on campus over the weekend "definitely tend to party" but "don't get too extreme." Some students call the surrounding community "quaint," but others say it's "a hick town." Whatever the case, there's "not a lot of action" except for a few bars. Without your own vehicle, "you will be stuck in your dorm or apartment. A lot." With a car, trips to larger nearby towns are possible. "The proximity to Pittsburgh" allows for an easy escape when the urge for a more serious road trip strikes.