University of New Hampshire (UNH)

The University of New Hampshire is about connections, whether that's what a "state school offers... to local community" or the way in which it "makes use of their outdoors ... and gets students involved in hands-on services and experiences." The students of its 100+ majors (and eleven schools and colleges) get lifelong support from the office of Career and Professional Success, which leaves students feeling that they can "learn whatever you want." It helps that UNH "is especially good at providing information and resources. There are millions of flyers all around campus, including in lecture halls and dorms, informing you of what is going on on campus and where you can go or who you can contact if you need help."

Professors are commended not just for being "very good lecturers" but for the way they are "happy to help in their area of expertise and genuinely interested in doing so." This may involve allowing students to "separate themselves in order to learn when necessary" during class and being "willing to spend time individually to explain material and offer learning resources outside of the classroom." Students also list a variety of teaching methods, including "small groups, large groups, class conversations, personal work, and all other manner of work in class, as well as a flipped classroom." Now add in "a constantly improving curriculum," "plenty of internships," "a plethora of research opportunities," and science labs that "have really taken the material to a whole other level of learning." As one student notes, "there is so much to do which prepares students for life after graduation that it's hard to list it all."

Many students love the school's size of 11,000 students, which "is big enough to get lost in and small enough to find people who will become forever friends." People "tend to be very social" and many "are active and value physical activities, part of why the campus is so pristinely kept." Most students "are from New England in New Hampshire and Massachusetts," and although the school is "not very diverse, we have a lot of programs and are very accepting for our minority communities." Those who attend UNH are "generally driven, with a good sense of community and collaboration among the more difficult classes and majors," and "each student has a passion or goal that they want to achieve in life," so the university "is a great place to really expand your horizons and become who you've always wanted to be." There is "lots of pride in the school and events going on, so a lot of people are excited and energetic," and a student says that "whether it is presenting my research at our undergraduate research conference, or simply talking to somebody in the Dunkin line in the MUB [student center], the student body at UNH is overall friendly and approachable."

A student's standard routine is to "attend their classes, do work for a few hours, and hang out a lot with each other at night." Students do mention "a very active night life with dorm competitions and socials, countless intramural sports teams, and welcoming parties across the campus," as well as events like trivia and concerts. They also refer to the campus itself being "very pretty and easy to walk, making it have a more calming environment overall," and with a great location in Durham that provides "a safe rural environment while still being close to the ocean, activities, and cities like Boston." The winter gets a particular shout out because students can (and do) "go skiing or even just sledding around campus and there are always great trails to go hiking." Ultimately, with more than two hundred student clubs and organizations, including "student-run groups for various backgrounds, lifestyles and viewpoints, from political groups to hobby groups," students feel confident that there's something for everyone.