Colorado State, Fort Collins
A View of the Oval CSU Fort Collins is a hidden gem that I wish more California students knew about. CSU is a large university with about 23,000 students and offers something for just about everybody with 190 majors and programs of study. It is a mix of the picturesque historic buildings on “The Oval” along with extensively renovated buildings and new construction. The university is located in Fort Collins which is a mix of a college town and suburbs--with light industry that offers opportunity for internships. The historic downtown is just blocks away from the university and has great restaurants, fun shops, and plenty of charm. You really get the college town feel in this small city.
Colorado State is a leading research university and is committed to the mission of teaching, research, and outreach. At CSU, students have the opportunity to participate in active learning opportunities including field experience, laboratory research, and study abroad. Students are able to work closely with professors who are leaders in their field. You do not need to declare your major when you apply; they are very open to students who are still exploring. CSU is a student friendly institution!
Colorado State is a leading research university and is committed to the mission of teaching, research, and outreach. At CSU, students have the opportunity to participate in active learning opportunities including field experience, laboratory research, and study abroad. Students are able to work closely with professors who are leaders in their field. You do not need to declare your major when you apply; they are very open to students who are still exploring. CSU is a student friendly institution!
Student Support
 The Library |  The Lory Student Center |
One of the things that most impressed me was the great support for students. There is free tutoring in writing, math, and many other subjects available on a drop-in basis. The class sizes tend to be on the small side which allows professors to get to know their students and take an interest in their success. Lecture classes are taught by professors with an additional 1 unit recitation offered that is supported by graduate teaching assistants. The lectures have about 30-40 students and the recitations about 10. Recitations may be optional or required, but our tour guide recommended taking it because it is like getting a unit of credit to study for the course with a TA. This is quite a contrast to many large public institutions that have lecture classes in the hundreds! There is also excellent pre-professional health advising that will point you to, and keep you on the path toward your chosen professional school. They help with course selection, test planning, applications, and interviewing in a very personal way.
Honors Program
CSU also has an honors program that reminds me of a liberal arts education within a large research institution. The honors program requires 4 seminar courses that satisfy the core curriculum, (general education), and two major courses, along with a senior thesis. This course of study focuses on communication, critical thinking, and problem solving and is available to all majors. There is also an academic village for honors students that is new and roomy.
Student Life
Student life at CSU also has something for everybody. Freshmen are required to live on campus, and there are plenty of dorms and room styles. I tried the food—it was good! The new recreation center is amazing--from the pool with the lazy river to the classes, equipment, outdoor programs, and of course--the massage studio! It rivals any other rec center I have seen. There are 300 days of sunshine a year, and while it does snow, it melts after a few days, so you don’t get stuck inside for too long. Skiing and hiking are only an hour away in the Rocky Mountains. If you are looking for the big city, Denver is about an hour south down the interstate. There is Greek life-- but you don’t have to go Greek to have fun. There are numerous clubs, sports, and outdoor programs. The Rocky Mountain Showdown is always a big event against their rival, CU, Boulder.
CSU, Fort Collins, can be a real financial plus to a California student. They are part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, WUE, which offers 150% of in-state tuition to California students who qualify. At CSU, the WUE is a scholarship that is calculated on a sliding scale of GPA and test scores. If you don’t qualify for the WUE, there are other scholarships available that can make this out-of-state school financially viable.
CSU, Fort Collins, can be a real financial plus to a California student. They are part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, WUE, which offers 150% of in-state tuition to California students who qualify. At CSU, the WUE is a scholarship that is calculated on a sliding scale of GPA and test scores. If you don’t qualify for the WUE, there are other scholarships available that can make this out-of-state school financially viable.
 The New Rec Center  The Lazy River Pool |  Students Enjoying a Sunny Spring Saturday  Rec Center Swipe-in |
The University of Denver
The University of Denver, or DU, while located in a large urban area, doesn’t have a big city feel until you go off campus. The buildings, both old and new, are beautiful with wide expanses of lawn and a covered walkway over the streets that go through campus. Though it was established as a Methodist seminary, it no longer has ties to any religious organization. DU is a medium sized university with about 5,000 students. They combine the best qualities of a liberal arts college with the size and career focus of a professional school. They have a large study abroad program that prepares students for the global society we have become. DU offers a wide variety of courses of study, with well-appointed facilities. There is a real feeling of community here and the university fosters this in their students by teaching them how to build communities and companies that will flourish. They believe in taking responsibility for one another, which shows in the friendliness and caring for others exhibited on campus. There is also an emphasis on community service that is dedicated to the public good.
DU has a wide variety of majors and programs and students can use electives to count towards a double major or pick up a minor. Classes are taught by professors 99.8% of the time and the average class size is 21 students. This fosters intimacy within the class and with professors whose priority is coaching students in research and creating your own knowledge. Business is the most popular major, but there are many majors and programs to choose from. Music is wonderful at DU, and you don’t have to be a music major to participate. There is an amazing performing arts center with a concert hall that is a replica of the opera house in Vienna, a flexible theater allowing for numerous configurations, and a smaller recital hall for intimate performances. There are also practice rooms and instrument storage facilities, so you can bring your instrument to college. The school of hospitality management emphasizes a foundation in business with specialized classes in hospitality management for well-rounded and skilled graduates. In fact, DU graduates in this program have to complete at least 1,000 hours of work experience. There is a film school as well as social sciences, hard sciences, and great pre health advising.
DU has a wide variety of majors and programs and students can use electives to count towards a double major or pick up a minor. Classes are taught by professors 99.8% of the time and the average class size is 21 students. This fosters intimacy within the class and with professors whose priority is coaching students in research and creating your own knowledge. Business is the most popular major, but there are many majors and programs to choose from. Music is wonderful at DU, and you don’t have to be a music major to participate. There is an amazing performing arts center with a concert hall that is a replica of the opera house in Vienna, a flexible theater allowing for numerous configurations, and a smaller recital hall for intimate performances. There are also practice rooms and instrument storage facilities, so you can bring your instrument to college. The school of hospitality management emphasizes a foundation in business with specialized classes in hospitality management for well-rounded and skilled graduates. In fact, DU graduates in this program have to complete at least 1,000 hours of work experience. There is a film school as well as social sciences, hard sciences, and great pre health advising.
 The School of Hospitality, (notice the pineapple, the hospitality symbol)  Covered Walkway |  A Fraternity House on Campus  A Blend of Old and New |
Student Life
The Ritchie Center Student life is buzzing on and off campus. Students have easy access to the downtown area on the light rail system that stops at the edge of campus. Tuition and fees include a light rail and bus pass, so students will often take the light rail downtown to the 16th street mall which has shopping and great restaurants. Students can live on campus all 4 years, and there is housing in the neighborhoods adjacent to campus that students still consider “on campus.” Greek life is popular, but you do not have to “be Greek” to be included. DU is in NCAA division I. While there isn’t a football team to cheer for, students get caught up in hockey and lacrosse, especially when playing their rivals at Colorado College. The Ritchie Sports Complex rivals a professional center with an ice arena, Olympic sized swimming pool and separate fields for the club and intramural teams so they don’t have to vie for practice time with the D1 teams.
Though DU is a popular choice for locals, the university makes a point of having a geographically diverse student body with students from nearly every state in the union. They also offer generous merit scholarships and an extra stipend to out-of-state students who live in the residence halls. The food is good and there are a variety of configurations of halls to suit your living preferences. Many students ski, but that is not essential for you to fit in. The mile high city has lots of sunshine, (good for California kids), and 4 seasons--sometimes all in one day!
Though DU is a popular choice for locals, the university makes a point of having a geographically diverse student body with students from nearly every state in the union. They also offer generous merit scholarships and an extra stipend to out-of-state students who live in the residence halls. The food is good and there are a variety of configurations of halls to suit your living preferences. Many students ski, but that is not essential for you to fit in. The mile high city has lots of sunshine, (good for California kids), and 4 seasons--sometimes all in one day!
 Cool Ice Arena |  On Campus Fraternity House |
Outcomes
Students are happy, learning, and excited about the possibilities as they move on from college. The career center offers resume guidance, interview help and placement assistance. In fact 97% of graduates are employed or in grad school 6 months after graduation. Some of the top companies that recruit from DU are: The Big 4 accounting firms, Kaiser, Nike, and numerous start-ups. Denver is slated to be a city that millennials will flock to as job opportunities continue to be on the rise.
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