UH provides a great education

As the fall semester started, and while the other thirty-seven thousand plus University students were buying books and finding their classes, I was keeping my eyes and ears open. What are the great things about UH?  What are the not-so-great things?

Parking was one of a few complaints that were discussed ad nauseum.  What follows is a breakdown of all the best (and the worst) things about campus.

Academics:  B.  The University is a major research university, which means two things: one, our school has research money, and two, you can truly benefit from a UH degree if you know where to look.  Most students have probably never been inside the Science and Engineering Research Center, a new construction building which houses 40 research laboratories, but you should take a look around, it’s a beautiful building with fascinating research capabilities.  While you’re exploring, you should also take a look at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture building, which is aesthetically pleasing and houses the best library on campus: small, quiet, and full of comfortable chairs.

As far as national opinion goes, UH has plenty of great programs to offer, including some of the nation’s top programs such as creative writing, the entrepreneurship program at the C.T. Bauer College of Business, the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, and the UH law center, which are all nationally recognized. UH may not be anywhere near as lauded as Harvard or Stanford, but an education here will get you where you want to go.

Cost: B+.  Yes, the cost of tuition is on the rise, but there are plenty of scholarship opportunities if you know where to look.  Books are also expensive, but you can cut costs by avoiding the UC bookstore and buying books online from a textbook broker or from your fellow students.

Dining:  B+.  If we’re talking about the dining halls, Oberholtzer has the best food, and Moody Towers the worst, but neither option is that exciting.  McAlister’s Deli at the Welcome Center is a good choice for fresh sandwiches, soups, and salads, but there’s always a large lunch crowd.  There are a few restaurants at the UC, including Chili’s Too and Wendy’s, but the best part of UC dining is the ice cream at Shasta’s Cones and More. Avoid UC cookies: they are rock-hard. The UC-Satellite has the widest selection, with a Starbucks, Smoothie King, Pizza Hut, Burger Studio, Goe’s Bar-B-Que, Kim Son, Chick-fil-A, Montague’s Deli, and Taco Bell all at arms reach.  Last but not least, there is a Subway, Pizza Hut, and Murphy’s Deli across from the Rec Center.

Diversity: A+.  UH is the second-most diverse University in the country according to a report done by U.S. News and World Report.  Many of us may be from Texas or Houston, but we do have about 3,000 international students of all different ethnic and social backgrounds. College is a time to expand your mind and learn how to interact with many different types of people, and at UH it’s impossible not to interact with people of a different background other than your own.

Facilities: A.  If you haven’t been to the Recreation and Wellness Center, I strongly urge you to go.  The pool always has at least a couple of lanes open, the locker rooms are clean and spacious, and there are numerous group classes including cycling, yoga and Zumba; all but the martial arts classes are free.  Other amenities include a rock climbing wall, inexpensive day care, and a friendly staff that is often helpful.

Parking: D.  UH is a commuter school; only about 4,000 of us live on campus, which means a majority of students are driving here. For most of us riding the bus, walking or biking to school is not feasible, and so we must fight the rest of the student population for parking spaces — of which there are never quite enough.

Professors: B+.  The faculty at the University of Houston includes a Pulitzer Prize winner, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a National Medal of Science recipient, these awards may not mean much to some students but our staff has been stocked with excellent professors.

After a week’s worth of learning and exploring, I feel confident that I am getting a quality education at the University. This is a large, diverse campus, which means there is something for everyone here; whatever your interests, there is a club or a class for you.  Like any school, UH has its shortcomings, but as long as you show up early enough to get a parking space, there is no reason not to have a great day at school.

Overall our university deserves a B; they do many things well, but as a University we do have our own shortcomings.

Danielle Wiitala is a English sophomore and may be reached at [email protected]