Valparaiso University

Well I really like Valpo. The fact that I don't drink on campus and I am in clubs and like CORE probably have alot to do with it. It's true what everyone is saying about drinking- you WILL get caught, and they WILL take you to jail... but there are parties at the frats that you can go to and not drink, I don't ever feel like a weirdo by not drinking. I have to say that I think its a nice balance for the really good lutheran kids who don't want to see alcohol and want their school to stay concervative (its normal to be protestant or catholic, its normal to pray and go to services, and its normal to know about bible things, profs with tenure are lutheran, there's pastors around) but you could definately go here and not do those things, nothing is forced on you, and if you want to go crazy there's a scene for that too. I really like the freshman CORE that you take at valpo. It's a humanities-based class that goes through the stages of life from birth to death and you read books and write and discuss. It's mirrored after the Christ College (the honors college at valpo) freshman year program. It's true that the campus is not as lovely as it could be. The quality of the buildings is good- a new union under construction, state of the art library, telescope, dopplar radar, I've never heard anyone say or experienced a building lacking technology or not being up to par. It's little things, like the sidewalks, or right now there's so much construction that its kinda sloppy. So, I wanted to write this because i looked at this website when i was trying to figure out where to go to school,and i am 100 percent glad i went to valpo. I'd describe myself as a person with faith but who didn't want to go to one of those christian-y schools with required chapels and curfews and lifestyle contracts and things, because i wanted to make my own decisions and live with people who were making theirs. But, I also wanted to be in a place that could encourage me in faith, and to have sort of "religious undertones." And i feel like that's totally what i got with valpo. Not to mention great classes, lots of majors, small enough to know people, but big enough to be a university, greek life (which is unlike BIG school greek life, very nice and fun and not weird), an honors college, catholic and protestant chapels, small town saftey with chicago acess (p.s. target, starbucks, best buy, walmart, BW 3's, and other stuff all within easy walking distance) big enough to have perks, but people can remember your name. O, and I got a great academic scholarship, and i wasnt first in my class or a 4.0 either- ya, all this rambling to say that you should give it a try because I love it

1st Year Female -- Class 2010

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Campus Aesthetics: C