Grand Valley State University

GVSU is a great university with plenty of opportunities. However, they have started a "next Grand Valley" promotion which is emphasizing all the construction in progress on campus. It seems to many students that have been there for awhile that they have now become secondary to the "new, improved, campus." Otherwise GVSU is great for academics. If you are looking for a great off campus scene, the university is surrounded by cornfields. If you want downtown action, you have to drive 20 min to downtown Grand Rapids. There is really nothing within walking distance of the campus itself. Many students see this and go home every weekend, but the campus is starting to work on retaining this students for the weekends.

3rd Year Female -- Class 2003

Campus Aesthetics: A+, Surrounding City: D

The Art Program is borderline suicide. You'll spend your whole freshmen year pounded with homework from the 6 art classes you have to take. Constantly trying to stay with my classes and on task with course work alienated me from my new roommates and I missed out on a lot of social activities. It seems like you are the only person in your entire hall doing homework. All this work will only get you a C too, because "the true intended value of the C has been lost and we need to bring it back." So, work your butt off and get a C, bend over backwards and get a B, find a way to freeze hell over and get an A. Your parents will love your report cards. And come the end of winter/spring semester, you have to turn in all your work from the year for what the call "The Foundation Review." This is your worst enemy. Half of the students who submitted a portfolio did not pass. HALF! What does it mean when you don't pass? You have ONE more chance to re-take any of the 6 classes and turn in a better portfolio the following semester. And if you don't pass again, you are asked to leave the department. Who has the time and money to do this? Who wants to after being humiliated like that? This departmment needs to understand that it is NOT an art institute, it is a tiny little college buried in the trees. Next year they're going to screen the incoming freshmen before they get accepted. But they'll still have to be reviewed the following year, and for most majors, like graphic design and illustration, you have to be reviewed AGAIN. So, yes, in the end, they have a very talented group of artists. But how many people have they turned away? This department is extremely harsh and picky. You will miss out on your entire freshmen year doing 20x30" drawings and cutting shapes out of paper with an exacto knife, not to mention trying not to fail freshmen math or writing. If you're an art student that wants to go to a university, I strongly suggest that you find another one.

1st Year Female -- Class 2005

Perceived Campus Safety: A+, Useful Schoolwork: F