<p>Can anyone tell me more/give me more insight about UNM?</p>
<p>I'm considering applying last minute, because of their guaranteed scholarships for out-of-state students.</p>
<p>Anyone, please?</p>
<p>What would you like to know? What programs are you interested? D1 is a senior at UNM and I know many, many kids who attend UNM. I've lived in ABQ for a number of years...so if you can be specific</p>
<p>While I see this was started almost 2 yrs ago, my questions fall in this thread.
Sister just asked me to find out about Univ of New Mexico for her son. He would qualify for merit aid because he is a Natl Hispanic Scholar.
Questions I would have if nephew was my son–
How inviting is it for freshmen on campus? Are there lots of programs activities that will encourage/force student to join in? I would be worried that nephew would rather stay in room and not socialize. Are there required freshman seminars?</p>
<p>Housing-what are dorms like? Are lots of activities planned, are students encouraged/reminded/hounded to join. Do dorms empty over weekend? </p>
<p>Because nephew does not live close, I don’t know him well enough. Son is the type who loves to join others and loved dorm, college, and fraternity activities. I am afraid nephew might feel alone being out of state (CA)
Thanks.</p>
<p>How inviting is the campus for freshman?</p>
<p>The campus is pleasant, if not especially over-filled with greenspace. Lots of nice walking areas and nooks to sit in. Campus is not overly huge and there is vital and thriving campus town area across the street from the bookstore/performance center. Downtown is not far away (less than 2 miles) and direct buses run to and from on weekends until 2 am. </p>
<p>Parking on campus is terrible–but as a dorm student, that oughtn’t be a problem for your nephew.</p>
<p>Dorm are pretty much clustered together at the east end of campus. Near the gym and playing fields. Food on campus is decent and there are lots of options. And if food on campus doesn’t appeal, Nob Hill is immediately east of campus and is THE trendy dining/shopping area of ABQ. Restaurants range from very inexpensive to moderately expensive. </p>
<p>*Are there lots of programs activities that will encourage/force student to join in? *</p>
<p>There is nothing that FORCES a student to join anything. But there are lots of activities: performances, film, exhibits, sports, frats, charity events, political rallies --you name an interest and you’ll probably find a group for it on campus. Lots of stuff to do there and the students are laid back and friendly. University holds student expos (which showcases activities and organizations) twice a year. And walking around campus anytime, you will run into groups promoting their organization/activity. (But not in an obnoxious way). </p>
<p>UNM is a great resource for everyone in ABQ. I enjoy going to performances & activities at UNM quite alot.</p>
<p>*Are there required freshman seminars? *</p>
<p>There is a required freshman on-campus orientation for all students (it’s 3-4 days IIRC), but I’m not sure what you mean by freshman seminars. If you mean are there specific freshman-only sections for certain academic classes–then the answer is yes. But there is no class that specifically deals with adjusting to college.</p>
<p>* Housing?* </p>
<p>Dorms vary alot. They range from traditional dorm rooms (doubles w/ hall bathrooms & showers) to apartment-type suites. Different dorms have different cultures and the number/type of activities depends upon what dorm and what kind of dorm situation the student ends up in. One of the dorms holds an annual ballroom dance/kinda of a prom-like thing. Others have very little in the way of organized activities. Traditional freshman dorms (which my D never lived in) tend to have more structured activities than the apartment suites, for example. </p>
<p>*Do dorms empty over weekend? * </p>
<p>Absolutely not! While UNM does has a significant townie enrollment, most of those kids tend to be commuters or live in houses/apartments adjacent to campus. NM is big state and very few kids go home on weekends. In fact, among my D’s friends who live at home and commute–they tend to stay on campus, crashing in the dorms with their friends over the weekend.</p>
<p>I’ve found UNM students to be pretty laid back and accepting. If your nephew makes any effort at all in meeting people, finding activities, he’ll be welcomed.</p>
<p>Thanks
very encouraging.
will pass it on</p>
<p>How is UNM for a transfer student?? The prospect of attending is looking better and better. Due to the UC budget cuts, they are not accepting winter or spring transfers and I do not want to wait till Fall 2011 to transfer (10 months after I’ll be finished with CC).</p>
<p>UNM can be generous to well qualified transfer students. </p>
<p>The Amigo Transfer Scholarship for OOS students</p>
<p>[Amigo</a> Transfer Scholarship Program](<a href=“http://www.unm.edu/~schol/trans/amigot.html]Amigo”>http://www.unm.edu/~schol/trans/amigot.html)</p>
<p>provides a waiver of the out of state portion of tuition plus an additional grant of $250/semester.</p>
<p>UNM has some excellent programs. Architecture is well regarded and their photography program is ranked in the top 5 nationally. UNM also has a well regarded environmental bio program (esp in evolutionary psych), a newly nationally certified (as of 12/2009) program in medical/health physics (one of only 43 in the US) and a respectable engineering school.</p>
<p>What field(s) are you interested in?</p>
<p>I’m interested in the Anthropology, Native American Studies, and Africana programs.</p>
<p>UNM has a wonderful anthropology program</p>
<p>I’ll second that. UNM’s anthro dept ( [Department</a> of Anthropology at The University of New Mexico](<a href=“Anthropology | The University of New Mexico”>Anthropology | The University of New Mexico)) is quite good and has an international reputation. NM has a wealth of archaic Native American sites and there are plenty of opportunities for undergrads to do field work at them. Archaeology and evolutionary anthro are particularly strong, though its ethnology division is good too. </p>
<p>The school also offer classes in the Navajo language. (And Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Keres and Zuni native speakers are not hard to find if you want to learn other NA languages.)</p>
<p>The Native American studies dept ( [Native</a> American Studies](<a href=“website has moved. THIS NOTICE LASTS A YEAR.”>website has moved. THIS NOTICE LASTS A YEAR.)) is very good–and its graduate program is top notch. UNM has one of the best NA materials collections in the world in its library. </p>
<p>I know less about its Africana studies dept.</p>
<p>Wow, sounds intriguing. I like the idea of that Amigo Transfer Scholarship, too.</p>
<p>Do they accept the CA IGETC?</p>
<p>How about graphic arts/design? I read somewhere about a new ARTS (Arts, Research, Technology, Science?) Building on campus, is that a big deal around ABQ?</p>
<p>The ARTS lab ([ARTS</a> Lab: The Art, Research, Technology and Science Laboratory](<a href=“http://artslab.unm.edu/]ARTS”>http://artslab.unm.edu/)) is actually across the street from the main part of campus. It’s open both to UNM students and ABQ residents/production companies. It’s main focus is in the film and digital media industry areas, esp in support of NM’s burgeoning film industry.</p>
<p>NM, and ABQ in particular, has seen explosive growth in the number of movies and TV programs filmed here. </p>
<p>See: ABQ film studios <a href=“http://www.abqstudios.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.abqstudios.com</a> a new 28 acre sound stage and production facility. Also Sony Imageworks is building a new 200,000 sq ft imaging studio in ABQ. </p>
<p>Digital media production of all kinds is huge here. [Digital</a> Industries & Software Companies: Metro New Mexico](<a href=“http://www.nmsitesearch.com/ee/ee_1_1.htm]Digital”>http://www.nmsitesearch.com/ee/ee_1_1.htm)</p>
<p>And the ARTS lab is part of that:
</p>
<p>UNM has recently created an endowed chair in film and digital media to provide leadership for its new interdisciplinary program at ARTS lab. </p>
<p>(BTW, Digital Media Garage is the unofficial name for the ARTS lab.)</p>
<p>thanks WOWM. I may have more questions for you. I will be out in ABQ visiting family this summer and will take a look at UNM based on your info of the ARTS lab.</p>
<p>I’m a senior that’s been accepted to the UNM architecture program, and I’m wondering how good the program is. Any information would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Don’t know anything about national rankings in architecture, but do have some anecdotal stuff. My best friend started her architecture degree at UNM and then had to transfer to UC-Boulder. (Husband took a new job in Colorado.). She felt that UNM’s program was much, much stronger the Boulder’s. Better in design, better in the engineering facets also.</p>
<p>(BTW, she is now a licensed architect with her own firm specializing in water-conserving native plant landscape design.) </p>
<p>D also had couple of friends in the 5 year (combined bachelor’s and master’s program)–now both graduated-- who were quite happy with the program. One was in environmental landscape design, one was in green building design.</p>
<p>UNM has a respected architecture dept, with a growing emphasis on green design.</p>
<p>Architecture has always been one of those things that UNM has always had a good reputation for as long as I’ve lived here.</p>
<p>I’ve also been accepted to UC-Boulder, so it’s good to know. Thanks!</p>
<p>UNM is known to be a commuter school, and I was wondering how that affect campus culture there…</p>