<p>While UNM does have a significant number of commuter students, they tend to fall into two categories: older, non-traditional students and kids who grew up in ABQ and stayed local to go to college. </p>
<p>The former tend not so spend alot of time around campus. Most have families and full time jobs. The latter tend to either live in the dorms or in the rentals close to campus–and they don’t go home on weekends. (Seriously, would you want to spend your college years going home for dinner with the 'rents every night?)</p>
<p>No-trads are not a majority on campus and seem to have very influence on the campus culture. The majority of students are traditional college age and the campus culture is pretty representative of that.</p>
<p>I’m not real clear on what you’re asking.</p>
<p>Are you asking if the campus empties out on weekends? Definitely not.</p>
<p>Are you asking if they is stuff to do on campus and people around nights and weekends? Yes there is–tons.</p>
<p>Are you asking if they’re are parties at the frats and stuff? Plenty of parties. No shortage there.</p>
<p>My D will apply as an international student. The reason is the tuition is more affordable than most of colleges. I was wondering how good Anderson Schools of Management is. She would like to major in Finance.</p>
<p>While UNM has very good local business contacts (including with Intel who is major local employer), I am not sure how well the faculty and school is hooked into major US and world financial centers.</p>
<p>Courses are rigorous and admission to the business school (students aren’t admitted until sophomore year) is very competitive.</p>
<p>UNM does have a good entrepreneurial program and a very unique finance program for those interested in film production.</p>
<p>Wanted to revive this thread instead of starting a new one. I know that UNM is not on the radar of many folks but I believe that the IFDM program might be a perfect fit for my son. We are OOS (Northern California) and he should easily qualify for at least the Amigo if not the Regents’ Scholarship which makes it a wonderful financial safety as well. We will be heading to Albuquerque soon to take the tour and speak with advisors and tour a few departments.</p>
<p>From everything I’ve read, the opportunities for internships in the digital media and technical film production field are terrific due to the growth of the industry in New Mexico. We are also really excited about ArtsLab and all the dome work that they are doing there.</p>
<p>Any new or additional input regarding the following would be much appreciated</p>
<p>How are budget cuts are affecting graduation time and size of classes ?</p>
<p>Is there a real “campus experience” with the relatively small number of students living on campus?</p>
<p>How is the Honors Program?</p>
<p>Are students generally pretty friendly and accepting of OOS students?</p>
<p>I am hoping that any students or parents with knowledge of UNM and the cultural environment of Albuquerque will offer some insights.</p>
<p>I PMed you some answers on some of your questions. (Also there’s 2 parts to my PM. CC made me cut in half because it was too long…)</p>
<p>Graduation and budget cuts–honestly I’d say there are some issues, but nothing like CA state colleges are being affected. The courses which are feeling the largest impacts are the lab-based classes in the sciences. Not enough lab space for the number of students. There may be a delay of up to 3 semesters to get into an orgo lab. Other impacted classes are technical writing (a graduation requirement for all science students) and some of the freshman writing courses. Restrictions are being placed on the number of students accepted into the Anderson School of Business also. (Admission is at the end of sophomore year and is competitive.) Nursing program also severely impacted. Advisors are telling students to do their first 2 years at CNM (community college) or at a satellite campus in Rio Rancho, Grants, Taos or Valencia County. </p>
<p>Intro level classes are always large lectures–300+ kids are not uncommon. I know that Intro to Film is <em>very</em> popular and consequently a HUGE lecture class. Upper level film classes–not so much of a problem. </p>
<p>Because UNM has a rather large number of underqualified students (estimated 30-40% require a remedial course in writing or math) and non-traditional part-time students, 5 year graduation rates are poor (under 40%). However, a student who does not change majors and comes into school prepared for college level work should be able to finish in 5 years easily. Probably 4.</p>
<p>Honors program has some nice perks and in-state is considered prestigious! Special dorms. Early registration. Honor seminars and special attention from the professors. Potential to graduate with honors distinction upon completion of the program.</p>
<p>Physics is quite good, with one Nobel Prize winner as emeritus faculty. (My D1 was a physics major at UNM.) Opportunities are there for research in variety of fields. Number of physics majors is small–usually dwindling to about 12-18 by graduation, but that means once you get past the intro level, classes are small and you have lots interaction with the profs.</p>
<p>Top students get into top grad programs. (D1 was accepted into a top 10 biophysics grad program. One her classmates worked for Kip Thorne during summers and is now grad student in Thorne’s group at Cal Tech.) Both Los Alamos Labs (LANL) and Sandia Labs (SNL) offer internship and research possibilities.</p>
<p>I know less about the music program. It’s a BA program and not a conservatory. The voice program is supposed to be especially strong with faculty that’s drawn from the Santa Fe Opera staff. The daughter of a family friend was a bassoon major at UNM and is now tenured second chair bassoon at the Philadelphia Symphony.</p>
<p>S1 is interested in UNM for physics, but has not had time for a visit yet. Glad to hear that your daughter majored there. Hope we can make it there in the next few weeks. We’re driving distance - just need to make him carve out some time!</p>