<p>For those who have just completed their freshman year, can you please give me your general impressions of IU? Did it meet your expectations? How hard were the classes? How was it socially? How was your dorm? Was it easy to meet new friends? Any tips?</p>
<p>anything else you want to add would be great. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>Regarding social life... I read somewhere in this forum.. I can't say for sure (but I'll look it up to confirm) that socially is great.. it was rated #3 Party Campus by Playboy Magazine.. don't know if that's good or bad, depends on how you see it. And I hope I haven't screwed up your son's plans :p</p>
<p>The Princeton Review’s Top 5 Party Schools are: 1. Indiana University-Bloomington 2. Clemson University 3. University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa 4. Pennsylvania State University Park 5. University of Florida, according to <a href="http://www.princetonreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.princetonreview.com</a>.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.columbiachronicle.com/back/2003_spring/2003-04-21/campus9.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.columbiachronicle.com/back/2003_spring/2003-04-21/campus9.html</a></p>
<p>Playboy's 2006 List</p>
<ol>
<li>University of Wisconsin-Madison</li>
<li>University of California, Santa Barbara</li>
<li>Arizona State University</li>
<li>Indiana University Bloomington</li>
<li>San Diego State University</li>
<li>Florida State University</li>
<li>Ohio University</li>
<li>University of Georgia</li>
<li>University of Tennessee
<ol>
<li>McGill University, Canada</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>
<p>Here we goooo!</p>
<p>No, that Princeton Review ranking is out of date. IU is only #13 on the Party school list... </p>
<p>The 2007 Party School rankings are<br>
1 The University of Texas at Austin
2 Penn State--University Park
3 West Virginia University
4 University of Wisconsin-Madison
5 University of Mississippi
6 Ohio University-Athens
7 University of Massachusetts--Amherst
8 Louisiana State University
9 University of Iowa
10 University of California-Santa Barbara
11 University of Florida
12 University of Georgia
13 Indiana University at Bloomington
14 University of New Hampshire
15 Randolph-Macon College
16 University of Tennessee--Knoxville
17 Lehigh University
18 University of Arizona
19 State University of New York at Albany
20 University of Maryland-College Park</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with enjoying oneself in college. I think the label of "party college" is overused. Many kids party on the weekend and break their butts during the week..In the real world, which I now occupy, few if any people really care anyway where you go to college...might as well enjoy it as much as possible as long as it does not interfere with your studies..</p>
<p>Wasn't Lehigh the school that was trying to eliminate alcohol from the campus? I know that they have a major greek scene but I read on this forum people talking about it.</p>
<p>I had high expectations for IU, and well, I wouldn't say I was dissapointed but I didn't really expect things to be the way they were.</p>
<p>First, I mainly chose the school based on their strength in my major programs - business and sport management. The Sport Management program has been fantastic, i've already obtained an internship and have gotten tons of connections. I'm planning on going to the baseball winter meetings December in Nashville, and in 2009 (the year i'm now graduating), they are coming to Indianapolis, meaning great networking opportunities. Indiana's program has wonderful connections and a great relationship with the Colts and Pacers and has sent lots of interns there. Also suprisingly i've found out they have relations with teams in the Detroit area, which was great for me as I am from Michigan and a fan of the Detroit teams.</p>
<p>Kelley did not meet expectations. The business school has thousands of students and very little attention. Advising is awful and facilities are below average. You are nothing more than a number in the Kelley school. The prerequisites for I-Core are very difficult. I'll just name a few. Finite Math, Brief Survey of Calculus, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Intro to Accounting, Business Law, Computers in Business. Each of these classes has an average GPA of below 2.5. You read the classes and think "Well, those aren't difficult classes", but IU does them in a way where they try and weed out the students. They do this successfully, which is why they have such a great reputation. </p>
<p>I was dissapointed on the lack of opportunities to get any sort of attention. True, this is a big public school, and I should have expected this. All my classes were either taught by graduate students, or were 300+ lectures. Your grades are all determined by how you fill out a scantron. </p>
<p>Socially it was alright. I was stuck in a horrendous dorm (Ashton) where kids thought that staying inside on a sunny day that is 85 degrees playing Counterstrike is fun. The party reputation is mainly due to the greeks, who I can safely say are not the brightest students at the university. The NW neighborhood is also known for their parties. Little 500 week was great, parties all week and concerts from national artists (OAR, Yellowcard, Three 6 Mafia). Sports is fun, although a bit overrated. No one really appreciates having a Big Ten football program here, and basketball games are horrendously overrated. 1/2 the students are in the balcony, and 1/5 are sitting where their sight is obstructed by the balcony. Assembly Hall is a dump, just to get it up to standards they would need to pay $80 million, meaning a new arena is on it's way. The students don't have a true student section, they are all in the balcony and separated in the arena. I had 1 game (luckily it was the Wisconsin game) where I was on the floor. </p>
<p>My advice to incoming students is to make sure that when you are signing up for a class, you know what you are getting yourself into. Check the grade distribution under the registrar and find out what type of grades that teacher usually gives out. If it's unusually low, try finding another class. You can essentially grade shop. Secondly, take a lot of these General Education classes at your community college over the summer. It's cheaper, easier and they transfer over to any program. You also speed up your graduation.</p>
<p>thanks A2.</p>
<p>your input was very helpful. my son is focused on applying to large state schools. IU is one of his choices. he wants to major in business and when we attended a local school visit by IU, they really emphasized the kelley school. they told us that there are many internship opportunities and that kelley is ranked very high nationally.</p>
<p>what is the town of bloomington like? is it nice?run down? typcial college town?</p>
<p>wow r u talkin about the internship with espn? congrats ya lazy b**stard :)</p>
<p>Thanks A2. And congrats on the internship.</p>
<p>How about you, Dcho? How was your first year?</p>
<p>Decided not to take the internship with ESPN, didn't want to spend my summer in Connecticut. I'm taking 21 credits at my CC over the summer, in addition to working, now i'm planning on graduating in 3 years.</p>
<p>How is your job working out Dcho? I deactivated my facebook if your wondering.</p>
<p>man blockbuster wanted me to work until the end of september which isn't possible obviousy since school starts earlier than that. Got another job which is easier but more stressful (little kids) but pays good. </p>
<p>21 credits!? thats like 5-8 classes isnt it? man that is alot for summer. if you transfer all of that you probably will be able to graduate in 3 years.</p>
<p>Nobody ever answered nycollegebound's question on Bloomington--so I will.</p>
<p>As college towns go, Bloomington is one of the better ones. There is no real downtown area other than a small square around City Hall, which is located about six blocks west of the college. The town is quite spread out, with the south and southeast part of town inhabited by those that hardly know it's a college town and the middle, north, and eastern sections surrounding the university, which is kind of the center of attention.</p>
<p>There's an okay mall called "college mall" on the east side of the college that's easily accessible, and the five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue leading over to the main square makes up the other main college "hangout" sections. There's not a whole lot of "top-level" restaurants (I found three), but having said that, there is a large variety of decent eating places, small shops, and good places to go to have fun--and the students find these places real quick. (Hint: get one of the smaller meal plans the college offers because your student will probably do what mine does and order out quite a bit after the first semester). </p>
<p>In addition, the student union is the largest one in the country and is a real popular hangout spot for the students. It's so big that just about every student and parent has gotten lost in there at least once (yours truly included). It has a hotel, a bookshop, a starbucks, a student store, a high end dining hall, and about 15 large conference rooms--and that's just the one or two floors I got to see; I understand it's actually about 4 or 5 floors altogether.</p>
<p>As with all "good" college towns, the university is the center of attention in Bloomington. The recent building renovations they've done have been either focused on bringing in new businesses, like the new Hilton (for parents of students) or upgrading old buildings and converting them to apartments for students (apartments on upper floors with cafes or small shops on the lower floors). My son is moving into one of these new conversions once they finish it next month--and he's right on Kirkwood between the university and the central square</p>
<p>My son took summer classes at the University of Virginia earlier this month, and the one thing that really surprised him there was that the city was so far away from the University--and so small. After being in Bloomington, he expected Charlottesville to be a large city which mostly surrounded the college. It was neither large, nor conveniently located. (He liked the University of Virginia itself, though--but said the dining hall hours were ridiculous--but maybe that's a summer thing.)</p>
<p>calcruzer- what are your top-level resturant picks.</p>
<p>I have only tried the Snow Lion.</p>
<p>Well, for me the best three places in town to eat are:</p>
<p>Restaurant Tallent--absolutely the best, with fresh food chosen from the local area and they have an excellent chef who understands that food presentation is also important. This place would make a top restaurant list even if it were in San Francisco or New Orleans. It's a bit pricey, though.</p>
<p>Malibu Grille--best place right on the downtown square--and very popular with the locals as well as out-of-towners. </p>
<p>and (strangely enough):</p>
<p>The special dining hall at the Indiana University Student Union upstairs that does the Sunday brunches (I don't remember the name), but maybe someone else on here can help me out by giving the name.</p>
<p>The Snow Lion for me is kind of "hit or miss". Some dishes are good, while others are just okay. Cheeseburgers in Paradise is good for a hamburger and fries, and then there are the chains (Red Lobster, Chevy's Fresh Mex and TGIF). Also, there is a very popular hangout on Kirkwood (three blocks from the college--I won't mention the name), but to me their food is just okay, although it's a fun atmosphere.</p>
<p>Lastly, I should mention Dagwood's Deli. I haven't eaten there, but my son has ordered from there often--and says all the students do, since the sandwiches are the best.</p>
<p>I don't like Malibu Grille, it's really loud, crowded, and pricey. I'd go to the Trojan Horse, it's a nice greek place. Also if you ever want breakfast, the Village Deli is AMAZING, it's always packed though, so you're going to have to wait to get a table.</p>
<p>Yes, Malibu Grill is loud and crowded--but that should tell you that it's a popular spot. And pricey--probably a bit--but not so pricey compared to what I usually have to pay to go out in California. Maybe I like Malibu Grill because it reminds me of the type of place people go to in California.</p>
<p>If you are like A2Wolves6 and want quieter spots, try the first two other places I mentioned--or the two spots he suggested.</p>
<p>As an "old" MBA alumna, I would reccommend the Tudor Room in the Indiana Memorial Union. </p>
<p>I have to say if anyone really likes good mexican food i would recommend this place called La Casa it has very good food. It is a bit away from campus kinda just before you get the back roads by a grocery in like a shopping center. My friend and i ate there and i really liked it.</p>
<p>The Tudor Room, which icesk8mom suggests above, is the place whose name I couldn't remember. </p>
<p>It is shown in the third picture (the one on the right) on the website link, plus the pictures that are below that one.</p>
<p>Here's the link to their menus.</p>