<p>UNH is my D's first choice, wanting to major in Earth Sciences. Coming from southern California, with no family east except a sister at Tufts University. Visited UNH once- she loved it-campus and location perfect. Researched the Earth Science program and met with a professor- sounds great. She found they have a theme dorm for non-partiers called "Chem-Free" dorm- Englehardt-perfect. Smart girl, hard worker. Now looking for general opinions about the school from people in the area or whose kids have gone there. Hard to get a feel from so far away! Any information will help- good/bad experiences etc. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Hi Tolstoy,</p>
<p>My son is a junior at UNH this year. He loves Englehardt and has been there all three years (I think it is why he ended up at UNH). It seems to be a community of its own, and there are always people hanging out in the common area, playing games, etc. and the head of the dorm plans a fair amount of activities for all the kids there not interested in partying. He has made some very good friends </p>
<p>I have two other kids, also juniors this year, at completely different types of schools, so I have some interesting opinions. He is the only one in a state school. It is very different from a private (my other two are in private, one in a very large, one in a very small). It’s a little more institutional and generic in approach, for instance, the first two years are pretty standardized classes - not the experience of my other two - he is saying that this year he is really enjoying his classes and feels they are delving in. The town is small, and pretty college centered. There are buses that my son uses to go to a big mall (with movie theatre) with his friends - I believe you can also go to Boston on a train. </p>
<p>When we were looking at schools UNH got bad reviews for the weather, for New Englanders it won’t matter at all, we are used to it! but it might be a bit hard on your dd. The campus is big, there will always be walking involved. </p>
<p>Please feel free to pm me with any particular questions - I can always get answers from my son.</p>
<p>I’m from NH, so lots of students from my high school go to UNH. I’m a senior in high school, and although UNH is a safety, it is a school that I would be 100% happy to go to (and it is very likely that I will attend next year due to financial reasons). Almost everyone I’ve met that attends/attended UNH loves it. I don’t know much about the Earth Science program, but a friend of mine is a science major and lives in Englehardt and he could not be happier. From what he told me, research is very big at UNH and the professors in the science department are very good.
Although Durham isn’t very big, it’s a great area and it’s very close to Portsmouth and just a bus ride from Portland and Boston. It will definitely be a big change from Cali, but NH and New England are amazing! Also, a huge plus is that campus food is AMAZING 
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!</p>
<p>Thank you @NicaBenji, you just confirmed that New Hampshire people are the nicest people! That was very helpful! </p>
<p>We youtubed UNH and were impressed. Dining halls are great and students were also polite and seems very happy. We did not visit Durham yet, but thinking to do that. </p>