<p>@Mondadunn
I am a current junior at DU. Just for some background info, I’m a major in Art History and have 4 minors: chemistry, international studies, German and music. I am a senior officer in two clubs and have lived in 3 of the 4 dorms on campus. I guess I’ll start with your observation of the Clarion. The Clarion is a terrible representation of the university. It is completely voluntary, underfunded and apathetic, not to mention I find at least one typo in the paper each time I bother to pick it up. As for the ‘minds of the students’, a lot of students really could care less what goes on at the university. But for most students, (at least in the liberal arts or anything non-business) we are frustrated with our lack of a library for the past 6 months continuing into the next year or so. DU is currently remodeling Penrose library, and for now that means there is limited study space for students and no stacks on campus. The project should be completed by spring of 2013, but I’m skeptical of that. If you want more information, I can send another post.</p>
<p>As for ski weekends, yes it does happen. Most DU students, those who are not in the business, hard sciences or music departments, usually do not have classes on Friday. Thus the weekend starts on Thursday night and people will drive up to ski on Friday, because there are fewer crowds and better traffic. Some students may stay up all weekend; personally I’ve never done that. Students who want to do well academically or don’t have the means to ski usually don’t leave campus. Plus there are plenty of things to do in Denver on the weekend.</p>
<p>Academic resources are good for kids in the LEP program. They have access to personal counselors and tutors, and can get more time allotted for tests and other assignments. Students who do not qualify for the LEP program can seek assistance in writing from the writing center. My roommate works there; his major complaint of the program is that students come to the center wanting him to edit their papers for them, but the point of writing consultations is for students to edit, revise and improve their writing themselves. Similarity there is a math program, that works like the writing program. Also, there is a research center, which is particularly helpful now, since all research materials are off-site. It is run by research librarians, who can help with finding materials on obscure subjects, broadening or focusing search terms, and they have access to the university archives and special collections.</p>
<p>Students can make study groups, but it really depends on the class (i.e. types of assignments). I’m in the art/art history school, so we tend to work individually, but business and science students tend to form study groups more often. As for professors, all the professors I have had are great. They beg for people to come to office hours—since most students don’t. I would suggest that the best way to get to know professors and get some really good academic, professional and personal advice would be to go to office hours (that’s just me though). As for competitiveness, I would say it’s pretty tame. I am disappointed by the lack of academic rigor at the university. There some institutional problems, like a lack of philosophical education and bias scheduling/lack of cross-listing classes (like there are international studies students who haven’t read Hobbs or the fact that there are at least 4 different intro economics classes for different disciplines (economics, international studies, business and political science), which tends to bred a biased perspective). But at the same time there are classes that are very engaging and challenging, such as most seminar (3000 level) classes, and classes taught by distinguished faculty and outside community members (Christopher Hill, Dean of the Korbel School for International Studies or in my case Dean Sobel, Director of the Clyfford Still Museum) are better than lectures or intro level (1000).</p>
<p>Competitiveness or rigor is also determined by department. I mean, while the business school does have a good reputation and some students work hard, but it is a haven for rich, lazy, dumb white kids. Other departments are really challenging and engaging like the music school and international studies school. The science, computer science, math and engineering departments are under funded, which is frustrating (we need more glassware). The Art and Art History School has some issues with a small staff, but overall it is a good department. Does your daughter know what she wants to study at the university? </p>
<p>I noticed that you haven’t acknowledged one of the greatest assets of the university, the study aboard program. Around 75% of DU students study aboard, usually in the fall of their junior year. The university is also very generous with finical aid for study aboard. Through the Cherrington Scholars program, students pay their normal DU tuition (with scholarships) and if a foreign university or study aboard program costs more, DU pays the difference. DU also pays for airfare, and possibly room and board under this program (room and board is dependent on location/program). Programs can be hard like direct enrollment into a foreign university, which I’m doing in Germany, or challenging as in studying the effects of reconstruction and genocide, as is the case with the Rwanda program (my friend did this; it is not for the weak of heart or mind). Or there are easier programs where American and other non-nationals are guided in cultural study/language acquisition by a study aboard company, like ISA or IES. Students find studying aboard enhances their personal and academic growth. It’s hard to find another university that has such a high rate of aboard study by students in their undergraduate program.</p>
<p>I sort of know how you feel. My parents are paying for DU/my undergraduate study (graduate school is on my own 
), and they had me formally present my arguments for each school I was accepted to and why they should pay for DU or less expensive options. It really depends on what your daughter wants and is comfortable with, as in, is she okay to go against the flow sometimes? The stereotype at DU definitely exists, but there is also smaller social groups of people who are not rich, not white and don’t really care for the party school/ski bum attitude and lifestyle</p>
<p>Feel free to ask more questions. I’ll gladly answer them.</p>