<p>I was wondering what it's like here: socially and academically. What are their pros and cons? </p>
<p>I'm aware it'll be cold, but that's okay for me. I love the cold weather. (:</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I’m a UAF student and I love it here in Fairbanks : ) It’s a pretty interesting community because Alaska is such a destination. You have students at UAF who just want to climb mountains every weekend, lots of independent minded people who want to be outside and make their own rules, students who are affiliated with the military in some way, and many amazingly smart graduate students, especially in the sciences (wildlife biology and engineering are huge at UAF). I have lived all over the US and this is one of the most welcoming communities I have ever been a part of. Since many people who live here are not from Fairbanks, everyone understands what a shock it can be coming here. Many people are far from their families and not yet used to the cold, so everyone is willing to lend a hand. You hear people rave about the summers a lot (and summers are amazing) but I’m a big fan of the winters too - there is so much to do inside and out, and the cold really brings people together. If you like the cold, you like being part of a community, and you are ready for an adventure, UAF might be a good fit!</p>
<p>I attended UAF for a year, and… yeah, libbs157 pretty much hit on the points.</p>
<p>The small size gives it a wonderful personal feel - seriously, I had senior-level courses in journalism, geography and history with five students. You will know all of your professors by name and then some. I never had a “bad” class there, and I had quite a few that were simply excellent.</p>
<p>However… you do have to be prepared for the lack of “college life.” Ultimately, why I left was that the city of Fairbanks is pretty much a pit, and with the university being way the hell out of town up on a hill, there’s not a whole lot around even then. There’s only a few businesses within walking distance and the nearest grocery store is miles away. The normal “college town” atmosphere is nonexistent and if you don’t bring your car up there, it’s pretty hard to do anything.</p>
<p>That said, I certainly don’t regret spending my junior year there (I call it my “study abroad experience” :D) and it helped me get an internship and then a job in Alaska after I graduated… so, if you’re willing to experiment and you’re interested in life in Alaska, I wouldn’t tell you not to try it. You can always transfer out if you find that it’s not for you.</p>