<p>Hey everybody I am a female from New York, a junior, and I am interested. I am interested in joining the razorback nation, but want to know more about the school. I want to know if it is worth the visit. I know this doesn’t mean anything but online in pictures and in videos it looks absolutely stunning. Pros/cons, dorms, food, social scene. Anything you have to offer from location. Some might say, why would a girl from New York want to go here… well I am interested to get away from New York and have a different lifestyle. I would love to go to a SEC school and think this one would be perfect. Thanks, Jamoboo</p>
<p>My parents said there is nothing there is that true?</p>
<p>The area is absolutely stunning. It was by far the most beautiful campus/overall surroundings of the 6-7 campuses I have personally been on. I came from an area that lacked hills for the most part so that and the opportunity for a real fall season made for a stunning picture. On the other hand, being unused to the hills and getting sick at the UofA at one point made me regret the hills. ^^; </p>
<p>I’m from a Texas metroplex area so I was used to being in a suburb where I could hit any number of mini-cities or a metropolitan city within 40 minutes, and being up at Arkansas without a car or friend with a car was a culture shock of sorts. There is a bus system that runs around the campus and throughout part of the city, if you’re used to something like that, but it doesn’t run 24/7.</p>
<p>Location: I’d say it really depends on where you are coming from whether you think there is anything here or not. I didn’t feel like I was stuck in the country side; there is a nearby mall that you can take the bus too, a Target, Bed Bath and Beyond (bus will get you near this and the off-campus Walmart), Chili’s and other food eateries (which you may need a car to take you to). I think there was an Ulta around there somewhere too. (A friend with a car may be your best friend some days here.)</p>
<p>Fayetteville is a college-town/city, so it’s not a huge city with tons of variations in stores, but it’s charming and you still have conveniences around. I could never have put myself out in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>People: There was a stronger southern accent than I expected from the general population, but it’s not predominant, just a bit of a surprise with the school not being in the deep south.
It’s pretty casual, you don’t see the girls feeling like the need to be dressed up to the nines every single day for classes like I’ve heard stories from some other schools.
People from the area are SO friendly, regardless of whether it was stopping for food, or talking to tour guides, or the academic adviser when I signed up for classes. I didn’t expect anyone to be rude, but the kindness just seemed so prevalent that it was a pleasant shock from the area. </p>
<p>Dorms:
All of the dorms now have air-conditioning. =)
There are different kinds of dorms, so thoughts on them vary by what you are looking for, and their differing locations are nice depending on what you want to be close to.</p>
<p>-I’m not sure if the newer dorms are any different than Humphreys, but in Hump you can hear people in the hallways pretty easily. </p>
<p>-Dorms essentially in the middle of the campus: Humphreys, Yocum, Gregson, Gibson, Buchanen-Droke, and Gladson-Ripley are just further than those four.</p>
<p>-The Maples, Futrall, Holcombe, and NW Quads are all in the same relative area near the medical center, the bookstore, the subway, small shopping store or two, and the Walmart on campus.</p>
<p>-Reid is further out than those previous dorms but seems to be well liked, and is just a few minutes walk further from the Walmart and other locations near the Maples.</p>
<p>The main “honors” (Pomfret) dorm is at the bottom of a large hill. </p>
<p>-Suite style dorms are in the Maples and the NW Quad.</p>
<p>Food:
I think the food is pretty good. I’m a picky eater and was still able to find things to eat. It also seemed pretty easy for vegetarians to find things etc. </p>
<ol>
<li>There is a Quiznos, and I think it was a Pizza hut near the center of campus, and a Subway, near the edge of the campus. </li>
<li>Sonic is at the bottom of a hill, just off campus near some of the athletic fields. </li>
<li>Cafeterias are scattered around campus; one is near Humphreys, Yocum, Gregson, Gladson-Ripley, and Gibson, one is inside the Maple/Northwest Quad area, one is Pomfret, and another is supposed to be opening in one of the new dorms being built. The menu rotates, while some things stay constant in the cafs, and the food stays nice and warm. </li>
<li>A Domino’s pizza place isn’t far from campus and will deliver to the dorms.</li>
<li>There is a nice yogurt place near the Subway/Maple Hill dorm area. </li>
</ol>
<p>Miscellaneous:
- It’s pretty well known to anyone who goes to UofA that the math department is lacking.
- Football is HUGE here… but I’m going to guess you already have heard about that.
- Christianity is by far the dominant religion within the campus body… or at least the most visible, but it’s not the only one around. (And the school doesn’t enforce religious activities or anything.)
- The campus is smoke-free.
- There are these little convenience-like stores on campus which are great for grabbing drinks, snacks, breakfast, and other little things like that.
- There is a mini Walmart on campus that is great for getting food to keep in the dorms, class supplies, medicines, and other little things. </p>
<p>I thought the party scene was pretty prevalent (UofA ranked within the top ten party school the last time I saw the list), but it didn’t help that my freshman roommate was a party-drunk queen. As for the social scene, sororities are <em>very</em> popular with incoming freshman but I can’t vouch for exactly how significant they are outside of freshman year. (I’d guess 1/3 to 1/2 of the girls seem to be in a Sorority.)</p>
<p>Pros: Scenery of the campus.
2. General friendliness of the area and locals.
3. I’m going to say relatively mild weather (you shouldn’t roast in the hundreds or extremely freeze although it can get pretty cool).
4. Not too hard to orient yourself to where things are after being there for a few days.</p>
<p>Cons: Lots of hills, not always fun to walk. (If you visit, get on the street with the HPER building and walk on that street towards the Union then look up.)
2. Not a lot of parking/difficult to have a car somewhat, but also hard to go without a car if you are used to transporting yourself.</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of at the moment, but I’ll try and check back in case you have any more questions.</p>
<p>We visited last week. What I would add is that the appearance of the students was “non-descript” and I mean that in the best possible way…not preppy, not emo (or goth or whatever), not hippy, not dressed up, not really any one identifiable look. Again, I see that as a plus.</p>
<p>Will also add that I was pleased to find an entire gluten free station at the Pomfret dining hall.</p>
<p>There are plenty of things to do. Between all the cities strung together (Bella Vista, Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Fayetteville, etc.), it is actually a highly populated area. </p>
<ol>
<li>Fayetteville has a great food/bar scene on Dickson Street.</li>
<li>The university has a lot of nice facilities. For me the HPER student gym and intramural sports were important.</li>
<li>The campus is constantly expanding and they have new buildings every year.</li>
<li>The suite dorms are nicer, but you get a better experience meeting people in Pomfret, Yocum, Futrall, Humphreys, etc.</li>
<li>There are many things to do outdoors including parks, trails, rivers, and more.</li>
</ol>
<p>I was an out of state student a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Just about anyone can fit in. It’s a growing university with a growing reputation.</p>
<p>Take a visit!</p>