University of New Mexico

<p>I was wondering if anyone could give me some information about his school. It's academics, social atmosphere, etc. I read the Princeton Review info, but didn't get the best idea from it. I'm an out of state student considering applying because of their generous Amigo Scholarship for out of state applicants (out of state tuition waivers).</p>

<p>What would you like to know? D1 is a senior and will graduate in May. I live in ABQ (and have for many years), did some grad work at UNM myself.</p>

<p>UNM's academic strengths? Anthropology, fine arts (their flamigo program is unique; their studio art is excellent), architecture -- all well regarded. Its physics dept deserves a better reputation--it has some world class profs in quantum computing and quantum optics and UNM shares faculty with Sandia and Los Alamos National Labs.</p>

<p>Med school and law school share the main campus. </p>

<p>Parking is awful.</p>

<p>Really good Mexican food everywhere.</p>

<p>Campus atmosphere---it's urban (and has the problems typical of an urban campus) and is smack in the middle of a student ghetto, but only about a mile or two from downtown where the decade long revitalization has really taken hold. (City runs late night buses from campus to downtown on Fri and Sat nights.) And just a couple of blocks from Nob Hill--which is a trendy place of boutiques, coffeeshops, funky stores, food co-ops, bars and lots & lots of really good restaurants. Lots of new lofts being built in Nob hill right now--for upscale older individuals. ABQ is not NewYork; never will be but it's not a place where they roll up the sidewalks at 9 pm either. </p>

<p>Students--UNM is diverse. Significant Hispanic and Native American enrollment. Also a comparatively large enrollment of non-traditional (older, returning to school) students. I've heard some people slam the school for being 'dead' on campus because of the number of commuters, but D lived in the dorms and said that that really wasn't the big of a issue. </p>

<p>Sports--Lobo football is a very big deal. Tons of tailgating before the game. Basketball is a big deal too. Steve Alford is the new BB coach. The Pit is an exciting place to see a BB game. (But the girls team are the real stars--much better record than the men!) The Pit occasionally hosts NCAA men's/women's BB regional and quarter final games. Once it even hosted the men's finals. </p>

<p>ABQ itself is pretty laidback and the weather is wonderful. (BTW, it does snow here. Desert does not mean it doesn't get cold.) Lots of outdoors stuff within a couple of hours. Ski run is just east of the city and sunny days see lots of kids head off for an afternoon on the slopes. Lots of open space, mountains and blue skies.</p>

<p>The bad--UNM's graduation rate is terrible--due in part to the large number of non-traditional students and the Lottery Success Scholarship program (free tuition for NM residents who graduate from HS with 2.5 or better). The lottery has made college a possibility for many people who normally wouldn't be able to afford it, but it has allowed a number of underqualified students to enroll. 1/3 of UNM freshman need to take a remedial math or writing class. Also UNM is struggling like many public universities to provide enough sections of some basic courses--like technical writing. I hear that Organic chem (and anatomy & physio) can be tough to schedule--plenty of lecture sections--not enough lab sections. </p>

<p>Any other questions? Just ask...</p>