UNLV vs UNR?

College Search & Selection
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<p>@DjBoom and @momofwildchild: As a NV resident (who grew up on the East, moved to NV, and then chose to go to college back East), I completely agree and understand that Nevada’s education system – to put it bluntly – sucks. </p>

<p>However, I do have to say that UNLV/UNR will be just like any school: you get what you put out of it. UNLV has a ton of amazing alumni and we are in a major city that brings people from all over the world. I know because as a student here, we do get opportunities to attend our world-famous conferences where I have met and talked to people all around the world, from executives to young entrepreneurs offering advice, and even to casino executives. </p>

<p>Now, I’m not trying to force OP to go to UNLV. But, I do want him to know that UNLV isn’t this terrible school that will get you nowhere in life. If you try to put yourself out there, if you try to make it work, it will work. And in your favor, too. </p>

<p>As a high schooler, I really thought that going to UNLV meant I won’t have any chance at a good job, so I chose an expensive OOS uni. But that’s not necessarily the case, as I can see now in my third year and transferred back where I can pay my tuition without taking out loans. </p>

<p>If you can get great financial aid OOS, I would definitely urge OP to go to whatever school he chooses! Nevada’s education is bad, but again, it’s what you make out of it.</p>

<p>Now, academically speaking, UNLV is mediocre. If you’re worried about not being challenged, our honors college is good(I guess? I’m not in it, this is through word of mouth). I have friends who were accepted to UCLA/UC Berkley who turned them down due to financial reasons (40k+ a year?! they chose UNLV lol) and attend the honor’s program here instead and say that they are academically satisfied.</p>

<p>In regards to the dorm: sorry but I know nothing about it as I commute. I’ve been in a few dorms and they seem like typical mediocre dorm rooms I’ve been in at other colleges (when touring). I do believe it might be cheaper to rent an apt near the campus… about $250-300 a month for this one that’s literally right off campus (but if you know, UNLV’s area is pretty sketchy at night which is why it is so cheap!). If you do have any specific questions, I can ask my friends who do dorm though.</p>

<p>If you do really want to get away from home, I’d probably just suggest you go to UNR. I would find it to be pointless to stay at UNLV to dorm because our campus life on weekends = dead, since we’re a commuter school. You’d be spending that extra money for nothing, really, except to get away from home lol.</p>

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<p>Actually Lullabies, that’s exactly why I’m considering the UNLV dorms. There actually not that bad compared to other Cali schools I have looked at. Cal Poly Pomona’s freshman dorms are pushing 50 years old and have community style bathrooms on each floor. Not really bueno. Dayton Hall at UNLV is a little under a decade old, has single rooms and bathrooms are only shared between two rooms. Living at UNLV is exactly what you said Lullabies: Leaving home without leaving home. The thought of having to just deal with UNLV is already bad enough but the 20-30 minute commute I’ll have to do every morning and afternoon sounds even worse. Who knows? Even if UNLV on the weekends is dead, I’ll just be a walk/bike ride away from class and I can meet some new people…</p>

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<p>You wouldn’t necessarily need to pay more for out of state if you apply to private schools that offer Civil Engineering but have lower stats than yours. Engineering is always super rigorous so you don’t have to worry about the school’s quality, as long as it’s ABET accredited.
If you really want to leave Nevada, look at schools like Rose Hulman, WPI, etc. Plus,some Southern schools may also have accessible scholarships if you can push your SAT score up a little. For example, Georgia Southern has a scholarship competition called the 1906 that requires you to have 29+ on the ACT or 1300 CR+M on the SAT, and that’s totally doable for you. Georgia Southern is a pretty bad school (decent entrance stat, very low graduation rate) but their Honors College is excellent, their Honors Dorms are awesome, and their Engineering school is very good.</p>

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<p>If you are going to pay for the dorm, you might as well get out of town. I think you are dismissing viable CSU candidates too quickly. Chico State, for example is certified and even offers an Honors in Civil Engineering option. The old dorms there are not great but are fine and the dining hall is brand new. There are other on or near campus options as well. I bet, all in, Chico State is $2k more per year (via WUE) than living on/near UNLV. The CA min wage just went up to $9/hr. How badly do you want out of Vegas?</p>

<p>I know several Sac State Engineering grads with respectable careers and productive lives. More of a commuter school than Chico but, hop on a Southwest flight and check it out before ruling it out so quickly. Talk to some students and profs… then see what you think.</p>

<p>Other WUE schools like Boise State might also be glad to have you. </p>

<p>Another thought, apply to some privates and see what kind of aid they offer. Check out Santa Clara, in particular. </p>

<p>I encourage you to open your mind and apply broadly. See where you get in, what they really cost and take it fromthere.</p>

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<p>I looked down the whole WUE list and I’m fairly picky when it comes to my colleges. I am completely aiming for city/urban campuses. My nightmare is going to college in the middle of Idaho or New Mexico in a little town with nothing to do so I steer towards cities with 1 million plus. Schools like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are an exception. Cal State Fullerton’s dorms look very impressive since they’re less than 5 years old but no WUE. UNLV provides pretty well in dorm options and comfort but the area around campus is pretty bad but that’s out of control…</p>

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<p>DjBoom: when the college is in a city, the city is in charge of entertaining the students. When the college isn’t in a big city, especially if it’s in a little town, THE COLLEGE and thus, to a large extent, the students involved in student organization make sure there is a lot to do on weekends. An alternative for you might be large schools in college towns. While not being cities, college towns are dedicated to the needs of colleges students so they provide as much entertainment opportunities as large cities, just aiming at that particular age group. I don’t think canasta and bingo would be your thing, although there’s plenty of that in some big cities in Florida :smiley:
Most important is checking out college clubs and a random month of weekend schedules. What’s offered on campus?</p>

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<p>Look at Montana State. They have some very nice new dorms, WUE, and strong engineering programs. Plenty to do on campus plus a fun college town and amazing outdoor activities year-round.</p>

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<p>I agree that Montana State would be a huge improvement over either NV school.</p>

1 Like
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<p>I’m just going to go ahead and be picky guys: I’m not moving to Montana. One of the alumni from my high school moved to Laramie, Wyoming to go to Wyotech and he blogged that he is bored to tears with the small town of non-friendly residents. A lot of WUE schools aren’t very great (which is why UNLV and UNR are in there) and good schools like ASU or U of Arizona have very limited majors available for WUE…</p>

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<p>Sounds like your mind is made up. No place affordable is good enough… so, UNLV it is.</p>

<p>Sacramento is actually a pretty happening town. There’s lots to do near campus and there’s a hip local music scene and loads of outdoor activities. The metro area has about 1M people now. It ain’t the Vegas strip but, you might be surprised.</p>

<p>Even Chico has a really energetic vibe down-town. Honestly, if you get bored at either Sac or Chico - that’s your fault. </p>

<p>I’d gently suggest you are placing too much emphasis on how posh the freshman dorms are and how hopping the nightlife is likely to be. No place is like Vegas. Open your mind a little. </p>

<p>If you were my kid, i’d ask you to apply broadly and see where you get in and what they will cost. Take it from there. Don’t rule out places you’ve never seen until after they’ve made their decision and you’ve seen what they are like.</p>

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<p>I get my inclination for urban cities from my mom. I didn’t say Sacramento and Chico are bad, Sacramento actually matches Vegas in size and sounds like a fine city with alot to do. I’m avoiding small towns with less than 50,000 residents where there isn’t much diversity. I’m also not focusing on dorms so much, I’m just looking at facilities as a whole, why would I pay $40,000 to take classes in a 70 year old classroom that’s falling apart. I should be able to have an opinion to that as I do my college search. Finally, I am NOT staying in Las Vegas just because the strip is blocks away from UNLV. Except for frequent gamblers and true partiers, regular Las Vegas Locals avoid the strip like a plague unless they work in the casinos.</p>

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<p>If you’re open to cities 50,000+ as long as they’re energetic/vibrant, there are lots of possibilities.
I understand why you would want decent dorms, actually - you’re going to live there for 4 years. Not necessarily luxury level but well-maintained and with some comfort, is that what you mean?
I reiterate: look into college towns. They may not have too many people (although 50,000+ is likely) but they’re very energetic places. Getting bored there… is about the student. :slight_smile: In some areas of the country, in fact, college towns may be a hundred times better than “regular” towns/cities for what you want.</p>

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<p>I’m a big-city girl, but I have to tell you, I found both Missoula and Bozeman a lot more happening than Vegas. That said, of course, it’s your life, and you are the one who has to live with the decisions.</p>

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<p>Well, I went to the UNLV Rebel Preview yesterday and I gotta say, even though it was empty on a Saturday, I got a pretty good vibe from the UNLV campus. Dayton Hall was really nice and I’m officially considering living on campus. Engineering school seems very respectable and got some really helpful advice from some current students. Going to be going on the UNR Nevada Bound trip in November to check out if UNR can better UNLV. For the topic of small towns, I think going to UNLV or UNR, which are bad but survivable cities, for a low in state cost is more reasonable than going to a small town which may be good but costs the out of state price.</p>

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<p>^ I think you’ll end up at UNR! Their campus life is way better. UNLV is a commuter school. If you’re dead set on dorming, IMHO you’re better off at UNR for campus life/activities. It’s a smaller town, but things balance out with the active campus life.</p>

<p>Have fun on the Reno trip! It’s fun.</p>

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<p>Thanks Lullabies! If I do end up going on the Nevada Bound trip next month, I hope UNR will better UNLV but both seem to be decent. UNLV did seem pretty dead on a Saturday though and the parking is horrendous.</p>

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<p>Anymore feedback anyone?</p>

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<p>Bump!!!</p>

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<p>I don’t think you mentioned your scores, but this might be another possibility.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1566116-new-scholarship-info-university-utah.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1566116-new-scholarship-info-university-utah.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Instate tuition after one year is not a bad deal.</p>

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<p>AlbionGirl, I got an 1180 (CR+M) on my SATs. I’ve seen a bit of info about U of Utah and I think rather stay in Nevada even if the only choices are UNR and UNLV. Thanks though! Anyone have any comparisons between UNLV and UNR? I’m still almost 50/50.</p>