University of Hawaii at Manoa Top Questions

The students at UH are very diverse. All sorts of groups are represented at the university. Hawaii's weather usually sticks around a very comfortable 78 degrees with the sun shining. So students usually wear shorts and other summer wear. However, it is advisable to carry around an umbrella at all times.

Our campus is very mixed. There's so many different religious, racial backgrounds on campus. We have LGBT program. We have Caucasians, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Korean, Samoan, all different nationalities. Students dress very casually. T-shirts and shorts with slippers/flip flops are very common due to the weather here. Some students are from Hawaii, some are from the mainland, and we have quite a bit of international students as well.

I'll admit, I'm the type of person who likes to take easier classes when it's not required, but at the same time, if the class isn't very difficult and is taught by a teacher with a teaching style I like, I would choose them. There are many students like that as well. There are also students who take school very seriously, but there are also students who only wants to pass their class. We also have students who distinguish themselves apart from the other students, and we have those who may cause a bit of trouble. Of course, there is much more to a student than that. UH Manoa has a lot of international students who may end up in one of your classes eventually. Overall, I believe that no matter what college you go to, you will find a bunch of these personalities around, maybe not in the exact forms, but I'm pretty sure they will be close :P

The students on campus are generally accepting. I think there is a very large range of people on campus since UH is known for having international students. I often see many different types of students interacting, although there can be groupings which is based on majors or clubs. There is a lot of different types of clubs for people to join, which allows for a variety of options to students. There are many students who have grown up here, while also having a good variety from all over the world.

Overall, academics at UH Manoa are above average but not excellent. However, this also depends on the departments and programs we look at. Some departments are very good, while others aren't. Most lower-level students have a hard time getting the courses they need because the registration system is poorly thought-out and working against their needs. Introductory courses are usually frustratingly basic and slow, and they're mostly offered at the same times in the day, making it hard to complete GenEd requirements and prerequisites quickly (within the first year and a half). The admissions office doesn't leave students much time to rearrange their schedules once the semester has started, so it's important to have your classes set within two weeks of the start of the semester. You can drop courses without any penalty through the first few weeks, but after that, you will have a W (withdrawal) on your transcript for any class dropped after the two-week margin. You can withdraw from classes up through midterms. Summer school is really useful! Classes are done in 8 weeks and you can take up to 6 classes each summer. Worth every penny if you find the classes you need are offered. There are lots of really interesting courses, especially as you enter the upper division. There are also lots of really good professors - definitely some bad ones (and when they're bad, they're REALLY bad), but for the most part they're all capable. I have not yet met a professor who does not want their students to come to their office. Class sizes range from over 100 (usually less than 150) for the introductory lectures, to 10 or 12 in the upper level topics courses. In either case, professors tend to make an effort to know your name and have students interact in classes. Class participation has been required for every 200+ level course I have taken, but sometimes the discussion is dominated by a few voices, if not only the teacher. Once you declare your major and make friends with students within your own major, you will find that participation isn't so much a requirement as it is a useful and enjoyable aspect of learning. I have two majors: History (world-comparative) and International Relations (self-made major). I cannot speak highly enough of the History Department. Two of my favorite teachers of all time are in the History Department, and all faculty there are well-suited to be teachers - not just professors, but people who actually teach. The major requirements are well thought-out and will provide you with a capable knowledge of history. In high school, I was not at all interested in history, but after having taken a few classes (with great professors), I have come to appreciate history as a vital tool. My second major - International Relations - was developed on my own initiative within the Interdisciplinary Studies program. I do not regret the decision to make the program, as the classes I have taken are all very rewarding, but I do regret that I have to work with the people at the IS office - they are truly horrible. I would strongly advise anyone considering an IS degree against it. One aspect about that I love about some of the programs at UH is that they either offer or require their students to complete some sort of senior project or internship. If done well, written theses can be published, and internship supervisors can provide useful letters of recommendation.

Every type of ethnicity, obviously tons of Asians, lots of mixed-race locals (don't call locals Hawaiians unless they are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} ethnic Hawaiian!), and quite a few LGBT people as well. There are also a ton of kids from Colorado and California because of a BS in-state tuition discount UH gives to Western schools. Everyone on my floor who isn't local is from LA basically. There is some racism (google 'Haole') but it's really not that bad if you are respectful. Claims of a racist local population by haoles are exaggerated. Dress is super casual and sometimes (awesomely) inappropriate. People wear slippers (sandals) everywhere and sometimes go barefoot. Half the kids skate/longboard around campus. Lots of kids surf obviously. I have no idea about the political views of most kids, basically because there is a general consensus that Hawaii is not part of America (at least culturally). Religiously...there's everything, but surprisingly there's a lot of fanatical Christians on Oahu. Not to mention Mormons. But not overwhelming by any means.

Every type of ethnicity, obviously tons of Asians, lots of mixed-race locals (don't call locals Hawaiians unless they are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} ethnic Hawaiian!), and quite a few LGBT people as well. There are also a ton of kids from Colorado and California because of a BS discount UH gives to Western schools. Everyone on my floor who isn't local is from LA basically. There is some racism (google 'Haole') but it's really not that bad and usually only happens to assholes. Dress is super casual and sometimes (awesomely) inappropriate. People wear slippers (sandals) everywhere and sometimes go barefoot. Half the kids skate/longboard around campus. Lots of kids surf obviously. I have no idea about the political views of most kids, basically because Hawaii is hardly a part of America. Religiously...there's everything, but surprisingly there's a lot of fanatical Christians on Oahu. Not to mention Mormons. But no biggie...

The student body at Manoa is mostly Asian and Pacific Islanders, but largely diverse in style, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation.

My classmates always valued education as a means to prepare themselves for a future career in their field.

My classmates are a mixture of a variety of ethnic groups; ranging from Hawaiian to Japanese.