University of Vermont Top Questions

The academics at UVM are great! The UVM medical program is where it's at though. The pre-med students are some of the smartest and driven people at this University, and why not? With such a prestigious medical center as Fletcher Allen, they should be. I am not a medical student, however UVM has offered me some of the best Plant and Soil Science academics on the east coast aside from Cornell. I have recently picked up an undergraduate research project at the UVM Horticulture Research Farm, or Hort Farm as it is more commonly known. UVM has pushed me academically and has given me the confidence to reach for more and encouraged me to look for a graduate program.

My major is Athletic Training, which is in the College of Nursing and Health sciences. Because this major only has room for 18 students each class and the standards to remain in our college and major are high (but not unattainable), it is extremely competitive. I've found that in these classes students participate more than in some of my general education classes because they are so involved in the human body and movement etc. However, this can differ from teacher to teacher. In smaller classes participation counts as part of your grade so the teacher constantly prompts the class to participate, whereas in bigger lecture classes the student participation mainly comes in the form of a misunderstanding/question or afterclass visits with the teacher. I, myself, have attended many office hours with my teachers to re-take tests or get extra help - every teacher offers out of class time where they offer extra help to their students, something I think is extremely important. As many of my classes were smaller in student count almost all of my teachers knew me by name by mid-semester. I love my athletic training classes, my favorite being the labs, and their teachers as well my advisor and although I don't spend a ton of time with them outside of class, when we happen to run into each other it is always with a warm and sincere greeting. I often spend time outside of class with other students in my college so our conversation frequently encompasses material we've learned or are learning or about our fields of study. My least favorite class was one which was required. I feel like it covered so much material that we didn't really focus on learning it to remember it but rather learning it for our quizzes and tests (which were online so they were easy to cheat and work with multiple students on) and the teacher seemed extremely unpassionate about the subjects which resulted in her seeming to not care about involving herself with and helping her students understand the subjects. Aside from that one class, I try really hard to do well in the classes for my major because I know that they are geared towards getting me my dream job.

It all depends on what classes you take and what professors you have. If you are admitted to UVM and think the academics will be overwhelming, look up your professors on ratemyprofessors.com and, if you see that you're able to take the same class with an easier professor, you can switch your classes around so that you have your ideal schedule. Something that is good to do at any school is to make sure the professor knows who you are. Whether you speak up a lot in class, go to office hours, or just go up to your professor at the end of one of the first classes and introduce yourself, it will be to your benefit. Think of it this way - it's harder for a teacher to give a bad grade to a student they are familiar with than one who they've never even spoken to at all throughout the term. Although I knew I would be a business major since high school, I have no problem with the general education requirements at UVM. They're not too harsh, and give you a good background that employers like to see when you apply for jobs. It's also very useful when considering minors.

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I started off in Arts and Sciences my first year and then transferred to Business Administration, and I found that the Business school is definitely a much better academic environment. The school has it's own Student Services office with advisors there at all times to accept walk-ins, and you also have your own concentration-specific advisor, as well as a special Business school study abroad and career services advisor. They're really helpful. I also found that the Business school classes were a much better learning environment, with classes of only around 20-40 students. Some of the classes are better than others, but I've had some really fun and interactive classes. My classes outside of the Business school were generally large lectures where no one really paid attention or participated. Teachers often encourage students to go to guest speakers and events held by the University with extra credit incentives, and I've wound up going to some really cool events because of it, and gotten to spend time talking to the Dean and other important people at our school. You definitely have to put more time and effort into your schoolwork, but it's much more applicable to real life. The business students are particularly motivated and career-driven from the beginning. I had friends who started an Entrepreneurship Club, and other friends who used the knowledge from their finance classes to make a lot of money from investing in stocks, and everyone is really motivated to find internships and jobs after college.

I cannot speak for the whole school, but I can speak for the departments that I am majoring in. As I mentioned earlier, UVM is what you want it to be. If you are a competitive student there are LOTS of opportunities for you at UVM and it will not go unnoticed by the faculty, which is definitely a plus. But it is also not super competitive like other universities or the ivy leagues, which is nice because you can gage how academic you want to be. That being said, you cannot "slack off" at UVM and expect to pass. While UVM is definitely fun, that environment can suck you in and make school seem less important. No one will teach this lesson for you, and no one will help you fix it, so academic success is largely up to you. Students definitely participate a lot in my classes, and professors are always available outside of class during their office hours or if you make an appointment with them. All the professors and programs here consider what lies beyond college and always help you to fix your academic studies to fit your future plans. Because everyone majors in something that they are interested in, and UVM is a very politically aware campus, students have intellectual conversations outside of class even if it does not have to do with what they are majoring in. At UVM, I also found that people really tend to pick out professors to "rave" about outside of class, so that is definitely cool.

I cannot speak for the whole school, but I can speak for the departments that I am majoring in. As I mentioned earlier, UVM is what you want it to be. If you are a competitive student there are LOTS of opportunities for you at UVM and it will not go unnoticed by the faculty, which is definitely a plus. But it is also not super competitive like other universities or the ivy leagues, which is nice because you can gage how academic you want to be. That being said, you cannot "slack off" at UVM and expect to pass. While UVM is definitely fun, that environment can suck you in and make school seem less important. No one will teach this lesson for you, and no one will help you fix it, so academic success is largely up to you. Students definitely participate a lot in my classes, and professors are always availably outside of class during their office hours or if you make an appointment with them. All the professors and programs here consider what lies beyond college and always help you to fix your academic studies to fit your future plans. Because everyone majors in something that they are interested in, and UVM is a very politically aware campus, students have intellectual conversations outside of class even if it does not have to do with what they are majoring in. At UVM, I also found that people really tend to pick out professors to "rave" about outside of class, so that is definitely cool.

The University of Vermont provides an incredible number of academic opportunities. In cooperation with the neighboring Fletcher Allen hospital, UVM offers a top-notch medical science program. Engineering, art history, foreign languages, and agricultural science are just a few of the many programs offered by the school. As for me, I am a double-major in natural resources and fisheries within the unique Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. I cannot speak for all departments at UVM, but my experience at UVM with a variety of courses has been amazing. Outside of a few introductory courses, the student to professor ratio is at an optimal size that allows students to establish connections with their instructors and not feel lost in the crowd. Personally, I have established close relationships with many professors within the Rubenstein School that I feel have helped me to achieve my greatest academic potential. To this point, I have yet to take a class at UVM that I did not at least mildly enjoy; my courses have been intellectually stimulating and kept me engaged. As with any university, there are basic requirements in language, social science, art, and physical science. However, once completed, students have the academic freedom of choosing the most interesting electives in addition to the core requirements of his/her major. Speaking from the standpoint of the Rubenstein School, I have been fortunate to take some amazing classes in ecology, wildlife biology, and resource management. UVM also provides an excellent environment for pursuing studies, with multiple libraries and a spacious student center available for finding that perfect setting for hitting the books. The school is not without social events, but from a purely academic perspective, UVM is an excellent setting for pursuing higher learning and taking the next step, no matter what interests you wish to follow.

The University of Vermont provides an incredible number of academic opportunities. In cooperation with the neighboring Fletcher Allen hospital, UVM offers a top-notch medical science program. Engineering, art history, foreign languages, and agricultural science are just a few of the many programs offered by the school. As for me, I am a double-major in natural resources and fisheries within the unique Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. I cannot speak for all departments at UVM, but my experience at UVM with a variety of courses has been amazing. Outside of a few introductory courses, the student to professor ratio is at an optimal size that allows students to establish connections with their instructors and not feel lost in the crowd. Personally, I have established close relationships with many professors within the Rubenstein School that I feel have helped me to achieve my greatest academic potential. To this point, I have yet to take a class at UVM that I did not at least mildly enjoy; my courses have been intellectually stimulating and kept me engaged. As with any university, there are basic requirements in language, social science, art, and physical science. However, once completed, students have the academic freedom of choosing the most interesting electives in addition to the core requirements of his/her major. Speaking from the standpoint of the Rubenstein School, I have been fortunate to take some amazing classes in ecology, wildlife biology, and resource management. UVM also provides an excellent environment for pursuing studies, with multiple libraries and a spacious student center available for finding that perfect setting for hitting the books. The school is not without social events, but from a purely academic perspective, UVM is an excellent setting for pursuing higher learning and taking the next step, no matter what interests you wish to follow.

The academics really just depend on what you major in. For instance, I'm elementary education so my academics are all based on my professors observing me teaching and then writing reflections through that experience. Compare that to my roommate who is a civil engineering major who has spent upwards of 3 hours on one problem. It's not that one is easier than the other, they are just difficult in their own respects.