University of Vermont Top Questions

I'm in the school of agriculture, and my department is really into serving the community outside of the classroom. My classes had me working with a local non-profit for over a year, and now I'm going to working there as an employee. This service-learning aspect of UVM's curriculum changed everything for me; now I know what I want to accomplish and what will be fulfilling when I enter the workplace after graduation.

The professors are amazing at UVM. If you aren't in a huge lecture class, they will get to know your name, but sometimes they do anyways. They are really approachable and I personally love to go to their office hours because then you can really get to know them as a person. Students are not competitive here, so you won't have anyone reading over your shoulder to see what grades you get, but it can sometimes be annoying because there are a few people who get mad about others scoring well and "ruining the curve for the rest of [them]." There are classes focused on learning for its own sake, but also there are programs like the business school which are excellent at preparing students for jobs. Professors and advisers will do everything they can to help which is great.

I love my classes here. Most favorite has been my polisci class where my professor rants freely about current issues with our government and the lazy kids in his intro class that don't do work. Least favorite class is my race and ethnicity class. UVM has this ridiculous race and ethnicity requirement that everyone must fulfill. Basically, our school is almost completely white, yet we carry on with this attitude of 'we are so diverse it is great!' To make us feel even better about ourselves, we all take a class on racism. Basically, it is 150 white students, 2 minority students, and a white professor from rural Vermont that discuss white privilege and racism and so on....just to make us feel like we are diverse.

The professors are very friendly and personable. They take their jobs seriously and go out of their way to help students.

If you have to take organic Chemistry take it with Sandy!! Generally the teachers are great and even in big lectures you have the opportunity to become close with your professors.

Academically UVM is a great learning experience. At UVM professors, believe it or not, are actually here to help you succeed. Professors do their very best to remember all the names of their students, whether it is a lecture hall or a small classroom, just to ensure a more personal setting for their students. They give office hours is questions arise, SI sessions which is an extra study group, as well as the opportunity to have a separate private meeting if need be. The idea is to ensure as much academic support so that each and every student has the ability to progress, learn and eventually succeed.

Our teachers are great, depending on who you get. Students are encouraged to participate in class and form relationships with teachers. Its gotten fairly difficult to get into UVM, which only means the degree means more.

Most classes here are pretty intimate. However there are some pretty large lectures. I go from sitting in a 20 person class to a 200 person lecture each day. But in most cases you will only have one large lecture if any. Except for the large lectures all of my teacher know my name. Class participation is very common. In my spanish class I spoke alot more then my professor did. Students are not competative with eachother at all. It is very common to stumble across study group and debates. As an engineer i have a very rigerous schedule but I think it's definatley do-able. The requirements are pretty set in stone so you can't get around required course you don't want to take. But it's almost too easy to get any kind of help you need from teachers , assistants or other students.

Academics are good if you are in the right department. Business, Med-School, Environmental are all very very good. The other departments it just seems the school doesn't care about. little funding, inadequate staff and shitty courses, unless your in one of their "main" majors. As for coming undecided there is little choice of good majors and transferring between college is a drag and you lose a lot of requirements and often a lot of time.

The professors are the best part of UVM. For the most part they are extremely helpful and dedicated individuals. They will do their best to make sure you succeed. I had a class lwith over 150 students in it last semester, and the professor says "hello" to me when I pass her on the street.