Reviews

Graceland University is the only school of it's kind. The housing system makes it impossible to be friendless, the teachers make all of your answers feel heard, and the memories gained from campus activities will be with you a lifetime.

This is a difficult school to transfer in and out of. All of their classes are unique to their MAJOR programs. So not all your classes will transfer easily. It's really difficult to live off campus, I personally don't know why you would want to considering the amazing system it is, but consider this in advance. If you want to live off campus you need to get approval before you arrive on campus in the fall.

Organic Chemistry and Microbiology are the hardest classes in the world. But the teachers are wonderful and truly want you to learn and retain information. This is what makes them so difficult. Don't go into college thinking you won't need to study.
Because the campus is to socially unique you must be fully responsible for your own academic success. Don't go to a late night event if you have a paper due the next day that you don't feel fully confident on.

There is truly nothing else like it. Residence Life sets up all of the dorms to what hall your on. Even if you live off campus or in the apartments you're still part of the hall. There are 9 female halls and 8 mens halls. Every semester and female and male hall are teamed up together and partake in different activities. Each Tuesday all of the halls have a weekly meeting where we take place in our individual hall's traditions and go over what's going on around campus. Each hall has their own traditions and functions and you become enveloped in the family pretty quickly if you let yourself.

It's all good there just isn't a lot of variety. You can expect similar if not the same meals week to week.

Look at what I said in Dorm Life. There is, literally, always something to do. There are five different groups on campus represented in the student government. COSA (student activities), IMs (Intramural Sports- halls play vs other halls), ASC (Academic Student Council), Campus Ministries, Senate, and Residence Life which makes up the HOCO (house council) and House President for each of the halls on campus. (Khiyah, Powell, Aponivi, Agape, Tiona, etc. etc.)

The Bell. Lamoni is a small town so throughout the last few hundred years the students have come up with lots of traditions and activities that you will soon be introduced to once on campus.

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. Because the school is structured around the Student Government (COSA, ASC, IMs, and Senate) there are several clubs and groups branching off of those things. You are able to discover new things you never knew you'd do or be interested in.

The entire campus is pretty much a make up of Greek Life, but in a safe and organized manner.

Every hall has a house president. There are alarms for intruders, weather, etc. There is always someone to go to for anything you need and you see security on campus.

Graceland University is an amazing school with many opportunities available that will stand out to perspective employers and graduate schools. The small campus size offers a very open and accepting atmosphere that makes meeting people really easy. It offers the possibility for appropriate student-professor relationships that not only help the student succeed, but provides the feeling of being more than a number.

Take courses that interest you and sit in the front of the class for at least a week during the semester. Most importantly, know that your professors are there to help (Really!!). That sounds so cliche, but don't be afraid to reach out to them whether you're confused in their course or you're having other troubles. You'd be surprised at the amount of understanding and personal compassion the faculty at GU has to offer, I know I was.

Sure, you'll have your occasional cupcake class, but regardless you'll wind up studying. So take it seriously and just listen the first time around. It's not impossible to catch up, but it's definitely not easy.

Graceland offers a unique housing system that you wont find at any other University. Rather than Greek life, each student is placed in a house from the day you move in and you even remain in that house if you move off campus. (Check it out on their website). You meet two hand fulls of other students right away and they become your family away from home. Aside from the students, there is house council that is AMAZING. They are involved in every aspect of student life and are always there to turn to. My HP (house president) has become an amazing friend and go to girl if I ever need anything.

You have two options, the commons and the Swarm Inn Cafe. The food is pretty great in the commons with plenty of options from the classic Pizza and Salad, to our own Sub shop, to more custom options. If you're in a hurry or just not in the mood to fight the crowd, the Swarm Inn has a meal exchange option that is great for both on the go and dine in. The prices are decent if you're not meal exchanging. After 9 we have our Sting Snacks, which is everybody's favorite time. This is when the frozen cappuccino's, cheese balls, pizza, pretzels, etc. come out. Oh! We can't forget about Potato Soup Thursdays!!

Graceland offers a variety of things to do for fun. We have COSA which put on various events including the Messy Games and New Years in November. Intramural activities are available weekly, and those are A LOT of fun. It's basically a battle between the houses to see which one will come out on top. There are many sports and clubs that Graceland offers access too. Our MSC (Memorial Student Center) is a great hang out whether you want to play pool or ping-pong, wanna play old arcade games, or just wanna hang out in the AC. We're also only an hour and a half from Des Moines and Kansas City.

During Homecoming, there is a ton of crazy competitions. One of which includes a house scavenger hunt. On the list there are various crazy items, but the one that stands out the most is the shaving of one half of a persons body. It awards 50 points if a guy does it, and 100 if a girl does.

There is no type of students on campus. Graceland offers something that I've never seen on another campus and that's an extreme friendliness. You could walk down the sidewalk and start a conversation with a complete stranger and it be normal. It's amazingly accepting and really easy to make friends-even if you're a super shy, and socially awkward person.

There is something for everybody!!!

The housing system isn't Greek, but kind of like it. You don't rush or pledge, you're in a house from the beginning and nobody is turned away!

I feel 100% safe on this campus. You have to have an ID card to enter into a hall of the opposite sex and after hours, you need your ID to allow you in your own. Also, the police station is right around the corner.

It is a small town place with caring people. The courses are advanced so you get all the knowledge you want. It has great opportunities.

If you struggled in high school and want a place that will push you to be best this is the place. Specially for education majors, low income, nursing students and others.

It;s though, but there are always people willing to help.

There are no sororities, or frats, but houses. You'll feel like family.

You have to be creative. It college life..can't expect to much? Right?

You have to an imagine and be creative. Go to Des Moines, or Kansas City.

Classes are tough, but it is worth it in the end. Little on the high side for me, but they work well with scholarships, grants and money wise.

They have houses instead of Frats, or sort., everything.

Hard workers
Need extra help
Family influences

There are many. Over 50!

It is small and I always feel safe.

Graceland University is a wonderful college to stay focus on your major. There are so many people that are willing to help you reach your goals at Graceland. In my opinion, i feel like no one can fail at Graceland University.

Tip 1. ALWAYS go to class & be on time.
Tip 2. Have good time management
Tip 3. Work first, then play later.
Tip 4. Stay focus on the reason why your in college and try hard not to get distracted.

At Graceland, everyone take academics very serious more than anything. If you play a sport, your coach will make sure your doing good in the classroom before you even think about playing your sport. That's how serious academic is to everyone, which in my eyes is a wonderful thing.

The dorms are one of the best part of Graceland, because they have so many activities involving you in the dorm. Its like you own family in the dorms in my opinion.

The food is pretty cool. They make sure that you'll never go hungry, for sure. There's no better food than home cooked food, but they try there best to make you feel like your at home though.

There are a lot of things to do. You can go into town and go to the movies, go play baskball or football when the teams aren't using the gym or the field. You can also go to the activities to dorms be having also.

Graceland University also has a great looking campus too. Its a has two lakes on it two gyms for sports players & another just for everybody else.

There really isn't any unusual traditions or locations on campus that i know of.

Graceland University is a great school for students that isn't really a party type of person. This is also great for a student that like small amount of students in one classroom at a time.

There are so many clubs & activities to be involved in. There is no reason why anyone should be bored or lonely at Gracelsand, because there are some many things to do deal with different clubs.

Well at Graceland University, they have different Greeks on your dorm hall. So every floor is a different Greek, and you will do different activities with your Greek hall.

You are 110% safe on the campus, and the police station is right around the corner from the campus too.

Graceland is very welcoming to everyone, no matter what you as an individual are a top priority for the professors. Everyone there cares about your success, and you will meet some of the most genuine and friendly people that will be mentors or even just friends you keep in touch with for the rest of your life. Graceland is a close-knit community where no one gets left out and and everyone has a definate feeling of value.

Although the campus is small and may not be as well known as bigger schools, if you actually take a campus tour and meet some of the GU family it might just change your mind! There can be a bit of a culture shock at first because of how small the town is and all of the near-by amish farms, but just remember that everyone is there for you and if you get involved in alot of the student activities it is so much easier to adjust!

The academic programs at Graceland are great, the amount of time you spend with your professors in and out of the class room makes your learning that much more beneficial because of your ability to have a one on one relationship with your professors.

There are no sororities or fraternities, but instead everyone is automatically placed on a hall which are similar to greek life. This is so that everone has a sense of belonging, the housing system is excellent and you can't find anything like it anywhere else it is totally unique to the GU campus!

sodexo provides food for our campus and they do an excellent job in providing us with multiple options in styles of food and variety at every meal. It obviously isnt quite as good as a homade meal by your mother but it does the job!

The student government has a group called COSA that provides activited for students to do both on an individual basis and as a hall. COSA brings in performers, organizes an end of the year carnival, wednesday night movies, and many other events throughout the school year. Id say there was at least one event per week!

The differnt halls on campus have traditions completely unique to their hall that they carry out every year. There are a few unique landmarks on campus as well that we take alot of pride in.

Great for students that like alot of individual attention from professors, are happy with a small town where everyone knows who you are, and for those students that like to be involved.

There are so many clubs for students to get involved in, just name it and we probably have a club for it! We actually have a day for students to look at booths set up by their peers and become a member to clubs that they think might suit them.

There are multiple male and female halls on campus, one of which you are placed once you enroll at GU that the admissions office think you will fit in best based on your major, personality, and other such information. You room with a member from your hall and live on an actual hall with these people. Your hall is also your team for campus activites.

The campus is extremely safe, I dont even have to worry about locking my car!

There is a loving and welcoming community for everyone. Opportunities are available to anyone who wants them. With a small school you are able to work more 1-on-1 with the teachers.

Make sure that you take advantage of the opportunities and experiences available at Graceland. School is important, but don't forget to balance your time with homework, friends and yourself. Make the best of your education and the possibilities that come from the small class sizes.

There are ways for those in advanced programs in high school looking for a challenge, but also those who were not as successful in high school to still be successful here. There is also a wide selection of classes and majors each student is able to strive for.

One of the best parts about Graceland. Living on the same floor with many of your best friends (and brothers or sisters) can really make this the best time of your life.

Some days it feels like having a home cooked meal. Other days however, the menu choice and selection might need a few adjustments. There is the swarm and the commons as well to give a bigger variety. Unfortunately if a student doesn't have much time they end up eating in the swarm much more. There is not a big selection there because it is more like a fast food restaurant.

Intramural sports, go to other sporting events, different musical ensembles, theatre program, disc golf, regular golf, walking, bike riding, hanging with friends, learn an instrument, take fun classes, join clubs and many more options.

Graceland is at a great cost for what the experience you get. Tuition is rising, but that is because it has to accommodate for the economy.

All the COSA events are special to Graceland, weekly house meeting, bonding between members of each hall, housing system, close proximity of everything on campus, and involvement/inclusiveness brought for each student.

Anyone

There has to be over 50 clubs and organizations on campus. If you want to be in something it is very easy. If they don't have the club or organization that you want to be in then it is really easy to create one.

There are locks on all the doors to get into the housing. This makes it so creating a lock-down easy as the ID is used as the key.

Graceland is a small campus in a quiet town. You get personal attention here. The college is noted for the arts

Don't come here if you want to remain anonymous. Everyone matters at GU!

I don't really know what to compare it to, but it is defintely above average based on what transfer students say.

Dorm life is omportant aaround here. Houses have strong comaraderie!

Food is average.

Outdoor stuff available everywhere around here. Explore southern Iowa!

caroling by all staff and faculty on a night in December!

Students who like to study and be a part of small town life!

There is something for everyone!

not much going on that I can tell

No concerns. I feel totally safe here. I don't usually lock my car!