Reviews

I am a second year at ISU and am a junior. Each semester in college is different but the first few seem to be pretty similar all across the board. I started college in August of 2008. ISU is a great school, the teachers care and there is always something going on for the new and current students. To start, go to orientation. I met people there that I am still in contact with. Get involved; the first year of college is important to establish yourself and experience. My advice is to apply for the Honors program. There are a lot of benefits to being in the Honors program: automatic $500 housing scholarship, living in the newer and nicer dorms, smaller class sizes, etc. And to be honest, the classes aren’t harder.

The classes I am taking challenge me but I do not find them impossible to get an A in if I put in the time that each class needs. The experts suggest that for every credit in a class you should study three times as many hours in a week. So if a class is three credits, study about nine hours a week... but that hardly ever happens. Just give each class enough time to get everything done, and done well. That is what I have done and I am a straight A student.

Get involved; the first year of college is important to establish yourself and experience. ISU has a lot to offer. Sure, the town isn’t huge but there are plenty of things to do on campus including inexpensive movies (free with Bengal ID), bowling, arcade games, clubs, and other random activities. The first day of class is usually always the same with a million handouts and syllabi (plural of syllabus) and getting out early. Throughout the first semester the new student really needs to learn time management because seriously, there is ALWAYS something going on. ISU is a great place to learn and to start building the future. Pocatello isn’t a bad place to live and is close to many larger cities for those students that need that lifestyle, but for many it is the place to be.

Another thing I love about ISU is that it is inexpensive in general, but there is no loss in education. An Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree from ISU is the same, if not better than other schools. Tuition costs about $2284 and then there is housing and textbooks and such, but don't forget that there are scholarships and financial aid (which is great! go to fafsa.ed.gov). ISU is the best school to go to if you want an affordable, great education.

Honors Program
Time Management
Go to class (it is easier to pass a class if you go and don't pay attention than if you just skip altogether)
Get Involved
Relax! It's college!

Outdoorsy: there are many opportunities to get out and see the wonderful Idaho Wilderness with backpacking trips, white water rafting, horseback riding, skiing, etc.
Medical: ISU is THE medical school of Idaho. If you are interested in health care, this is where you want to be.
Want to Learn: Everything is geared for student success. The professors care, the tutors care, there are centers for help... if you try, there is now way that you can fail at your standards.

The faculty and staff will work with you through any situation that you have. There's a learning center to help students who might not have the studying skills for college that can really help. My first semester was very hard because I got in a car accident and was injured, but all of my professors helped me tremendously! I even got a 2.93 GPA though I was visiting physical therapy 3 times a week, going full time to school and didn't have my own car.

The student population isn't hugely diverse, but there are some very amazing and interesting students. I met some very neat people from India, China, Sri Lanka, and the Czech Republic. I've never met such interesting people!

Though my first year FAFSA (without loans) didn't leave me much for books and school supplies, I still did very well. The prices are great for in-state students, and all of the student events are free for students. So just about every week, I was getting free lunches, getting to see free local bands and even a really great magician! All free for students!

-Talk to your professors if you have a problem, they really want you to succeed.
-If you need help, go to the Center for Learning, they'll help you with anything you need.
-Stay involved! Almost every week, an event is going on at the Idaho Falls Campus. Meet some new friends and enjoy school a little more.
-Be prepared. Every class I've had has given me a schedule for when assignments are due. Look at them often, to make sure you get things in on time!
-Talk to your academic advisers, they'll keep you on track!
-Go in with a great attitude. You can do this, and not everyone in the world has this fantastic opportunity!

Any and all! :)

I love the class size for ISU. Students to professors ratio is 17:1, what could be better? There are a variety of classes as well to choose from, Physical Education Activity such as bowling or even fly fishing to add some spice to your general education class.es

I love it here! I am still close to home, but still far enough to live on my own and be independent. Smaller school that you can still hang out with your friends, but meet a new face too. Idaho is full of outdoor adventures; mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, and even skiing on a near by mini resort, Pebble Creek. Its that small town feel that is so comforting to be apart of. ISU has over 160 clubs ranging from Greek life to anything such as dance club, if we don't have it you can start your own! ISU has some top programs as well, it is the number one school in Idaho for Health related professions, we have a wonderful Pharmacy Program and an Accounting program, only to mention a few.

ISU isn't a very expensive school to attend, Compared to other schools it it reasonable.

Enjoy your first year of college, get involved in something, meet new people and get your professors to know your name.

Call and schedule a campus tour, meet with one of our recruiters and advisors for your major. Have any questions, email ambassadors at [email protected]. Cant wait to hear from you (:

This semester I am taking Biology 101, Statistics 153, ASL 151, Psychology 101 and Deaf Studies 101. The thing I love about Idaho State University is the fact that I'm not just a number. In some universities there are so many people in the class that rather than being an actual person you are just a number. At my university however, the teacher to student ratio is about 1-25. In one of my classes (ASL 151) there are only 12 students which means I can have time to learn in class as well as outside of class.
Another thing that helps my learning is the fact that most teachers have graduate students that help out with the teaching. So, if you're having trouble you can either go see the teacher or his assistant.
Lastly, tutoring is free! All you have to do is sign up and you can go in and get help. This increases your chances of survival in a class by a lot. Getting knowledge from a person who already passed the class pushes your learning ability to a higher level.

Literally everyday I look to the sky and think, it's so beautiful here. I am originally from Washington so Idaho weather is so different. It's already October and it has only rained a maximum of 3 days in the 2 months I've been here. The temperatures have been in the 80's and the weather is just wonderful.
The people here seem so happy to be here, which in turn makes me happy too. Pocatello is the smile capital of the world and the people here prove that.
Lastly, the campus is beautiful. Except for the many squirrels wandering the campus, I love it, my roommate says the squirrels are cute but I feel that they are a tad bit scary. Other than that the beauty of the campus is shown through the many trees and mountains (which the people of Idaho call hills).

Sadly, because I'm from Washington I pay higher rates, which makes Idaho not as appealing. Also, I'm told from fellow classmates that Idaho is expensive even for people from Idaho. Other than the tuition and fees I thoroughly enjoy this university and would recommend it to anyone who asked!

Apply for scholarships early!
Don't always eat at the cafeteria, Turner Hall is all-you-can-eat, so if you're always eating there, you're gonna gain wait.
Have fun!
Get involved!

Outgoing students, students that don't need to much excitement to keep them happy. Pocatello is a small town and there isn't always a lot to do in here but I enjoy being able to focus all my attention on school and not have too many distractions. So, students who don't want distractions, come to Idaho State University at Pocatello!

The teachers at ISU are always trying to find ways to help their students succeed and they do what they can to help you learn what you would like to learn. They take your feedback and use it to improve the class. There are also many programs available to help you learn and succeed.

ISU has a very relaxed environment and very friendly people. The teachers treat you like an equal and help you to succeed.

They offer many programs that are covered by your tuition that you can use to help you succeed and there are many activities that you can participate in that are also covered by your tuition.

Go to class
Take notes
Do your work
Keep a schedule

I started at ISU right out of high school and tips that I would give to incoming students is to keep a set schedule and don't fall behind. Also don't be afraid to talk to your teachers and ask for help, they really do want to help you.

the classes i have taken so far have been informative and interesting. not too easy but not so challenging that i have lost interest in them.

I am a first semester freshman and am taking on a lot of courses, but I have enjoyed my time here so far. The campus is beautiful, the professors are helpful and friendly, and everything in the city is within walking distance.

i think class-wise i'm getting a lot for my money. the professors are excellent and enthusiastic about what they are teaching, the classes are informative and relevant to my ultimate goal, and the textbook selection is good for the classes as well.

the experience is something you have to go out and find for yourself, however. professors are eager to help if you ask for it and are good to go to for advice about graduate school plans or the major you intend to work toward. opportunities for undergraduate research are there as well, you just have to do most of the work to initiate it instead of waiting for opportunities to come to you.

this may not be the place for everyone. it's a good school for a basis in the sciences, since they are trying to open a medical school here so there's a lot of science-based classes available in the biological and chemical sciences. it's also kind of out in the middle of nowhere, so if you're looking for a booming nightlife this is probably not the place to go.

for students majoring in the sciences this is an excellent university. there is a good history department as well. a bonus for people who might be interested in paleontology or anthropology is the natural history museum that is on campus. there are a variety of pre-med options givens here as well.

Idaho State University has an amazing student-driven community! It seems as if everyone takes an interest in each others lives, including professors and resident assistants. And if that isn't enough, there are some dorms located on campus that are small enough that everyone who is a resident feels like part of a family.

The professors are willing to take time to help each individual student with any questions or problems. The aides for the professors are always available, willing to help and know what they are doing as well. Also, if there are any issues with reaching deadlines due to any problems, there is always some leniency and willingness to work around the problems.

The difficulty of Idaho State University is exactly what is expected. It is all dependent on the student and their match with a course and their motivation. There are obviously some classes that are not simple but if the student puts the time and effort in, they should pass with minimal stress.

Dorm life is the best life. I have absolutely no problem with living on campus. I am closer to the activities and dining halls, and most importantly, the classes. Being located by classes means that I don't have to wake up too early or drive in bad weather to attend my classes. It might be more expensive to live on campus but I save on gas and time. There are ups and downs (like all the rules and regulations) but it is fine in the end.

I love all the food on campus! Turner has amazing food and beverages along with helpful service and a nice atmosphere. Rendezvous also has many places to catch a bite to eat located within. The convenience store and grill happen to be my two favorite places in Rendezvous.

There are so many things to do! First of all, there is the movie theater that is free to students that shows 3 movies each week. The Student Union Building also has many things, including: arcade, bowling alley, pool tables, ping pong and a book store. Each hall has pianos and game tables like pool, air hockey and ping pong. Each dorm hall also has a television room with a big screen where students can hang out.

What it all gets down to is the education and degrees. If the student puts the time in, they can learn a lot and earn a degree in a reasonable amount of time. It isn't very expensive for tuition compared to other places and you get an excellent degree out of it.

There are two unusual locations that always stick out to me. The first one is the pillars located on top of the mountain. They are a nice quiet place to go and relax and have some quiet time. Another is a little garden kind of hidden away by Rendezvous. Both of the places are quiet and relaxing and there is never anyone there.

There are many clubs on campus but two that stuck out to me were the anime and fencing clubs which are both great. For activities, there are always things to do like giant water slides, games on ice or including ice, and games inside that are really creative and different.

Campus Safety is always around and does their best to help out with any problems and disturbances. I have respect for them and they are always kind and helpful. Whether it is car troubles, a stranger or just something someone doesn't like, they will do their best to help out.

ISU have some of the best undergraduate level research opportunities in the West. It's a great university for science or health-science majors. Great teachers, classes, and environment!

It'll be more convenient to have your own car here since you won't want to spend all the weekends/holidays on campus.
Also, remember to apply to the college before the scholarship deadline (sometime in February). You don't have to fill out any extra applications for those scholarships, they are automatically given depending on your GPA, ACT scores, etc.
If you are interested in science research, go talk to your professors. Unlike most universities, ISU allows freshmen to do undergraduate research. You might not be doing much as a freshman, but you'll be in a lab and observing some very cool lab experiments.

Depending on the major, there is a lot of discrepancy in this area. Non-science related majors tend to have it pretty easy. Their course load is relatively light. On the other hand, science-majors can get really busy during the school year. They actually need to study and do all the assignments to get a good grade.

The RAs and Housing really put an effort in involving all the residents in activities and games. The dorms are also pretty safe and a good place to hang out with friends or study. The Rendezvous is the best on campus dorm. It's the newest, have a computer lab, food court, close to a lot of classrooms, lots of study rooms, and individual rooms.

On campus dining is mostly fast food or snacks. Not that great, but it's the same at most universities. Off campus: it's Pocatello, there's not going to be that many choices. There's the usual American/fast food restaurants. There are also a surprising amount of Chinese places here (4, 5), and 2 Japanese places. Otherwise, there is not a lot of diversity.

There are a lot of outdoor activities that's really close to Pocatello: hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, rafting, etc.
If you are not into outdoor things, there's a free movie theater on campus and free gym. There's also a mall close-by, but many people prefer to drive to Boise (3-4 hours away) or Salt Lake City (2-3 hours away).

Compared to many schools in America, ISU is pretty inexpensive. I have heard some of the students say that ISU costs less as an out-of-state student than as an in-state student at their home state.

There's an arch in lower campus that every student walks through when they enter the school. Then when they graduate, they walk out through the same arch to memorialize the the time they have spent at ISU.

It's great for science, health-science majors. Their pharmacy and nursing programs are also commendable so students interested in those areas should definitely look into ISU.

There are many organizations (ASISU, Housing, different clubs) that will host activities on campus throughout the year. There's at least one thing to go to every week. The clubs are a little more sparse. The only major ones here are the language/culture-related or sports-related ones.

While there haven't been anything too outrageous, there had been some burglaries, stalking, and car vandalism issues. However, ISU is located in Pocatello so it's a pretty safe city.

idaho state university is a good school, with high standards in academics. the professors at this university will help in any way possible to get you the best grade and the knowledge of the subject along with it. i would recommend this school to anyone with the desire to learn.

my tips for prospective students would be to be prepared from the beginning. i came into my first couple semesters with no idea how to study, but if i would have remained focused i could have improved my grades drastically.

i think the academic rigor definitely depends on what program you are in here at idaho state university but the accounting program is difficult, but rewarding.

you are provided with the opportunity to attend activities constantly but are also given the appropriate atmosphere to study when needed. i met friends in the dorms that will last a lifetime.

it took me a few weeks to find the hidden restaurants that were so good here in pocatello, but once i did i have a hard time not eating out at least once a week.

there are so many outdoor activities, including biking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, beautiful hikes, etc. it is one of the best places to be for outdoor activities.

i find everything to be really cheap. i mean, we are talking idaho here. in comparison to other university towns, things are cheap.

there is the traditional true bengal that is done at the pillars on red hill in pocatello. this is a favorite of many students, taking a night hike up a trail with that special someone.

this university is great for people that want a good studios atmosphere as well as plenty of fun things to do. we have one of the best programs in physical therapy as well as pharmacy.

there is public safety, which is our version of the police, everywhere. i feel safe walking on campus at any time of the day.

ISU is a Carnegie Research University and holds academic excellence in high regard.

Living on campus is one monumental step when going to college. Here at ISU living on campus is a great experience that a student never forgets or regrets!

Three locations on campus offer variety and a great way to socialize.

Student activities, clubs, concerts, game rooms, night life and more! There is always something fun to do at ISU!

ISU was rated 15 in the lowest tuition cost with the highest starting salaries!

ISU welcomes all students! International, local, returning, and more!

ISU offers over 150 clubs and has an activities calendar that helps you know what's going on when and where you can get in on the fun!

Five stars for the fifth safest campus in the nation! Way to go ISU!