Reviews

umd is a fantastic but underrated school. not many people know about it outside of minnesota and wisconsin, and even fewer consider it during their college search, but it is a wonderful school nonetheless. it has miles of trails, a great city down the hill, awesome sports, good people, and best of all it is cheap.

like any other school, you need to get involved right away. there's bulldog welcome week where freshmen come in a few days early to learn the grounds, find people to start out the year with, and just in general get to know the school, which is nice. but definitely do stuff outside of class and outside your dorm room right away-it makes all the difference because that's the time you find your niche of people you want to be with. there's a lot of scrambling around during the first few weeks of people switching friend groups, dropping and picking up new activities they like. it's best to do that in the beginning of the year than to try to fit in later when everyone else has already settled.

first 6 weeks.
stay. here.
the people who go home every other weekend the first 6 weeks end up going home for good at the end of the semester. it's because stuff happen over the weekends, people bond, and you come back an outsider. you end going here just to study and then only look forward to going home again. don't do it.

also, don't drink to much. you'll be tempted to go to parties during the week sometimes(school gets to be a bit much and you just want to let go a little) but don't do it. you run too much of a risk of making yourself miserable during class the next day or sleeping through it entirely. wednesdays are the day here people usually go to weekday parties. thursdays are the lowest attendance days. there's drinking no matter what college you go to, but it's up to you if and when you want to do, how you want to do it(be smart, don't get a minor), and where and with who you want to do it too.
it's easy to find people who don't drink, who drink on occasion, and who drink all the time. it's just up to you which of those people you personally want to be.

there are easy classes, there are hard classes. most every teacher is fair in their grading, so studying consistently and well will get you a good grade.

if you want a good dorm room, apply for housing early. first chance you get. i got stuck in lake superior hall. avoid doing so. it's a fine place, no major problems with appliances, we just got wifi this year, free cable, free fridge(very rare for schools to give you free cable or a free fridge) and the bathrooms are nice. but it's very hard to get to know people on your floor because the hallways are so small and the rooms are so far apart. definitely go for griggs if you get the chance.

dc food. yum.
not really.
but dorm food will always be cheap and full of carbs no matter where you go.
there is one dining center here. the meal plan varies from 1,600 to 2,000 a year here, depending on whether or not you got the 1 meal a day, 2, or 3. but again, that's actually cheaper than most schools.
it's hard to eat healthy here because the only healthy thing to eat is salad. but they do have good stuff available. if you get bored of what they have here, just get creative-there's usually enough raw ingredients in the salad and sandwich bars to make yourself something new.
hamburgers, salad bar, sandwich bar, cereal bar, and ice cream are available everyday.

the hours are bad though, especially on saturdays and sundays. it's also easy to miss meals during the week because of class/sports.

drink.

just kidding.

go outside.
there are ski hills. everywhere.
abandoned ski jumps to climb on(dangerously fun).
trails. miles and miles of trails.
clubs for everything possible. dancing, bad movie night, chem, anthro, club sports, more dancing, actual sports, pretty much everything imaginable.
downtown.
mall.
rose garden.
sneak into the abandoned armory.
sneak onto the roof.
graffiti graveyard.

just lots of quirky fun things to do.

you will never get anything more out of college for so little money. to be quite honest, the only difference between this college and a more expensive college is the food and the resources that school has to get famous people to come and give lectures. and even then we get some of those.

2 dollar taxi service, free buses with a u card.

free food from clubs(just have to read posters to know where to go- you don't even have to commit to the club, you just have to show and mooch)

free wifi, 24 hour lab, great library, free movies on occasion(popcorn and drinks included), and camping trips, hiking trips, skiing trips, how-to-drink-your-own-pee type seminars are constantly available here for really cheap.

outdoorsy adventurey students.

haven't gotten raped yet.

Most the instructors I've had were great. Many interesting courses are offered and I've enjoyed most of my classes.

Duluth is a great city and dorm life is comfortable. I am however transferring to a smaller city only because I personally desire a smaller college.

I have not compared tuition, but its likely just as costly as any other liberal arts college.

Apply early, and turn in your housing deposit early! Meet people and get involved, I missed out on a lot first semester because I did not join many clubs.

UMD is great for someone who loves the outdoors, football (national champs!) and hockey (men's and women's teams are outstanding). Although Duluth has nasty winters, you wont need to go outside between classes because everything is connected by a concourse system ;)

I have taken a lot of different courses from different departments and I have learned a ton. My teachers actually care about how I am doing in their classes which makes me want to attend their classes.

I like duluth a lot. While it is cold I have found that it is the perfect weather for people who like going outside and skiing or snowboarding. It is also really helpful that they have a great busing system.

Great for students! Lots of financial aid is available and there are lots of jobs for students even with such a small town. There are lots of sports to go to and there are a lot free games and things to do on campus.

Research the program you want to go into before applying. I know quite a few people who have gone to Duluth only to find that their program is not good.

Anyone wanting to go into journalism, psychology, criminology, education, and anthropology the programs are awesome and the teachers are really nice. Students who like being outdoors or wanting to party it is a great school for you.

The professors are great when it comes to helping students, even in big lectures. They respond quickly to email and are always available during office hours. There are many great resources here to help you succeed as well such as the tutoring center (my personal favorite), the first year experience office, and the career office (can help with resumes). All of these services accept walk-ins and are free of charge!

Duluth is an awesome city and you can find something to do during every time of the year. You can go to the beach on Lake Superior and walk in the sand. You can go to Canal Park and watch the ships come through the lift bridge along with going shopping. In the Winter you can go see the Ice Caves. Also, Gooseberry Falls is a very fun place for hiking and seeing waterfalls. There is a mall close by, a Cub Foods, Target, and Best Buy. The campus is big, but not too big. The people are great as well and it's really easy to make friends. Finally, UMD has a tunnel system so for those of you who hate the cold winter (like me) you don't have to go outside if you don't want to. Then you can laugh at your friends at other schools who have to wear boots and winter jackets to class!

Any college will be expensive. But I like Duluth because it is cheaper than a private school and a lot smaller than the Twin Cities campus so it's kind of the best of both worlds. Tuition is about $5400 a semester. You would also have to cover a meal plan and room and board if you want to live on campus so it costs roughly $18000-$19000 per year to go to school here. But there are scholarships from UMD for new students, current students and usually each department (depending on your major) offers scholarships as well. Don't forget to fill out the FAFSA!

The better you do in high school the more money you can get from Duluth for being a new incoming student. Fill out as many scholarship applications as you can, including the FAFSA. Also, apply early! There have been dorm room shortages in the past so applying early guarantees you will get one. Take the ACT and get a good score.

Great for those who want a smaller school but don't want to pay private school tuition.
Also, great for those who hate the cold winter months. You can stay inside at Duluth!
Finally, great for students who love football (national champions) and who love hockey (D-1 Hockey and a new arena)

There is always something to do on campus or in Duluth. There are numerous campus organizations and everyone is involved in at least one organization. The campus is mid-sized but still has the small town feel which was important for me since I came from a very small town.

The more you show your professors that you care about your grade and the more you get to know them and let them know you more than just your name, the better you will do. Get off campus and go explore! There is countless things to do and go see!

Academics are taken seriously and most professors actually care. Take to upper classmen and other students that have taken the course for tips on the class or professor!

You never have to walk outside if you are living in the dorms! Most of the RAs are super cool, helpful, and kind. I got really close to my floor my freshman year. Participate in floor activities.
The dorms are overall pretty clean. Heating and cooling can be an issue. (Only Ianni has air-conditioning)

The Food Court and Northern Shores Coffee Shop are great places to quick grab a bite to eat! The new dining center looks very nice, but the food is not the greatest--its totally eatable, but not the best tasting. If you have a gluten free need it can be challenging to eat here a lot, so I recommend choosing the apartments freshman year so you have more control over your diet.

Canal park, Gooseberry, all of the parks, all of the hiking trails, etc.
The list of things to do in Duluth is literally endless--there is something for everyone!

The tuition seems a little high for the school, but you will still be getting a University of Minnesota diploma, so its kind of work it. (take advantage of everything)

There are so many different clubs on campus. There is something for everyone. If you don't like the clubs already made, you can make your own!

I am biased because I am apart of Greek life. BUT it was the best decision I have made here. By being a part of it I have made so many new friends and connections, I am way more involved on campus and in my community, and my grades are way better. My sisters help me when I struggle and they make me strive for success. The Greek life at UMD is NOT what you see in movies or at big schools. It's a whole other community within UMD--we are a family.

Campus is very safe. There are very few instances that occur and when they do our own police department gets down to the bottom of it ASAP.

I am in the business school and have been for 3 years know. I am just going into my senior year and have found every class i have taken to very helpful. The most important thing for me is that i have been able to relate much of it to my outside experience, such as my internship. I found this to be very important to me because that is one of the key areas i looked for in a college

I am very happy with where i am at. It gives you the small town feel, while still having some aspects of living in a big cities. If you are an outdoors person or enjoy adventure Duluth is the city for you. The school offers many opportunities to explore the beauty of the area. A few examples i would recommend that i have been on is any of the fishing trips, climbing trips, and would definitely recommend doing the Superior Hiking Trail.

Like any major University Duluth is more spendy than any community college, but in comparison to schools in the twin cities Duluth has them far beat for price. A big benefit for the Duluth area is that living expense are great deal less than living in down town Minneapolis or St. Paul.

Apply as soon as you can you do not want to miss out on the experiences that University of Minnesota Duluth has to offer.

Great for any type of student. If you like to have a sense of adventure though University of Minnesota Duluth is for you.

This school is amazing and the campus is beautiful!

The classes can be very challenging but they can also be super easy. You just have to know what classes you are capable of taking to make sure you aren't taking classes way above what you know or that you aren't going to learn anything in.

While the dorms seam super small they are actually very nice.

With UMD's new dinning hall the food has increased a ton and they have a ton of different options for food.

Beautiful view of the lake from different parts of campus. Great opputunities in the outdoors.

Study for exams, join study groups, the food WILL get old so be sure to have snacks

Overall well bit challenging avoid 8 am classes and General Biology ( you have to trust me on that)

Over priced, sound level isn't enforced by RAs, over heated,

Very reptative but the ice machine is always a good option when its working

Canal park, Gooseberry Falls, variety of clubs to join

haven't heard of any but I'm only a freshman

science students

Join Students Today Leaders Forever you won't regert it YEAH BUDDY!

not mentioned by anyone

I feel safe on and off campus.

Attending the University of Minnesota- Duluth was the best decision I have ever made. It is in a fantastic location, I have a beautiful view of Lake Superior right from my dorm; the staff and people are all friendly, helpful, and want you to achieve, and the campus is beautiful, there is always something to do so there is never an excuse for getting bored. All in all- it is a great school!

Get your applications in early! This determines which dorms you will live in, the sooner you get your application in the better chance you have for better housing.
Don't be afraid to ask questions! The people are there to help you get the best experience poosible, it's their job.

The professors are generally understanding about coursework and exam schedules, but they also have a schedule to keep too. It's the same at any college, if you want to do well you have to put in the work, there's still plenty of time for fun though!

The dorms are awesome to live in! They are connected to the rest of campus by a tunnel system so you don't have to go outside on those frigid winter days. You meet a ton of friends in the dorms and there's lots of activities to do! The resident advisors can be strict with the rules sometimes, but they have a job to do and they can get in trouble themselves for not enforcing certain rules so keep that in mind!

The cafeteria food is really good sometimes and OK others. However, there is LOTS of variety (salad cart, sand which bar, burger bar, vegetarian options, soups, the hot meal stations, ect.). There are some restaurants and coffee shops on campus that are really great! The coffee shop is especially awesome (the red velvet cupcakes are the best). There is also a Greek restaurant, a burger hub, an Italian restaurant, and others. It is also very easy to order a pizza or jimmy john's right to campus.

There is so much to do! On campus there are hundreds of clubs and sports to be a part of. Everything from coloring club to club hockey is available. There are intramural sports such as volleyball, curling, floor hockey, soccer, and others available all year. There is also pool tables all over campus, ping pong tables, and other lounges to just relax in. There is a desk where one can rent movies. You can go hiking down to the beautiful Chester Park or Bagley Nature Area. Duluth itself offers a plethora of options, casinos, Canal Park and Park Point (both right on Lake Superior!), Engar Tower, movie theaters, shopping, Adventure Zone where one can go swimming, play laser tag or others. There are also lots of places for you and your friends to hang out and relax. Most places offer student discounts too so you can go have fun at discount price!

Most Definatly! The experiences and educational opprotunities UMD provides is worth every dollar.

My friends and I jumped off the Ice Box at Canal Park our first weekend on campus. It is an abandoned building on Lake Superior that you swim a short distance to and jump into the Lake from. Although it was cold it was tons of fun! We stopped at Grandma's for a bite to eat after so it was well worth it!

This school is great for anyone! If you don't like snow or cold then winter might be a little rough though. Remember to pack your warm clothes!

There is such a wide variety of clubs! Knitting, boxing, running, coloring, and dance are just a few. There are also lots of club sports such as waterpolo, volleyball, rugby, hockey, and more!

I don't know a lot about the Greek life on campus. I know a lot of people who are in Fraternities and Sororities, but am not knowledgeable on the subject.

Campus is very safe. There is always and RA to turn to for help if you need it. I've used the safe walk program a few times myself, where I called a number and the night guards escorted me through a dark parking lot or back to my dorm in situations I did not feel safe in. The doors to the dorms also lock at a certain time so that you don't have to worry about strangers walking around the dorms late at night. All in all it is a very safe campus.

I would say UMD is a very accepting campus. They work extremely hard every year to make sure that everyone has equal resources and facilities. I don't think I've ever feel more accepted than I have a UMD.

Just stay focused. It's ok to have fun but you need to get yourself through at the level you want to be at. So always take all the time you need for school first.

This is not high school! Don't forget about that. You can do it but it will take more time and dedication to get through these college courses.

You will survive the dorms. It takes some getting used to and you may have to switch once but you will get there. A lot of people around you and a lot like you and will probably end up being some of your close friends.

I'm not going to say the Dining Center is amazing. However once you can't go there anymore you have a higher appreciation for what they offer. There is also the option of the food court which you use UMD dining dollars or cash at. You can deposit dining dollars onto your account at anytime and they are tax free so it is actually cheaper to do so.

The UMD Student Association works extremely hard to put concerts, movies, and other activities together for the student body. Just make sure you're checking your email and looking at the posters. There is also a fire pit close to the dorms that the school set up for any students to use at time. You can also get off campus and explore Duluth. There are plenty of places to shop, try new food, go see a movie or just take a walk and see what's out there.

Didn't play a college sport? Me either. However I did play intramural sports my freshman year and it was so much fun! You can join a random team or make one of your own. There is a large range of sports as well, for example, I played broom ball and I absolutely loved it.

There is a club for literally everyone! Would believe they have a coloring club?! Just check out the UMD website for a full listing. Each club has there own way of joining but most of fairly open to new members.

Even though I am not personally involved in the Greek life at UMD, I know a few students who are. They love the connections that it gives them and they chance it gives them to give back to the community.

With all of the security cameras and on campus police, I feel relatively safe walking around campus late at night. I would still never go alone simply because things can happen and there is always safety in numbers.