University of Iowa

Easily the best University in town. You would be hard pressed to find a better university within walking distance of Iowa City

This is by far the best university in town. You may have trouble tracking a Pepsi down, but you really should try to cut down on your soda intake, anyway. Coffee and tea are much better for you and as of the writing of this review, the university administration hasn’t sold either coffee or tea down the river.

Message to University of Iowa Police Force: say NO to bully-​poser officers. His initials are BS and the otherwise good guy needs to mature somewhat and stop pretending he’s in a cop movie (part of reason people like him became a cop) and treat people with a fuller measure of respect. Try doing this in spite of the insecurity that happens when a man looks you in the eye as a fellow man instead of a boss or master. (Not talking race here because I’m not black.). Do not resort to falsely showing you’re a man by hiding behind your badge (of «Caesar») and telling someone, just because they’re in an English– Philosophy building a few minutes after official closing hours (no sign on door which was also unlocked) to show you their identification, interrogate me on not just what I was doing, but where I was going, and why was I here at the University of Iowa. Then, you take my drivers license and run a background check to the police office so the University of Iowa police system can also have me included there. Like you’re some kind of detective but more like an SS officer from another movie. Don’t hide behind the system and say any other cop would have performed this task (which cannot be since we aren’t located in a terrorist hotbed here at the University of Iowa), nor say I looked suspicious or something bunk like that– please, I’m wearing Old Navy shorts, flip-​flops, a collared shirt, and I was even carrying a Bible (a good size one, granted, … maybe you thought I was carrying a bomb?).
You were intimidated by a fellow man because you’re insecure about your own manhood. I’m not trying to ridicule you here. I’m hoping you will seek out wiser, older men to show you real, fuller manhood. Also, may you get healing for the Wound your father may have caused you.
Please don’t treat people like this. You better have very strong reasons for treating people like subservient subjects with ID checks and interrogation-​questioning. Don’t do this because for one, we don’t need a totalitarian police system, and secondly, you’re not a movie character– you’re only a man, like the rest of us men.
To close, this experience really affected my feelings and plans regarding the University of Iowa. May the right people get wind of this for positive change.

Best place in the world! Loved it here, and got a great education. Highly recommended.

This is a college visit review. We were not feeling the love like the other Unilocalers after our visit. Yes, the campus is pretty. Yes, the fitness center is new and shiny.
When we arrived for our visit we checked in and were given meal tickets to eat in the cafeteria and shown where it was on a map. Then we were told after the meal to go to another building which was on a map. I know they have tons of people who visit and apply here, but I would have liked some attention, like someone to just walk us to where we had to go. It is a big campus, not as big as other big 10 schools, but it’s still big and when you are trying to figure out where to go and not get in the way of the students, it’s not a great feeling.
The food in the dorm was good and there were several choices. They offer gluten free pizza, had a burrito bar and several options where you wait and they make something fresh. I didn’t see the soft serve machine for ice cream like I had back in my college days, but they did have a yogurt bar.
The presentation was ok. It was a student who gave it, not someone from the admissions office. She was very enthusiastic.
Our tour was nice. We had 3 tour guides, 2 were in training. There was lots of information that we got from questions that weren’t part of their regular talk. My son asked about how much time there was in between classes and traveling from one side to the next. There were questions about housing and laundry, all things that should have been talked about by the tour guide, not as a result of questions.
So overall it was a nice visit, but I think there’s room for improvement.

One of the finest public universities in the Midwest. The social scene is unmatched and very complex. The programs and degrees are wide and vary from nursing to music composition. I expect my children to attend when they are of age!

Beautiful campus.
I was at UI for a college visit for my oldest and was hoping Iowa would be a «good enough» back up choice for my kid. Well, we think it leap frogged into first place.
For a Big Ten school, it feels much smaller than other campuses (Ill, MN, Purdue, Wisc, etc). Students also seem to have a ton of Hawkeye pride, wearing black and gold shirts, sweatshirts and jackets.
Overall, a very nice experience for us and the people we met were friendly.

U of IOWA is a great place. Pretty campus with a nice downtown nearby. Football is legit and the medical center is one of the best in the country! The new work out facility is amazing!
Check it out if you’ve got some time in IC, you won’t be disappointed.

Five stars, need I say more? Go Hawks!
Follow @GodDam_Hawkeyes on twitter!

I am in my 4^th year at Iowa and I love it. I am originally from the far north suburbs of Chicago and for some reason it is really common for people from the Chicagoland area to attend Iowa. I never got involved with the greek life so I don’t know too much about it but it doesn’t seem to be too huge at Iowa and about the only thing I do know is the frats and sororities are dry. The bars are big, or at least they used to be. They just recently switched the after 10pm entry age from 19 to 21 and its seems like there has been a significant decrease of people downtown.
I’m an Environmental Science major which means I have been stuck taking science courses with pre-​meds. I’m not sure if it was because Iowa is a big med school but taking classes with pre-​meds is the worst & I would definitely avoid it if possible. I also can’t compare the difficultly of the science courses to any other university but I would say they were pretty challenging. The environmental science major in particular has been great but it is definitely something you need to plan out ahead of time since some of the courses aren’t offered regularly.
Football is another great part of being a hawkeye! Tailgating is a blast & so are the games. I have usually tailgated at the law lot hill where you can park your car for around 10 or 15 dollars the friday night before. There is also the magic bus on benton which I believe is $ 10/​person or 2 for $ 15, the beer is unlimited, and they usually have a band. I would definitely recommend getting student tickets for the game because even if you don’t go to all of the games it is pretty easy to sell them, especially during good seasons! The seating in the student section of the stadium is first come first serve so if you are a die hard fan get there early but even if you get there late it isn’t so bad standing high up in the stands.

Graduated Twice from the U of I and to tell you the truth I wish I could go back and do it again. I grew up outside of Iowa city, but after living there for 11 years I consider it my hometown.
The University of IOWA is great. All the necessities are covered here, from Academics, to night life, to outdoor activities to of course HAWKEYE FOOTBALL!!! Tailgating here is outrageous and a great community activity that people of all ages can enjoy. One trip to Kinnick Stadium on a fall Saturday and you’ll know what heaven is like.
The U has a beautiful campus with plenty to explore for an incoming freshman yet is not over whelming. Iowa city is very rich in diversity and culture, a place where everyone can find their niche.
The best years of my life were spent in Iowa City and attending the University of Iowa, years I will never forget and cherish till the end.
The word is Fight Fight Fight for IOWA! What Every Loyal Iowan Sings!

I grew up in Estherville Iowa (home of the Mighty Midgets), along with my 2 brothers and a sister. All 4 of us went on to college and got degrees at either Iowa State or the University of Iowa. Cy and Herky are both welcome in our parent’s house.
Iowa State (aka Moo U. — think Jane Smiley) is the Land Grant school and specializes in agriculture and engineering among other subjects. ISU is located in Ames and is where my parents currently live. Gayle and I walked the ISU campus last summer and it really is a pleasant place, even though I usually feel that I’m walking through enemy territory.
THE State University of Iowa in Iowa City is where I spent 4 years getting a Chemical Engineering Degree, even though this schools strengths are more in liberal arts, the Writer’s Workshop, and of course the many professional schools (medicine, law, etc.). This is also where my father, uncle, one brother, 2 cousins, and grandmother went to school. And although I never did work as a Chemical Engineer, this solid Iowa education opened doors for what has turned out to be an excellent career in the Health, Safety, and Environmental field.
During my stay in Iowa City, I lived in Burge, Currier, Westlawn and a now defunct Fraternity (that I had no business joining in the first place). I joined Air Force ROTC as a freshman, only to be disqualified due to a now resolved medical condition. I attended Hillel and the UU Church and belonged to Alpha Chi Sigma (Chemistry) and Tau Beta Pi (Engineering). I was also a member of the Scottish Highlanders, played bagpipe, and even wore a kilt. We had a neat concert schedule, went to Europe once, and regularly played during halftime at Hawkeyes football games.
One funny memory was the Jerry Jeff Walker concert in Iowa City that started over 2 hours late. Jerry Jeff got drunk, lost his way, and ended up in Ames instead! A scarier memory was walking across the Iowa River in the dead of winter and falling through the ice. Romance during that time was clumsy at best and often clueless.
Unfortunately, I don’t get back to Iowa City as often as I would like (except maybe through the pages of the Alumni magazine). This year (I make annual trips back to Iowa), I’ll have to try as I would like Gayle and my son to see where I went to college. When I do come to town, I usually walk along the river, go to the Union and Old Capital, explore some of old and new campus sites, visit some places downtown (Iowa Book and Supply, Prairie Lights, Joe’s, John’s Grocery, etc.) and have a Paglia’s Pizza.
I love the memories and taking in the sights and the long forgotten smells and energy. I know that I never really go back, but at the same time it’s important to never forget where you are from.

Greatest. School. Ever.
Go Hawkeyes!

Spent several years here obtaining 2 degrees, one in Nursing and one in Psychology, which have helped me immensly in my chosen career over the years. Made a lot of friends. Don’t know where they are now. Never have gone to any reunions. Always been invited but guess I was just to busy at the time. This is a great school with emphasis on education. Don’t get me wrong, there was lots of party time also but education was formost. All in all I had a very good time there. Didn’t get mixed up in all the stupid things going on because I didn’t live on campus. I was tucked away in my apartment in Coralville across from the park.

I have had many years in dealing with the U OF IA. Great education! When your kids go here they are sure to be exposed to many great learning experiences…
Hawkeyes are always the number one college team in my mind. Go HAWKS!!!
Problems: don’t expect a lot of help in the financial aide department. Due to it being a big school they are really not… ah shall we say on the ball all time.
2 problem: Well, this is my personal problem. Be very careful of the frats there. Not saying the specific frat but hazing is not dead. And I unfortunately have the hosp bills to prove it. The school really needs to deal with this prob. before another family goes through what we did. (oh my son made the frat and lasted throughout.)
3 problem: Most important prob for parents the placement program after graduation is non existent. Rumor has it that that’s going to change. To keep the incoming biz from the great state of ILL this needs to change. For that Champaign does have us beat.

So my Emory review brought me dear memories from Iowa City and the University of Iowa. I usually try to go two to three weeks every year, to take workshops at the Summer Writing Festival. This is really my sole academic experience with this school, but I can tell you, is one of the highlights of my year!
It’s important to point out the UI has the best Creative Writing program in the U.S., the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and that several great American and international writers have attended this prestigious school (like Tennessee Williams, T.C. Boyle and Jane Smiley, among many others.) Along with this program, UI has several other top programs in the country, too. So, yeah, this is a GREAT university! Although she graduated in media studies, writer Diablo Cody (Juno) graduated from UI.
The facilities are cool vintage, and they do a great job in regards of maintenance. It is definitely a place «with character» (sometimes fancier schools lack this spirit and warmth, I know that for a fact), and for such a large scholarly community (I heard it’s about 40,000 people) it’s pretty well organized. I love the little details scattered around campus: the old-​fashion but fully functional hand dryers, the old-​school sharpeners in the classrooms, the abundance of green, the soothing sound of the river, and the ducks that will steal your snack if you don’t pay attention!
And yes, one of the best things of UI is the river that drifts besides the main buildings of the campus. It’s such a joy to go and sit on the grass to read or write or just do homework. Peaceful and delightful, perfect pastoral environment to get anything done.

I spent three happy, happy years on the banks of the Iowa River, getting my MFA. I’ve often thought that this is the kind of town I’d like to retire to.
As with most state universities, the U of I is a small town unto itself. Enrollment is about 30,000, with faculty and staff adding another 10,000 into the mix. Iowa City is a great place to live, combining the words «Iowa» and «City» into one entity. It has the laid back, friendly lifestyle of the Midwest, where you smile and nod to strangers, and they always respond with a «Hello» … something I’ve found disappearing in Chicago of late. But because the university is a major institution, a number of cultural events pass through or are hosted by the school. U of I has a long-​standing relationship with the Joffrey Ballet, which frequently premieres new pieces there, and the Writers Workshop brings in renowned writers from around the world. Iowa City is also home to Prairie Lights, a great bookstore (and an obvious take off on City Lights, in SF). You can still get cheap pitchers of beer at the Deadwood, and when you walk into Dave’s Fox Head Tavern, expect to hear «Stand By Your Man» playing on the jukebox.