University of Nebraska Review

Attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a tradition for many residents of Nebraska. The university is a symbol of the state, and the state's brightest minds. In large part to the nation-wide popularity of the football program, the university attracts students from all over the country. These brilliant minds come together to form the highest ranked school in the state, and a Top-50 Public National University.

Student Body

The students at the University of Nebraska are what you might expect of Nebraska. The university is known to be: white, middle-class and conservative. Though the university is known to recruit students across the nation, almost eighty percent of students are in-state. Due to the large representation of in-state students, the student body lacks diversity. African-American students make up a small minority on campus, and a good portion of them are on the school's athletic teams. Asians make up a very small portion of the body too, with many of them coming from China and Malaysia.

A good segment of the students at the university come from families with college-educated parents. While some students come from families with a lot of money, it is rare to see a student flaunt their family's wealth.

The students tend to be conservative in several ways. The dress of many students is simple - a t-shirt with blue jeans. Few students illustrate themselves as being different from the average student at the school. Brands such as J.Crew and Ralph Lauren are very rare on campus - making it a complete opposite of Miami University (Ohio).

Most Nebraska students attend class everyday and do their work. The number of students doing poor in class is as low as the number of students going well beyond in class. However, the university still attracts some of the best in-state students meaning one could see another Warren Buffet in the future.

Admissions

Acceptance into the University of Nebraska is not difficult. The university requires students score at least a 20 or higher on the ACT, or rank in the top-half of their graduating class. Despite the straight-forward admissions policy, the university only accepted 62% of those that applied last year.

Because many Nebraska residents knew from a young age that they would attend the University of Nebraska, the yield is the third highest in the nation at 72% - behind only Harvard and Brigham Young University.

Academics

The university is well known nationally for an assortment of programs, while the lesser-known programs are continuing to become more popular each year. The highest ranked programs come from: English, Chemistry and History. Other programs including those in the business school are working hard to gain national attention.

The school does a good job with academic support. Students of Nebraska find academic advising very easy to come by. Each school within the university has its own advising center, accepting walk-ins Monday through Friday. Some of the bigger programs such as English have advisers available on hand throughout the entire day. Other students will simply talk to the professors and setup an appointment. Many of the professors are very friendly, and enjoy helping students after class.

Sports

The athletics on campus are very popular. Football can be compared to attending church every Saturday. Fans pack Memorial Stadium with 85,000 fans each week. The program currently has the longest sell-out streak going, and will hit 300 consecutive sell-outs this year. Other programs such at volleyball are very popular and perform in front of sold out crowds all the time. The athletic department is known for recruiting the best in all of their sports. The football team's won five national championships, the volleyball team has won three, and the bowling team even won a national championship earlier this year.

Location

Arguably one of the best college towns in the nation, Lincoln, Nebraska provides both quiet and fun. Lincoln lacks the pollution, traffic and crime of big cities, but offers plenty of bars, music, and restaurants not found in a small town. Students at the university do not even need a car, as the campus connects to downtown making walking possible. The biggest downside to Lincoln is the cold weather. The city gets very cold in the winter due to its northern location and high winds. Thankfully the city's large support for the school warms things up around the area.

Rankings

Rankings from the Princeton Review rank the University of Nebraska as: #6 Jock School, #20 Most Conservative Students, and #17 Everyone Plays an Intramural Sport. Thereby concluding the student body mentioned above.

The University of Nebraska offers a solid education with plenty of fun. Students willing to capitalize on the academic resources at this university will do very well. Students looking for a school offering excitement on the weekend without a lot of drinking will find the school to be a great fit. The University of Nebraska offers both great academics and entertainment, in the heart of the Midwest.