Niagara had it faults, but I'd definitely recommend it.
Written: Jun 24 '04 (Updated Jun 24 '04)
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Pros: Location (because of Canada), small class size, strong academic programs.
Cons: Location (because of Niagara Falls NY). Pricey for some. Criminally expensive book store.
The Bottom Line: Niagara university has it faults, but overall it is a very good school. It may be a bit expensive, but a bargain compared to other private colleges.
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| napoleon123's Full Review: Niagara University |
*updated*
I attended Niagara U from 1996 to 2000. It’s a smaller school that is traditional Vincentian (Catholic) but is more or less a liberal arts college. Here’s my take:
FACILITIES:
The Good-
The school itself is easy on the eyes. Uncluttered, yet buildings were not overly spaced out. Most of the buildings, save a few, were fairly modern. The Gym and pool facilities were above standard and the equipment for the most part was in good condition. The hockey arena was state of the art while the basketball gym where the games were held had an old-school gym yet modern appearance. The hours to use most facilities were very reasonable, often well into the night. The library was pretty small but the staff there was helpful and friendly, if they didn’t have the book you needed, they were more then happy to find another library for you to get it. The groundkeepers kept the landscape looking neat and clean. The grass was always good looking and trash was something hardly seen on campus. Dunlevy hall, which some classes are taught, had a large auditorium, and many modern looking classes. Most of the facilities were within a short walking distance. Clet and Lynch hall student dorms were pretty good. The art museum on campus rivals some smaller city museum collections.
The Bad: The bookstore was overpriced to the point of downright criminal. Barns and Nobles should be ashamed of the racket they run on campus. St. Vincent was well overdue for a restoration. Parts of the building you could feel the floor creaking as you walked and paint on some walls would chip away if you stared at them too long. Some of the classrooms were shabby in appearance, old looking ceiling tiles. (One important note that should be taken is that St Vincent’s got a big overhaul a few months after I graduated. I haven’t been back since to see it.) Oshea hall reeks of vomit due to countless past drinking parties in that building. Rooms are also small in Oshea and Seton hall. The dining facility was hit or miss. Sometimes you got halfway decent food, other times it was scary. Sunday Brunch was the only meal that was consistently good. If you have a car, parking can be nightmarish due to the fact there is little parking space for everyone’s cars.
PROFESSORS:
The Good- Many were PHD holders or close to getting one. Most knew their subjects well and tried to give students individual attention. Many encouraged open debate in class as opposed to dictating. Will put in the extra effort to insure you do well.
The Bad- some of associate professors are very hard to find after class hours, and/or have really odd office hours. Be on the lookout for senile (though amusing) philosophy professors.
EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT:
The Good- Small class sizes, even entry-level classes rarely exceed 40 people. Challenging coursework.
The Bad- some professors were very anal about how they wanted their papers done.
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT:
The Good- People for the most part were friendly. There were many social clubs, trips, and gathering opportunities. 19 is the drinking age in Canada. Female to male ratio (for straight males) . Decent student diversity considering the schools small size. No major frats or sororities last I was there. Did I mention 19 was the legal drinking age in Canada?
The Bad- Younger students tended to be very "cliquey" rarely ventured outside of their own group of friends. Gossip of the high school variety. Female to male ratios (for straight females) Don’t expect many good parties on campus, not a huge party school. No major frats or sororities last I was there.
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:
The Good- Close to great nightlife in Canada, a little over an hour away from the city of Toronto. The Niagara falls and the Niagara River gorge is a wonderful sight and experience. Cheap rent off campus.
The Bad- Niagara Falls NY. It’s quite a depressing area once you venture a few miles away from the school and into town. Gross and smelly garbage dump near the town. In fact, just avoid the NY side of Niagara Falls as much as possible.
COST:
The Good- Cheap for a private institution. Generous financial aid packages. Level tuition plan in which student pays slightly extra each year in exchange for a guaranteed fixed tuition rate for the next 3 years when tuition goes up.
The Bad- Still expensive for some.
SPORTS:
The Good- Many different interscholastic sports. Division I sport programs, basketball and hockey being the biggest.
The Bad- No Division I football program.
ACADEMIC MAJORS:
The Good: Business. Teaching. Biology. History. Criminal justice. Sociology. MBA. Social Work. Chemistry. All hold major national accreditations.
The Bad: The otherwise great nursing program was axed. Sub-par and outdated computer information science program.
THE STRAIGHT FACTS: (Note that some of this information may be slightly off since some of it is based on information from 2002-2003)
How many? 2800 students. 2200 undergrads, 600 graduates. 1500 live on campus.
How much? Tuition, $18,000. Room and board, $7,000. Fees, books, $2000. Average financial aid package, $13,000.
Who's there? 61 percent female, 39 percent male. 92 percent white. 8 percent non-white.
The standards for getting in? Average incoming freshman has a 1030 SAT. 22 is the average ACT. Average GPA of accepted undergrads is 3.0.
ADVICE FOR THOSE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ATTENDANCE:
1. Take the level tuition plan. The 02-03 tuition went up at least 30% since I was an undergrad just 2 years before that. You may pay a few hundred extra a year, but the way tuition goes up yearly, it will save you in the long run.
2. Get all of the financial aid you can. Get on this early. Having an incoming GPA at 3.2 or even below may get you at least a partial scholarship and possibly more if your grades are good early on in the first year. Niagara is very good about financial aid packages, but it’s up to you to insure you get the best package.
3. Get a campus job. They are often not very difficult and you can often do your homework while at work.
4. If you don't like noise, you might want to avoid O'shea hall. O'Shea is the party dorm. Seton hall is a tad quieter but the rooms are a bit cramped. The best rooms are in Lynch and Clet hall as they are larger rooms. They are usually reserved for upperclassmen, but they often don't fill to capacity.
5. Get off-campus arrangements as soon as you are allowed (when I was there you had to live on campus 2 years unless you had different circumstances like kids, spouse, etc, not sure if this still applies). The rent for apartments near campus is extremely cheap and costs alot less then forking over 7 large a year to stay on campus. It allows more privacy and freedom.
6. There are rules on campus concerning visiting hours and drinking. However, many of these rules are rarely enforced. In other words, RAs (resident assistants) wont come crashing down your door if you sneak a girl or boy or keg (which is technically illegal, but again rarely enforced) into your room after hours. As long as you don’t do anything stupid IN the hallway or common areas (such as being a female and going into the male bathroom while men are on the can, and trying to use the male urinals to be funny, or being 18 years old and going to the RA desk with a 40 ounce in your hand) RAs will leave you alone. In your rooms, pretty much anything (within reason) goes unless you are being a major disturbance.
7. You may want to have a car to get around by your sophomore year. Yes, you may end up being your floors taxi, but being confined to campus bumming rides from others may get old.
8. Here’s a biggie, when going from and to the US/Canadian border, if you have a friend or 2 in the car you took that wasn't born in the USA, MAKE SURE they have their proper paperwork with them and make sure you don't tick off the border guards on either side. I can tell you horror stories of people being detained at the border for hours because someone in the car was either A: Being a moron, or B: Had an international student in the car that didn't have their proper documents.
9. If you end up switching majors, make sure you do it early. Waiting at the last minute (IE end of your sophomore or early junior year) to switch majors at NU is an expensive and painful mistake.
10. Make lots of friends. Don't stick to the same group of friends your whole time at NU. Some may transfer, drop out, or just tick you off. You never know. Its good to be flexible and know different people. Being the campus anti-social will insure a miserable 4 years.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
napoleon123
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Member: Uriel
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Born and raised in Pittsburgh PA. History Degree from Niagara U. Aged 30.
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