Are school reviews on Yelp a thing? If not, I enjoy writing so here goes my review. Broken down by…read morecategories that matter to myself and many others.
Physical campus itself: 9/10. The nature is very well taken care of. The campus is designated as an arboretum, so you will find beautiful and rare plant species here. Easily walkable campus, short distance between buildings. Buildings are maintained pretty well. It's easy to imagine yourself going about your college life on this campus.
Professors: 6/10. In my experience, I found some gems that knocked 'it' (class discussions, readings, etc) out of the park. Other than those few gems, an unfortunate amount of professors at SU could take a teaching course or two. Experts in their respective fields, potentially, but could use some touching-up on conveying that expertise to students. You will learn-but expect a decent sum of it to truly be on you (unless you 'dig out' the aforementioned gems to help you along the way).
Extracurriculars/activities/involvement: 7/10. SU offers many different clubs for students to attend, from a Star Wars lightsaber club, to a club devoted to promoting sexual wellness, to a club just for education program students. How well these clubs are maintained/organized? It doesn't seem to be too well. They are a great place to make friends and connect with others (and snatch some freebies) for sure, though. SU student-run organizations host many different events, such as movie nights, concerts, comedians, and cultural festivals. These are all fun and run pretty smoothly. In each 'program' (education, business, etc.), there are often events and opportunities to meet with people who work in the respective field. Lots of opportunities to immerse yourself in your discipline once you are past your gen eds.
Education itself: 7/10. Perhaps as a result of COVID, I have noticed an uptick in professors relaying much of their assigned work to online platforms (think Canvas quizzes, discussion boards, etc.). In my opinion, putting a large portion of the learning online detracts from the education one pays for. This is, of course, a matter of opinion, but worth noting that much of what a student at SU does for learning is delegated to 'MyClasses' (even if the class meetings ARE completely face to face).
Even with the online-heavy coursework, I feel as if SU provides a solid education once you work your way through gen eds and make it to your program. If you think of the gen eds as a 'test' or precursor to being welcomed to a program, they are simply something you must work at and complete. SU's gen eds do just that. You will come out learning a bit about the given subject, but you will learn more about time management, communication, and other skills that must be heightened before entering a program.
Other/misc.: Parking at SU is rather difficult. Parking system consists of different pass colors with limited passes and parking spots. Class sizes are growing, too. You do not necessarily need a car, most everything around SU is walking distance. If you must bring your car, be ready for walking to and from lots and leaving very early to snag a spot (if you live off campus and drive).
Offices (financial aid, parking, etc.) respond very quickly and are relatively easy to work with. Financial aid is very thorough in answering questions and helping you through loan/scholarship/payment questions. The parking office staff, similar to the physical parking situation, can be a bit tricky. Very limited forgiveness or wiggle room if you mess up a bit. Student health center office has been great. They do not bill insurance. Prices are fair and cheaper than what you might pay as a co-pay, with very thorough and caring nurses and office staff. They are fantastic.
Please feel free to message me if you would like more advice or thoughts about SU. I enjoy writing (I'm a senior English major at the school) and would be glad to type out some more.
