University of Iowa
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Majors: Political Science and International Relations double major
Minor: Religious Studies
Student Self Identifies as: Caucasian Heterosexual Male
Summary
I have [a leadership position] in my fraternity and Hillel.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public school outside of Minneapolis, MN with a graduating class of about 900 students in my graduating class. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Majors: Political Science and International Relations double major
Minor: Religious Studies
Extracurricular Activities: I have [a leadership position] in my fraternity and Hillel.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
Both leadership positions have because I’m representing such a large body of people. I have had to do things that I never thought I’d have to do, like call bowling alleys and restaurants for organizing events, using Photoshop and Canva to make marketing materials, and going to meetings where I met people I never thought I’d meet that I don’t have anything in common with.
Academic Experience
Can you describe the weekly coursework for your majors?
For both Political Science and International Relations, there are a lot of reading assignments and in-class discussions. For both, there are two or three exams per class and a few quizzes throughout the semester.
Is there anything you feel either of your majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
The University of Iowa is very good in that there are so many different types of classes you can choose from – sometimes it’s too much. I never thought I’d have a minor in Religious Studies, but here I am with my minor already completed because they have so many amazing classes. Then, for Political Science, Iowa is one of the most important states when it comes to political advocacy in the United States because of the Iowa caucus every four years. The Iowa caucus is a huge thing here.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It definitely depends on which department or class you’re in. It can be competitive in the sense that there are going to be people who have a competitive mindset. In my classes, there is not a curve so people will work together on group projects and study together.
How accessible are your professors?
They are pretty accessible. It depends on the professor, but, for the most part, they’re pretty good about it.
Do you feel people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
There are a lot of Republicans, there are a lot of Liberals, and I’m a moderate, and there are a lot of moderates. A lot of people will argue, but there is a lot of compromise and bipartisanship. Everybody has a different mindset in the classroom.
Why did you pick your majors? Are you happy with your choice?
I was an International Relations and Religious Studies double major, but then changed it to a double major in International Relations and Political Science with a minor in Religious Studies because I want to have a job in politics after college.
Reasons to Attend
1) You have the opportunity to go to Kinnick Stadium and participate in The Wave.
2) Iowa City has so many bars, it’s a lot of fun. If you like partying, Iowa is a fun place to be.
3) There is great Greek life, no matter what kind of fraternity you’re interested in.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) If you don’t like the cold, be prepared to buy a coat.
2) There are a ton of White people at the school and in Iowa City. [The population of Iowa City is about 80% White and the population of the University of Iowa is about 74% White.]
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Currier Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: I live in an off-campus apartment
How was transitioning from your hometown in Minnesota to Iowa City, IA in terms of location?
Even though Iowa is just below Minnesota, there’s a lot of differences. Minnesota is much more populated and a lot colder than Iowa. There are also a lot more cornfields here. But Iowa City is one of the best college towns in the United States and it’s gorgeous.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
There are some alleyways in Iowa City where there are a lot of homeless people. I’ve heard of people having problems with that. Otherwise, the only violence you will see are drunk people at the local bars.
Social Opportunities
What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you participate in at Iowa?
I’m in a fraternity, so that’s usually the bulk of my nightlife and weekend activities. Another thing I do is go to Shabbat dinner through Hillel. There are a ton of bars in Iowa City and they are always busy. Bars are the main place to go once you’re 21.
What is the impact of Greek life on the weekend options at the University of Iowa?
At Iowa, we have a lot of fraternities and it’s a large part of the culture, especially on Saturdays before a football game. With fraternities, it’s big because if you are not a brother of the fraternity hosting the tailgate, you usually can’t be there.
How happy are you with the weekend options at the University of Iowa? Is there anything you would change if you could?
It’s perfect. I wouldn’t change anything.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
Through my fraternity and Hillel.
How would you describe the overall social scene?
It really depends on the person at Iowa. For me, since I’m heavily involved in the Jewish community, my social scene is largely the Jewish community since Jews tend to stick with other Jews. Also, my fraternity plays a big role in my social life, so it’s very rare that I hang out with people outside of those two groups of people. But, when I do, it’s usually at parties or meeting potential new members of a fraternity or taking people out for coffee for Hillel, and stuff like that.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
For gay students, I think it’s common to mix. I had a few gay fraternity brothers and they loved Iowa. There’s a gay bar in Iowa City that’s a phenomenal bar that people like to go to. There are very few African-Americans and very few Hispanics on campus, so that makes mixing with those groups more difficult. [The student population is about 3% Black, 8% Latino, 4% Asian, and 74% White.]
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
Every fraternity brother is free and able to make whatever other friends they want to make. I have friends that are not in the fraternity and my best friend in the fraternity has friends that aren’t in the fraternity. It’s common to have people in my fraternity have their group of friends in the fraternity and that be their main group, but then have their own separate friends outside of the fraternity.
How do you like the size of Iowa in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [There are about 23,000 undergraduates at the University of Iowa.]
I love the size here. I didn’t want to go to a super huge school, and this is the right size for me.
Careers
Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
Yeah, a lot. I was offered an internship for this summer through an alum, and I’m sure that I’ll be offered other internships through alumni over the next two years.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve mostly used it for submitting my resume so it can get edited.
Have you learned any computer programs or languages that will be helpful to you professionally?
I have not learned anything more than just basic Excel.