University of Wyoming (UW)

The only four-year university in the state, University of Wyoming has a lot to offer students with its large campus and small class sizes that give students the best of both worlds, and teachers "work hard for the students," "care about the material they are teaching and make it interesting," and are "knowledgeable and supportive." Doors are always open, and professors are "always happy to talk to you about experiences with work or research or school." Student Support resources are similarly very helpful; though there have been complaints of recent budget cuts, "there are a lot of options for academic help as well as personal help if you are going through a rough time." In that vein, school advisors "really get to know you and try to find the best options for you." Professors actually teach the classes instead of relying on TAs, and "eager to clarify any topics both in the classroom as well as in office hours." These dedicated instructors often assist with club programs, and are happy to help students in those clubs make connections with working professionals to improve their chances of finding future employment. The variety of courses available to students is a huge draw (there are more than 80 undergraduate majors to choose from), with a lot of niche classes and "some engineering programs that aren't found in many other universities." Students support one another and "although some programs are competitive, it is not very cutthroat." On top of the quality education available right on campus, the school also has "great study abroad programs." The university also offers research to undergraduate students as early as their first semester, for those that want to begin padding their academic résumé.

The University of Wyoming student body "is not full of the stereotypical cowboys" that many would expect; this is a young (mostly white) university composed of "a strong mix of western blue collar cowboy culture mixed with the more liberal ideas of bordering Colorado," all of which "combines to create a very libertarian atmosphere." There are quite a few veterans and international students here, and a simple stroll through campus lets one "see the wide range of personal expression that makes our campus a fun place." School pride is the best at UW and "there is always a sea of gold on Saturdays. We bleed brown and gold and aren't afraid to show it." To wit, "everyone here is in support of the WHOLE state, not just our region."

Wyoming is "known for how untouched by civilization it is," and the small town of Laramie is almost entirely college-oriented. Lots of people go swing dancing, hike, fish, and ski, and "hunting is common." The outdoors is very important to the majority of the student body, and "Yes, it gets cold and snowy, but that just means the snow sculptures students make last longer!" University of Wyoming athletics are "always enjoyable to watch" and the newest addition to the campus is "a huge gym." Despite the great wide open that characterizes the state of Wyoming, the campus itself is condensed into "a smallish area" so students can walk to class from any building and be there in under ten minutes.

Outside of Laramie, it's easy enough to travel to Cheyenne or Fort Collins for shopping or other activities. The university sponsors plenty of events to keep students occupied, such as "movie nights, musical productions, [and other] de-stressors," and on Thursdays there is always live music in the student union, as well as some event usually scheduled for Friday evening.