Idaho State University
Reviews

High Props for Research, Medical Programs

Very research focused university. The medical programs are some of the best in the west. Nursing, pharmacy, and dental hygienist programs are very competitive, but affordable. Professors are experienced. Small classes make it a personal experience. Honors program allows for unique experiences. The career center is very helpful in helping determine a major and in obtaining a job. 100% of pharmacy graduates had jobs lined up after graduation last year. Many programs are good about following up with their grads and helping them find jobs.

No Alcohol, Quiet Hours

Pretty average. No alcohol in any building on campus, residential or not. The quiet hours are loosely enforced, but that's more the apathy and laziness of resident assistants than policy. Noisy neighbors and stinky pot were pretty much ignored by RA's. Public safety is everywhere, but not often called to residence halls. If you can keep quiet, no one will bother you.

Expensive, but Own Bedroom, Right in the Middle of Campus, Across the Street from the Library

I lived at the Rendezvous. It's a new and nice place to live. Classrooms downstairs, study rooms on every floor. The library is directly across the street. It was a bit spendy, the room and the food downstairs. The C store is open til 11. The prices are rather high but they know they can get them. Having your own bedroom is nice. Also own washer-dryer. Fridge in kitchen, able to have microwave. No other hot cooking appliances allowed, but easily hidden under the bed in your own room. Can't look there.

Student Activities

The library is huge with resources that students need. There is a reed gym with all sort of activities- wall climbing, indoor soccre, tennis, swimming etc.

The student involvement center offers a lot, there are outdoor activities for students.

Computer Labs

The computer labs are excellent and updated. Enough labs, printers and scanners. Students can take prints on a daily basis; no issues with the computers at all.

Dining

There are alot of places to go by near the campus. There is Nepal, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Hongkong, Thai, Indian and other cuisine. Most food places are very near to the campus.

Bad

If I could do it all over again, I would choose another school. ISU screws just about everything up! From over charging you to giving you a ticket (which you don't have to pay) because your PASS was covered by your sunshade. They make the teachers pay for bus passes to get down to Pocatello to teach, no one knows how to run anything and the programs are always screwed up. Plus, they try to get money out of you every way imaginable: Teachers pay for parking and bus passes, making visitors buy a parking pass, making you pay for an Bengal card (the first one is free, I'll give them credit for that)or you can't take anything out of the library or use the computers for school there. That should all be INCLUDED in the tuition! Making you take all the courses called "generals" to make an extra few thousand dollars a student. (They add new courses every few years) Plus they say they are running out of money so they don't print the students homework or syllabuses anymore. They make the student do it before class but they'll turn around and remodel something. The books are a complete rip off. They charge $200 dollars for a "ISU edition" of a certain book when you can find that EXACT same book online for $50. The difference? The math problems were in a different order or a word was changed here or there. When you go to sell it back, either they won't take it or they give you $20 for it and then turn around and sell it for $150. Most of the teachers are nice--lazy, but nice. There are a few who are complete idiots and teach crap that has nothing to do with the subject the student signed up for. ISU make you retake classes even though you are beyond the level. E.g. You take Spanish 300 and you pass with a B. You didn't take Spanish 101 but they will make you retake it or you won't be accepted into their programs. Obviously the student DID NOT need to take 101!!!! I'm trying to think of some good things...quite a few of the teachers are open minded and respect your opinions and beliefs, it's a cheap school (tuition wise, NOT counting tickets, buying passes etc.) and at least you get an education. But going through all that to get a two year degree...?? I'm still not sure I did the right thing.

Normal Idaho Weather

the spring semester has worse weather than fall semester. great atmosphere though.

ISU

ISU has been steadily going downhill and I no longer recommend people attend.

Slow Decline

ISU was a place where I would have recommended people go until about 2006. With the new president, Arthur Valias, the school has sadly been going into decline.

I was in the history program. At the time I went there was a focus on US history of World history. I chose world history to study since the US is so new to history. This side of the program has been shrinking.

The curriculum varies from professor to professor, but over all the work load is acceptable and the classes are not too large. Internships opportunities are non existent and I worked as a TA for credits since they could not afford to give me a paid stipend. I have heard this has become more of an issue.

Comedy and Bars

Not much nightlife. Couple bars. Flip-side lounge is new and exciting would suggest to anyone. Also there is a great Comedy Improv Troupe called The Comedy Project that performs every friday night on 2nd and Halliday at 10 pm. Its a late night show perfect for college kids. Plus it's super cheap. In walking distance of campus.

The campus is fairly diverse but...

The campus is fairly diverse but is influenced mainly by the Mormon culture. There are many exchange students from a variety of countries, but most of the students are from Idaho.

UNIQUE

MY SCHOOL IS UNIQUE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT LIKE A TYPICAL UNIVERSITY. YOU CAN SEE MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOCUSED INTO WHAT THEY ARE DOING INSTEAD OF GOOFING OF ALL THE TIME AND NOT PUTTING MUCH EFFORT. I ALSO LIKE HOW THEY TEACHERS ARE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP YOU. AND YOU CAN GET THAT ONE ON ONE EXPIRIENCE AT ALL TIMES.

Okay

Not exactly the best place to eat. The food is poor quality and I hardly ever eat there at all now. The food is also over priced. menus and variety are okay.

Pocatello is a very laid-back...

Pocatello is a very laid-back community. It is a liberal stronghold in an otherwise conservative state. The closest major university is Utah State, an hour and a half away. Definitely stay away from the railroad tracks unless you like carnies and other transients. Any mountain around Pocatello offers great chances to engage in many outdoor activities, like hiking.

Idaho State University

Besides technical and online-colleges, there are no other colleges or universities in the immediate areas. There isn't anything that particularly sets it apart from other schools, other than location. The school social activities are adequate, the classes are a lot of fun and interesting, the facilities and campus life are pretty decent.

Chartwells Catering

Chartwells Catering does well at ISU. They provide a plentiful array of choices and options. There are plenty of places to eat, a variety of styles, and it is good. My only complaint is that they close early, and only vending machines available throughout the night.

Professors Are Nice, Subjects Somewhat Limited

I am currently not attending, but will again this fall. Last time I attended I loved it. The professors are kind, and helpful. They provide a wide array of information in their subjects and personalize a lot of the work. I am pleased with it. While I love the classes and subjects I am taking, the variation is somewhat limited compared to larger-city colleges.

Journalism Is Great

I visited Idaho State last year when I was competing in the HSJA State conference. The Macs are great and ISU has an amazing Mass Comm Department.

Idaho State Off-Campus Dinning

Things are close, not great though. There's not a lot of discounts for students.

Idaho State

I highly enjoy the atmosphere of ISU. There are plenty of things to occupy oneself. It has beautiful grass areas and great places to study.

Financial Aid

I only had a few issues getting the funding I needed. They do allow payment plans though. If awarded work study, it's tricky to find an on-campus jobs. A lot of the employers simply rehire the students from last year. They also never posted the jobs online so students didn't even know where to go to find an on-campus job.

Campus Safety and Regulations

The campus safety was a pain in the behind. They do almost nothing but prowl the parking lots looking for people without permits, the wrong permits, or a meter which ran out. They think they're pretty hot shots. I heard they were pretty difficult to work with, but you could refuse to pay a ticket if needed. They try their best to catch on-campus drinking. If caught, the usual procedure is to meet with the dean of students, then academic probation is considered.

Idaho State University's Dining

The dining has definitely improved over the year. There is one main company who caters to the whole school; Chartwells. They do a great job of changing up the menu in the main dining hall - Turner Dining Hall. However, as far as variety goes on the rest of campus, there wasn't much. The student union building was under construction so there was no food available there, leaving only the dining hall and the rendezvous the only two places on campus to eat. The rendezvous served the same food every day, but does have many different options; wraps, subs, mexican, pizza, italian, salad, etc. The quality of the food was always very good though! Can't complain about good cooking! They also do a good job about catering towards vegetarians, vegans, and other such limited food decisions. They also hosted a lot of fun events where you could get dinner for free on the quad, or in the dining hall for being the first 100 to show up, or dressing up for Halloween or other things. It was a pretty great environment!

No Transportation

No transportation other than a friend or the bus system up and down campus.