University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesAcademics Summary

Written by Vishakha Mathur

Vishakha Mathur

Hometown

New Delhi, India

Major

Communication Studies

Grad Year

2014

View all previous student authors

The University of Minnesota is known for its good academic standing. With more than 130 undergrad majors and minors to choose from, students tend to find their niche. The U of M also offers an option for students to design their own major if the two choices are in two different colleges. ICP (Inter-College Program) allows for students to concentrate on one major for two to three years and then onto the next. The College of Liberal Arts is the biggest college at U of M, while the most difficult majors seem to be the engineering ones. The most common major for students entering the U is "undecided, " which is why U offers classes in career exploration. One of the most common academic majors is psychology. Another viable option that many students take advantage of is the study abroad or national exchange programs. There are many options to study in other places, with substantial financial aid available and flexible class schedules, too. Other students like to research or do internships with various opportunities available on campus and in the surrounding area.

The most common problem that students encounter is the class sizes. A lot of the popular introductory courses are in big lecture halls with between 100 and 400 students. Therefore, it is obviously difficult for the instructor to provide individual attention to all, but such classes tend to have a recitation/lab component with a TA. This is a good place to address any concerns and questions. The classes get more personal as one advances in his or her major classes. Grading is at the discretion of the TA, so sometimes it can be unfair based on who grades the assignments. The professors can be reached via email or in person during their office hours. Overall, professors and TAs are highly educational contributors to the community and willing to help students learn.