University of Puget Sound
Reviews

Very Good Education

The professors really care about their students. The class sizes are small, I think the biggest class that I had there was about 50 students.

Polish Women VS UPS Women

In comparison to where I came from, UPS girls are not up to par.

Average Amount of Drugs

Keep in mind, there are a decent amount of hippies at the University of Puget sound. In the first couple weeks of school, there have already been several drug busts in Anderson/Langdon Hall. It's not prevalent enough to the point you have to smoke, though. People here are accepted regardless.

Drugs

the drug scene at UPS is part of the college experience. It does really depend on who your friends are, some people do it others have very strong opinions against it. Drinking is so big just at parties usually.

Stay on Task

The work load at the University of Puget Sound is certainly higher than other schools. Because of that, it is extremely important to manage your time well and keep up in class.

Best School in the Northwest.

Pretty much the only thing that would have persuaded me from going somewhere other than UPS would be along the lines a full ride to an ivy league school. Since that isn't in the realm of possibility for me, UPS is a perfect fit. People are excited to be here, are excited to learn, and are happy to be part of the Puget Sound community.

Campus Security Is Lenient; but No Push-Over

For the most part, if you're doing something illegal and campus security sees you, they're going to do something about it. Whether its walking back to your dorm with a beer in your hand or smoking marijuana, they're generally going to stop you. However, the implications are almost non-existent. Security will simply tell you to pour out your beverage or confiscate illegal drugs, then send you on your way. If you're smart about what you're doing, then you won't have a single problem the four years you are here.

Safeway or the Met

Nothing much to do on or within walking distance of campus on weekends. Owning a car opens up more options, but Tacoma is a rather bland city.

One of the Better Features of UPS

Parking is relatively abundant, and permits are free and easily acquired.

More Cost-Effective

Even if the school is paying for your on-campus housing, off-campus housing is more cost efficient, especially if you are living with a roommate. The housing selection is nice and there are plenty of houses and apartments for rent around campus that are reasonably priced.

Weather at UPS

It gets dreary in the winter, but the rain is worth it because the campus is beautiful. Also, nothing on campus is far apart, so it's not much of an issue. However, the fields get incredibly muddy and some paths get flooded when it rains heavily.

Parking

Parking is free, but you have to register through security. A car is not essential but useful. There is always somewhere to park on campus.

Downtown Tacoma Has a Plethora of Eating Options

There are a ton of options for dining off campus near 6th ave, the Proctor district, and downtown. My favorite place for breakfast is Shakabrah Java, a quirky cafe that many students frequent. SMS Deli, Origin 23 coffee roasters and Renaissance Cafe (downtown) are great for lunch and snacks. Take a quick bus ride straight to Mad Hat Tea Company on Commerce for a really cheap cup of tea and great conversations with Tobin and Maureen, the friendly and wise store owners. For pizza, go to Fratelli's, Garlic Jim's (which serves gluten free pizza), or Nick-N-Willy's. If you want a more ethnic dinner, go to Gateway to India, Wild Orchid, Silk Thai, or grab cheaper food at Bento Teriyaki on 6th.

Other Than Weed, Drugs Aren't Prevalent

The drug scene at Puget Sound is pretty small, with only a handful of students doing hard drugs on a regular basis. Many students will try smoking marijuana or hookah at least once before they graduate, but there isn't a lot of pressure to do it if smoking isn't your thing. Most students are satisfied with drinking, and smoking isn't huge in the non-hippie crowds.

Campus Safety

Students generally feel safe on campus. UPS just installed the "blue light emergency system", which helps students contact security if there is a problem, and security is always patrolling campus, day and night. If you're within a mile of campus, security can escort you at night and they often offer rides to students (drunk or sober) from party places to campus without busting them. Most people don't experience theft, but the occasional bike or computer is stolen, so locking your bike and your door when you're out is recommended.

Silk Thai is the best Thai...

Silk Thai is the best Thai restaurant in town and totally within walking distance, although a bit pricey. Not much else as far as international cuisine goes. Hope you like teriyaki burger joints!

You get in major trouble drinking...

You get in major trouble drinking on campus, but people do it anyway in their dorm rooms. Your best bet is to go off-campus for partying, however, which most people do, so campus is generally pretty quiet at night.

Sleepy little coffee town, crazy...

Sleepy little coffee town, crazy campus. Last year Ben Folds and Hillary Clinton came to our campus (not together), so you rarely have to leave for high profile entertainment. But if you want to, Seattle is just 30 minutes away on the freeway! The bus ride is $3.

Todd/Phibbs is the party dorm; if...

Todd/Phibbs is the party dorm; if you like staying up late and always having people around, go for it, but if you ever want peace and quiet, stay away. Other than that, the freshman dorms are pretty much all the same. There are a some theme-living freshman dorms/floors, including the outdoors dorm, the substance-free and healthy living floors, and a couple of floors grouped by freshman seminar classes. Upperclassmen dorms are much nicer, especially Trimble, where you share a living room, bathroom, and kitchen with 3-5 friends, and University, where you share a living room and bathroom with a couple other people. Overall though, the dorms at UPS are WAY better than at other universities.

The facilities are really nice at...

The facilities are really nice at UPS. The computer labs are completely up-to-date, with the exception of printers, which tend to fail when you need them most. The athletic facilities are small but complete, and they are never so full that you have to leave. We have a pool that is open almost all the time for lap swimming, a rock climbing wall, and a pretty extensive weight room. The SUB (student union building) houses the cafeteria (with everything from a sandwich deli counter way better than Subway, to Asian food, to a vegetarian/vegan station, to burgers and fries, to an excellent salad bar), one of the two cafés on campus, the bookstore, the information center (where you can buy tickets to all sorts of events happening on-campus and find out about events and activites off-campus), and a pizza place with ice cream and any topping you could imagine for late-night eating. UPS also has an art gallery, consistantly available practice rooms with pianos for music students, and very nice dorm rooms compared to other colleges.

Campus security and RAs are really...

Campus security and RAs are really strict about drinking and drugs. If you get caught, you get written up, period. And once you get a certain number of write-ups, you have to go to "court," where they decide what your punishment should be, which can include loss of scholarships and expulsion.

Rainy most of the time. September...

Rainy most of the time. September has the potential to still be very warm here. Don't bring an umbrella---it shows you're new to the area. Bring coats, jeans, sweats, sweatshirts, tennis shoes. Some people get dressed up for class---we judge them. Don't forget to bring some nice attire for dates or job interviews.

The four places to get food on...

The four places to get food on campus are The SUB (Student Union Building), Diversions Café, the Oppenheimer Café, and the Cellar. The SUB has above-average college food. The sandwiches are good, and there are a lot of options: Italian, Asain, Mexican, Vegeterian, Grill, FullFare, Sandwich Station, and fully organic salad bar. Diversions Café is a joke---it takes forever to get a coffee. Oppenheimer has really friendly staff and fast service. Get coffee, cookies, wraps, and other snacks here. The Cellar is amazing; great pizza and junk food.

Typical student at UPS: Female,...

Typical student at UPS: Female, jeans, geeky with a possibilty to be attractive if she tried. If you're looking for really hot good-looking people, don't choose UPS. The girl-to-guy ratio is really clearly different. If you are a straight guy, there are a lot of options.

Parties on campus really vary....

Parties on campus really vary. There are a few good big frat/soroity parties each year. You can find a party basically anywhere on any weekend. There are limited clubs in Tacoma, but the bars are pretty good. I like the Engine House 9, Ferrellis, and The Matador.