University of Tennessee Reviews

I live off campus and love it....

I live off campus and love it. There are buses that can pick you up and take you to class. Prices are pretty good, and most off-campus living is right across the street from campus in Fort Sanders.

It really depends on where you...

It really depends on where you look and when. When it comes to finding housing, the earlier the better. Living off campus does provide an increased sense of freedom, but it can also come at a price, especially with the newer complexes and the ones closer to campus.

There is plenty of housing, and it...

There is plenty of housing, and it is reasonably priced. It is better if you value privacy. Make sure it is close to campus to avoid long commutes. In my opinion, living on campus is still a better choice for price and convenience.

Transportation is really good in...

Transportation is really good in UT. Parking is horrible, so you definitely need to take advantage of the buses. Knoxville Area Transportation (KAT) offers services late at night, too.

There are always parties. The bars...

There are always parties. The bars are clubs aren't worth it unless you're over 21. The bouncers are usually pretty lax, though, especially with girls!

It is very convenient, but one of...

It is very convenient, but one of the only down falls is that the off-campus housing is usually a 12-month lease. If you are planning to go home for the summer or just not stay in Knoxville, it is hard to find someone to sublease. Since parking is nearly impossible, it is much better to live in the Fort area instead of living where you have to drive to campus.

The parties are fun if you know...

The parties are fun if you know people at them. House parties are okay, but I prefer parties at smaller apartments or frat houses. The bars and clubs are pretty lame most of the time, unless you hit them on good nights. I guess the most popular ones are Bar Knoxville and New Amsterdam on the strip.

We have the free trolley to go...

We have the free trolley to go downtown, and the KAT system is pretty cheap. You do have to wait a significant time for the public KAT bus if you want to go anywhere away from campus.

The restaurants around campus are...

The restaurants around campus are great. There is a good variety within walking distance. Most of the restaurants on the strip are good. The Sunspot is amazing, especially on wine night! Moe's is always a good choice.

The network is good, except for...

The network is good, except for certain spots around campus. The labs in the library are always crowded, so it's good to have your own computer.

The food is okay. The dining halls...

The food is okay. The dining halls don't offer that much variety from day to day.

If you ever mess up, there is one...

If you ever mess up, there is one important thing to remember—most professors are like motorcycle cops. They have heard every excuse in the book, and they are usually on to any lame excuse you might make. I missed an exam in a class taught by one of the toughest instructors in the department who clearly stated in the syllabus, ‘no exam make-ups.’ I overslept on exam day and woke up hours after it was over. I contacted the instructor, explained honestly what happened, and he allowed me to take the missed exam that day. It may not always work out this way, but a good rule of thumb in this situation is to always be honest and show respect.

For a freshman, Humes, South...

For a freshman, Humes, South Carrick, and Morrill are all great. Avoid Clement if you aren’t into the old-building feel, and know that Humes has the best staff.

If you are a guy that prefers the...

If you are a guy that prefers the blond-haired, blue-eyed, classy, and posh Southern Belle, UT could be considered their capital. You will not be disappointed.

You have your hot ones, and you...

You have your hot ones, and you have your not so hot ones, but they are all pretty good. Some girls are rather intimidating at first, but most are just afraid of what the other girls they see are thinking about them, and sometimes, guys act the same way.

As much as some UT students...

As much as some UT students bellyache about how the athletes get special treatment, the football experience makes it more bearable. You will love UT during football season, and even if you aren’t that big of a football fan, you will miss it when it is not football season. You will begin counting down the days until the next home game in January.

There are students that never miss...

There are students that never miss out on a football game, home or away. While some of the away games are a bit of a drive, they can be great road trips. They are also a great chance to experience other campuses, and if you are in a fraternity or sorority, you can visit your chapter at their campus.

My experience at UT has been good,...

My experience at UT has been good, but Tennessee is suffering because they don’t have an income tax, so many programs are being cut at UT, and tuition is on the rise. It’ll be interesting to see how the state legislature deals with the funding problem.

I’m a very picky person, and I had...

I’m a very picky person, and I had a list of eight schools I was going to apply to, but after visiting UT, it was the only school I applied to. I’m not trying to beef up UT because I know how stressful it is to have to decide on a school, but I like it a lot.

I thought it would be real...

I thought it would be real different, too different from what I am used to at home in Long Island, New York, but I actually found it to be very nice. I love the mountains and the beautiful Tennessee scenery. In the South, there are definitely the accents, and everything is a little more slow paced.

Football is awesome. We have the...

Football is awesome. We have the second biggest football stadium in the country, and I am sure that if you are interested in watching sports, UT is 10 times better than any other school you could choose. The Lady Vols (women’s basketball) are always one of the top two or three teams in the country with a powerhouse team, and we have numerous NCAA and Southeastern Conference indoor titles and an NCAA Mideast Regional title outdoors. In men’s sports, we have great baseball and tennis teams, as well. I could keep going! Intramural sports are popular—it is just something to do, though. It isn’t anything that you hear about much.

Varsity sports are huge at UT,...

Varsity sports are huge at UT, ever since we were the national champions in football. UT football is one of the biggest things in Tennessee. Football game days are the bomb. There are about 150,000 people swarming campus and the strip, and if you are working as a server on that day, you will make at least $200. Football games are so much fun! I strongly encourage you to go to football games. I even went to a couple of away games last year, like the SEC championship in Atlanta!

Parking will be a nightmare for...

Parking will be a nightmare for you if you are one of those people who must park right in front of your building. If you are okay with walking a short distance to get to and from your car when you park, it is no problem.

Parking is the only slightly...

Parking is the only slightly negative thing about UT. I’ll give it to you straight—they sell more non-commuter tags than there are spaces. Just the same, I was never stranded without a space to park. There will always be a garage, even if it’s a mile away. If you’re way out there, you can take Blinky (University van service) back to your dorm. They also give out parking tickets like candy if you don’t park where you’re supposed to park. It’s very clear where to park and where not to, so just follow the rules and you won’t get 12 tickets like my roommate and I did! Don’t worry too much—each ticket is $12, and you can sometimes argue your way out of one.

IM sports are gaining popularity,...

IM sports are gaining popularity, and lots of people are involved in them. Sports are huge on campus. Most people who come to UT come because of the football team. UT football is a way of life in Tennessee. We were the national champions in ‘98, and everyone pretty much went nuts after that. There are people who live in Knoxville that would sell their first born child for UT football tickets. I am not exaggerating. The two big sports are UT football and women’s basketball. They are two of the best teams in the nation.