dbonk

Okay, but Very Expensive

I personally like the dining services. The food is good, not great, and there's a decent variety, but it is nowhere near the quality you should get for what you pay. There is also a tax for meal card money, and a mandatory amount onto your meal card for students living on campus. If you don't spend it all, you lose the money. And the mandatory amount is almost always too much money, so many students lose hundreds of dollars. I give it a low grade mostly due to the financial reasons. There is also a small store for your meal card to use (also expensive).

Decent Diversity, but Not Much Racially Speaking

Valpo is like 85% white if I guessed off the top of my head. It's richness of diversity is in its foreign-exchange programs, political diversity. I don't care for politics and am American so these don't apply to me really, but it's there. There is little religious diversity as most of the school is Christian and Lutheran. A vast majority of the student population is middle to upper middle class white people.

Strict Overall. It's Not a State School.

Valpo is a private school and a dry campus. The party scene is very alive and well, but very contained and small. VUPD will stop people regularly. I've been to multiple state schools where students didn't make a second thought on carrying open alcohol containers in the streets, driving drunk, and sometimes even passing out shots in the football parking lot before the homecoming game. Not a chance in hell can you get away with that at Valpo. The dorms have fairly strict rules, but it mostly depends on your RA. I was never upset be Valpo's rules or policies outside of making my fraternity's risk managing a very serious concern lest we be arrested by campus police.

It's So Safe It's Boring.

The worst things that happen at Valpo are usually people getting busted in the dorms with alcohol or something. It's a very safe and friendly environment.

Present Enough to Be Fun

I haven't seen much drug use on campus, but know several people that smoke weed off campus. I have never seen any hard drugs being used, and know of only one person to have cocaine access. Alcohol is plentiful, and many people drink in the dorms, but it's so hard and discrete because of Valpo's enforced dry campus. Most of the drinking is at fraternity parties, and over a third of the undergraduates are Greek. Overall, I feel that Valpo has a healthy and safe drug and alcohol presence, but naturally that will vary with the kind of parties you go to. Some fraternities are typically deemed unsafe whereas other fraternities are reputed for being safe and responsible. Sororities don't have houses at Valpo and don't apply.

Great. Best Decision of My Life.

I am studying meteorology, and Valpo is among the very top in the nation for undergraduate meteorology. Valpo is very expensive, but I get my money's worth because of the meteorology program. I'm a C student mostly at Valpo for Met, but would probably be an A student if I went to a lesser school. We have senior and junior courses that are typically seen in graduate programs, very competent and intelligent professors, and a small family-like major. The people are what make Valpo. It's a small school where everyone practically knows each other. I am a Sigma Pi and am happy to say that my brothers are the reason why I love to come back to Valpo every year. Greek life is excellent for a school so small, and there is little to no hazing unlike at large state schools. The small size of Valpo is one of its greatest advantages for all students. Professors are more like friends and the departments are so small that you get to know all of your fellow students. I love Valpo and recommend it to all.

Nothing Special.

Valpo is a good sized town, but there's not much excitement or things to do outside of drinking at fraternity parties. There are some good restaurants and a movie theater within close distance.

Good, and a Lot Cheaper Than on-Campus

There is decent availability, good availability for fraternities, and no availability for sororities. The main advantage is that it's so much cheaper than living on-campus because Valpo is so expensive.

Good, Everyone Is Friendly

I really like the people at Valpo. There's a general good quality to the student population. The small school atmosphere allows you to be friends with a good portion of the school, if you be social and go to parties and stuff.