pegan

Food Is Fine--Lines Can Be Long

Food on campus is fine. They try hard to offer healthy options and organic produce. The variety is OK. Main issue is waiting in long lines when you are on a break during class and you just want to get a coffee or something.

Free Campus Parking for Commuters

Mills works hard to provide parking on campus for commuters. You get a free parking sticker ($50 replacement cost if you lose it), and there are a reasonable number of lots. Parking at Mills is MUCH better than at Berkeley.

Immediate Vicinity Is Not Great--San Francisco & Berkeley Nearby

If you are willing/able to live in a better neighborhood, Mills is easy to get to and there is plenty of commuter parking available. The IMMEDIATE neighborhood is not great--do not go off on your own to explore. The fun stuff is in San Francisco, Berkeley, and other parts of the Bay Area. Having a car is a big help, but there is a shuttle bus directly to Berkeley and to BART (the metropolitan subway system). The best part of the immediate area is the Oakland Hills, with hiking, biking, running, and equestrian trails. If you want to explore, take Collete Bowker's hiking class.

Professors Set High Standards & Expectations; Help Available

I am very happy with my classes. They are challenging; the profs are available; TAs help a lot. Registration process is online--easy. Library is fine and librarians are helpful. For specialized work, it helps to have access to a major university's resources such as special databases. Caution: the advisers might encourage you to take a full courseload. If so, be prepared to drop a course lest you end up entirely overloaded.

MBA Program

The MBA program is still young and growing. My classmates are awesome--an amazing group of women, with a small cohort of men. The curriculum is solid. Do not assume that this is an easy program. You will work hard for your grades. Lots of group/team projects. I very much like the community--not a shark tank. Many students are interested in corporate social responsibility and green businesses. We have a beautiful new building--check the website. Basically, this is a program that's growing in stature. There is still flexibility and room for growth. If you want to start something new, there is plenty of opportunity.

Safe Campus Surrounded by Dubious Neighborhood

The campus itself feels safe, although with the current economy there have been some instances of petty theft. The campus police tell you to keep your valuables locked up and out of sight. The administration is good about keeping students informed of any issues. You wouldn't want to walk around the immediate neighborhood at night.

Dedicated Computer Lab for MBA Students

MBA students have a dedicated computer lab. There is one b/w printer with an adequate supply of paper. I ring my own laptop to class and the wireless network is generally reliable. We receive fair warning when the network will be down for system upgrades. The Outlook email is a little limited, so you need to clear out old emails and download attached documents to your desktop. Otherwise, your email account can max out on space and then you're stuck. The MBA computer lab is a basic PC lab--fine but not extraordinary.

Facilities Are Fine--Campus Is Lovely

Mills has always been a very lovely, architecturally beautiful campus. The college takes pride in its appearance. Campus maps and overall layout make it an easy campus to navigate. The student center, library, and gym are friendly places. The locker rooms in the gym could use an upgrade. For dance majors, the floors and mirrors are beautiful, with accompanists during most classes.

Mills has a campus art museum, concert hall, and many special places where students can enjoy life outside the classroom.