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University of Puget Sound Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See University of Puget Sound reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending University of Puget Sound. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free University of Puget Sound reviews, or contribute your own University of Puget Sound review if you're a current student there.

  • 3 out of 3 people found this review useful.

    Jane from Portland, OR

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I am learning a lot while here, and I enjoy my classes and my department. But, like any college, you will only get as much as you put in, so the harder you work the more you will learn. Sometimes how much you learn depends on the Professor, so ask upperclassmen during orientation, or upperclassmen in your major for their recommendations
    Am enjoying being here

    I have found a place for myself here, within my major and Greek life. There are many groups and clubs to get involved with, so finding a smaller group of people who share a common interest is not hard.
    Bang for the buck

    Yes, it's very expensive. But your money goes not only to great professors, but other programs as well (such as Student Government, tutoring services, excellent facilities, etc.).
    Tips for prospective students

    Come visit Puget Sound! You won't know what it will be like to be here until you are here.
    Great for these types of students

    Relaxed students

  • 3 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    Matthew from Medford, OR

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    you will not find a university with more support from professors and student services. they are always willing to answers all questions and are very efficient at teaching their classes.
    Am enjoying being here

    i have made friends here that i will surely stick with for life. there is a great atmosphere to learn and to have fun.
    Bang for the buck

    while it is fairly expensive, it is a very good education
    Tips for prospective students

    make sure to keep your GPA up and study for the SAT hard.
    Great for these types of students

    anyone looking for a liberal arts education

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Juliette from Tacoma, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    there are days when it will be raining and you will have piles of homework and a to-do list the length of shopping receipt, and you will ask yourself how you got tricked into attending this school, but then, there will be moments when you will have a completely unique experience that will make-up for all the dreary days put together. you may find yourself on orcas island with the sailing team or shaking your hips during the school-wide luau or snow shoeing on mt. ranier or watching street performers at pike place or volunteering at project homeless connect. you may find yourself talking to a local entrepreneur or handpicking blueberries or riding the ferry to the tipi camp on vashon island and that is when you will know that you made the right choice.
    Tips for prospective students

    your education is what you make it. the university will certainly lead you in the right direction, but ultimately, it is up to you to join a club, immerse yourself in tacoman culture, explore the surroundings and integrate into the community. looking back my only regret is not exploring tacoma more often and more intimately.
    Academic Rigor

    university of puget sound, being a liberal arts college, places great emphasis on its cross-disciplinary structure and intimate campus setting, making for an interactive learning environment.
    Dorm Life

    the dorms themselves are quite nice in the brick-laid tudor gothic style buildings. there have also been many new renovations and buildings include common areas, a kitchen, and all of the essentials. they are within a short stride to the sub or student union building where the cafeteria is located.
    Food and Dining

    i remember my campus tour when my guide was talking about dining services. she said something about the standard deviation regarding students getting sick is about two weeks longer than other school. to put plainly, the food is pretty hard to get sick of.
    What to do for fun

    take a ferry to vashon island, go sailing, rent snow shoes, bike the five mile loop in point defiance, drink coffee at an artsy cafe, participate in the repertory dance group, join puget sound outdoors or cooking club, watch a local band, watch a famous band, watch a street performer, go to the farmer's market, walk along the water front, eat fresh fish, pick blueberries, bring a t-shirt to the wayzgoose printmaking event, camp at vantage, sell something at the student market, watch a $1 campus movie, watch the banff film festival, taste chocolate at the theo chocolate factory, take an seattle ghost tour, explore!
    Bang for the buck

    university of puget sound is expensive unless you get scholarships, which the school works hard to give. it worth every penny.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    some sayings are tacoma aroma when the manufacturing mills give off a weird smell, tacoma goggles when students lower their standards for potential mates, t-loc aka tacoma local, and hipsters
    Great for these types of students

    student who love to learn, who love the outdoors, who are willing to work hard, who like seeing familiar faces, who are adventurous, who don't complain about the weather, and who are creative.
    Clubs and Activities

    personally, i've participated in varsity volleyball, repertory dance group (never danced before), luau, s.a.a.c (student athletics and academics committee), sailing team, cooking club, and have been published in crosscurrents (student literary magazine).
    Greek Life

    there are 4 fraternities and 4 sororities. the process is different than other schools in that students can only join after their second semester of freshman year. until then, freshman are not allowed in either the frats or sororities.
    Campus Safety

    i feel completely safe walking around campus at night, however there have been countless robberies in dorms and off-campus houses and tacoma has somewhat of a bad rep once you get a few blocks away.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Jessica from Graham, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    In my Freshman year I learned the hard way that High School study habits don't make the cut here and I am better for it. UPS makes you work hard for what you want to achieve, but the professors also know how to make it interesting. I was worried that college courses would be straight lecture then hours upon hours of studying later, but here it is a very cooperative learning process. There is a lot of class discussion and plenty of office hours to further talk things over with your professor. I never thought I'd be able to learn so much so quickly.
    Am enjoying being here

    The campus and student body are small at UPS and this allows for a close knit community and almost family atmosphere. I personally love everything about this campus and the friendly disposition that everyone seems to have. I always feel welcomed and at home when on campus, something I feel is very important to the college experience. I'm entering my Junior year and I have no desire to go anywhere else.
    Bang for the buck

    Expensive. Yes tuition here is incredibly high, but I feel that it is worth every single penny. I receive a very solid education from the professors I pay so much for. The tuition also allows for free tutors in every possible subject and more available office hours than you know what to do with. It is a great comfort to know that the help is always there if you need it (even at 11pm the night before a project is due). While it does become a bit stressful figuring out how to make ends meet right now, I know that now and in the future I will be thankful for this top notch education.
    Tips for prospective students

    My first tip for a prospective student is to not enroll here with preconceived notions of college life. What you read about and see on TV or witness during other college visits is not what happens here. University of Puget Sound is a one of a kind place where everyone is accepted and embraced for exactly who they are. Every single student here is exceptionally smart and the academics are competitive, it is impossible to be the best so just be you.
    Great for these types of students

    UPS is great for laid back and open minded students who have a fierce desire to get the best education.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Madison from Kihei, HI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I am studying vocal performance and receiving a BM at the University of Puget Sound. I am currently a junior and transferred from NYU to UPS last year. I have to say, compared to NYU, you would think that UPS would be a breeze... well it's not. The classes are kicking my butt, but it makes it all worth it. The professors are amazing, along with the class selection, and you'll never walk away from a day of classes without feeling like you've learned something. All and all I feel like in the one year I've spent at University of Puget Sound I've learned so much, and I can't wait for the years to come.
    Am enjoying being here

    I love being at the university along with Tacoma. Tacoma is a great college town; you have a ton of family and great neighborhoods surrounding the university so I've never felt unsafe walking home from someone's house back to the dorms or vise versus. The campus is beautiful, it looks like the colleges used in movies as dorky as that sounds, with the red brick buildings and the ivy growing up the walls, I absolutely fell in love. The social life is wonderful, Puget Sound really works hard on making everyone feel welcome whether you're living in the dorms or you are a few miles away from school living at home with your parents.
    Bang for the buck

    I have to say, coming from a very low income family, University of Puget Sound is on the expensive side, and it has been very hard for me to get scholarships. However, even though right now I'm a little afraid of how many loans I'm going to be working on paying back when I graduate, I think I'll look back and feel like every penny was worth it.
    Tips for prospective students

    If you're struggling, really go and talk to your professors. They will be there for you 100%. Puget Sound is really great about choosing their professors, they also do evaluations every few years to make sure the students are enjoying them.
    Great for these types of students

    I really think any type of student could come here and really enjoy it!!

  • 0 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Jinkyong from Tacoma, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    As a liberal arts school, I am taking various interesting classes that I would have not taken if it wasn't required. I just took a SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) and it was very interesting. After taking this class, my view of SETI completely changed. This class looks at the perspectives of different professionals (biologist, evolutionist, etc). I have always thought aliens were fake and I didn't believe they existed. After taking this class, I got to learn more about the field.
    Am enjoying being here

    students are very friendly. I was afraid of not making any friends, but that wasn't a problem because the University tries to help students make friends.

  • 0 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Jer from Los Angeles, CA

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Tips for prospective students

    Beautiful, beautiful campus and expansive catalog of courses and majors. If ever in the WA area again, I would love to apply here.

  • Madeleine from Altadena, CA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    UPS is the most welcoming, understanding, accepting, and loving community I have ever a part of. It is a place for challenging your mind, enriching your soul, and discovering yourself. Puget Sound is not only my school, but it is my home.
    Tips for prospective students

    Be outgoing! A great thing about UPS is the orientation program. They give you a full 10 days to great acquainted to the campus and living away from home. A tip for new students would be to use every one of these 10 days to help you! Use it to get yourself out there and meet people because friends will become your life at UPS. The hardest thing for me about college life was being so far away from my family and my home, it was such a drastic change in such a short amount of time. First semester was harder for me because I was afraid to get out there and meet new people. Second semester was so much better because I taught myself to be outgoing and friendly to everyone I met. That is my biggest tip to freshman: to not be afraid that you're going to be on your own, you have to learn to be both self-reliant and self-sufficient and to make a LOT of friends! They are the key to surviving the sad and stressful times, and are an essential part of college life.
    Academic Rigor

    UPS offers a large variety of great classes. Classes such as Ancient Greek (which I've taken!), Latin, classes on the Extraterrestrial and even a class on Lord of the Rings. While these classes sound amazing and interesting, the definitely aren't a walk in the park. Puget Sound's classes can be hard- but they are such great classes that they make you want to do all the work that they require. Every professor I've had this year has been amazing. They are so wonderful to their students, they always make themselves available to help students and always have the students best interest in mind. I felt like the classes I took pushed and challenged me- but in a way that I loved. I learned so much during my first year at Puget Sound and I am so eager to learn more.
    Dorm Life

    I love dorm life at UPS. I loved the dorm that I lived in my freshman year- the rooms were spacious and had great furniture. The bathrooms are always clean and there are laundry rooms on every floor. I lived in the only dorm on campus that was co-ed by floor (meaning that there was an all girls floor and all boys floor) and usually the dorms are co-ed by door. I loved living in a co-ed by floor dorm. I felt like part of a family with the girls on my floor, it was great because I felt like I was good friends with each and every one of them. There was a lounge on the third floor (which was a boys floor) and going there to study or socialize was always great. Everyone was always so friendly and outgoing- I always felt welcome. I've been in all the dorms on campus and each and every single one was so unique and so beautiful. UPS's dorm life is really top notch.
    Food and Dining

    One of my top three favorite things about Puget Sound is the food. The sub (the school cafeteria) has stations in which students can choose to get food from: Italian, Latin America, Asian, Vegetarian/Vegan, The Grill, Chef's Table, The Deli, and the salad bar. UPS always has a variety of meals and dishes that are being served- I've never gotten bored or sick of the food there. Not to mention that every thing is delicious. I always enjoy and look forward to eating at the sub.
    What to do for fun

    Puget Sound is located in the middle of the residential area of Tacoma. This is great for safety and for feeling like part of a community, but this can also be bad if people are looking for night/city life. If someone is really looking to go out for the night and have a good time- Seattle is a pretty short drive away. But if you want to stay in town/on campus, there are so many options for that, as well. One of the buildings on campus has an underground movie theatre that plays movies on the weekends for just $1. Also there are always a ton of events happening on campus- ranging from school dances to stand up comedy- something is always happening on campus. Another thing that never fails is to just be with your friends. Having friends at Puget Sound is crucial, there are the key to having an amazing college experience and always having fun.
    Bang for the buck

    One big worry about Puget Sound is just how expensive it is- it's a pretty pricey school. But I think it's absolutely worth it. Puget Sound has not only become my school but my new home. The dorms are absolutely beautiful with spacious rooms, a kitchen in every building, and laundry on every floor. The class rooms and class buildings are fantastic and the cafeteria food is absolutely amazing. The sub is always serving a variety of dishes and has so many stations to chose from- I've never gotten bored of the food. Although UPS is expensive, it is more than worth it.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    UPS has a variety of little nooks and crannies- as long as you are willing to go look for them! One wonderful thing on campus is Oppenheimer Cafe. It's a cafe with walls that are made entirely out of glass. In the winter, they heat the brick floors and the cafe becomes somewhat of a reverse snow globe. It's a great place for both studying and socializing. Some other great places on campus are the Cellar (our on-campus pizza place), Diversions Cafe, and all the various lounges sprinkled around campus.
    Great for these types of students

    At Puget Sound, I have met people that I never thought I would. There are people from all over the nation and all over the world. This is one of my favorite qualities about UPS, that there is such a large variety of people here. There is no one type of person at UPS, there's just a very eclectic group. One thing that is so great, is how understanding everyone is at the school for all walks of life. Puget Sound has a great LGBT community and is very proactive for equality. Everyone I have met there is so understanding and welcoming, no matter who you are or where you come from. It's a great place to not only learn about so many people and backgrounds, but to be accepted and loved for your own.
    Clubs and Activities

    UPS has a large variety of clubs on campus from BGLAD (the LGBT club) to Veggie Might! (a club for vegetarians/vegans), there is a club for everyone. We even have a circus clubs which invites people to come and learn moves such as tight rope walking and other various things. In the beginning of the school year, we have an event called Log Jam which has all the school clubs out on an open field, allowing all students to come and learn about/join as many clubs as they want. There's so many to choose from, it's hard to not be involved with all of them.
    Greek Life

    Unfortunately, I am not a part of Greek Life but I do have a variety of friends who are involved in it. I do plan to rush for a sorority in the Spring 2013. All my friends that are involved- both in a Sorority and a Fraternity- love being a part of it. The Greek Life at Puget Sound is not stereotypical or what one would usually expect of Greek Life, it is welcoming to all kinds of people and extremely understanding and caring to all members. A friend of mine told me that at the beginning of rush, sororities ask your opinion on drugs and alcohol and if you are strongly against using them/have never used them- the sorority doesn't force you to drink or participate in drug usage. That statement made me so happy to know that they were so respectful and understanding.
    Campus Safety

    Even in the middle of the night, I've never felt like my safety wasn't important at Puget Sound. Security is always just a phone call away and they are always willing to go above and beyond for their students. Whether it be to walk you across campus at night or pick you up across town because your car battery died- security will always been there. Security has never let me down and always made me feel like my safety was the most important priority.

  • Shannon from Tacoma, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    Exceptional liberal arts education, rigorous academics, good part-time job opportunities while in school, and excellent school of music.
    Tips for prospective students

    Apply for scholarships, live off campus after your first or second year.
    Food and Dining

    Pretty decent food.
    What to do for fun

    Free music concerts, lectures, talks, conferences, movies, film-viewings, etc. In downtown Tacoma, there's the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, theatre district and also the Point Defiance Park and Zoo. Seattle is a 45 minute drive away.
    Bang for the buck

    Depending on if you get enough scholarships and find a part-time job, is definitely worth the time but college is always expensive.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    The Arboreum behind the library, and the Midnight Breakfast after the last day of classes.
    Great for these types of students

    Interested in post-grad degrees, doctoral degrees, scholarly research, conservatory style school of music education, inclined to long hours of study.
    Clubs and Activities

    There's the college radio station, KUPS, and a variety of Student Diversity organizations, religious clubs, fraternities, sororities, sustainability/alternate lifestyle clubs, etc.
    Greek Life

    There are currently three fraternities and four sororities.

  • Cravixtha from Tacoma, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    puget sound has a beautiful campus, rigorous classes, and a wide variety of majors. it is ideal for students wanting to pursue multiple different things. it is also great for students who have many extra-curricular interests.
    Tips for prospective students

    make sure you actually want to go to a small school, and be prepared for lots of rain. also, tuition is very expensive.
    Academic Rigor

    most, but not all classes are very rigorous.
    Dorm Life

    very safe, organized, and friendly environment.
    Food and Dining

    many options for lots of different dietary restrictions, and decently high-quality food.
    What to do for fun

    many different clubs and organizations on campus, downtown tacoma has many parks, restaurants, and activities.
    Bang for the buck

    well worth the money, although i wish tuition was slightly lower.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    we have the obelisk, which is in the center of campus and has all the years of graduating classes on it. we also just built commencement walk, which goes from the library to the stadium.
    Great for these types of students

    good for students with a wide range of interests.
    Greek Life

    only about 5-6 fraternities/sororities.
    Campus Safety

    campus is very safe.

  • Carrie from Beaverton, OR

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    the campus is small but beautiful, the classes and professors are (mostly) fantastic, and the food is healthful and largely sustainable. it may get old by the end of your first year, but compared to most other schools, the food here is gourmet--especially if you're vegetarian or vegan. there are great study abroad programs, the dorms are pretty nice and spacious, and there are tons of opportunities for fun things like hiking, sailing, and watching some of the interesting and amusing performances the students put on.
    Tips for prospective students

    if you really want to go to this school, apply for early decision. do this only if it's your first choice, but if you're at least decent student with some good credentials, you're almost certain to get in.
    also be sure to visit campus if you can. this goes for any college, but it's always a good idea to take a tour so you can see more of the details of daily college life and of course ask questions to students.
    Academic Rigor

    coming from the ib program, the workload here is about the same if not a little less than what i had in high school. that is to say, you're definitely not going to get by slacking, and procrastination will often come around to hit you in the face, but as long as you treat your academic career here with respect, you can get by without too much stress. the classes are generally far more interesting as well. you might have a few hours of homework each day, but often you'll still have some time for socializing, clubs, etc., if you want. just be careful with your time later in the semester. of course, this is coming from an introvert. some students seem to socialize or be in activities all day and still get their work done. just take care to balance your time at first and you can adjust it as needed later.
    Dorm Life

    i can't say much about the dorms because i'm living in the foreign language and culture house, the freshman theme house. it's a great experience, living in relatively private space with only 12 other people as opposed to some hundreds. but from my experiences in the dorms so far, there's definitely a good amount of space and cleanliness, and the floor communities are pretty cool. all dorms have a few lounges with comfy chairs and pianos, some of which are really nice. i've made some good friends by hanging out in other dorms' lounges and drawing on whiteboards, playing piano, or just joining in whatever else is happening.
    Food and Dining

    as i said above, the food may seem old after a while, as you'll find lots of the same flavors even in varying dishes. but the choices are pretty broad, and it's very high-quality, especially for college food--and largely vegetarian/vegan. we have pasta, burritos, asian food, a table just for vegetarian/vegan options, a hamburger/fried fare grill, sandwiches, soups, and an awesome pizzaria with a very small convenience store downstairs. if you need anything else, there are several grocery stores within easy walking distance.
    What to do for fun

    campus films plays a new movie every friday; the asian studies department shows a few asian films throughout the year; puget sound outdoors does cool hikes every weekend; there are tons of clubs and fun recreational classes; there are lots of concerts and musical functions in a variety of styles; weekend parties; hanging out with friends--i'm probably missing a lot of things because i don't typically go out to do very much myself. and if you want to get off campus, the mall, downtown tacoma, and beautiful point defiance (park/zoo/aquarium/garden/beach) are just short bus rides away.
    Bang for the buck

    it's definitely expensive, but especially if you can get good scholarships--i'm going here for less than it would cost to go to my state school alternative--it is totally worth it. cool people, great academic programs, great support programs (disabilities services, career and employment services, the center for health and wellness services, etc. are all very helpful). i can't say much for the social scene, but if you're paying for a solid education, that's what you're going to get, on a beautiful campus and great location (if you don't mind the cold and rain--tacoma does have some glorious sunshine!). just make sure you check with other students about the classes you want to take, because some professors are much better than others and will get you a lot farther more easily.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    every year, the graduating class carves its year onto the handle of a hatchet unearthed near campus in the early 1900's. that is, when it hasn't been stolen--it's disappeared for years on end before.
    Great for these types of students

    ups' strongest programs are international political economy, biology, english, business & leadership, and psychology. they have strong international programs as well and some students are now (successfully) working to get an arabic program off the ground. it won't be a major/minor for some years, but it's coming into the limelight. this school is great for students interested in those and similar subjects (theater and art also seem popular), and for those who love the outdoors, want a small campus community, liberal arts classes, and value education. this school is also very amenable towards those who like sports, but while athletics are popular they are not exactly the school's strong spot.
    Clubs and Activities

    i haven't personally attended many of them, but from what i've seen and heard, they seem plentiful and growing, and lots of fun. there are quite a few clubs you might not expect.
    Greek Life

    apparently milder than most schools' fraternities and sororities. i can't speak for the greek life much because i'm not interested in it myself, but i know several people who didn't expect to get involved in it and did anyway, so it might be worth it for you to check it out.
    Campus Safety

    as long as you're careful, you should be safe. one of the biggest problems i've noticed is students letting strangers into dorms, and the strangers then go around looking for unlocked dorms with no one in them and steal their laptops and other valuables. therefore it's important to keep your dorm closed even when you go to the restroom--bring your keys. and it is totally acceptable to ask people waiting by doors to be let in to show their ids. if you're off-campus late at night, security services can escort you home. if you have a bike and don't have a u-lock, get one--bikes are stolen about once a week, and they're usually unlocked or sometimes cabled. u-locked bikes are rarely stolen. other situations do arise, as they do basically everywhere, but not very often. the campus seems to handle security problems very well.

  • Brendan from Washington Island, WI

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Most of the classes that I have taken were very educational, informative, and interesting. The professors are all very invested in their work, and are all willing to help their students. Classes are demanding, but I definitely feeling like I am learning a lot. Small class sizes ensure that the Professors are more connected to their students. There are also plenty of opportunities to conduct research here.
    Am enjoying being here

    I certainly enjoy being here at Puget Sound. The campus has a very nice academic feel and look to it. There is a very nice and inviting environment here as well. As a student I have always felt welcome at Puget Sound, and I enjoy both my academic work and personal time that I am spending in college.
    Bang for the buck

    Puget Sound is kind of expensive, but the school is very good at providing financial aid. This is especially true if you're in financial need. The administration and staff are very helpful to the students. As a small school there are some drawbacks, but all in all I think that this school can be affordable and is worth the price.
    Tips for prospective students

    Just be aware that the style of classes and work load in college is very different from high school. Classes are much more demanding, especially math and science classes. Other then that, you should be just fine.
    Great for these types of students

    Students who are interested in:
    - Becoming involved on campus
    - Actually being able to interact with the Professors
    - Sciences (This field is pretty strong here)
    - A friendly environment
    - A liberal arts school
    Overall, I think that this school has something for every student.

  • Beth from Spokane, WA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Tips for prospective students

    Don't get behind!!!

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