CM's Guide to the University of Colorado

University of Colorado (Boulder’s) Instagram

The Vibe

Diverse and outdoorsy.

What it Feels Like to Go Here

When you picture your dream school, do you think of a beautiful view with almost no lack of outdoor activities? How about a diverse student body and challenging academics? The University of Colorado offers all of this and more. The university is known for several reasons. The first of those is academic excellence. The university ranks within the top 100 highly rated schools for academics in the United States. The one thing that probably outranks the academics at this university is the students’ love of the outdoors and efforts to volunteer to help sustain the natural beauty of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. This brings me to my last point. The most common activities at this school match their outdoorsy spirit, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding and more. Lastly, this would not be very much of a guide if I didn’t mention where CU falls on the list of top party schools. So, for those of you interested, CU ranks as the #25 party school in the U.S.

Awesome Alumni

Famous astronomers, psychologists, and silent magicians. How could you not find these alumni interesting? First, I’d like to mention Jill Tarter, an astronomer and pioneering figure in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Have you ever heard of Timothy Leary? He was a psychologist in the 1960s who advocated for the use of psychedelics. Have you heard of the magicians Penn & Teller? The quiet one happens to be a CU alumnus.

Where We Hang

CU is all about the outdoors. Don’t worry. They lack nothing in the way of concerts, bars, and restaurants for those of you who lean towards the more social scene. However, this school truly loves the outdoors, and with so many parks and trails surrounding the university, you’ll find tons of activities. Located within walking distance of the campus, Chautauqua Park is a beloved destination for hiking and enjoying the stunning mountain scenery. The park offers a variety of trails for hikers of all skill levels, including the challenging hike to the iconic Flatirons. Another outdoor hot spot is Flagstaff Mountain, known as “a rock climber’s paradise.”

Students claim their top two favorite restaurants as The Mediterranean Restaurant, which, as you can guess, serves a wide array of Mediterranean food and The Buff Restaurant, popular for its “Saddlebags” pancakes. If you’re in the mood for a night out at the bars, I suggest visiting The Sink, a famous historic Boulder landmark, or The Dark Horse, which offers a large beer selection and a relaxed vibe.

When it comes to yearly events, students say their favorites are the Conference on World Affairs, the Student Film Festival and Earth Week celebrations. Lastly, we can’t leave out the famous Colorado Buffalos, where students show their school spirit by tailgating and attending the games to cheer on their beloved team.

Q&A

1. What would you tell incoming freshmen about your school?

“CU is an amazing place to discover your potential after high school. No matter what you want to do with your future, CU Boulder will help you get there,” University of Colorado student, Jake Colbert, class of 2025 said.

2. How does your school approach mental health?

“While mental health is different for each individual person, there are a multitude of programs available to those who need help,” Colbert said.

3. What is one thing you have found surprising about your school?

“The amount of support for the military communities in Boulder. Whether that is veteran programs or the ROTC detachments, CU really seeks to support those in every way they can,” Colbert said.

4. What has your experience been like at the University of Colorado?

“My experience has been one filled with not only learning but enjoyable moments. While still in college, I feel like I get to be a young adult and experience all that accompanies the first part of adult life,” Colbert said.

5. What has been your greatest challenge?

“My greatest challenge has been adjusting to the business of college life. Not only do all of us have schoolwork to do, but I really love to expand my social life and make new friends around campus. It seems like there is always something to do, and sometimes that can get overwhelming,” Colbert said.

6. What is the best part of CU?

“The best part of CU Boulder is the ability to get involved in some amazing communities. I found a lot of meaning and opportunity in the Air Force ROTC detachment here at Boulder, and that is just one example of the incredible communities that students could find themselves in. Whatever you enjoy or want to challenge yourself in, there is a space to do that here at CU,” Colbert said.

Top 3 Majors

1. Business and Marketing

2. Biological and Biomedical Sciences

3. Social Sciences

Top 3 Most Popular Student Organizations

1. Program Council

The Program Council is by far the largest organization on the CU campus. They are responsible for organizing all (or at least a majority) of events on campus. Every form of entertainment you can think of, from comedians to concerts to films and many other fun activities, is planned out by the Program Council. The organization is known to contribute to a large part of CU’s social life.

2. CU Student Government (CUSG)

Student advocacy happens here. Members of the student government are responsible for maintaining student interests, such as helping the Program Council with event planning, managing student fees and advocating for student initiatives. It runs just like our federal government with a president, vice president, legislative branch, judicial branch, etc.

3. Volunteer Resource Center (VRC)

CU takes community service and protecting the environment as a number one priority. This is probably why the VRC is one of the top three student organizations. They coordinate a majority of the volunteer opportunities, service projects and events on campus and the surrounding community.

Getting In

The University of Colorado focuses highly on your academic performance in high school, especially your GPA and your class rank. Standardized tests are optional for this school for those of you who don’t tend to perform your best under that type of pressure. Some programs at the university do require them, however, so make sure you check out your major before opting out of the exams. Letters of recommendation can also help you get ahead at CU. Some programs require these letters that speak to your character and academic abilities, but it won’t hurt to have them just in case your grades aren’t where you’d like them to be. Another huge factor that contributes to your likelihood of getting admitted into CU is your personal statement or essay. This gives you the opportunity to tell the school why you belong there. What are your strengths and weaknesses, and what qualities make you the perfect future student?