Student Body:

“There isn’t a ‘typical student'” at this school of 20,000-plus undergrads, although it seems that “everyone wears gold and blue and fits in fine.” Students here detect a “good mix of the country and the city” as well as “a large out-of-state population,” and they tell us that “what makes it such a great school is how everyone meshes together.” Minorities, however, mesh to a lesser extent; as one student observes, “WVU is 90 percent White, so ethnically diverse students stand out. It’s not that they’re singled out, but it’s just easy to notice [them] around campus. However, there is no discrimination, and everyone gets along well from what I’ve seen.” The student body includes “typical fraternity and sorority students, but there are also so many intellectuals and unique individuals that you see them no matter where you turn.” Undergrads are generally “easygoing, friendly, and approachable” and are “involved in club sports, clubs, the arts, residential education, or the Morgantown community.”

Academics:

“Awesome academics and great school spirit” (not always in that order) define the WVU experience for many undergraduates here. Whether they’re bleeding blue and gold on game day, enjoying the “exceptional partying” around campus, or grinding their way through one of WVU’s standout academic programs, Mountaineers constantly “take pride in our school and state.” WVU excels in numerous academic areas, including engineering, premedicine, journalism, psychology, forensics, advertising, music, and athletic training; a number of recent facilities upgrades have helped make some of these programs even better. Students here tell us that, although “Professors have hundreds of students,” they “are always willing and interested to meet their students individually,” and that WVU “Administrators don’t hide in their offices; they actively participate in school functions.” Undergrads also appreciate “plenty of internship and research opportunities” as well as a “good co-op program.” WVU’s elite Honors College “is really a great strength” and “is amazing at working with [its] students.”

Campus:

WVU’s football program “is one of the best in the country, and every Saturday is a great day,” because “the entire state converges on Mountaineer Field to witness some of the best in NCAA football.” Students throw themselves completely into the games as well as the “amazing” tailgates. One student notes, “The unity that is created among athletics is unmatched.” If your passion for sports is weak, however, there’s no reason to despair: At WVU, “There is an organization for everyone. There’s a Fall Fest where major bands such as O.A.R. and Cypress Hill play and the school offers food, soda/pop, and beer in a controlled environment. There is a full bowling alley, billiard hall, and arcade in the bottom floor of our Student Union building, along with a full food court. There is a state-of-the-art rec center that receives tremendous use.” While there are plenty of beer- and booze-soaked parties for those who are so inclined, there’s also an alcohol-free program each weekend called WV Up All Night “where there is fun stuff and movies and comedy shows and games and free food at the student center” (although some warn that many people “get drunk and then go there for the free food”). Other options include the “Christian groups on campus,” which “provide fun, safe, and religious activities in place of partying.” Hometown Morgantown earns high marks; students praise its “refreshing, slower pace of life” as well as “the 15 bars downtown that are no more than 80 feet from each other.” Main Street offers shopping that “caters to many tastes and styles.”