Justin earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Toledo. He specializes in geometry tutoring, ecology tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, he shares his experience at the University of Toledo:
Describe the campus setting and transportation options.
Justin: The campus at the University of Toledo is semi-urban. It’s located in West Toledo, a few miles from the downtown area. The university has a good bus system that takes you around campus and to a few locations in the city of Toledo. There is also an excellent bike trail that runs through the middle of campus and connects to the Toledo parks. It’s an amazing trail to run, bike, skate, and walk down in the fall and spring months.
How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
Justin: All professors and teaching assistants hold office hours each week. It’s easy to stop by their office during these times to talk to them about the course or anything else going on. You need to make appointments with academic advisers, since they can get busy right before students register for classes. It’s good to try to meet with them at the very beginning of each semester to plan out the year. They are more than happy to help you find interesting classes that spark your interest, or to help you find a job or internship.
How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?
Justin: The dorms are located throughout the entire campus. This gives each dorm a unique feel based on which academic buildings are closest. Each dorm has a dining service, whether that be a 24/7 dining hall or a stop-and-go shop to get some snacks and drinks. No matter what time of day it is, you can always find a dining hall on campus that is open.
Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?
Justin: The University of Toledo is well-known for science, medicine, business, engineering, and law. Anything with a science component, from biology to engineering, is well-supported by the university through scholarships and program support. I chose to study environmental science because the faculty and staff are very knowledgeable and the department is very student-focused. There are also many opportunities to study and research abroad. During the summer following my junior year, I was able to study in Mexico and receive college credit.
How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?
Justin: There are hundreds of student organizations on campus that provide good opportunities to make friends and socialize. Each dorm has socials all of the time to help you meet different people in your dorm. All of the academic programs help students get connected, make friends, and socialize with people that share interests. Having friends within your major helps you study for tests, and it makes group projects much more fun when they’re with your friends. Greek life isn’t a huge deal on campus.
How helpful are the Career Center and other student support services?
Justin: The Career Center is helpful if you want to find a job on campus. There are always job openings that are willing to work around your schedule. They can help you find a summer internship, or prepare your application for your first job outside of college. I would recommend getting to know the people in the Career Center because they can help you tremendously.
How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges?
Justin: Each dorm has study areas, which can get busy quickly. Most people choose to study in the library. There is always room, and the student union is right next to the library. You can head over to the union to take a study break and grab dinner. The library has computer stations, study rooms, tables, and lounges.
Describe the surrounding town.
Justin: Toledo is a pretty big city. The university is a mile from the mall for shopping and the city offers hundreds of restaurants. Toledo has a great parks system and a renowned art museum. There is usually something happening in the city, from baseball and hockey games to concerts and festivals. Toledo is also within an hour drive of Ann Arbor and Detroit.
How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?
Justin: The University of Toledo has roughly 20,000 students. It’s a big student body, but it’s small enough to where you know people everywhere you go. The class sizes are nice. Many of the introductory lectures can be intimidating, with 300 students, but after your first year the class sizes drop down to around 20 students.
Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.
Justin: One of the best classes I took was an agroecology course. For this course, the instructor wanted us to get out of the classroom as much as possible. We went on field trips almost every week to different places all across Northwest Ohio. It was definitely the most memorable class I ever took. I learned more in this class because the teacher didn’t restrict learning to the actual classroom. It also helped me meet potential employers and develop new skills.
Check out Justin’s tutoring profile.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.
