Humboldt State University

Let's get one thing out of the way first: The education you will receive at HSU is bar-none superior to everywhere elese. I attended for a year and I was forced to transfer and finish somewhere else, and thankfully I've found another program and area of study that's equally challenging and fulfilling. NorCal is a beautiful place, no air pollution, lots of wildlife and forests. The professors were helpful, approachable, and incredibly friendly. I'd come in to their offices just to sit around and talk about stuff, they were seriously interested in what their students were thinking. The student body was pretty friendly too, and didn't tend to judge on appearance. A lot of bay area kids go here since its relatively close.

Unfortunately, there is always a catch. As wonderful as this school is, there are NO internship opportunities. There is NO industry in the Arcata/Eureka area except for law enforcement and logging. A very close friend of mine graduated from here, and could not get a job with his degree. It had nothing to do with him or the program, just that they had nothing to offer him when it came to experience or internships, which are just as crucial as the degree itself.

My time at Humboldt was a life changing, life altering and liberating experience (and no, for those who are thinking it, it didn't involve pot). I miss it a lot, I miss the people, I miss the food (APD, Live from new york, Philly cheese steak shop), but I knew I needed to finish somewhere else so I could get an internship and get a job. If it is early in your college career and you still have a chance to transfer and travel around, give this college a shot for a year for your general ed. But we warned: it's in the middle of no-where, and it is VERY difficult to get in and out of this place. The best way to get in and out of Arcata is the Greyhound bus. There is an airport, but you'll end up laid over in Portland all day in order to get there, since almost no flights go directly to Arcata. Having a car is great, but God help you if you break down on the 101 up there, it's usually well traveled, but it's a situation I'd rather not be in.

1st Year Male -- Class 2011

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Collaboration/Competitive: C

I loved Humboldt - I graduated in 1979. The area offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor activities such as beach combing and hiking. Many of the science courses took advantage of the abundant natural resources for memorable and educational field trips. There were great little local shops and restaurants, movies, folk and contra dancing, rock and reggae. There was tubing on the Trinity River and backpacking in the wilderness. Smoked salmon in Trinidad, environmental awareness, the Kinetic Sculpture Race, Old Town Eureka, and further afield, skiing in Ashland. The student body was open, friendly, enthusiastic, and bright. Many of the professors made a deep and lasting impact on me, and they really promoted a love of reading and learning. I think that HSU students graduate with an awareness of environmental stewardship and respect for others. I'm not sure what the housing situation is now at HSU, but back then it was tight, and that was one disadvantage. There was barely enough housing for freshmen, and by sophomore year most students were off campus. I do feel that the university should invest in on-campus housing for its students. But all in all, live is pretty wonderful "behind the redwood curtain."

5th Year Female -- Class 1979

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Education Quality: A-