The University of Houston

Needless to say, this school is a piss poor example of what NOT to be (with respect to higher institutions). The administrative staff treats you like a number (a peoplesoft number). Professors are a toss up, you'll run into great ones (Calvo, Dr. Murray) but all too often, you'll get some that demand you to attend every fucking class and who provide no leniency with students, aka grad students and fellows. The campus parking problem is a joke and has more problems every year. I had the option to go to other schools out of state, but stayed to keep my debt down, such a big mistake. The poli sci department is okay (I've had no major complaints with it as a whole), but be forewarned, any fucking major in the College of Liberal Arts requires a minor, an additional major, etc. Furthermore, the English Department is littered with idiots who try to stretch an hour and a half on a discussion about syntax and again who provide students with little leniency. At least in the poli sci programs I've taken, attendance wasn't much of an issue if I were running late or couldn't go. Not the same in the English Department, most classes have an attendance or participation grade from 20-50% of your final average. Such bullshit.

3rd Year Male -- Class 2009

Scholastic Success: A, Individual Value: F

This "school" sucks! my iq has dropped since attending here. i transfered in from a local community college with a 3.7, uh doesn't count that and your gpa starts over. after my 1st semester at uh, i had a 2.3!!!!! and that is not from slacking off. the teachers (and the rest of uh) suck so bad. teachers hand you "review" sheets ( if your are luck ) but doesn't matter because nothing on test was on review sheet!!!! its a wonder anyone can pass anything here. but it's not like the classes are hard, they are just ridiculous! now my gpa is so crappy i can't even try to transfer to another college anywhere else because they won't let me in. if i do try to transfer i pretty much have to start all over basically and the have totally wasted the past year!!!!! i absolutely and completely hate uh! it is by far the worst school imaginable. if my former community college offered 4 yr degrees, i'd go back there!

1st Year Male -- Class 2013

I was a Poli-Sci major at UH.( I say "was" because after this horrible year I've changed my major). After my first year at UH ( all though I am a Jr in hours), I have to say it was the worst experience of my entire life!! And I am in my early 30s. The Poli-Sci department is a joke!! After checking out (and getting accepted by) 3 other major universities in Texas, and reviewing their poli-sci depts. UH is by far the worst. You don't get an overall or unbias education. You don't learn how government or politics works, you learn what particular teachers think and what ever their opinion is! ( with the very small exception of one or two teachers that actually know what they are doing.) I don't pay to hear their opinion, I pay to learn. And most teachers, (speaking only of the poli-sci dept that is) are not approachable or very helpful when they are.

The advisors are worthless, they aren't helpful or very friendly, and neither are the Dept heads. I went to the department chair to complain about a teacher's overly excessive use of the F-bomb and was told "I'll email them about it".... in other words I was being told to shove it!

And if you are in need of Finacial Aid help... GOOD LUCK!!! That is the biggest joke there is. They are rude, unhelpful, incondierate, never know anything, never contact you in any shape or form, never let you know if or when you need to do anything ( i.e. turn certain forms in etc). Are always late with the distribution of your FA so you are a week or 2 behing on school work because you were unable to purchase books on time.

And be aware that UH main campus is in a pretty unsafe area of Houston. Students get campus emails almost daily about people being robbed or mugged or cars broken into etc. ( all though these mostly happen on weekends or evening/night times, however there are classes going on at those times as well, during the day during the week is not near as bad)

I have lived in Houston all my life, and never once did I ever think I'd be going to UH. I never had a desire to. To me, and most other people, UH is just a glorifed (over glorifed)and more expensive Community College. I have never in my life ever had to deal with such a worthless establishment. The ONLY reason I am attending UH is due to financial reasons. When I applied to transfer to 3 major universities here in Texas ( UT, A&M, and HBU) I got in to all 3 with no problems. My only obstical, money. if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be at UH and I'd be unspeakablely happy!!!

Oh and just a few weeks ago a local news channel did some investigative reporting and found that the Admin at UH was using students tuition money to go drinking and other non-sense spending with!!!!! Nice huh?If you can at all help it, DON'T go to UH. It's not worht the time, money or headache!

1st Year Female -- Class 2011

Surrounding City: B+, Education Quality: F