The University of Houston

Regarding the racial tension. Let's just say that people here are more aware of their own race. This is ranked as the third most rudest city in the country. Yes, I've almost got into a fight for no reason. Yes, I've seen a man yelling in a restaurant for no reason saying that foreigners are ruining the country. Yes, I've practically been kicked out of a business. Yes, I've been given a grade based on my race and my prof made it clear and even other students of the same race came to me to mention it. Yes, I told my club that the other team was bad mouthing our team. But since everyone including the other team was white. I was treated like a liar and called a "traitor" ten times. Yes, we've had death threats against middle easterners. I've lived in Austin, San Marcos, Corpus Christi and Houston. And yes, there is racial incidents.

1st Year Female -- Class 2013

With regard to the academics, you'd have to be a brain damaged turtle to do anything less than average here. Perhaps the liberal atmosphere has been a little too overzealous in its push for diversity, and as a result the standards have dipped. This is lower-rung academia, one step above community college (but twice as expensive). I only took the classes here because it was the closest college (a harrowing 1 hour bus ride with the locals and the local hobos) that offered the necessary courses.

About the environment on the Main Campus...
It's already been stated in other comments but let me put it this way: this place is like a meat factory (middle-class youths) surrounded by a forest full of wolves (the ghetto) with only a single overweight sheep dog (a portly police officer) to guard it.

The security is not a joke, it simply doesn't exist. Two months ago, a man was murdered on the campus. Still no arrests. In fact, it seems that no arrests have been made following the several "aggravated robberies" committed on campus since the start of Spring 2009. The authorities, thus, appear to be infinitely incompetent and unworthy as the protectors of the student body and faculty.Once the Texas legislature can overturn that jerk Perry's rejection of the stimulus money, perhaps they can make some attempts to revamp the system here. A little clean-up of the bathtub ring surrounding the campus might be in order too. Until this happens, you may want to avoid UH unless you have no other options.

1st Year Male -- Class 2010

Faculty Accessibility: B, Campus Aesthetics: F