We’re so excited to introduce our new Apollo team member, Nick Titzler! Nick is our new Campus Ambassador at the University of Oregon, and he’s helping the Apollo family grow and reach this new location!
Check out this interview to learn more about NICK and what it’s like to be a student at the University of Oregon:
- Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Do most students walk, use public transportation, drive a car, or bike?
“Most students walk every day and live in an area very close to the campus, primarily on the west side of the school. Parking is extremely limited, so almost no one drives. The biking population is reasonable during fall and spring, but during winter, it drops to essentially zero because it is rains to much! Generally, the campus has a small feel to it, and all the classes are concentrated in a very close vicinity to one another, making walking across campus easy.” - How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants?
“The faculty is extremely accessible. All professors have office hours, and if you’re busy during that time, they’re always happy to schedule a time to help answer your questions. Academic advisers have drop-in hours every day, and they are very knowledgeable and helpful!” - How would you describe the dorm life – rooms, dining options, location, and socialization opportunities with other students?
“Dorm life is a blast! All the halls are nice, and in all the dorms, there is a relaxed attitude, where people are encouraged to socialize and meet new people. The dining is fantastic! Options range from hand-rolled sushi to fresh sandwiches and an all-you-can-eat buffet! For socialization outside of the dorms, Greek life is popular but not a necessary part of campus life because there are a multitude of clubs, club sports, and academic organizations where students can socialize and meet other driven peers.” - Which majors or programs are best represented and supported? What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study?
“The most supported majors at Oregon are the majors within the business school, including finance, marketing, operations, and accounting. Science and art majors are also popular, including biochemistry, biology, human physiology, product design, architecture, and graphic design.
I am studying entrepreneurship and computer science because it’s my dream to be an entrepreneur, and the UO has a fantastic program! The professors are well-connected and extremely supportive in both my computer science and business classes.” - 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?
“I chose to live in a dorm specifically for business students, and I found everyone to be friendly and excited to meet other new students. I quickly formed close relationships with some dorm-mates and then rushed a fraternity where I gained access to friends in other majors and classes.
While Greek life is popular in majors like business, as a whole, the social life on campus does not hinge on being in a fraternity or sorority. There are plenty of other social groups on campus to be a part of if Greek life isn’t your thing!” - How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services? Do many reputable companies recruit on campus?
“The career center is helpful for working on your resume and connecting you with some employers. However, the centers connections are fairly limited, and it is more effective to pursue company connections through professors and campus recruiters.
In the business school, there are a constant flow of recruiters from firms like Deloitte, McKinsey and KPMG. Smaller companies will often reach out to specific majors to recruit directly.” - Describe the surrounding town and what makes it fun, boring, or somewhere in between. To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus?
“Most students stay close to campus, and the night life is concentrated around 13th Avenue, which is adjacent to campus and where several bars are located. Eugene also has a lot of great outdoors activities like hiking, and skiing, but is limited in things to do during winter term when the weather gets bad. Eugene itself does not have a ton of events going on, so it can get kind of boring unless you have some good friends to find some adventure.” - How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased with the typical class sizes?
“Oregon has 23,000 students, but the school still feels extremely close-knit. When I walk around campus, eat lunch, or go to class, I expect to see around ten people I know!
The general education classes that I took during my first two years, such as calculus, were massive lectures with 300+ people, but outside of those early lectures, my classes have dropped in size to 30-40. Even though the classes were large, it was very easy to get help from the multiple faculty members who are assigned to help manage these large classes.” - Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class
“Like most freshmen, I had a “wake-up call experience” in my first year at school. I took “Writing 123” which is a researched-based class focused on academic writing. My professor announced on the first day that she only gave A’s to work that is on par with the work of a graduate student. This was a promise she stuck to — after the second week, four people failed out of the course! But I still wanted my A, so I attended her office hours twice a week and edited my paper continuously until it lived up to her lofty standards! After all that work, I made an A! That’s my only “horror story,” and tons of other professors have been great!”
Help us give Nick a warm welcome by sharing this blog on Twitter or Facebook!
Need a private tutor who can meet you on-campus, on your schedule? Visit us at www.apollotutors.org!
Want to become a tutor? Apply today at www.ubermatch.apollotutors.org!