(Disclaimer: this review is solely based upon my personal experience from first sight looking in due to a campus tour. Just a prospective student here.)
After touring a couple of Texas universities this summer I figured why not add Texas Tech to my list, yeah it may be a 9 hour drive out from Houston, but the fact that this school number one major is kinesiology and my major is kinesiology why not? Plus, they have a law, graduate and medical all on one campus you can't get better than that.
Upon arriving, we were welcomed by the most beautiful university that I've seen in the state aside from private universities. All I could see was the exquisite architecture from Spanish century with terra cotta roofs. Luscious plants all around a waterwall in the center and the tall flags.
We stopped at the visitors parking booth to ask where we should park and a student with a red shirt directed us where to park behind the West Hall building. He had a nonchalant attitude about himself and wasn't at all friendly--he kept on telling us that he didn't know if we could park there or not.
-West Hall is the place to go for prospective student campus tours.
As we walked in we were greeted by more individuals wearing the red and black red raiders colors. I knew right there they had lots of school spirit here. Although, again they were standoffish friendly individuals. They were able to sign me up to get started.
Then, we walked into a room to talk about the real insight about prices of the school and basic info.
Then the campus tour began, we walked all over the spaced out campus. Its nice to know that the campus is kept-up.
Another thing are for the dorms: we got the opportunity to tour Knapp Hall an all female dorm that our residence hall associate, Ryan spoke to us about. He was telling us that 2 or 3 girls live together in one room with one closet, a hall restroom and lots of restrictions. Most freshman students live here and they are inclined to limitations while living on campus such as no vehicle, must live on campus, no alcohol, guests must be escorted to your rooms, curfews and no kitchenette.
Though saying that, it by far isn't a disadvantage to attending here. It actually helps students more.
Moreover, they do have dorms that are all female, all male, co-ed, learning communities for transfer students, by major and even for freshmen.
They have an indoor swimming pool, lazy river that they say is the largest in the state, pool, nice sized gym, big library, study aboard programs even a TTU campus in Spain.
Also, if you didn't know, they have agricultural studies as well as animal science.
The top two majors here are kinesiology (exercise science) and engineering.
The only school in the state that offers a degree in Wind Energy~~how interesting.
The campus itself is absolutely breathtaking beautiful and plus the drive from Austin to Lubbock was exciting too--seeing all of the mountains and wind turbines. Super neat-o.
However, the university is set on a major research university--it being Tier One, strong traditions and history is not so friendly people. During my visit here, I didn't encounter too many happy people. It felt as if it was rushed-kind of forced to be enthusiastic; that's from the guy at the visitors booth to our tour guide, to the individuals who worked at the bookstore. I am not saying that is the main factor, but it will play a role on how I feel about the university.
I did fall in love with the TTU during this campus tour, so hopefully not everyone is distant with niceness, friendliness, homey when it comes to newbies like myself.
Additionally, its nice to know that even that I earned my associates degree that they cannot turn me down with it comes to the programs I want to pursue. The Arts and Sciences department was very informative on discussing how the pre-PT requirements are and its also good to know most of the classes that are required, I've already completed at San Jacinto College.
Kaila Cox, the Arts and Science recruiter was especially nice and homey. I could tell she was true and friendly. Also, if you apply to the Arts and Science department you are required to have a major, minor and foreign language in order to graduate with a BS or BA.
Although, our campus tour mainly involved walking outside to view the beautiful building rather than inside looking at how big the lecture rooms are.
Another interesting thing is that if you live in Houston, Austin and Dallas (major cities in Texas), they have an admissions counselor located in your city, so you don't have to drive all the way up to Lubbock every time you have a question. Also, majority of their students transfer from Harris county--Houston. Which is neat, since I won't be the only Houstonian of TTU.
The academics is strong. There's many student organizations even a few under my major and field of study.
Even though, it is a nine hour drive out of Houston, from my experience a well worth it drive. read more