Mountain Paradise Meets Business Success and School Spirit
University of Colorado Boulder scores 82/100, making it a GOOD FIT with strong recommendation. This school is EXCEPTIONAL for environment (2...
AI Recommendation
University of Colorado Boulder scores 82/100, making it a GOOD FIT with strong recommendation. This school is EXCEPTIONAL for environment (20/20), campus culture (28/30), and dance opportunities (8/10), perfectly matching the student's desires for sunshine, nature access, school spirit, and active social scene. The stunning Flatirons backdrop, 300+ sunny days, immediate trail access, and vibrant non-commuter campus culture are ideal. Leeds School of Business provides strong marketing/business programs with excellent career outcomes (90% placement rate). However, there is ONE SIGNIFICANT CONCERN: large class sizes (100-300 students in lower-division courses) directly conflict with the student's need for teacher support and smaller classes. The 17:1 ratio is misleading in a research university setting where professors prioritize research and personal attention is limited, especially in the first two years. Additionally, pre-law and pre-PT have no dedicated programs. Out-of-state tuition at $42K is expensive. Despite the class size concern, the overwhelming strengths in culture, location, and career preparation make this worth serious consideration if the student is willing to be proactive about seeking academic support.
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Performance vs. Average College
Score Breakdown
Top Strengths
7
- 1 PERFECT environment match: 300+ sunny days, immediate mountain/trail access, stunning Flatirons backdrop, and outdoor recreation culture
- 2 Exceptional school spirit with Division I athletics, 50,000+ at football games, Ralphie mascot tradition - NOT a commuter school
- 3 Strong Leeds School of Business (#54 nationally) with 90% job placement rate and excellent Denver internship connections
- 4 Ideal location blend: Boulder college town charm + Denver urban access (25 miles) for internships and city experiences
- 5 Division I dance team with walk-on opportunities plus multiple club dance options
- 6 Active, diverse social scene with 88% freshmen living on campus and vibrant weekend activities beyond Greek life (18-20%)
- 7 Outstanding recreation facilities (400,000+ sq ft rec center) and outdoor program with equipment rentals
Things to Consider
7
- 1 MAJOR RED FLAG: Large class sizes (100-300 students in intro courses) conflict directly with need for teacher support and smaller classes - will require significant self-advocacy for academic support
- 2 Research university model means limited professor accessibility and personalized attention, especially first two years with competitive office hours
- 3 Pre-law and pre-physical therapy have NO dedicated programs - only advising support, requiring student to create own pathway
- 4 Out-of-state tuition $41,943/year (3x in-state) with limited merit aid and high Boulder cost of living
- 5 71% six-year graduation rate lower than expected for flagship university - suggests some students struggle in large university environment
- 6 Party school reputation with prominent cannabis culture may be distracting for academically-focused students
- 7 Variable housing quality with older freshman dorms having small rooms
Detailed Research
Internships
Leeds School has dedicated career management office. Strong connections to Denver business community (25 miles away). CU in Denver program offers semester-long internships. Tech and outdoor industry connections. Approximately 70% of business students complete internships.
Avg Class Size
Lower-division courses often 100-300 students in lecture halls. Upper-division courses 20-40 students. Business school classes range 30-50 students for core courses, smaller for specialized electives.
Teaching Style
Primarily lecture-based for introductory courses with some discussion sections led by TAs. Leeds School emphasizes experiential learning, case studies, and group projects. Research university model means faculty focus significantly on research alongside teaching.
Academic Support
Academic support available through ASSETT (Arts & Sciences Support of Education Through Technology), Buff Tutor Connect (peer tutoring), Writing Center, and STEM Learning Assistants. Large class sizes may limit direct professor interaction in first two years. Office hours available but competitive.
Career Placement
Leeds School reports 90% of graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months. Overall university career placement data less centralized. Strong placement in Denver metro area.
Program Rankings
- No dedicated pre-law major but strong Political Science (#40 nationally) and Philosophy programs. Pre-law advising available through Career Services.
- Leeds School of Business ranked #54 nationally (U.S. News 2024). Strong marketing program within Leeds. Known for entrepreneurship focus.
- Marketing concentration available through Leeds School of Business. Emphasis on digital marketing and analytics.
- Psychology department ranked in top 50 nationally. Strong research focus with cognitive, social, and clinical tracks.
- Integrative Physiology major is common pre-PT track. No guaranteed PT program partnership. Students must apply separately to PT schools.
Student Faculty Ratio
17:1
Greek Life
Approximately 18-20% of students involved in Greek life. Visible presence but not dominant. Social scene exists outside Greek system. Fraternities/sororities concentrated on University Hill ('The Hill'). Moderate influence on social culture.
Social Scene
Very active and diverse social scene. Party school reputation (historically ranked high by Playboy/Princeton Review). Strong cannabis culture (legal in Colorado). Outdoor adventure culture prominent. Pearl Street Mall offers restaurants, bars, shopping. Music and arts scene. Balance of partying and outdoor recreation.
School Spirit
EXTREMELY HIGH. Pac-12 athletics (moving to Big 12 in 2024). Football games at Folsom Field draw 50,000+ fans. Ralphie the Buffalo mascot run is iconic tradition. Basketball games well-attended. Strong athletic culture and pride.
Retention Rate
87% freshman retention rate
Graduation Rate
71% six-year graduation rate
Weekend Activity
Very active campus on weekends. Not a commuter school - 88% of freshmen live on campus. Boulder's outdoor recreation, Pearl Street Mall, and social scene keep campus vibrant. Greek life, athletic events, hiking, and parties all popular weekend activities.
Political Climate
Predominantly liberal/progressive. Boulder is known as one of the most liberal cities in Colorado. Conservative students present but minority. Active student activism and environmental consciousness. Generally tolerant campus climate.
Setting
Small city/college town setting. Boulder population ~108,000. Located at base of Rocky Mountain foothills. Campus integrated into Boulder with distinct college town atmosphere. Urban amenities with immediate nature access.
Sunny Days
300+ sunny days per year. Colorado is known for abundant sunshine. Four distinct seasons with mild winters (cold but sunny). Low humidity. Average 245 days of sunshine annually.
Nature Access
EXCEPTIONAL. Campus borders open space and hiking trails. Chautauqua Park trailhead 10 minutes from campus. Flatirons visible from campus. Eldorado Canyon, Boulder Canyon nearby. Rocky Mountain National Park 1.5 hours away. Skiing 1-2 hours (Eldora, Winter Park, Vail). Biking, rock climbing, hiking immediately accessible.
Transportation
- RTD bus system (free for students with Buff OneCard), Bike-friendly city with extensive paths, Walkable downtown/campus area, Skip/Lime scooters available
- RTD SkyRide bus, Groome Transportation shuttle, Uber/Lyft ($50-80)
Nearest Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) - 45 miles, approximately 50-70 minutes depending on traffic. Major hub with direct flights nationwide.
Surrounding Area
Boulder is affluent, outdoorsy, health-conscious college town. Pearl Street Mall is pedestrian downtown area with restaurants, shops, street performers. Very bike-friendly. Whole Foods headquarters nearby. Known for fitness culture, organic food, craft breweries. Denver metro 25-40 minutes for urban experiences, concerts, professional sports, internships.
Dance Team
CU Dance Team exists - primarily performs at basketball games. Competitive Division I spirit squad. Tryouts held annually (typically April/May). Walk-ons can try out - no dance team scholarship required. Team competes at UDA College Nationals. Also has CU Pom Squad. Multiple club dance teams available (hip-hop, ballroom, contemporary) with lower commitment.
Recreation
- Recreation Center is massive (400,000+ sq ft) with climbing wall, pools, basketball courts, fitness equipment, group fitness classes
- Extensive intramural sports program - flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, etc. Club sports include rugby, lacrosse, cycling, skiing/snowboarding, climbing
- Outdoor Recreation program rents equipment (skis, camping gear, bikes) and leads trips
Food Quality
Mixed reviews. Multiple dining halls with varying quality. C4C (Center for Community) is main dining hall - buffet style with decent variety. Farrand Market, Libby, and Baker Hall dining. Meal plan required for most freshmen. Boulder has excellent off-campus food scene. Students often prefer off-campus options. Rated average compared to peer institutions.
Campus Beauty
STUNNING. Iconic Flatirons mountain backdrop. Italian Renaissance Revival architecture with red-roofed buildings and sandstone. Norlin Quadrangle is picturesque. Well-maintained landscaping. Mountain views from campus. Consistently ranked among most beautiful college campuses in America. Old Main and historic buildings blend with modern facilities.
Housing Quality
Variable quality. Freshman dorms (Farrand, Libby, Andrews, Baker, Hallett) are traditional style, older buildings, generally small rooms. Some renovated residence halls (Williams Village, Bear Creek) are newer with apartment-style options. Most freshmen live in traditional dorms. Housing guaranteed for freshmen only. Many students move off-campus sophomore year to The Hill or other Boulder neighborhoods. On-campus housing more expensive than many off-campus options.
Dance Team Contact
CU Spirit Squads Office: 303-492-8337, Email: spirit@colorado.edu, Website: https://cubuffs.com/sports/2018/6/19/spirit-squads-html.aspx. Recommended to contact Spirit Program Coordinator directly for walk-on information.
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