Academics
鈥淧rofessors expect a lot from you鈥 at the University of St. Thomas, a modest-sized Catholic school with a liberal arts flavor. 鈥淭here is no spoon-feeding,鈥 attests a junior, 鈥渂ut you actually learn! There are no multiple-choice tests, but this guarantees that you learn the subject. Students are competitive but very helpful to each other. I love it!鈥 These students also rave about the small-school feel at UST: 鈥淗aving grown up attending large public schools, there鈥檚 something to be said for smaller schools, where you鈥檙e not treated like a number but a real person. Each of my professors, advisors, etc. knew me personally before the end of my first semester. They are truly concerned with making sure that you fully understand the material and are getting the most out of your academic experience.鈥 The experience is enhanced by a requirement that demands all students take a philosophy and a theology course each academic year. For all the pluses, there are a few minuses worth preparing for---particularly, 鈥渢he Financial Aid Office and the Business Office.鈥 But overall, 鈥淭he experience at UST is amazing,鈥 says an undergrad. 鈥淭hat sums it up.鈥
Student Body
鈥淭here are several different social groups at the school,鈥 explains an econ major. 鈥淥ne is comprised of those who love to party and party hard. Then there is the religious sect, which is involved in various aspects of Campus Ministry. . . . Then the rest of us basically stick to ourselves.鈥 Another student says that it鈥檚 even more complicated than that: 鈥淲e have commuters, homeschoolers, varsity players, introverts, perfectionists, clubbers---and they all interact quite well.鈥 Indeed, friendliness is the name of the game at UST. A sophomore tells us, 鈥淔itting in for any type of student is as easy as walking up to a friend and striking up a conversation.鈥 Yes, there are many Catholics here (鈥淚t is a Catholic school, after all鈥), many who are 鈥渃onservative,鈥 and many who 鈥渃ome from wealthy families.鈥 But rest assured that 鈥渄iversity is welcomed, embraced, and celebrated鈥 at the University of St. Thomas.
Campus Life
鈥淟ife at UST is pretty chill,鈥 despite the fact that the campus sits near the bustling heart of America鈥檚 fourth-largest metropolitan area. According to a vocal performance major, 鈥淥n-campus life is extremely intimate and personal. There is only one dorm, and people meet and get to know each other quickly. The campus is small, and people run into each other all the time.鈥 A psych major adds that for such a small school, UST hosts 鈥渁 lot of events as well (date auctions, hunger banquets, free musicals/theater productions, movie screenings, etc.).鈥 Additionally, 鈥淭he athletic side of life is getting better . . . as UST just moved up from all intramurals to a few intercollegiate sports.鈥 Nonetheless, the majority of UST鈥檚 activity takes place during the school week, largely because 鈥淢ost people are from Houston and go home on the weekends.鈥 For those who live on campus, making the most of Houston鈥檚 distractions is easy: 鈥淲e are in the middle of the Montrose area, which is filled [with] great restaurants, coffee shops, and thrift stores.鈥
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