See Drake University reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Drake University. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Drake University reviews, or contribute your own Drake University review if you're a current student there.
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22 out of 22 people found this review useful.
Kristin from Lockport, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I feel like I didn't learn anything in high school, but I love college! At Drake I feel like the professors really teach you the material and most make it interesting!
Am enjoying being here Drake is a fun college right outside of Des Moines. There are good places to eat around campus and they all deliver for free - in case you don't have a car. There are A LOT of activities to get involved in - you just have to say hello. Everyone is so friendly!
Bang for the buck Drake may be a bit expensive, but I think it's worth it. Plus, they offer students a lot of help financially and will take special cases into consideration for aid.
Tips for prospective students Make sure you explore campus to make sure it's for you. Also, if you decide to come to Drake bring rain boots and an umbrella! Trust me, you'll need them and Target has a ton of cute pairs for about $20. Make sure you stay overnight and attend a class to see what college life at Drake is really like.
Great for these types of students Drake is great for motivated students who are willing to step up and try new things. It is a lovely small school and campus is all one block with no roads going through, which is great for getting around.
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15 out of 15 people found this review useful. 1 person found this inaccurate.
Kjersten from Little Falls, MN
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot You get out of Drake what you put into it. The classes really aren't too difficult, you just have to study quite a bit for some of them. It is really easy to take classes you are interested in, both in the general requirements or in the honors classes. If you sleep in class and don't do your homework (which some people do,) you aren't going to learn as much as someone who pays attention and goes into office hours. I have learned a lot about different cultures here at Drake. There are students from all over the world in every class and so you can learn outside of the classroom too!
Am enjoying being here I love Drake; coming here was one of the best decisions of my life. On the other hand, I know some of my friends don't like it as much as I do. My advice is check out the college a few times. The first time I visited campus I hated it. If I had written it off and not come back, I would be stuck at a college back home. The campus is great for studying and playing outside, and the city is just a short bus trip away. All around campus are tons of fun things to do and great places to explore.
Bang for the buck Drake is expensive. Then again, so is every other college. The main reason I picked Drake was because of the financial aid they gave me. It was substantially more than any other college I applied to. We also get more for our money. Drake really prepares you for the real world. Professors and advisers let you in on little hints that make life and job hunting so much easier! Drake is expensive, but they have excellent financial aid and it will be worth the loans upon graduation!
Tips for prospective students My number one tip is talk to upperclassmen. They can tell you what to bring, what to do, and what to avoid. They have been around so they know what dining center has the best food and which are the events to skip. The drainage system at Drake is not the best; rain boots are a must! Like everyone everywhere says, be friendly. Make tons of friends your first few weeks at school and then decide which ones will be your core group. Keep in contact with as many people as possible, but remember you need a solid group to fall back on when times are rough!
Great for these types of students Drake is great for low-key students. We keep things pretty casual around here. However, Drake really has something for everybody. For environmentalist, we have Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL) and Grey's Lake, which is not too far from campus. For nightlife divas we have bars, clubs, and frat houses. And we have everything between!
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4 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Lauren from Chicago, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Classes at Drake are definitely tough & if you didn't study in high school, that won't transfer well here. You will have to put in a significant amount of work no matter what your major is. Although the course material is difficult, it is definitely manageable, especially with the help of the approachable faculty. However, perhaps the greatest aspect about Drake is that you are not just getting a degree, but learning how to navigate the real world as well. Drake strongly stresses real world application through Mock Interviews and Resume/Cover Letter Workshops. Additionally, Drake has it's own career website, comparable to monster.com, which lists full-time positions & internships both in the Des Moines area and across the country so you can learn how to handle life in the work place before you get there.
Am enjoying being here There is always a lot to do at Drake. The student activities board does an excellent job planning events throughout the year like concerts(Eric Hutchinson, Quietdrive), Free Salsa Dancing Lessons, and even on campus laser tag. However, if you'd rather do something off campus downtown Des Moines is only 10 minutes away by car & has a lot of really neat places to visit. Drake students get to ride the Dart bus(Des Moines Public Transportation) for free and it will bring you right to Des Moines hot spots such as Court Avenue, which has a lot of nicer restaurants and bars for those over 21. There is also the Civic Center which plays host to big name shows such as RENT, Wicked, and Billy Elliot. Additionally, Des Moines is cluttered with cute little shops, coffee houses, and tea bars, all of which are with visiting.
Bang for the buck Drake is definitely on the more expensive side, but as a private institution, it's well worth the money. The on campus residence halls are all recently renovated and the dining halls just got a major makeover as well. The majority of professors have an open door policy with office hours, and a lot list their cell and home phone numbers in their syllabus. Since Drake is a smaller school it is really easy to get involved which makes it easier to obtain leadership positions and build a resume. All of this, in combination with Drake's generous academic and need-based scholarship policy, makes the Drake experience more than worth the money.
Tips for prospective students Open up right away & be yourself. Unlike a lot of state schools, no one comes to Drake with half of their graduating class. Therefore, 90% of students that enter as first years know only 1 or 2 people when they get to campus, thus making it a lot easier to make friends. Take advantage of this by joining lots of different activities and leaving your room door open(when you're there) to encourage the people on your floor to come in and chat.
Great for these types of students Drake is great for students who know exactly what they want to major in because you get to begin your major in your first year. This makes it exceptionally easy to double or even triple major.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Ashley from Des Moines, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I love Drake. I am learning so much. The classes are a lot harder than I expected, but that is what happens when you choose a school like Drake. I wanted a school to challenge me academically and Drake does.
Am enjoying being here I love the campus. Just about every single event is free. The sport events are free and the concert venues are free. The only thing I had to pay for was to see a play, and that was only 6 dollars.
Bang for the buck Drake is a little pricey, but I think it is worth the price. They give out lots of financial aid and scholarships to help compensate it.
Tips for prospective students Just be yourself and go somewhere you truly love.
Great for these types of students Journalism, Pharmacy, Science
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Bethany from Centerville, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Drake University is an amazing place to start the college journey. With its small-town feel, Drake University offers many opportunities to students, along with Des Moines, Iowa being a great resource to start job opportunities. Drake University is small enough where the professors know each of the students by name and that is the greatest feeling of all; to have that level of communication with professors.
Tips for prospective students Drake University is the place to begin your college career! Drake's campus is small enough where you know many other students, but large enough that there are plenty of opportunities for everyone. Drake offers a wide range of academic options, and you can also make your own major too! Drake represents all 50 states and over 50 countries so the campus is very diverse- a great opportunity to meet many other students from around the world. Once you make a visit to Drake, you will know it is the place for you.
Academic Rigor Drake University provides very rigorous academic courses, pushing each student to their full capacity. Drake's academic professors are more than willing to help a student succeed in the course, and provide extra opportunities for the student to understand the material covered in class. The class sizes are also small enough where each student feels a part of the learning process, and not just a number in the crowd.
Dorm Life Dorm life is great! The four freshmen residence halls, known as the quads, have all recently been renovated within the past 3 years. The dorms have carpet, real sheet rock walls (not brick), and brand new furniture to accompany the room. Each room is also able to adjust the heat and air conditioning themselves, and the windows do open for fresh air. Each residence hall also contains a laundry room, kitchen, living room/study space, study room, and multiple vending machines, all for the students to use. The resident assistants are great and make each student feel welcome.
Food and Dining Drake University is very lucky to have the food options that they offer. Drake works with Sodexo food services to provide delicious options for meals. Drake University has two different dining halls, the main dining hall called Hubble Dining Hall, where you can have an unlimited amount of food and sit down at a table with your friends. The other, Quad Creek Cafe, is more of the fast food type of dining option. Students get their food and can also sit down at tables with their friends, but the food is not unlimited. Food options vary every day and also offer many great home style foods. Drake students also have the opportunity to choose flex points with their meal plan. Flex points allow the students to purchase snacks and beverages at Spike's C-Store, a convenience store, located in the dining hall, or at various coffee shops around campus. Drake also offers food until 1am, and offers a new menu after 7pm, great for late night study snacking.
What to do for fun Because Drake's campus is so diverse, many students stay on campus during the weekend. With this, Drake offers many opportunities for students on the weekend, as well as weekdays. There are many things to do on campus, such as going to the Bell Center to swim a few laps, or run on a treadmill, go to the library for a great study environment, or go to the Olmsted Student Center located right on campus. This offers pool tables, a coffee shop, and a brand new fitness area downstairs, equipped with over 25 machines, each with a TV on them and iPod hook up. If you want an opportunity to get off campus, Des Moines has so much to offer! Drake students get to ride free on the DART bus, Des Moines' public transportation system, and can go anywhere in the city. With four malls, many local sports and restaurants, and theaters, it is hard to be bored at Drake.
Bang for the buck Although Drake University's tuition is very high, (almost $40,000/year) they offer great scholarships to each student. When I was comparing colleges my senior year, it was going to cost about the same for me to attend a state school or Drake University. I obviously chose Drake University for the small atmosphere that the campus offers. Without a doubt, I made the right decision.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Located near Old Main, the central building on campus, is a large rock called the Kissing Rock. Many alumni have been engaged at this spot over the years, and is a special place on campus for numerous couples.
Great for these types of students Drake is great for students that want to feel like a person, rather than just a number. With the small number of students on campus, the professors have a chance to learn about each student and how they learn best. Each student has the opportunity to grow in their learning and also meet many new people, while making life long bonds with professors and fellow classmates.
Clubs and Activities Drake University offers many ways for students to get involved on campus! Twice a year, Drake hosts an activities fair for students to learn more about what is offered on campus and to find what is most like them. From Chemistry Club to Anime Club, there is something for everyone on campus.
Greek Life Greek life is HUGE on Drake's campus! Located just down from Drake's campus, Greek Street is where the fraternities and sororities are located. Greek life offers fall and spring recruitment, with fall being the most popular. If someone is unsure if they want to get involved in Greek life and the social scene, there are options such as professional fraternities and service fraternities for students to become involved with.
Campus Safety Drake's campus is located in a rough part of Des Moines. Because of this, security is extra helpful, and always available if needed. The central office for security is located across the street from the main campus. Security officers patrol the campus with cars, ATV vehicles, and bicycles. There are also many blue Emergency posts located all throughout the campus, each equipped with a camera for security to be able to see you when you need help. Security officers are very nice, and are very willing to come pick a student up anywhere on campus and take them to their desired location if they don't feel safe enough to walk. I know security was a big concern with my parents, and they definitely feel at ease, knowing that security is very strong on campus and can handle any situation.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Virginia from Des Moines, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences drake is an amazing school, the professors are easy to talk to and more than willing to help. the campus itself is beautiful and small enough to navigate easily without feeling compact. as a private school, it is a little costly but the quality of education is worth it.
Tips for prospective students be sure to do a campus tour, it will make or break your decision. only by spending time on campus and feeling the layout can you truly decide on where to go.
Academic Rigor study! as a private university drake has an ideal of excellence to uphold, so the classes are a little more strenuous than a public state school. as long as you do your homework and keep up in class, you'll do fine.
Dorm Life dorm life is amazing. the freshman dorm complex makes it easy to make new friends and make connections with others in your field of study. the upper class dorms are spacious and on campus.
Food and Dining dining is supplied by sodexo, while the food itself is very tasty, after a while it begins to get old.
What to do for fun join a club, walk to grey's lake, visit the many malls, walk around downtown and see the historic buildings, play quidditch, or go to a play.
Bang for the buck as your mother always told you, you get what you pay for. this time it's in a good way though. drake is a private school, which means its expensive, which means that they actually want you to stay. the professors put extra effort into making sure you succeed and do well in their classes.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus herriot hall (a freshman dorm) is fond of recreating hogwarts. this year we had the yule ball, triwizard tournament, quidditch, and much more.
Campus Safety campus security is always patrolling. whenever there is an emergency they are there faster than you can believe.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Tara from Minneapolis, MN
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot What I like about Drake is that it is a small enough school where professors care how you are doing in classes and most are willing to change their schedule to fit yours if you need extra help.
Am enjoying being here I have met great people and have made great relationships. Also Drake helps students get involved, with so many options it's easy to choose which organization you would like to be a part of and make a difference with!
Bang for the buck I feel like everyone who works at Drake is trying their best to achieve personal satisfaction from each student.
Tips for prospective students Talk to professors and current students while touring. Tours only give out information Drake thinks is important, what's important to you may be different.
Great for these types of students Great for students who enjoy seeing students/faculty they know on their way to classes. This school is great for close relationships with faculty and other students.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Courtney from Calumet City, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Drake's no Harvard but this school is really good for those who want to be challenged. I've sat in on many classes at many universities; most colleges, especially state colleges, felt like you were sitting in a high school class. I didn't feel this way at Drake.
Am enjoying being here Drake is located in Iowa. With that being said, the city Drake is located in is Des Moines, which is the biggest city in Iowa. I like the location because it is big enough to get involved in many things off and on campus but small enough to not have high crime rates and other negative things that come with big cities.
Bang for the buck Drake is expensive. The education is worth it if you take full advantage of your classes by studying and using office hours. The teachers I have encountered were really helpful in wanting to help you if you show initiative and make the first step towards getting more help. Some teachers are nicer than others in their approach but all really cared about you understanding the material.
Tips for prospective students Make sure you get to know your professors; if they see you are working hard and coming in for help, this might help to make the difference in a borderline situation between two grades.
Great for these types of students This school is great for anyone because of the diversity at Drake.
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0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Kaitie from Iowa
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot I am looking forward to studying topics that I am actually interested in unlike high school and I am sure I will adhere so much knowledge at Drake!
Will enjoy being here Des Moines is a very intriguing city with that seems like a lot to do! Awesome shopping and wonderfully restaurants!
Bang for the buck A little on the expensive side, however, I think I will receive an amazing education here!
Tips for prospective students Definitely check out Drake when you are applying to college!
Great for these types of students Studious students.
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0 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Melanie from Des Moines, IA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot If I am accepted I am looking forward to four years packed with learning and fun.
Will enjoy being here This school has everything that I am looking for. It is in a great location, has the major I want and so much more.
Bang for the buck It is expensive but it is totally worth it.
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1 out of 11 people found this review useful.
Michael from Roscoe, IL
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Login to rate or flag the reviews
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Shelby from Waukon, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Drake University is a very prestigious university that helps students excel to their best knowledge. Drake does whatever it can to help students find careers, and advise them in every possible way. Any type of student can excel and succeed at Drake.
Tips for prospective students If you have any interest in Drake, follow through. They will not fail you.
Academic Rigor Classes may be hard, but do not hesitate to ask your professors for help. Many classes are available to all students.
Dorm Life Get involved. Your hall, and building are your best friends. Each hall has many activities throughout the school year.
Food and Dining It's school food. Its good, its bad. You can always find something good to eat even if there is a few bad options.
What to do for fun I like to hang out with my friends, order pizza, watch movies, and go to sporting events.
Bang for the buck Yes, it is expensive. But their job placement rate is higher than any school in the area. The education is worth it.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The campus has many things going on, you never know what, but always something!! There are unique things on campus. It is a beautiful campus.
Great for these types of students Any type of student will succeed if you put forth a little effort.
Clubs and Activities So many clubs and activities around campus. More than you even will ever realize. Everyone gets involved.
Greek Life My roommate was involved in Greek Life, she loved it. And I could tell she always had fun with her sisters. Greek's include other students when doing on campus activities.
Campus Safety The surrounding neighborhood isn't too great. But I have never been fearful of my life. I feel completely safe.
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Allison from Quincy, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Drake is small, but comfortable. I love going to school here and feel that I get a quality education and am not swimming in a sea of people I do not know.
Tips for prospective students Bring rain boots! :)
Academic Rigor I can really only speak to science classes, but they are challenging.
Dorm Life Freshman dorms are very very nice, upperclassman are not too bad.
Food and Dining Well, it's school food.
Greek Life There are 5 sororities and 7 fraternities, one more is coming in the fall.
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Stacie from Lincoln, NE
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences It is a great place to learn. Small campus where you know lots of people on campus. Relays is the best time of the year at Drake.
Tips for prospective students Investigate what you want to do and learn as much as possible about the opportunities you have.
What to do for fun Lots of activities, sporting events, relays, student get togethers
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus RELAYS, best time of the year.
Great for these types of students Focused, hardworking students
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Nickey from Leawood, KS
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences it is a small, cozy school. the class sizes are small, professors are superb, but it can get a little boring.
Tips for prospective students it's ridiculously easy to get into if you have above a 24 act score and above a 3.0 gpa
Academic Rigor classes are certainly challenging. good academic rigor.
Dorm Life dorms could be better, but at the same time they could be worse.
Food and Dining not a fan of the food. there are lots of options but it gets a little bland.
What to do for fun there's a nice mall about 15 minutes away. i'm in greek life, that's your best for fun.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus there's a kissing rock...
Great for these types of students like small towns.
Greek Life can get a tad bit cliquey but overall it's pretty good.
Campus Safety lots of shootings, let's be serious, des moines is not super classy.
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Whitney from Lenexa, KS
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences drake is a fantastic place to find your own. they challenge you academically and provide easy ways for you to get involved and to get professional experience. the atmosphere is fun, yet academically focused.
Tips for prospective students study hard. go to the activities fair. also, keep your door open during the first couple weeks of school - you'll never believe how many friends you'll make.
Academic Rigor small class sizes mean that you can't just slide by/skip a lot of classes. teachers have accessible office hours and are more than willing to answer your questions. classes (at least the ones that i have taken) challenge your critical thinking skills, and encourage you to participate in class and discuss what's being taught. friends of mine who have taken more lecture classes have found them tough, but they have learned a lot at the same time.
Dorm Life leave your door open!
Food and Dining they don't always have the best variety or quality, but they satisfy!
What to do for fun movie nights, walk around jordan creek mall, go to basketball games (you may end up watching the bulldogs pull out a triple ot thriller!)
Great for these types of students students who care about their education, but know how to have fun too.
Campus Safety drake's campus is very safe, but the neighborhood surrounding it is very sketchy as many students would say. east des moines is not the safest part of the city.
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Danielle from Des Moines, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences drake is a great academic institution. they are currently working to become a diverse campus but more work needs to be done in that area
Tips for prospective students be active on campus but still put in time for study
Academic Rigor depending on your major the rigor may differ. but i think it is a little above average
Dorm Life dorm life is fun. the residence halls always try to build friendships with persons on the hall
Food and Dining the dining hall here does not have the best food, they are however improving
What to do for fun there is not much to do on campus unless there is an event on campus. to seek fun you would have to go off campus
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Megan from Ames, IA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences drake is a personal atmosphere. drake holds you to higher learning expectations. drake is not known for sports.
Tips for prospective students get ready for iowa cold!
Academic Rigor obviously not an ivy league but a big step up from state school.
Dorm Life nearly brand new dorms, only slight issue is the wall with the window condenses water in some rooms. (but at least that tells you the heater works)
Food and Dining some people like to whine about hubbell food but i find that it is quite good quality.
What to do for fun the neighborhood around drake is somewhat rough so you can't really go exploring too much on your own but des moines itself has lots of fun things to do.
Bang for the buck tuition is increasing and no one is happy about that.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus street painting!
Greek Life drake greek life is worlds different from state schools! yes, there are members who drink but there is definitely no pressure to and the collective greek community consistently has a higher gpa than the normal student body.
Campus Safety on campus you are quite safe but there has been five shootings on the street i live on this year as it is a road that marks the boundary of campus.
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