Neumont College of Computer Science
Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Reviews

Neumont College of Computer Science

Brett from Roswell, NM

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Every day is a learning experience here at Neumont. Coming here with no experience with any of the things they were doing here was a little daunting. I met people with a lot of experience, and others with no experience at all, just like me. Another friend of mine wrote his own antivirus program before even coming here! But the early months of Neumont got me sped up, and keep me sped up on all the new information that is now bursting at the seams from in my brain! The learning experience here is fantastic and if I could rate the school and the staff here, I would give 6 stars!
Am enjoying being here
There has not been one day where I have not been invited to participate in an activity or there's an event that one of the Orders or clubs are hosting. There is always something to do and it is a very tight, close community who all are willing to help each other when/if someone asks.
Bang for the buck
It is a very expensive school. There are a lot of scholarships out there, however, and it just takes the time and effort to get all the free money you need. As for the bang, Neumont university (as of 2010) has a 100% placement for graduates within 6 months of receiving their degree. I have yet to graduate, so I would not know much about what happens then, but Neumont has had a few guest speakers, kids that have graduated from Neumont and have amazing jobs at outstanding companies. They come in and tell us how life is great ever since they put in the effort for their school, and how much it's paid off. Literally and figuratively.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared. This is one hell of a roller coaster and it can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. If you study and prepare and be a good student, things will work out. If you slack off, you're done. There is no leeway for those who just want to coast on by, and get a degree for something. This is an active learning environment. You just have to be a good student, and have common sense. Study for tests, do your homework, and make sure you understand the things that you are doing. There are plenty of tutors and friends that are more than willing to help, as long as you are willing to help.
Great for these types of students
Great for those computer-savvy, technical guys who love technology, video games and staying up late. But do not be scared away, thinking you're going to be a shut-in if you come to this school. There are plenty of outdoor-sy activities all around here. There are kids who go running and riding bikes all over the place, there's rock climbing, and snowboarding/skiing. You will never be bored here.

Deric from South Jordan, UT

a current student here
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I came to Neumont with very little prior knowledge of programming, but since coming here I've made dozens of programs using Visual Studio or Eclipse fro ma range of an RPG game to calulators and piant applications.
Am enjoying being here
Theres always something to do, every weekend theres something being funded by the school for free or really low cost, and if you don't have a car neumont has shuttles to drive you.
Bang for the buck
The school is challenging, its not easy to graduate because of how compressed the learning is, but it is all hands on and even if your only here for a few quarters you will walk away knowing alot more than when you came here.
Tips for prospective students
Diligence, you have to stay focused and on top of your work. But Neumont is good about keeping fun in your life as well, because they know everyone needs a break.
Great for these types of students
anyone looking for a promising career in computer science or business should come to Neumont. The teaching is enriching and will make you understand what it is your learning.

Rachel from Colorado Springs, CO

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Neumont is a great school if you want to get your foot in the door of the Computer Industry, the last year is spent working for actual companies and many students receive job offers from those companies if they preform well. The job placement rate is close to 100% if you graduate with average starting salary around 50k. They teach you in a way that will help you go straight into the industry without a lot of re-training by the company you end up working for.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared to work your butt off, this school is not easy. If you're the kind of student who's always barely paid attention and still gotten good grades you're in for a rude awakening if you try that here. You need to put 100% into everything you do, but the level of education you'll receive and the depth that you'll know the subject will be rewarding. If you've never programmed before I would suggest you spend some time trying some basic programming before you choose Neumont as your school, not everyone is cut out for it.
Academic Rigor
This is an extremely challenging school, and is very fast paced. If you don't keep up you can fall behind very quickly. It is also a year round school which is hard for some students to adjust to. About half of the students drop out or fail by the time their first year is almost finished, either because they couldn't handle the work load or because programming just wasn't for them.
Dorm Life
The school plans to move to a new building downtown this summer, but the current living arrangements are off campus apartments about a mile away, where you live with three other students and share a room with one. Many students elect to live outside of student housing or change apartments to live with their friend after attending school for a while. The apartments have full size kitchens, balconies, washer/dryer and utilities are included because you pay through the school instead of dealing with the apartments yourselves.
Food and Dining
There is no meal plan, you are expected to buy your own groceries and prepare your own meals, except for lunch when a lady will come in with a hot meal that you can purchase for 5$ a day. Feeding yourself is completely up to you, but I don't suggest living off ramen. Many students go shopping with their roommates after all pitching the same amount of money and having community food, others choose to all buy their own food and take care of themselves individually. If you are looking for freedom and responsibility, living off campus in an apartment might be what you're looking for.
What to do for fun
The school has a game room with a pool, ping pong and air hockey tables, as well as arcade games and another game room with xbox's, wii's, N64 and other consoles, however you are only allowed to use that room if your GPA is at a certain point. There are also a lot of beautiful areas to hike and go camping if you're an outdoors type. Not a lot of students are outdoorsy, but there are sometimes organized camping or skiing trips.
Bang for the buck
This school is extremely expensive and challenging, but the fast pace makes sure you never get bored, and some classes are only five weeks so you're always learning new things and moving on. If you fail a class you are welcome to take it again and they will replace the grade. You can't argue with their job placement rate, especially in today's economy.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The campus is two floors in an office building, so there's not a whole lot to do around the school but study and play games, but the school is next to a beautiful park with a great view of the mountains.
Great for these types of students
Students who love technology, games, programming. Many students were considered nerds in high school and are relieved that all the students here are nerds and think the things we were made fun of for in high school are cool. If you're into anime, video games, blogging, star wars, dragon ball z, pokemon, etc. this is the school for you. I myself have had numerous nerf wars both in school and in my apartment with my roommates. Just be careful that you balance your gaming and social life with your studies.
Clubs and Activities
There are some clubs and activities, but since it is a small school there's not a whole lot to choose from. However any student is welcome to make their own club/activity, all they have to to is talk to the student activities director and have a few students that also want to join. For example a few of my friends starting a fighting games tournament and a pokemon club.
Greek Life
No frats of sororities. We're all geeky computer kids.
Campus Safety
You have a student ID which allows you to use the elevators and access the floor with classrooms on it. The administration floor is accessed without a pass, but remembering your student ID is important if you want to be able to get to your classes. This also keeps curious people out of the way unless they are on a tour with the school.

Alexander from Roseburg, OR

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
With IBM on their side as well as eBay and many other large corporations they will train you with the best knowledge. They have a lot of good teachers and generally they want you to get out in to the work force
Am enjoying being here
I love the snow and the atmosphere of geeks it is going to be a dream for me There are a lot of really nice people and some really cool things to do.
Bang for the buck
It is only a tad more expensive than public school but is a lot quick only 2.5 if you stay on track
Tips for prospective students
apply early it helps you get scholarships Learn about the campus make sure you won't freak out right before coming here.
Great for these types of students
Geeks nerds likes working in groups

samantha from mckinney, tx

accepted here and planning to attend soon
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
it is a geek central, geek style, and geek community school. located in the center of everything. you never have to go far from school for anything and everyone more or less understands you.
Tips for prospective students
don't really have any, but i am truly looking forward to going there in the fall and simply can't wait. i also highly recommend going to the frex event, it was a blast. though i almost fell asleep during one of the speech sessions.
Academic Rigor
i hear it is quite hard but i look forward to it. just i don't recommend playing video games till 1 in the morning.
Dorm Life
it looks like it might be a bit crowded but all in all as long as you keep peace with your apartment mates it should be good. also since the school runs the apartments, they take care of he water, electricity, and such bills, as well as the cost never changing weather there are 2 or 4 people in the apartment.
Food and Dining
there is no real cafeteria, but within two blocks in almost any direction you either reach a mall, restaurant, or hotel. there is one i hear is very popular which is right across from the school, additionally there is a cheesecake factory nearby.
What to do for fun
well, video games and programing.
Bang for the buck
among all the colleges i have looked at it is not that expensive, but the fact that it is all in 3 years is good since it means i will only over lap with my sibling for one year of college, a big help to my parents who will be paying for us.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
it isn't really unusual, well maybe in america, but just two stores down from the school is a french bakery. most surprising thing is that it reminded me of being home in france since tastes just like the pastries did, though these ones were at least three times the size of the ones i would eat back in france.
Great for these types of students
naturally geeks, though the mountains and ski stations around are also great if your into those.

Dakotah from South Jordan, UT

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I came to Neumont with no previous experience, with the 3 short quarters I've been here, I now know practically everything there is to know about Java, HTML and CSS. The teachers are great and really take an interest on whether or not you're learning the material you're supposed to know
Am enjoying being here
The people at the school are great. Everyone has the same interests as you do and mostly everyone is easy to get along with. There are a lot of things to do around the apartments and everywhere is easy to get. We have a mall down the street and a Wal-Mart and Sam's club around the corner.
Bang for the buck
It's a bit expensive to attend the school, but for the price and the time it takes for you to complete the degree, not to mention how much you'll be getting paid when you graduate with a job, it's worth it.
Tips for prospective students
Don't come to Neumont expecting to pass classes if you're not going to attend them. Neumont grades are highly dependent on your attendance rate.
Great for these types of students
People who like playing LoL,Starcraft,WoW, and Magic the Gathering. If you're looking for a relaxing environment, during your class breaks. If you're looking to take college seriously and wanting to get in the work force with a great paycheck even before you graduate.

James from Phoenix, AZ

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Tips for prospective students
Time management is crucial, video games have to be set aside to get work done, and don't be afraid to ask for help. You have a wide range of options to get help. Help can come from a tutor, your instructor (or any instructor that understands the the coding language in general), or any student/friend. Keep this in mind that this won't be like high school anymore, this where you will be treated like an adult and are expected to act/ live like one. One more thing, get use to working in groups, you will sometimes need to work in groups to do well. You won't always work with the same people, get use to working in different groups.
Academic Rigor
The school is very challenging, a lot of hands-on learning. if you have the determination and will-power to learn then you should be safe. Yet there are those who don't tale it seriously and decide to slack off or procrastinate and then they get hit by reality. To be honest, it hurts seeing them drop out or struggle, but it's more of a reason to do our best, so we don't end up that way.
Dorm Life
It's great though this can depend on who your roommates are, I lived in student housing and its not that bad. Rooms and Kitchen is good, once you get use to living there it'll just be like home. If you don't like where your living at, then you can move out into a different room or a different apartment, of course you'll need to give the school a two week notice. The school should help you move out as well. The student housing areas located in convenient areas where there's easy access to Transit (Trains), restaurants and other stores.
Food and Dining
You have a variety of different options, it can come down to burgers from McDonald's, hot dogs from a Hot Dog Stand(Same with tacos), or pretty much any restaurant from the food court at the mall which is pretty close to the school. The school also has a food market for a student's convenience. The student housing areas have easy access to restaurants, but making yourself lunch is also an option (you also save money).
What to do for fun
You have clubs you can join that have their own events, the school events that can range from foam battles, game night, and Video Game Tournaments, and my personal favorite type of fun is going down to the bunker (game room) and just play Super Smash Bros. during lunch with other students. Of course the city itself hosts events as well.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Our unusual tradition will have to be the moment the school had gained its first mascot the lasted for maybe about 3 days. Though I wasn't enrolled at the school when it happened, the students had been given the chance to vote for a mascot. The mascot that had won was the Neumont Llamas, but for marketing reasons (such as having llamas for mascot might make businesses take us seriously) they canceled the mascot. Though it isn't official the students at Neumont still take pride in being the Neumont llamas.
Great for these types of students
If you like Technology, coding, and games this pretty much the place for you. Though the school portrays itself as a geek school (in a way it's a geek school), this itself isn't true due to the fact that we get a good amount of diversity of personalities in school, yet we all get along well together.
Campus Safety
Not the best security, but i will say it's not far from it! We use to have a temporary security guard until we got an official security guard who can be seen at the front of the entrance. The doors as well are pretty secure, if your a student you'll need to get in by scanning your ID through 2 sets of doors if the first one isn't open yet. A stranger will have to talk to the receptionist through a intercom to get in.

Bronze from South Jordan, UT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Neumont focuses it's attention on Software development and those who interact with Software developers. It has a fast paced project oriented program that is designed to not just give you the theoretical knowledge that you would get from most schools but practical experience as well. The rigorous program Neumont offers ensures the work quality of the professionals that they put out.
Tips for prospective students
1) Neumont offers a fast paced program, while it is nice to earn a bachelors degree in two and a half years this means you can not afford to fall behind. Stay on top of your work.

2) Try to get an apartment in the Tower, then you will only need to ride an elevator to get to class on time.

3) If you are stuck on something seek help as soon as possible, it is easy to fall behind if you wait.
Academic Rigor
Classes are challenging and fast paced, Help is always provided and questions are encouraged.
Dorm Life
Neumont cares about the students in student housing, the will try their best to make sure the students are as comfortable as possible, There is a Full kitchen and all students have access to washers and dryers for laundry

Food and Dining
There are a few local restaurants that offer discounts for Neumont students.
What to do for fun
Neumont offers random activities throughout the year. There are many hiking trails nearby. Both Neumont and the gateway mall are within the Free Fair Zone in downtown salt lake, Ride Trax to the Gateway Mall and enjoy a movie at the Megaplex theatres or visit the Planetarium.
Bang for the buck
If you are looking for a career in Computer Science, it is well worth it to come here. Neumont University has an excellent Career services department that will help you find a job after graduation, and you can always come back to them.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Each time finals come around the week before the start Neumont host the Midnight Breakfast This event is a feast that starts a 6 pm not midnight, at this feast Neumont students are treated the breakfast foods and normally there are a few LAN parties and game tournaments going on as well.
Clubs and Activities
Clubs come and go here, most of the clubs have something to do with games or anime, however two of the long standing clubs are Neumont Spectrum which is Neumont's GSA Club, and USG (Student Government).
Campus Safety
Students are issued student ID's out side of office hours the school automatically locks down to outside access. When the school is locked down a student or faculty ID must be used to access the building or restricted areas of the school via a card reader.

Alex from Las Vegas, NV

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The size of the University is to the point where Faculty and your fellow students are nearly always on hand to talk on a one-on-one basis on any subject, academic or otherwise. The instruction environment focuses on you, the student, taking charge of your own education and learning not just the material, but how to continue to learn in a fast-paced, rapidly improving industry. At Neumont, one simply does not earn a degree, but rather begins to build a career.
Tips for prospective students
I have found the Neumont experience to be interesting to say the least. This University certainly has more of a geek-driven culture (that's not to say that everyone here is a gamer or fully immerses themselves in that aspect). My main tip: do not take the Neumont system lightly, what you put into your education here, will be reflected upon by what you get out of it and vice versa. To be blunt, while our culture is a little gaming oriented, you're not here to game, but to lay the foundations of your future and increase your marketability.
Academic Rigor
Neumont has a rigorous and high-pace/accelerated program designed that one can earn their degree (provided that they stay on pace and put in their due diligence) in 2.5 years (3 years if one's in the Game Development program). A significant part of the class structure is not your daily lecture, but is largely project driven and places an emphasis on independent study. You not only learn the material, but learn how to practically apply it at the same time.
Dorm Life
Student housing provides excellent opportunities in its current iteration: sublet apartments in a local apartment complex (or two) which aren't too far from the Neumont Campus and include amenities such as a clubhouse, exercise room, pool and spa, and plenty of room to walk or bike and get fresh air. Each apartment has its own kitchen and living area, and is furnished with the bare minimum needs (microwave, oven, refrigerator, couch, table, chairs, twin beds in each room, etc.), the particular apartment I reside in is a two-bed, two-bath apartment. In general each apartment has 3-4 students residing in it.
Food and Dining
In terms of on-campus meals, a catering service comes in every week, Monday through Thursday and has a few hot options as well as a salad bar. The area has a fair amount of restaurants, both sit-down (Applebees, Olive Garden, etc.) and more quicker options (Subway, etc.), from which to choose, all of which have extremely delicious menu options, not to mention healthy options for those more calorie-conscious. There are also plenty of local grocery stores and markets from which fresh ingredients can be purchased for making meals from scratch. I would also like to add that for students which stay at school over Thanksgiving, there is an excellent home-style Thanksgiving dinner held in the afternoon at the University with some of the best traditionally made foods one would expect to find at home.
What to do for fun
There are many different clubs and orders at the school, from a soccer club to a student-organized choir, and the student advisers always try to plan things that sound fun and provide a welcome respite from our day-to-day work and other things going on (some of these planned events even come by suggestion from the students). Excursions into the mountains and stargazing trips are a few examples of such events. The valley itself has many things in and around Salt Lake City in terms of entertainment and activity, for instance, City Creek Center has multiple shopping outlets for those who wish to shop, likewise with the Southtowne Center in South Jordan. For those who enjoy the arts, both the Capitol Theatre and Abravanel Hall will often feature a wide array of performances, from Broadway shows to performances by the Utah Symphony.
Bang for the buck
Neumont's programs offer students the unique opportunity to build up a portfolio of projects to show future employers at job interviews, some of which come not from coursework itself, but from partnerships and Enterprise Projects where students have the opportunity to work on a project for a partnering company either locally or not. As long as you put in the time and effort and honor all of your commitments in terms of you charges and owning your education, you will, without a doubt, have a wonderful return on this investment.
Great for these types of students
-Those who enjoy the Computer Science and related fields.
-Those who are willing to put in the hard work and time required of them
-Those who don't want to just go through the motions and get a degree, but rather build a career and get launched into a dynamic industry, fully prepared and equipped to succeed in their endeavors.
Clubs and Activities
Neumont has a wide array of Student-led orders and clubs. Here are some examples:
Beatwise: The student-led Neumont Choir
Coding Club
Cycling Club
Unified Student Government
Students for Civic Responsibility

Some general activities:
-Week One_Done (Basically a party/event at the end of the first week of every quarter. These events vary from foam weapons wars, to Nerf battles, to LAN parties, and others.)
-Finals Week Breakfast
-Local Camping Trips
-Casino Night
-Concerts and Festivals
Campus Safety
The campus itself is a secure environment and has security patrols employed by the River Park Complex's owners. Student Affairs will coordinate with these security personnel as well as those in the housing facilities.

Steve from San Bernardino, CA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Neumont has a well-defined community. Has the goal of getting you a job after graduation. And has some of the best teachers in the state.
Tips for prospective students
Be ready for a heavy workload right off the bat. Don't get lazy and don't get discouraged.
Academic Rigor
Very challenging and engaging. But some degrees are more challenging than others.
Dorm Life
The apartments the school uses as dorms are very nice. Nothing bad here.
Food and Dining
The school doesn't have a cafeteria, but monday through thursday a catering company comes in and provides lunch for 5$ a plate. Also almost every tuesday the LDS church provided free lunch. Only bad thing is fridays are fend for yourself but there are many restaurants around campus.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There is a large gaming culture here. When I say that I mean that only a handful of students don't play games.
Great for these types of students
Gamers, and coders.