When I was preparing to attend the University of Wyoming, I was not very excited.
It was going to be what I called “high school 2.0.” Coming from Cheyenne, countless other graduates from high school were coming to UW.
Beginning at UW, I was prepared to see the same people I had been with for four years. I began to worry I would not meet new people and that college would not be fun. Others had similar thoughts and concerns about UW as well.
According to a review of UW found on Niche.com, their view of UW and Laramie was not up to their standards.
“Laramie is awful, if you don’t have a car, it is pretty much impossible to leave campus, which makes you feel completely isolated,” the freshman student from 2017-18 said.
“Overall, I wish I had never come here. I am transferring after finishing my freshman year, and I can’t wait to never come to this town again.”
One of the main concerns for people is the small-town aspect of Laramie.
According to the 2020 Census from the United States Census Bureau, Laramie is listed as having 31,407 residents. While being the third most populated town in Wyoming, it doesn’t offer the amenities that might service college students.
However, UW and Laramie do not get the respect they deserve and are overly hated.
First, UW is not a large campus, and enrollment compared to other universities is extremely low.
According to the enrollment summary of Spring 2022 from the University of Wyoming, the total headcount of students, including distance and on-campus students, is 10,611 students.
With a low number of students at UW compared to other universities, it allows for a much more personal relationship.
“Within my department, I have multiple professors who have offered me internships and research opportunities, and then even professors who are letters of recommendation or references,” senior Jordan Carlson said.
“I want to go to law school this next year, so I have a professor who is my letter of rec for that.”
While building a relationship with professors is valuable, the lower number of students allows for many courses to be taught to smaller classes.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, UW had a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, and 45.8% of its courses reported under 20 students. Only 10.5% of courses had over 50 students.
This allows for the students to gain a better understanding of these courses and more opportunities to engage and ask questions.
Laramie does offer small-town aspects, but these aspects are not something that brings down the town, but rather propel it up.
Downtown Laramie offers a unique experience for anyone who visits it, mainly consisting of local stores and restaurants. While it does not have a Target or many chain restaurants that some want, the shopping and food found here are exclusive to Laramie.
Something hard to argue against is the weather. The cold can be brutal in the winters, and the winters seem to last for months longer than most are ready for. Wind also adds another layer to the weather that anyone and everyone could hate on.
However, going to school in Laramie, there must be some expectation of cold winters being that UW is located so close to the mountains.
As a personal preference, the snow that comes in Laramie is one of the prettiest parts of living in Laramie. The first snowfall is blissful.
“It is not as bad as people say, it’s definitely cold, but the snow is not that bad,” Carlson said.
While some may prefer the beach and warm weather, UW and Laramie have its own ways of capturing people with its number of students, unique town and weather, mainly because the weather shuts down the roads to get out of town.
