7 Best Mfa Programs In El Paso, TX (2022 Updated)

UTEP as university does not rank at all in either the QS, Times Higher Education or AWRU World University Rankings. Hence you do not go to this university to be competitive within academia nor expect career compensation on a commensurate monetary level as a Top Tier or even 100 ranked university. For those interested in careers in National Security or Intelligence, UTEP is one of the IC ACE (IC Centers for Academic Excellence) under the DIA. If you examine the current list of schools who classify, all with the exception of Penn State are sub-par in terms of academic ranking, reputation and overall competitiveness. As such, you should NOT expect to be recruited by premier alphabet federal agencies such as the CIA, ODI, FBI or DIA. The so-called meet and greet sessions with organizations such as the CIA are just for PR. Read A Curriculum of Fear by Nicole Nguyen. The IC ACE program is just an extension of the Milton High School program at a secondary level and subsequently proof of further militarization of academia. See Prof. David N. Gibbs research. UTEP NSSI program will not prepare you adequately for a position at an alphabet agency. I have direct experience in terms of the interview process and this includes two Five Eyes countries intelligence services. I would strongly advise having an established military background with an appropriate MOS, preferably working INT with high level clearance and exposure to analysis. Foreign language acquisition is mandatory. Being or becoming a polyglot is an enormous plus. Military is valuable for the vetting process and indoctrination. Finally I would also suggest majoring in fields of specialty as opposed to a generic umbrella like liberal arts program such as Intelligence studies. I would also suggest overseas exposure. Long term. Think Exchange student for extended periods. Total immersion including culturally and linguistically. Travel, gain first hand experience and real world knowledge. My final critique with UTEP is the faculty. None have applicable real world intelligence experience. Some have military background which is not the same as in the civilian world working for an agency. I can get more real world knowledge reading the articles written by ex-CIA McGovern or Philip Giraldi at Consortium News or watching Richard Steele on YouTube droning on about the need for total all source open intelligence as a reform for the CIA. This is a problem at UTEP and probably the entire IC ACE program. In fact, this was addressed in the Washington Post article, "Colleges Must Be Intelligent About Intelligence Studies" written by ex-CIA, professor of History, Nicholas Dujmovic. This was followed by a limited response from two UTEP professors entitled, "Can colleges teach intelligence? Three security studies professors argue they can, and should" I seriously suggest you READ BOTH. Pay special attention to the second follow up response comments. There are 14 comments including Dr. Dujmovic's timely response which adequately confirms my own beliefs and experience. as he correctly states, "professional academics, with little to no actual intelligence experience, who have an interest in perpetuating the degree programs they run." The additional comments are of equal merit as they brutally confront the apparent hypocrisy of the such academic programs from what genuinely appears to be INT insiders with both military and civilian intelligence experience. On a final personal note, I would like to express my disdain for the program's coordinator, Carmen B. Medellin whose has shown to be completely inconsiderate and rude to student needs and inquiries.Merauder

The school is good overall. They have enough classes so that people are not desperately trying to get registered for their class like they do in California. They have a wide range of degree programs you can choose. It is a commuter school, but still there is a lot of student life, activities and pride. University is what you make of it. You can go and leave each day without talking to anyone, or you can go and make lots of friends and join clubs making this the best years of your life. I read some of the comments that say that the professors don't answer questions and that they act like celebrities. I say talk to the dean, you are paying for your education they need to answer your questions. Of course don't be that person that tries to take over the class trying to feel smart asking question after question. Also there is a degree of learning that comes from in class teaching, but students also have to study on their own based on the guidance they get in class. How many hours do people really study? In regards to getting a degree, please don't get thousands of dollars into debt for a liberal arts degree unless you have some plan that will allow you to pay back your loans. It is no one but the students fault if they choose a useless degree. You guys should know what degrees will allow you to get a job after graduations and which ones are just going to look nice on your wall. At the end of the day, there are many Universities around the country, if you don't like it, go to another one or don't complain that you didn't get accepted anywhere else and you are stuck.Carlos Contreras

This University offers a beautiful campus. I enjoyed the scenery. On the other hand the University is awful. The structure and system of the University is poor. The staff within most departments lack knowledge. You are constantly being directed to different locations in order to resolve an issue. I wanted to change my major midway through the semester and I seriously had the worse time changing it. Let's just say, it is still the same major. I am unhappy at this University, the professors although some good, seem as if they just show in order to receive their check. My first two years, 70% of my professors were extremely anal and dealt with giving outrageous curves because the whole class was failing. The reason why everyone was failing was mostly because of the lack of teaching. Yes, it isn't always the professors but the students as well, I know, but when 95% of the class is below a 70, we have a problem. At this point I'd rather invest my money into a community college to rap up my basics. Give UTEP a try, but I am almost positive you won't be too happy.Austin Carson

Its Jun 30th,2022 and I just got a phone message stating that Paso Del Norte Elementary school will receive an additional 250 students because it is now an arts academy well I want to say this is ridiculous because as it is we as parents have a hard time parking to pick up our children every day this school does not provide a proper parking or pick up areas for our children. Also it is a very stressful situation parking to drop them off in the morning. The school is over the comfortable amount of children it should accommodate, yet they add 250 more!?!?! 😠 PSN was already at full capacity. If you are going to do something like that, you need to fix the problem of how kids are picked at this school. I usually have to get there 20-30 minutes and park earlier so i can pick up my child at a descent time. So unorganized and of course they are doing for money. 😠Sonia Rascon

First year here love it stundents are nice staff really helpful love my teacher ms aguilar great 5th grade teacher really nice and helpful and suportingBianka Aguirre

First off let me start off with that I did not go to school here. The reason I'm writing this review is because everyone that I've met that has gone to this school and somehow managed to graduate does not know how to spell. I mean how can you graduate high school and not know how to read? I asked them what kind of math they learned and they didn't even know what math was! I was astonished! I said "Jeez, you know, they really ought to be teaching kids how to read!" I guess they just hand out diplomas to anyone these days. For such a nice building, I think they should at least try to teach these kids to spell. Go T-Birds!!!Chris Combatti

My Abuelo went there and graduated however he passed away my best friend went there about 25 years ago and people report that a girl committed suicide by jumping off the fourth floor. He thought it was "BS" however he have seen blood on the bathroom walls before and they claim that it was just grease. Also when he was after school alone, people and him have heard and seen a girl that looked depressed. The school tries to cover it up. The education is great, but the history is bad!!Nicholas

This school is haunted and plus when your alone in that school at night you could get killed and plus my friend alexis lives near this school and the lady killed herself comes to her house(I don’t recommend kids or other people in this place)Jessica jenkins

I mean it's Texas Tech. It feels brand new because it is. It feels like it shouldn't be in El Paso, its so nice, and I don't mean to be mean. Very technologically forward, very awesome facilities. Befitting of medical students paying out their noses for an education.Kelly Ahrendes

Great medical school! The faculty and staff are fantastic. They put in the extra effort with every student to make sure you succeed. I am proud to say I went here for Medical School.Caleb Janosz

A gorgeous space that's perfect for solo artists, up to a mid sized ensembles no more than 15 or 20 musicians. Only downside, the lighting is severely outdated. Everything works but this definitely needs modern lighting for full effect and drama that the space could bring.Joshua Lintz