The University of Otago is highly praised for having one of the best student-cultures in New Zealand, but being down here for two years has made me realise its not all that. The University has shut down all student bars which means theres no longer any places where students can gather. There are a few good parties a year but besides that most drinks get boring after the first hour. Theres no recreational activities to do, the clubs are awful and the music sucks. The campus itself is also pretty average. Don’t get me wrong some of the science buildings are pretty impressive and the walk past Leith river next to the clock tower is also quite nice but don’t have high expectations when it comes to the art department. The dark, gross, cold 1960s Art department is depressing. If you study Film, good luck with that, you’ll be doing nearly zero practical work because the film department is incredibly underfunded. So overall, the University of Otago is just not as good as we were told.