Pros
Some very smart scholars, student cohorts fairly active inside and outside of program, can be a good launching ground for non-academic careers
Cons
Weak departmental leadership. Pays lip service to anything that isn't getting more money in the door. Undermines all other aspects of the field in service of boosting the GIS program, which isnt well regarded outside the university because it is used as a mill to pump naive undergrads through with no real skill retention. Despite broader conversations and shifts in the field, the department has no real interest in critical self-reflection on diversity - they only started holding a Lunar New Year celebration when it became apparent that Chinese students were the only thing keeping the department solvent - if you're lucky they might send out an email for Hispanic heritage month or the like. Many, many tenured faculty who are either dismissive or borderline abusive to their advisees to the extent of driving them out of the program (hi Ed, hi Nancy), absentminded in their duties (too many to name), or otherwise disinterested in mentoring graduate students because they are too busy designing flashy studies that waste lots of money with no tangible impact (hi Harvey). Was once a great program, could be that way again, but mostly just coasting right now. Don't come here if they don't offer you good funding (which they are very stingy with). Post-grad job placement or support services are a joke - be prepared to network and hustle your butt off throughout your program if you want any realistic hopes of being employed within 6 months of graduating.