*****

--Please note that this review may contain spoilers--

The Sims 2 University allows sims to enjoy student life to the full. Trying to keep on top of bills, throwing a party every chance they get, and of course studying for those all important exams. 

University students live in dorms or rented accommodation in new 'University' sub-Neigbourhood which exists exclusively for your sim students.

Like everything else in the sims world, you can also build custom dorms for your uni students to stay at, and design community lots for them to hang out in-between heavy studying sessions.

Doing well in university will unlock benefits for sims, such as increased numbers of wants and fears, and access to well paying jobs that are exclusive to university graduates. There are several new jobs available exclusively for college graduates; and with them, a range of new career objects such as the carnivorous cowplant, the ressurect-o-nomitron with the grim reaper on speed-dial, and a functioning camera that you can use to take pictures of sims and hang them on walls.

'Going to university' can also add a new level for 'story players' as a significant experience of a sim's life. However, university is a very isolated experience which contributes little to the standard gameplay, unless you are specifically playing the students.

Unfortunately, only teens can go to university, and once there they will grow to a stage of life known as 'young adult' which only exists for sims who go to university. Once they leave university, they will immediately grow into an adult.

 Studying can take a long time and will only progress while the household is being played, so it can become somewhat of a chore after the novelty wears off. I found myself letting some of my sims drop out of college just so I wouldn't have to baby-sit them anymore. 

There are some very interesting aspects to college life, however, such as joining a Greek house and living on the fraternity lot with other members.

University adds a strange yet somewhat unrelated supernatural being; zombies. Although they are not of the brain munching variety, they are quite frightening and will moan and groan while they shuffle around; I suppose they could be compared to students who didn't get enough coffee or took one one too many all-nighters. Aside from their appearance, sounds, and animations; zombies also do not age. Unfortunately, zombification is a permanent status that can't be reversed no matter what you do, so be very careful with the new Ressurect-O-Nomitron device.

Although it is easy to get bored with the university aspects, the new and exciting objects should keep you entertained for a fair while, and I have never regretted buying this pack.