Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Accountants And Auditors
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at East Los Angeles College, De Anza, Cal State Fullerton, and Los Angeles Pierce College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider San Diego State, Cal State L.A., MTI College, and Cal State Fullerton.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Scripps College, Advanced, and Humphreys.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider ICDC, Los Angeles ORT College, Cal State L.A., and Cal State East Bay.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Foothill, National University, Columbia College, and College of San Mateo.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, Pepperdine University, and University of San Diego.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, Simpson University, and Point Loma Nazarene University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Claremont McKenna, Southern Cal, Scripps College, and Pepperdine University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Claremont McKenna, Southern Cal, San Diego State, and Scripps College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Claremont McKenna, Scripps College, Saint Marys College of California, and Loyola Marymount.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Point Loma Nazarene College • San Diego, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 1988)
• 4/29/2011
"It provided a good education for me. I was able to get a good job because of my education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you want to be in San Diego or if you would like to attend a Christian liberal arts school, I would recommend it. If you want to go as far as you can in accounting, I would recommend a more hard-core business school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Everyone in San Diego has respect for graduates of Point Loma Nazarene College. Graduates are known to do well. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The business school was small, but fine. It would have been great to have had some real-life experiences in a real company. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was able to work easily while taking my business classes. I did not have to pull all-nighters like the science majors did. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The sciences are very hands on learning. However, the business side has a lot of book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Because the business school is small, there are no time slot choices for some of the classes. However, there are a lot of night, summer and online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They are always improving facilities and resources on the campus. The professors are always available as well. |
| Social Life | 8 | Between life in the dorm and the class functions, there is always something to do. People just enjoy hanging out with each other. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They have a job fair every year. They post jobs in the career center. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They have a quarterly magazine sent out with current news about the university and a place to catch up with alumni. Plus, they have a homecoming and class reunions every fall. |
Valley Christian High School • Cerritos, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2003)
• 4/30/2011
"I was very satisfied with the training I received from this school. I would recommend this school to anyone!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I was very satisfied with the training I received from this school. I would recommended this school to anyone! |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Since it's an online school it doesn't have a high reputation. I believe this is one of the BEST online certificate programs available to this day! |
| Program Quality | 7 | This school was a very good at home school that provided me with the tools I needed to succeed. I completed the course in about 9 months when generally it takes 2 years to complete. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 3 | It was very easy to read through the books and take the online course. The tests were a breeze since you were able to look through your books while taking the exam. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Since this was an online course it was all book training. I had hands on experience because I was an accountant in training at the time so I was able to apply what I learned. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | This was a very flexible school. If you finished early and returned your items they would send the next batch out sooner. If you were running behind they would just send you reminders to send in your items asap. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | They really didn't have any of these. They are an online course so the internet is the online resource they had |
| Social Life | 4 | Although I spoke with some fellow students we really didn't interact like most people would at a normal college. This was a fun experience and I would recommend it to anyone! |
| Placement Services | 5 | I can't actually give you the numbers of their job placement but I would imagine it's relatively good. Anyone that pursues a certificate program is motivated enough to find themselves a Job |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I didn't really see any Alumni since this was an online course. I would imagine that this school does not rely on their Alumni for anything but recommendations for this school |
CSUF • Fullerton, CA
Studying Business Finance (completion in 2009)
• 4/30/2011
"I am very satisfied with Mihaylo school. It has solid teachers, they took you seriously, and the financial aid is awesome!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | CSUF provided me with the tools I need in my current job. I have also made many friends that I keep in touch with today. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The school of business is a great school! It is nationally accredited with professors coming from USC, Harvard, Yale, etc. |
| Program Quality | 9 | CSUF is a very qualified business school. I had good teachers that provided real life scenarios with which to teach us and provided solid formulas that I use to this today. |
| Instruction | 8 | teachers are more apt to provide real life scenarios. Using a real world teaching technique, I can actually apply their teachings to my current job. whereas a few years ago the teaching was very book-focused which provided good foundation, but the skills I used were acquired in my last year's finance classes. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The homework is always difficult, but with the professor's assistance, it was easy to learn. The exams were easy based on their teaching of the homework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | there's actually a good mix of hands on versus book learning. for finance, you need the books of formulas, definitions, etc that dont ever change. but the hands on assignments put real situations in our hands to try out. so it helped to have both in order to understand the concepts and apply them to today's careers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | the night classes offered are great! I began school when I was single, but 3/4 of the way through I got married and I was working full time. so the only way I could keep going to school was either online or night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | there's only 1 library that I went to maybe 3 times. since I went to school at night I would get out at 10pm and go straight home. I didn't want to spend all night at school! |
| Social Life | 4 | There's not much school stuff to do at night. So I made some very good friends, but I didn't go to any sport events, etc. I got married while attending school so my priority was getting my degree and getting home. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I believe CSUF provides job placement assistance because I have seen posters and email about it. I haven't used their program though, so I'm not sure. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I guess it's pretty good from what I've heard from my classmates. they provide help to small businesses and even help you find a job. but I haven't enrolled in the alumni program so I don't know. |
University Of California At Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2006)
• 5/1/2011
"Extremely satisfied, don't regret it for a second. The education, friends, and experiences I attained at Berkeley had a profound impact on my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The reputation, job opportunities, networks, and overall education are considered in the top of the country. Add on that Berkeley is in close proximity to San Francisco which has great opportunities for more culture to experience just adds to why I would recommend this school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It's UC Berkeley, almost everyone knows the school and it has the reputation of being the number 1 public school in the US. That said, Haas is always listed as a top tier business school year in and year out and has a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The business school was amazing, the professors at Haas School of Business were great and really prepared me for my career. The students were also amazing and the business frat I was a part of really taught me a lot; almost as much as class itself. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 9 | The load at Berkeley was extremely difficult since everyone there was incredibly smart. The competition to do well and get good grades was more intense than I had anticipated because everyone wanted to be number 1. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A little bit more book learning and not as much hands on as I would have liked. But a lot depended on which professor you got for each class since each had different styles of teaching. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Fair amount of summer class offerings to get you ahead or let you catch up on. Evening and weekend classes were harder to come by unless you were enrolled in a special program. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The UC system had great resources since they can all tap into each others libraries, etc. The on campus resources were also good with computer labs available 24 hours a day. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school spirit is amazing at Cal. Every football game day was always a high spirited day with tail gating and parties. The business frat I was in also had a big influence on my social life outside of class. |
| Placement Services | 7 | This goes back to the networking question. The Bay Area has a lot of talent to pick from the top universities in the area, so it was difficult to land a job right away. The university did a good job of lining up job opportunities which lead to interviews but there were just so many candidates. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The network is pretty good at Berkeley with many business contacts in the Bay Area to tap into. Sometimes it was difficult to get an interview or make a connection since everyone in the business world seemed to busy all the time. |
Claremont McKenna College • Claremont, CA
Studying Economics-Accounting (completion in 2010)
• 5/1/2011
"Amazing reputation and low cost made me a very satisfied student. Furthermore, the weather in So Cal is unbeatable"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The Claremont colleges will definitely prepare your if you take the appropriate classes. Furthermore, there are a bunch of alumni willing and most importantly able to assist you with placement upon graduation |
| Program Reputation | 9 | A good percentage of CMC graduates go into the finance, consulting, or accounting industries. Because of this we have a fairly strong reputation in these fields. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I came into work with a full beginner's knowledge of what I needed. I didn't feel as overwhelmed as other new associates |
| Instruction | 9 | Claremont definitely had a top-notch instruction in accounting. The new Robert Day School of Finance provided with numerous accounting career preparation opportunities. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Econ-Accounting is known as one of the more difficult majors at Claremont. I always had something to do and the work load was consistently significant. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The professors try to use a lot of real-life simulation but overall accounting is somethng that has to be learned through books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes aren't that flexible because they are usually only offered in the morning or mid-day. There were rarely any night classes which I would have preferred. And there were never any online options, or weekend, or summer offerings. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The Accounting major academic facilities and resources are relatively good. There is a decent amount of classroom space, many academic advisors, and a decent number of available tutors. Professors are always accessible given the small classroom size. |
| Social Life | 10 | By far the most enjoyable 4 years of my life. It is a party school that works hard. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I received a lot of support from the career services center at Claremont. They hosted numerous events which made the arduous interview process a lot easier. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | In California, we have many alumni working in the Top 4 firms which made it easy to connect and receive help from alumni. Our school hosts numerous events to assure an interaction between alumni, faculty, and students |
USC • La, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2011)
• 7/18/2011
"Amazing school. Beautiful location (yes, despite the rumors), great campus, wonderful social scene, and a prestigious academic university to boot. Plenty of stuff to do outside the classroom."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I personally love accounting, auditing specifically. So I only have good things to say, but you have to love numbers, like they say. It isn't for everyone. I've seen it as you either love it or hate it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Like I said before, I believe we are the #4 accounting program in the country, which is amazing. Tons of kids come internationally to study here. |
| Program Quality | 9 | USC was an amazing school with an amazing program. I believe it is the #4 rated accounting program. |
| Instruction | 8 | Mostly taught by great tenured professors. One accounting class was taught by a Korean grad student and it was hard to hear and understand her. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Very challenging work, which you would expect from such a school and program, though. It was a lot of work, and with classes being only a quarter long, we had to deal with a lot of midterms and finals. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a lot of book learning, but it is combined with hands-on, real world, useful learning that Ii have actually benefited from, as opposed to learning theories and definitions we will never use. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | A few courses we could take online, only the more basic accounting classes 250A and 250B. But classes were offered throughout the day starting from 8 AM to 6 PM, so there was tons of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Plenty of facilities with a lot of rooms. We had our own library in the main accounting building which not many people knew about, so there was always room for us. There was plenty of staff and classrooms were not crowded. We almost had too much space, except in the lecture halls which were theater seating. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was in a fraternity and definitely did my share of socializing. I went to football games, basketball games, everything. |
| Placement Services | 10 | After junior year we get placed in internships which most of the time lead to full time job offers. USC does a great job of getting us all interviews and on track to great careers. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | USC has the best network. There are tons of events in which alumni come and talk about their companies, get to know us, give us tips, and help us with connections. |
University Of California, Los Angeles • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2003)
• 7/14/2011
"UCLA provided a great basis for accounting knowledge. I also obtained all the coursework needed to take the CPA exam."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCLA can provide great accounting courses and training. You can also obtain all the knowledge required to take and pass the CPA exam. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UCLA has a great reputation for all programs in the business school. The Anderson School of Accounting is especially noteworthy among top universities. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UCLA provided a perfect plan of coursework for obtaining requirements needed to apply for CPA certification. It also gave me an intense and thorough education in the subject. |
| Instruction | 7 | Because this was a Masters program, career segue was not big priority. Job requirements were taught, but entry into the workforce was never addressed. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Workload was intense and rigorous. This program was for working professionals, therefore class time was minimal and the workload was large. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Accounting is all book learning. Real world examples were implemented in each course. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The options for each course per term are minimal. Each course is usually offered each term in either weekly sessions or weekend sessions. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Most of my work was done via satellite and therefore I did not utilize on-campus resources as much as others. Non-facility related resources were great. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not have any social interaction during this program. Most courses involved long periods of times with no classmate interaction. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I was not provided with any job placement assistance. Nor were any career services provided to me. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not had any interaction with the alumni network for Master's graduates. I utilize undergraduate alumni more often. |
California State University • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2009)
• 7/30/2011
"Very satisfied. As I said before, it was a good academic environment with a diversified cultural background."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I enjoyed my time at the school. I believe I came out really well prepared to do my job. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It has a good reputation with students. Students are able to find work shortly after graduation as there is demand for the profession. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The faculty is qualified and well prepared. The courses you take prepare you for the CPA exam. |
| Instruction | 9 | Again, the professors have the necessary qualifications. The courses really prepare you for the CPA exam. |
| How Difficult | 8 | In accounting, you have to study a lot to know the standards that govern the accounting profession. Some of these standards are really difficult to understand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Given the nature of the profession, it is very book oriented. You need to read the books and standards and principles of accounting to really understand them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There's not much flexibility. Sometimes a class was available only at a single time making it difficult, but this was few and far between. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | On all of these categories the school was well prepared. Professors were available, there were study groups and tutoring, etc. |
| Social Life | 9 | There were many social activities at the school. What I liked the most was that there was a diversified cultural background. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The job placement program, along with the internship program, are both efficient. They have many opportunities for students to choose where to start their career paths. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Students were really supportive. Many study groups were created to share knowledge. |
Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA
Studying Finance (completion in 1996)
• 8/4/2011
"I am very satisfied with SCU. It gave me the friends I have today and the job I have today."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend SCU to everyone. The school is amazing and gives you a great jumping off point for your career. People with SCU on their resumes always land at the top of the stack when I am recruiting. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SCU is a top rated Finance school. It was recently rated #2 in the West for small schools. |
| Program Quality | 10 | SCU was a great jumping off point for my career. I made contacts in college that I still use in business today. |
| Instruction | 10 | My professors were brilliant. SCU was recently rated as a top school to make you rich. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I think that the work load was manageable. I was challenged, but it made me a better student as a result. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | SCU offers a mix of classroom and book learning. It is a very good balance. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Classes are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 65 minutes each day. Classes are also offered for 2 hour periods every Tuesday and Thursday. They also offer night classes and weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | SCU's library is second to none. The computer labs are completely up to date technologically. |
| Social Life | 8 | SCU is a very social school with a great Greek program. However, they are missing some sports, like football, which was eliminated in 1993. |
| Placement Services | 7 | SCU offers a career services program. However, I did not utilize it when looking for a job after college. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | SCU continues to have alumni events. My college contacts are still business acquaintances of mine today. |
San Diego Mesa College • San Diego, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2007)
• 7/31/2011
"I am very satisfied and very proud of having belonged to the San Diego Community College district. Saying that I obtained my AS in Accounting from them always makes me look good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The San Diego Community College District, which is what San Diego Mesa College belongs to, is one of the most recognized districts. Because of that, I would have no doubt in recommending it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I base my opinions on getting an Associate's Degree in Accounting, and I think the reputation of this program of study is very complete for the knowledge that will be needed when already in the working field. |
| Program Quality | 10 | San Diego Mesa College takes pride in its high standards. In the San Diego area, it has a very good reputation. |
| Instruction | 10 | It's curriculum for every field of study is very complete. I believe I was very well prepared to develop myself in the field of Accounting. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Well, for many, Accounting is not a very attractive field to study. For me, even though I am very attracted to it, at some point it became very challenging because of the work load. By the end it was very satisfying to to go through all of the work load required to get my Associate's Degree. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Instructors are always willing to help the students when they need it. The material required for classes is constantly changing to make sure that the student gets an education that is as updated as possible. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It's class schedule flexibility is excellent. It adapts to everybody's necessities. I was able to achieve my Associate's Degree as a full time worker and a full time parent. Most of my classes I took at night, and I took some of them online as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Facilities are excellent, as are the resources available for the student. Libraries are very complete, internet access for students is always available, the number of students per class is appropriate, etc. |
| Social Life | 10 | In general, my social experience was good. The school spirit is always trying to get students to participate in the different events available. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Well, as far as job placement, I think that's really on the person himself or herself. Even though the school does offer help. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The network of support is really good. There is a lot of help for those that require it, and the staff is always willing to help. |
California State University, East Bay • Hayward, CA
Studying Business Administration With Option In Accounting & Finance (completion in 2006)
• 8/4/2011
"CSUEB had a good accounting curriculum as well as an accounting fraternity. I think that they do a great job teaching students accounting as well as providing opportunities for students to meet prospective employers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend CSUEB to others pursuing accounting/auditing because the school prepares you for both the workforce and the CPA exam. The school also has events that enable students to meet people from the Big Four and smaller firms in the area. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It seems that the reputation of CSUEB is currently still high. I am part of the Scholarship committee of an accounting organization and find that the students from this school are very motivated and both intern and get offers from Big Four companies. |
| Program Quality | 8 | CSUEB was a very good school to graduate with an accounting degree from because they provided a lot of resources that gave students opportunities to find jobs before they graduated. The biggest example is the college's accounting fraternity called Beta Alpha Psi that set up recruiting events with the Big Four and other smaller firms in the area. |
| Instruction | 9 | I think that CSUEB was able to give me a good foundation in accounting and it seemed like most of the more advanced classes were geared towards helping students pass the CPA test. The classes I took really helped me to understand the basics of auditing, bookkeeping, and taxes, which prepared me for both the CPA test and my first accounting job. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Since the school had really good professors that taught the basic accounting classes, it helped me get a good understanding of the subject early on which made a difference in the more advanced classes. Also, having companions in Beta Alpha Psi gave me the resources to ask for help when I needed it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think that CSUEB had a good mixture of both hands-on and book learning. We were assigned a lot of homework that made us work through accounting problems encountered in the workforce. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Before I graduated in 2006 the classes were very flexible and I was able to get the maximum amount of classes. However, I've heard from current students that classes are really hard to sign up for since there have been fewer classes offered due to budget cuts. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The professors and advisors I've worked with had an open door policy. They were always willing to stay after class if I had any questions. The library had all the resources I needed for homework or projects. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was part of Beta Alpha Psi and enjoyed both the social and professional part of the fraternity. I also attended other fraternity/sorority events on campus. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school's accounting fraternity hosts many recruiting events during the year. The Big Four accounting firms as well as other firms in the area come to the events and hire or provide internships for the students. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Besides going to recruiting events for my firm, I've not had any contact with CSUEB as an alum. Since I was hired only a month after graduating, I did not use their website after I left. |
San Jose State • San Jose, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2010)
• 8/9/2011
"This is a good value for money. The school and program does have potential to get better, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think accounting is a good career field and this is a good school to become accountant. There are many companies in the area with which students can get internships and jobs. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school has good reputation and advertises a lot. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Teachers and students were great. |
| Instruction | 8 | There were projects and lots of homework assignments. There was good library and instruction was excellent. |
| How Difficult | 8 | This was new for me, so it was difficult. I thought there was a lack of support. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's a mix. They should give more hands on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are evening classes. The program is generally very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities, such as labs and gyms, are excellent. The school is in the middle of a great city. |
| Social Life | 7 | There was great food and great social programs. There were a lot of foreign students who I hung out with. |
| Placement Services | 6 | This was a tough year to graduate. The career office could not help much. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | It is not really helpful. I did not find many alums who were willing to help. |
Golden Gate University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 1995)
• 8/7/2011
"The school has an excellent reputation due to the caliber of professors they employ. The administrative staff is overworked and not very helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The potential student will get a well-rounded education with hands on experience if he/she went to GGU. The employers will look favorably on GGU graduates because of this mix of book and hands on experience in their fields of study. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Very good, as they are an academic university and are not sports focused. Since there aren't dorms, the school doesn't lend itself to a lot of partying situations. It's mostly hardcore students looking to get the best education possible. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Golden Gate is an academic university (i.e. no sports). The professors are extremely knowledgeable in their given fields. The professors also work in their fields of study, so you end up with real world experiences instead of just book learning. |
| Instruction | 10 | Like I said, the professors also work in their fields of study. The changes to the accounting rules within GAAP and FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) were all addressed during my time at GGU. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Average, because I was working in that field while taking classes. So I had experience with much of the subject matter, or someone in my office had the experience if I had questions of the curriculum. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As stated above, the professors work in their field of study, so we had a great combination of book and hands on learning which gave a better understanding to what we were reading in the textbooks. Also, we had real hands on practice sets (mock sets of books for a business) where we had to go through a year of the business manually and close the books (transactions, closing entries, and financial statement preparation). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There are many options with GGU. There were morning, afternoon and evening classes at the San Francisco campus, plus satellite campuses around the Bay Area. Lastly, they were instituting some online classes as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Large, clean classrooms. Very large library with plenty of room to study and research without noise or interruptions. The professors had offices on campus, plus we were able to email our professors if outside office hours. The professors were very prompt in their responses to students' questions/issues. |
| Social Life | 4 | There wasn't much in the way of a social experience. We were there to learn. There weren't too many social clubs around. Plus, since I was a night student, many of the social club meetings were held when I was in class. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The School of Accounting has a bulletin board of job listings. This goes hand-in-hand with the social mixers listed above where students, faculty, and potential employers get together to discuss possibilities in a social setting. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is a wide network within GGU for the School of Accounting. There are also social mixers with alumni and employers seeking possible employees. |
University Of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2008)
• 8/8/2011
"I learned a great deal in the accounting program and was well prepared for all my tests related to the CPA. Also, having a job in hand by the beginning of senior year was very helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. I believe the accounting track of the business degree at California is very strong if you want a career in accounting. It is competitive, but if you are able to get into the program, you will be rewarded. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | California is known to have a very good program in accounting, and over a third of the graduating class in business have jobs in accounting. The accounting major has a 100% placement rate at graduation. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It is a very versatile degree as it can be used for jobs in accounting, finance, government, or corporate accounting. Also, the job does pay well and the CPA certification is very good to have. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instruction is very boring since the topics are not intrinsically interesting. As such, the quality will suffer. |
| How Difficult | 10 | To get the CPA designation you need to complete 22 semester units, which also includes advanced accounting, auditing, and transfer pricing courses. As such, it is much more difficult than liberal arts majors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the core courses in the business program require group projects and case studies. However, with the accounting courses, it is very focused on memorization and book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | While certain courses are required, the program is flexible overall. The school ensures that you are able to get into your classes to complete your degree in 2 years. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The average class size for advanced accounting courses is about 20 students, and there is an extremely strong faculty with real-world experience. Also, the library has all the textbooks on reserve for you to review. |
| Social Life | 5 | Being a large public school, the overall atmosphere is not very close. Also, most students are focused on academics, and as such, parties, athletics, and school spirit are secondary to career development. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The alumni network for the accounting major is very strong, as a lot of graduates are in the accounting industry. As such, the school has a 100% placement rate for CPA-ready accountants. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | There are a lot of alumni placed in the Big 4. Also, the alumni network helps graduates get jobs at these accounting firms. |
Rio Hondo College • Whittier, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2007)
• 8/16/2011
"I felt that the school provided a good value for my money. My tuition cost was only $26/unit (and even most of that was covered by financial aid) and many teachers who taught were very experienced. Classes were offered at various times (making it easy to balance school and work)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | In my opinion, the teachers teach well and are very experienced. As the class offerings are very flexible, people can easily balance school and work/internships. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My school wasn't known for their Accounting program. However, my school offers quite a decent selection of Accounting courses. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Even though I felt that most teachers/professors taught well, some of the classes weren't challenging enough for me. The selection of accounting courses at Rio Hondo is quite good. |
| Instruction | 8 | In my accounting classes, we learned how to read financial statements, write journal entries, create balance sheets, create profit and loss statements, how to account for bad debts, how to handle petty cash, do payroll, etc. These skills are necessary for the position I am currently holding. |
| How Difficult | 2 | Since I studied basic Accounting in high school, I found most of the Accounting classes I took in Rio Hondo College to be quite straight-forward. Homework was minimal and the material was quite easy to master after some practice. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Aside from computer-based accounting classes such as Quickbook, classes involved book-based learning. We mostly practiced how to solve Accounting problems with and from the Accounting textbooks. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There are classes as early as 7am and as late as 11pm. Rio Hondo College offers many online classes, weekend classes, summer sessions (2 summer sessions every summer) and short-term classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The library, media, computer room, labs, and classroom size are quite standard compared to other community colleges I have visited. Professors are very helpful (they are often willing to stay after class time to answer my questions). As I didn't really need extra academic help, I have never inquired about tutors or study group support. |
| Social Life | 5 | While attending Rio Hondo college, I was also working about 30 hours per week. Therefore, I didn't immerse myself into school spirit, athletics and parties. I have occasionally attended organized social events when invited by my close friends. Overall, I felt that the social events were nothing special, but there were memorable times spent with my close friends. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I once sought a counselor's advice regarding job opportunities. She gave me some suggestions and taught me how to search for jobs online. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | To be honest, I have never looked into the alumni network. I didn't need much support academically, but when I once made an appointment with a counselor to talk about job prospects, she was quite helpful. |
University Of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA
Studying Criminology (completion in 2008)
• 8/21/2011
"I enjoyed my years at Irvine. I learned a lot about the world around me and grew as a person there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | There is not an actual Accounting degree offered at UCI, so if that's what you want to pursue, there are more direct programs to go through. Entering UCI, I didn't know this is where I would end up. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I think it has an excellent reputation for the reasons listed above. The faculty consists of many well known researchers in their specific areas of criminology. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The criminology department at UCI was top notch with some of the most renowned researchers in the departments of forensics, white collar crime, and social deviance. |
| Instruction | 8 | Criminology is what led me into accounting. My White Collar crime professor wrote a number of textbooks on the subject, which got me interested in investigating financial fraud, which led me into the accounting field. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was very much interested in the field, therefore most of the subject matter came easily to me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most courses were taught straight from the text with only minimal research opportunities during senior year. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I never had any issue getting into a class as long as I registered on time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Irvine was constantly being renovated with new facilities, two huge libraries, plus the UC state-wide electronic reference library. Professors were never difficult to contact and always available. |
| Social Life | 5 | While I feel my school did its best to promote "school spirit," it was very much a commuter school and lacked the cohesiveness of a "college town." |
| Placement Services | 5 | I've never really used the career services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I honestly don't know much about my alumni network as I've never actively participated in it. |
Cal State Long Beach • Long Beach, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2009)
• 9/12/2011
"They did everything I paid them to do. I have a degree and a job, I have absolutely no complaints about the opportunities they gave me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | Maybe | Accounting is a very dry field, it is not for everybody, but for those who want it CSULB is a great place to start. The location alone is worth pursuing any degree. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Cal State Long Beach has a great reputation in general though I think accounting is not particularly highly touted among their popular majors. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Given the economy, it was the best choice I could make. My major has kept me employed when so many people are not. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned everything I needed to be able to succeed in this field. I was able to acquire a job relatively easily. |
| How Difficult | 3 | There is not a lot of work to be done with this major. You really do not need any particularly special skills to succeed with accounting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Accounting is very much book work. Even in the workplace, accountants don't do much outside of books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | With a full-time school program, it is difficult to manage doing anything else. They have a decent amount of night classes, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are always resources available to assist with student needs. They are very well-staffed and capable of helping students at every turn. |
| Social Life | 10 | Long Beach always has something to do. This gives CSULB a very active social experience. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They were very helpful in assisting with finding work. That was an incredible feat given the 10% unemployment rate in California. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They provide a great deal of support for all students. This includes help with finding internships for even the most obscure majors, which includes accounting. |
Sonoma State University • Cotati, CA
Studying Business Management, Accounting Emphasis (completion in 1992)
• 10/4/2011
"I feel I was well prepared for the work world and to take the CPA exam. I felt supported by the teaching staff and alumni."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Sonoma State has a high-quality accounting program. The staff is diligent and highly qualified. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Sonoma State is known for preparing students for a career in accounting. Graduates have done very well at large firms. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Small class sizes allowed for maximum interaction with professors. The instructors had all worked in the field. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors had all had careers as accountants (CPAs). They concentrated on preparing the students for the exam, as well as for a career. |
| How Difficult | 9 | This is a specialized course of study. There are many courses required in order to be prepared to take the CPA exam that are in addition to the courses required for the BA degree. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Accounting at this level is more book oriented. The hands-on work was more theoretical work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There are many accounting courses offered. The classes are offered both day and night. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Professors were always available outside of class. There were many study groups to join. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are always things to do at the school. It is well known for its athletic teams and school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Sonoma State has an Accounting Forum that has many functions where students meet employers. I met my first employer at a function and was offered a job before I graduated. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Graduates in the field recruit at their school. Graduates also support and network with each other in the working world. |
California State University, Fullerton • Fullerton, CA
Studying Communications (completion in 2005)
• 10/14/2011
"I enjoyed the hands on approach and all of the career guidance I received. I would have rated the school higher if more help would have been given to finding internships and jobs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to anyone who wants to go into the communications field. The school gave me many tools that help me succeed in my current position. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school I attended is widely know for its communication degree and also for its teaching certification. Even though I do not live in California anymore, when I mention the school it is recognized. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school I attended focused on projects and real word experience. To complete projects we had to get involved with the community, budget expenses, and achieve our goal. We did not just write a report about how we would have done it, but we instead took action. |
| Instruction | 9 | We were given good direction and guidance from our instructors. Many instructors became teachers later in life, after achieving good standing in their field and were able to share real world experiences on their career. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program was demanding, but rewarding. I do not feel that it was a struggle if you applied yourself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | CSUF was very focused on hands on work. I believe this gave me an advantage after graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school has multiple locations and online choices. There were also night options, which helped me complete school. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The classroom spaces were perfect for the class sizes. The media resources were also very good for the film classes that I took. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not spend much time at school for social events, as many of my classes were at evenings class or at alternative campus locations. I think the school could have reached out more to evening class students. |
| Placement Services | 4 | There were not many options available for job placement. There was also not much help with internships. I ended up interning at a financial service company. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There is very little networking among alumni. The magazine that is sent out quarterly is a joke, as it's about what is currently going on at the college (such as music events we can get a discount to). |
University Of Phoenix • Pasadena, CA
Studying Business - Finance (completion in 1998)
• 10/24/2011
"University of Phoenix was excellent for me. I learned a lot. My career benefitted directly during and after I finished the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, it is an excellent school for working adults. The real world learning environment gave us a lot of practical experience both in the classroom and in our jobs. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | This is not an ivy league school. This is a working school to help us advance and proceed in our current career. It is really good for its market niche. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Excellent program for working professionals who want a master's degree. The items I learned had a direct positive impact on my job. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers were passionate and had a lot of real world experience. The assignments often were directly connected to my position. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Part of what made it easy was that it was very interesting and very relevant. I had started an MBA program elsewhere, but it was too theoretical to apply to the work I was actually doing in my career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | An excellent mix of hands-on and book learning. We had to do proposals, research, papers, and presentations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Weekend and evening options were very helpful to us working adults. Also, the shorter quarters were very helpful. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Excellent resources. We had everything we needed. Study group support was our main usage of resources. |
| Social Life | I didn't attend social events. Both my husband and I were working full time and attending the same MBA program at U of Phx at the same time. | |
| Placement Services | 5 | Didn't use it. I was already employed and stayed for 8 years at that employer. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | This is a school for working adults, most with family. Not a real strong alumni network. But I wasn't looking for that. |
San Diego State University • San Diego, CA
Studying Managerial Accounting (completion in 2005)
• 11/7/2011
"I am satisfied with the school and the education I received. I was able to find a job, and my knowledge helped me make a good first impression, even if I was not familiar with the specifics of the company that hired me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend San Diego State to others pursuing the accountant position. I would advise them to make a wide network of student and instructor contacts, to use them after they graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | San Diego State has a well-established reputation among the schools that offer accounting programs. Its students participate in national competitions successfully. The teachers are also known among their peers. |
| Program Quality | 10 | San Diego State University is considered one of the best schools for accounting. Accounting students who finished their studies there usually find jobs easier and are better prepared. |
| Instruction | 10 | Most of the teachers are highly qualified. They have hands-on experience and give many examples from real-life accounting situations they have been in. The instructors make sure students learn not only what is in the book, but also what is going on in the profession currently. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program is difficult, but not impossible. Some classes are easier than others. Presentations and group work are time-consuming and usually every class requires them. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some professors are more hands-on and others keep it close to the book. Almost all of them have been working for the big accounting firms, so their own experiences always help the students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Flexibility was usually not a problem. Almost all of the courses were available at night and during the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | San Diego State offers many resources to its students. Usually every year, they add something new and stay on top of the newest technology that can be helpful. I haven't used the tutors there. Most of the professors are accessible, but like everybody today, they prefer email communication instead of office hours. |
| Social Life | 5 | My social experience at school was not as broad as I would have liked it to be. That was because I was working full time while studying, but from other students, I understand that there were enough parties, social events and school spirit at San Diego State. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The job placement and career services were great. Many local and sometimes national companies provide listings of openings for the students there. There are also career fairs held at least twice a year. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The alumni network is available for those who are interested. I wish it was more organized and oriented towards those who do not have that much time during weekdays. |
West Valley Occupational Center • Woodland Hills, CA
Studying Computerized Accounting (completion in 2003)
• 11/14/2011
"I was very satisfied with the classes and opportunities. It does not carry as much weight as a degree from, say, UCLA, but I got out of it what I put into it, so I was very happy to finish and start a career in accounting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they are looking to become a CFO, then I would not recommend it. If they are looking for a way to get into the accounting field while working, then I would highly recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think it has a good reputation for allowing working people a chance to get an education. It is probably not viewed as a top-notch school in the accounting world, but it does help people get up and running in their chosen profession. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was a very accessible program that accommodated my work hours. The classes were acceptable, but some of them fell a little short of my expectations. |
| Instruction | 5 | The staff knew the curriculum very well. Many were in the public accounting field prior to teaching. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The classes were not too difficult. They could have been a little more challenging, but considering the nature of the program, which was primarily night classes, I think it was acceptable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was lots of hands-on learning as far as the computer programs at the time. We did some mock companies in QuickBooks. The textbook and old-fashioned ledger cards were used extensively, too. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It was flexible in the sense that it had plenty of weekend and evening classes. There were not a lot of choices, though. If a class was on Monday and Wednesday night, it often was not offered on Tuesday and Thursday. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | There was a PC for every student in the classroom. They did not have an extensive library, but they did have some online resources available. |
| Social Life | 3 | There was little social activity. The school is centered around working individuals getting their degree, so people were only really interested in learning. |
| Placement Services | I did not use their placement services or any networking very much. I think it was pretty useful for some, but I was already in a company that had a position available when I finished school. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network was pretty sparse. A lot of people just graduate and move on. They did offer some support and placement services. |
San Jose State • San Jose, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2011)
• 11/19/2011
"I was satisfied with my school. I got a job from the campus recruiting. The school has a great mix of different students and fun events."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others that live in the Bay Area. SJSU has the top financial and tech companies that recruit on campus, and it is highly regarded as one of the best CSUs. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | SJSU has all the top tech and accounting firms recruit on campus. Compared to other schools, SJSU has a lot more companies that come to our school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | There were too many general education requirements, and at times, it felt like it was a waste of time to take those classes. Otherwise, I really enjoyed SJSU. |
| Instruction | 9 | The quality of instruction was good, in my opinion. They had people who worked in the accounting field for many years and have CPA licenses. They teach from what they have seen in their experience. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There were a few classes that were difficult, but the majority were not that hard. I'd say if you study, then you will be fine with most classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The courses were mostly book learning. Only a few classes had hands-on learning, like the accounting information systems course and financial accounting. Most subjects were just book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There is decent flexibility in scheduling. Many courses get filled way too fast because of the popular business program. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The engineering and business buildings are the nicest on campus. The other buildings are rather old and have old furniture. |
| Social Life | 8 | It was a great social experience at my school. Great school spirit, and the athletic games were always filled with fans. There are many clubs to join on campus. |
| Placement Services | 8 | SJSU provides good job placement and career services assistance. They have "Meet the Firm" career fairs, as well as fall and winter career fairs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not seen a good school alumni network. I have only seen alumni support through LinkedIn. |
California State University - Chico • Chico, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2007)
• 12/6/2011
"I have mixed feelings. It could have been better if poor professors weren't tenured."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | A recommendation would largely depend on what they are studying. Also if they need to work through school there's not much else out there. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | All the recruiters I interviewed with thought highly of the program. However after working for a few years I know that the social reputation of the university was detrimental. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My school was good at teaching accounting theory, however they lacked the ability to teach you how to be an accountant. The accounting professors put too much emphasis on testing. |
| Instruction | 6 | They have some great professors, but the school is so small there was no way to escape the bad professors. In some cases you would have to teach yourself the material. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The workload is extremely heavy. I came away with a good knowledge of accounting principles. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | You have to learn accounting from the book first. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | They do not have weekend and evening options, being the college is so small. At the most there are two upper level accounting course offered per semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Accessibility to professors was always available. I never used tutors or academic advisors, so I wouldn't know about them. |
| Social Life | CSU, Chico is the number one party school in the country. I had a great social experience will there, so much so I did not want to leave. | |
| Placement Services | 1 | They provided nothing more than what can be found online. The director of the career center twice gave me bad advice on my resume twice. |
| Alumni Network | I have not been involved with the alumni association. I know that they call me at least once every month asking for money. |
Foothill College • Los Altos Hills, CA
Studying Economics (completion in 2013)
• 3/5/2012
"The AA has given me a better background and a promotion at work. I am satisfied that I am able to put it on a resume."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you can work independently and don't mind the lack of interaction, the online degree is good. It's a lot of work, but having at least an AA is essential to finding a job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't honestly know their reputation, but they are accredited. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Online classes in accounting were helpful, but did not get a lot of teacher feedback. |
| Instruction | 4 | I did not get much feedback on my work, as most tests were online and multiple choice. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I think it was as rigorous as any other program, but I don't have any other school to compare it to. Online classes probably allow for open book tests, so not much memorization is required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We followed the textbook pretty strictly. Although my Acct 1b class did have an interesting final project, most tests were multiple choice. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The online program allowed me to read lectures when I had the time, and windows on the exams were very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | There weren't many online resources, but I had access to online textbook sites that helped with sample problems. The school's library was probably about average. |
| Social Life | 2 | I had very little to no interaction with classmates. |
| Placement Services | 3 | Again, online classes did not allow for a lot of interaction with faculty or other students. I do not know of any job placement options. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | If they have one, I've never used it. There were lots of us in the classes and not much interaction. |
California State University East Bay • Hayward, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2010)
• 3/1/2012
"Unfortunately, overall I'd say I am only 6/10 satisfied with my school. The lack of school unity/spirit, coupled with lack of alumni support for all students really gives me a negative impression on the entirety of CSU East Bay. The redeeming qualities were that some instructors really knew how to provide an engaging experience and gave insight into what Accounting meant for the business world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I may recommend it because it depends on the individual. If that person had enough money or financial support, and the grades to support it, I'd definitely recommend them to try for a more prestigious school, such as those in the UC system. If that person lacked the financial support or they didn't exactly have stellar grades, I would recommend CSU East Bay if they were looking into a career in Business or Accounting. The Business program there is decent enough for me to recommend it to others pursuing my career. I know some graduates who were able to get decent jobs after working hard in school, so it can definitely lead to a good career path. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I'd have to give this a 7.5, but if I had to choose between 7 and 8, then it would be a 7. In high school, CSU East Bay (then known as CSU Hayward) was known for a strong business program. When I entered the university, they indeed had a large variety of accounting courses, from auditing to managerial accounting. Lots of classes were available as well. However, the program there is largely overshadowed by the much more prestigious business program in UC Berkeley, not far from CSU East Bay. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Again, a rating of 8 because I believe my school does an adequate job in providing a strong accounting program. CSU East Bay is stronger in the business majors, including accounting, compared to its other programs. I'm not 100% satisfied, though, because I believe they could have included much more real-world examples of what Accountants actually do. |
| Instruction | 7 | I have to dock the overall instruction quality of CSU East Bay by 3 points. This is an average of all the instructors I've had. A lot of them were really good and in-depth about Accounting principles and what they entail, including some real world examples of what an accountant does. However, I've had my share of poor instructors who have the dullest, "straight-out-of-the-textbook" style teaching. I'm guessing they may have long been tenured, as that would explain why they have been teaching so long, while providing a below par curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I'm guessing the difficulty really depends on the instructor and also on the adeptness of an individual student. For me, many of the classes were challenging, but not impossible. Many classes were very easy for me, as the concepts were not hard to grasp. There were a few courses that were quite difficult when it came to the amount of raw information that had to be learned (mostly these included tax laws and various tax-related provisions). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some instructors were more hands-on than others. However, I would say it was a mix of both. The good instructors knew to draw from the textbook, but applied something in a situational way so that students could experience it hands-on. A few teachers stayed strictly textbook-only, which definitely dulled the class for everyone. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I'm tempted to give this one a 6 because as I was graduating in 2010, things were getting really bad for university funding. Throughout my 4 years, though, the schedule flexibility was not bad. Most of the time I got the courses I wanted (if I remembered to register early) and I was able to maintain a decent afternoon schedule lined with courses. Towards the end in 2010, classes were cut and courses bunched together. They did try to maintain some flexibility, but most of the courses ended up in the evening to suit the majority of business students that had to work during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities and resources were not too shabby. In my Junior year, CSU East Bay had just completed an entirely new building dedicated for their Business program. This meant all of my core accounting classes were now in this building and I was able to enjoy entirely new facilities and new computer labs. Computer labs offered unlimited access to computers and free printing (which they had to cut in 2010 to reduce waste and costs). There was a decent amount of tutors and study group support. Professors tried hard to make themselves available with a (usually) 2-hour office hour session for all students. |
| Social Life | 3 | Honestly, this may have been attributed to the fact that I did not live on campus or near it. I give it a 3 because it didn't feel like a community at all. No school spirit, no school unity. Mostly it was go to school and go back home. I believe our mascot was the "Pioneers," which definitely did not get much attention as our sports programs were certainly lacking. I believe it may have been different if living on campus, but not by much. The campus itself is not too big and doesn't attract many social events. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I Think the job placement and career assistance programs were decent. They had large job fairs every year (once or twice a year) where they invite many local business to set up a booth on campus. Students were encouraged to check it out and be proactive about planning a career after graduation. They had a lot of fliers for their career center as well, however they mentioned frequently that it was being under-utilized by students. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Unfortunately, I cannot shed too much on the alumni network or support from CSU East Bay. Definitely, there were a lot of outreach programs that looked to recruit accounting majors into Beta Alpha Psi, which I'm guessing is one of (if not the) leading alumni networks for Accounting majors. I have not been contacted by them after I graduated, nor have I received any support or outreach. So it makes me wonder how good their network is if they don't do much to retain alumni support. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Business Economics (completion in 2007)
• 2/28/2012
"I'm proud to be a Bruin and I love the campus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Great school. I had a great and meaningful four years during college. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Great professors, and the program has had a good reputation for years. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Reputable school and good professors. |
| Instruction | 8 | Ample career advice and events, and professors are all from professional backgrounds. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Could be difficult at times given the mathematical aspect of the program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely more academical than practical. There are a lot of mathematical scenarios. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | No weekend or online classes. They do have some classes that start later in the afternoon and there is a summer session. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are any libraries on campus. Most classes have teacher assistant-led sessions for tutoring. |
| Social Life | 8 | Lots of social events and different sports event to foster a great school spirit. Go Bruins! |
| Placement Services | 8 | Great for my major and minor (accounting). Lots of career events were held. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Tight network with lots of different events held. |
Golden Gate University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2005)
• 3/2/2012
"A degree from my school is well regarded. I believe I also learned my accounting lessons on a very solid basis. I just had to pick up many practical tricks later on from work."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on the students I am talking to. Also, I can only speak of the school's graduate program. If you are a working adult, this school has the right atmosphere for you. Otherwise, consider a typical public school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I mentioned earlier that my school is known for its accounting program, especially among working adults. I attended its graduate program, which underwent major evaluation and adjustments twice during my studies, kind of proving that the school pays attention to maintaining program quality. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Golden Gate University is known for its accounting and taxation programs. But I felt that the accounting program could have been designed with more of a focus on some practical training. |
| Instruction | 8 | The overall instruction quality was better than average. But I encountered two instructors who in my opinion were not up to their tasks. It is more often than not that low-quality teachers don't want to take any suggestions from students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had mostly A's because I always kept pace with my classes. The workload was definitely not light, and we didn't skip all the difficult topics. Some students struggled. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I kind of alluded earlier to the program's lack of some practical elements, but despite that it's highly regarded among working adult students. Maybe this group of students, with certain working experiences, are more eager to pick up some book knowledge. I didn't have much work experience at the time and so was hoping to be exposed more to the hands-on side of accounting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Classes are mostly held in the evening, which was good for me. Some courses were available to be taken online. I didn't want any summer offerings. A break was always needed. But a couple of courses I really wanted to take were offered in the summer only. No flexibility there. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Computer labs were probably the most visible and most used academic resources. There were practically no academic advisors to talk to once you started the program. No arrangements of tutoring or study group support either. A couple of professors held against outspoken students, which was a bad experience. |
| Social Life | 5 | Students at my school are mostly working adults, and the school doesn't even have a campus situated in downtown San Francisco. We had speakers come to give speeches, but that's all I can remember in terms of having social events. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I remember that the school held a couple of job fairs for our graduating class, but there was nothing special about them. It also has a career service office, but that's more of a window dressing. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I didn't experience much support from the school's alumni when I was there. But the accounting department does run an active alumni network, and I receive information from them from time to time. But for various reasons, I have not been active in their activities, which probably explains the lack of student interaction with alumni back in my days. |
University Of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA
Studying Double-Major: Accounting & Finance (completion in 2011)
• 3/16/2012
"All in all, I was hugely satisfied with USF. I received a lot of personalized attention and built a great network."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | USF enabled me to land a job as an audit associate with Grant Thornton, but I soon realized that it was not the path that I wanted to pursue. I recently resigned to pursue a career in music education. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | USF draws many students specifically for the accounting program -- particularly international students from China. |
| Program Quality | 8 | [Rating is for the accounting major specifically]. The chair of our accounting program was a very hands-on instructor who had significant technical expertise as well as a strong classroom presence. She also went out of her way to meet with students outside of class hours to discuss professional aspirations. |
| Instruction | 5 | Most of the accounting professors I had were wonderful, but once I reached the intermediate level (where the material becomes significantly more difficult), I was subject to a VERY old professor who was nearing forced-retirement age and probably shouldn't be teaching. Also, the instruction we received was very "textbook" and theoretical and bore almost no resemblance to what actual auditing work looked like once we got into the field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The projects and exams in my accounting courses were always challenging and usually carried a significant curve to them. They typically required more study time than my other exams. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I mentioned earlier, the instruction was very textbook oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Times were usually fairly reasonable, but as students progressed into the intermediate levels and electives, there was typically only one or two sections for each course, which sometimes made scheduling difficult. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The Learning & Writing Center offered tutoring for all accounting courses, and all of the accounting faculty were very responsive to student needs. |
| Social Life | 10 | I loved the small and tight-knit community feel of USF. I have made friends there that I will certainly know and cherish for life! |
| Placement Services | 9 | The Career Services Center and professional organization Beta Alpha Psi were very helpful in placing graduates into positions, but they often went under-utilized. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Being a small private school, USF has a strong network of involved alumni. The alumni frequently visit the campus for networking and mentoring events. |
University Of Phoenix • Pleasanton, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2005)
• 3/18/2012
"The school was great as it fit right into my lifestyle. I just wish it had a better reputation in the working community."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Having my degree has really opened my world to business. I would cautiously recommend this to someone as long as they understand the reputation the school carries. I believe any degree is better than no degree. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My rating is based on the fact that I've actually had executives joke about people who have graduated from my college. I am almost embarrassed to say I have my education from this school. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was happy with the ability to juggle my job and family while going to school. I'm disappointed at how others view my credentials from an executive type program rather than a traditional college. |
| Instruction | 7 | In most cases the professors were outstanding in their fields. There were cases where I knew more than the instructor, i.e. Accounting Principles I and II. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Because I finished my education in my late 30's, I had an excellent base of knowledge that I had already acquired in the work place. I found the course work to be relatively easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Each class was developed mainly around real life experiences with many presentations and discussions. Book work was mainly for homework purposes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | The program had a class schedule that worked well with my job and my family. It was one of the reasons I chose this school. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The campus I went to was in a business building and it has long since moved. It worked for simple classes, but I remember it not having many resources available. |
| Social Life | There were no social activities at this college. | |
| Placement Services | My rating is based on the fact that I have never used this service. I had a job already and currently still work at the same employer I did when I was going to school. | |
| Alumni Network | My rating is based on the fact that I haven't used the network. |
UC Davis • Davis, CA
Studying Managerial Economics (completion in 2011)
• 3/22/2012
"A stronger business major presence would very much improve the university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The environment and classes can be beneficial, but to become an accountant you must branch out of the regular course work to really pursue your career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UC Davis is considered one of the top public schools in California / United States. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Lack of an accounting program, must reach out to online courses or extension programs to take courses. |
| Instruction | 6 | Courses are online, mainly self study. Extension programs are night classes that range from 3-4 hours a night, once a week. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Classes are 3-4 hours once a week. Many times instructor will have a lecture after a test. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All depends on the major you chose. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Must really reach out and have free time to attend the classes outside the university. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Teachers are good with office hours, but TA and extra tutoring are often compacted in small rooms. |
| Social Life | 8 | Davis is a town controlled by students. Very welcoming and plenty of clubs and social scenes to attend. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Career fairs are held quarterly, however more diverse companies need to be recruited. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | A good amount of students go into accounting, however it depends which clubs you join or networks you have met. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Business Economics (completion in 1980)
• 3/21/2012
"Good education and it's priced right. UCLA's reputation has appreciated since I went there, so now people think I'm way smarter than I really am!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCLA is a great school, but I'd also look at USC and if you just want to be a journeyman type of accountant, then CSUN. If you're smart enough to get into UCLA, then you're probably not going to end up being an accountant, however. Probably an astronaut or a medical researcher. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UCLA is a top rated school, empirically speaking. The reputation keeps getting better, and the enrollment and selection process more selective. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UCLA did not have an accounting major at the time I attended, so the best you could do is get a major in Business Economics, and take all the accounting courses you could. It somewhat prepared me for the CPA exam, but I had to do a lot of outside studying to pass the exam, which I did on the first attempt. |
| Instruction | 8 | UCLA is a "mill" that cranks out thousands of graduates. You only get out of the education what you put into it. No one will care if you fail. |
| How Difficult | 9 | UCLA is academically rigorous. Business Econ courses can get progressively more challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I graduated not having ever done any real accounting work. It was bit of a difficult transition, but like most things, it's OJT. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | UCLA was on the quarter system when I went there. I never had any problems getting the classes I wanted when I wanted them. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | UCLA is well funded and endowed. Their facilities are as good as any school in the UC System. |
| Social Life | 7 | I am an introvert now and was then. The opportunities to socialize are there and the girls are pretty. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I do not rely on the University to help me seek a job. There are much better sources such as LinkedIn, Craigslist, Indeed, CareerBuilder, etc. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | UCLA is so big that being a Bruin doesn't mean too much. USC is the best for alumni connections. |
University Of California, Santa Barbara • Santa Barbara, CA
Studying Business Economics With Accounting Emphasis (completion in 1994)
• 3/30/2012
"I was extremely satisfied with my school. If I could, I'd go back there in a minute, and in fact one of the biggest regrets of my life is that I graduated in four years. Had I known better, I would have stayed for another year or two and pursued some other minor while spending more time enjoying the school experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend the accounting program at UCSB. Not only was it a great school, but the program certainly set me on the path I am on today, an extremely satisfied individual with a healthy work/life balance. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The accounting program (it was only an emphasis, not a major) is highly regarded in California and many accounting students go on to work for the Big 4 accounting firms. My clients and colleagues have always expressed much respect for UCSB's accounting program. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I can't particularly complain or praise my school's accounting program. I worked during college to put myself through school and didn't devote the time or resources to maximize my learning. At the very least I learned enough to advance me in my career. |
| Instruction | 7 | Even 15 years after I graduated, I can still distinctly recall several excellent instructors who made learning the material interesting and enjoyable. There were also a few instructors who (while I didn't like them personally and didn't agree with their teaching styles) I still learned a great deal from. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My program was a challenging and competitive one. Many people gunned for the top grades, top marks, and strove to be the teacher's pet, and I had to compete with them. The required course load was dynamic and challenging. There was more than one class that made me work hard to get a passing grade (I'm referring specifically to Cost Accounting). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a fairly traditional mix of book vs hands on learning, but the subject matter (accounting) lends itself to book learning. Also, the goal of the accounting program is geared to taking and passing the CPA test, which lends itself to a lot of book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I only took traditional weekday, day time classes. I was aware of summer and night classes, but never took any or knew of anyone who took them. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We didn't have any dedicated libraries or computer labs, but the lecture halls and lab rooms were all above average. For the most part, the facilities were all adequate and technologically sophisticated. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had a fantastic time during my years at school and would highly recommend the program to anyone. The school had a vibrant social scene, and while it didn't have more traditional athletic programs (it didn't have a football team), there was a great deal of school spirit with the events I did attend. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Much like the alumni network, I can't comment one way or another on the job placement service assistance. I did go on one recruiting event/interview set up by the job placement service, and though I didn't get the position, they did set me up on that one interview/recruiting event, and had I more initiative at the time, I probably could have gotten more interviews. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I can't adequately assess the alumni network since I'm not really in touch with the alumni or an alumni program. I do receive e-mails and correspondence regarding alumni meetings, but I have yet to attend any alumni meetings. |
University Of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 3/26/2012
"There is nothing I would change about the program or the group of people who make it all happen. If I had to choose again, I would attend the same school and choose the same major. The faculty is so passionate about what they do and so informed and respected in their fields. The majority of the professors have PhD degrees in their area of study and know the material inside and out. Overall, the best value out there. There is no place I have gone where people do not have a respect for the university name and for the quality of graduates from the school"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone who is serious about learning from the best and being one of the best and the brightest. If you are passionate about business, Finance, or accounting, this is the school for you. You will be pushed to your limit, and then far beyond that, and you will learn more about yourself in the process. You will be learning and surrounded by an extremely bright and talented group of students. Make an investment in yourself and in your future, choose the Marshall School of Business at USC. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I believe my school is currently in the top ten. While I attended, the business school was in the top ten and the Accounting school was number two in the nation. As a student, I rate it in the top ten because I definitely got what I paid for. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The Corporate Finance program I completed was very competitive. I was forced to really learn the material in great detail and read my textbooks cover to cover in order to pass my courses. This school has really taught me my discipline well and prepared me for the workplace by providing me with experienced professionals as professors. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors at this institution are the best of the best. They are experienced in their fields and hold executive positions if still employed outside of the university or they are business owners. In addition, they truly care about the students and are available to explain the material outside the classroom and to provide career advice. The professors take the time to develop relationships with the students. |
| How Difficult | 9 | This program is very challenging because the business school grades on a curve, which means that even if you have a high percentage grade in the class, you are not guaranteed a high grade. In addition, the professors put together very difficult exams which are hard to answer even if you know the material well. Figuring out what the question is asking is a big part of getting the correct answer. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Everything we learned out of the book, we were able to role play in the classroom. We had to present most of our work and it made me very comfortable with public speaking as well as really learning the material in order to be able to communicate with the other students. We had ample practice with solving problems and cases that we read about in our books. There was a lot of group work, so we learned to work with each other and learned from each other as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Extremely flexible schedule for the undergraduate program with late night and early morning courses. They offer executive weekend MBA programs for graduate students and every course in both undergraduate and graduate levels are offered at different times and on different days. It was very easy to get the classes I needed to complete the program on time, and there were many classes to choose from as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I had access to an accounting library and a business library equipped with knowledgeable and friendly staff. The staff was always willing and available to help. We had computer labs all over campus and over 15 libraries all together. We had a library that was open 24hrs for our convenience. The classrooms in the business school were brand new with high end furniture and courtroom style classrooms which made it easy to see and easy for the professor to see us if we had a question. |
| Social Life | 10 | I have developed great relationships with other students as well as professors at this university. I was older than the rest of the students and they welcomed me with open arms. I can say that I have made life long friends and network contacts at this school and it was extremely easy and effortless. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Even in a sluggish economy, the career services office went above and beyond to prepare us for the workforce. They provided numerous career day events throughout the year as well as put on many workshops. This university brings in the top companies in the industry to recruit students and develop relationships with us. The career center professionals were very knowledgeable and offered to help us with anything and everything we needed, including putting together our resumes. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network is second to none. We have an overall alumni association and a separate one for every professional school. In addition, there is an alumni club in every city in the U.S. and alumni networking events on a regular basis. We also have alumni relations in other countries which means we can be connected with other alumni anywhere in the world. The alumni really look out for each other and are always willing to lend a helping hand. |
San Joaquin Delta College • Stockton, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2011)
• 4/1/2012
"I just wanted to hurry and finish and get out. I did not have any reason to look back."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Only if they had no idea where else to go - it still is a community college so everything is transferable. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I believe they don't seem as interested in pushing the major as they should. Most of this, I want to believe, is because it doesn't seem to be an income producer. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was happy with the professors that taught the courses. The problem is I felt like going through a community college was less hands on than I would have liked it to be. |
| Instruction | 10 | I would ask the two professors I had for all my core accounting classes to be my CFO. They really brought me into the field with understanding of their personal experiences. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Accounting is such a wide field that many people seem to have to take the courses because they were business majors. Yet many seemed to not understand the concepts so they get discouraged quickly. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All of it was book work and in class lecture. I would have loved and felt more confident going into the work force with something a bit more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | You have to work around your schedule when creating your class schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | It is easy to finish all classwork on campus with the resources available to you. |
| Social Life | 4 | Very clique based, and once again it was much like high school 2.0. They school itself did not do a great deal for its students to bring them together. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There is no job placement within this school, except a calworks program which just has you go online and try and apply for jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Honestly, once I left the school I didn't seem to have much of any contact with anyone or the school itself once I was done. It was more like high school 2.0. |
California State University, Chico • Chico, CA
Studying Business Administration, Option In Accounting (completion in 2006)
• 4/3/2012
"My school provided a decent and affordable education in my field, and is in a terrific small town area to attend. However, the education was not as high of a quality as I originally aspired to attain. I felt it lacked in preparing me for the competitiveness of my career and the practical application of, what some consider, somewhat abstract concepts."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Considering how inexpensive it was to attend compared to other schools, and that I was able to graduate without the burden of student loans, I would recommend it. Considering the quality of education and availability of quality jobs in the local area, I would not highly recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | My school has been ranked somewhat well regionally based on the cost of tuition and the quality of education in my field. However, it is more recognized for its achievements in the quality of education for nurses and engineers. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My school provided a comprehensive education in the accounting option under my major, but neglected to actually give focused areas of study, like a choice to specialize in tax preparation or auditing or bookkeeping, etc. My school also provided a great background in all other aspects of business as a part of the major and wasn't too narrowly focused on providing an education in only one area. It was helpful because it sparked an interest in other areas and provided basic knowledge that is helpful in the real world, like with Human Resources, Marketing, and Economics. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instruction needed improvement, but it wasn't terrible because I had many professors who needed to focus more evenly on practical application and theory behind accounting practices. I felt under prepared for my career, and was under prepared to practically apply the concepts I learned, but the coursework was educational and most classes were focused highly on learning vs. exam preparation. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My program was one of the more difficult programs to attend due to the amount of credits required to attain a degree, and the rumored workload associated with such classes. I recall most of my classes had a fairly intense amount of homework, activities, quizzes, exams, and projects. I had to attend every class and be on top of my coursework from day one of each semester. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Nearly every class I had was taught in such a way that the book was highly depended upon. Many classes were very much like high school math classes in terms of how learning occurred. If group activities ever occurred, they were based on activities included in a textbook. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes in my major were never offered on the weekends, and rarely in the summer unless they were very basic courses or General Education courses. Evening courses were almost never available for my major but there were a few among other majors or in General Education. Online courses, at the time I attended, were not common at all. I recall that there may have been one or two available for General Education. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Media sources were aplenty. There were computer labs and an extensive library. The availability of professors was generally very good. Tutors and study groups were not available unless privately organized. Classroom facilities were somewhat older, but more than adequate considering class size and technology upgrades. |
| Social Life | 5 | My school's social activities were centered around events. Social events consisted of many sports like basketball and baseball, or art events at the performing arts theatre, or political events like debates and clubs, or cultural events. Other than that, my school had a reputation for non-organized social trouble making. This, I believe, perhaps intimidated school officials from organizing many school-sponsored events because most of the student population was concerned with drinking and other activities aside from the events that the school had sponsored. |
| Placement Services | 6 | My school had career and job fairs, which is how I found my first job pertaining to my career. There was also an office especially dedicated to helping students with compiling their resumes and finding local work. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | My school provides an alumni association organization. A newsletter is sent out with events and other news pertaining to alumni. Alumni events are held regularly. However, the alumni association doesn't do anything particularly stellar in terms of socializing efforts or extravagant events. |
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