Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Executive Secretaries And Administrative Assistants
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, Berkeley City College, and East Los Angeles 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 La Sierra.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Cambridge Junior College, Humphreys, SBBC-Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara Business College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider ICDC, Los Angeles ORT College, La Sierra, and San Diego City College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Palo Verde College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Mendocino College, and Lassen Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of FRC, Santa Monica College, Laney, and Berkeley City College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of La Sierra, Lassen Community College, West Hills College-Coalinga, and Taft College.
Excellence
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at La Sierra, SBBC-Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara Business College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at La Sierra, City College, and ICDC.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight California Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Milpitas, Rancho Cordova, Salinas, San Francisco, Stockton
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Certificate
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Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Doctorate
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Diploma
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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UC Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying (completion in 2005)
• 4/29/2011
"I would very much recommend UC Berkeley to anyone. It is a great school with a wide range of studies. School spirit could be better but it was great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Because I didn't study this profession, I can't really say. I also can't really say if I'd recommend it for people wanting to get into art history because I didn't make it into that field. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I'm not sure where we ranked in terms of undergrad art history studies. I believe that for grad school we were ranked very high. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was very pleased with it, it challenged me and made me really think. All of the classes I took were very interesting and usually pretty entertaining. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was pretty difficult. I probably should have studied more, though. I think that they graded things pretty easily. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my program we were very book oriented. There weren't many opportunities for "hands-on" learning in art history. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | All of the classes were very flexible, there were quite a few options for classes. Friday classes were everyone's last option though, and very few were offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I really enjoyed our facilities. The libraries were enormous, and online resources were plentiful. GSIs were available for help as well. |
| Social Life | 6 | I believe that our school should have better school spirit, especially when it comes to athletics. Our student body did not travel very well to away games, and they would turn on the team when they did poorly. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use these services so I can't really speak for it. I heard it was pretty average though. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | In terms of football alumni, I wish that the fan base was a little better and more dedicated. I do see cal people pretty much everywhere I go though. |
Fresno City College • Fresno, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2007)
• 7/7/2011
"I feel my experience at Fresno City College is pretty average. The school was very crowded and parking was terrible, but I did meet a good group of people that I have become good friends with today."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend Fresno City College to anyone. The school is very crowded and is also unorganized. I would recommend Willow International which is in Clovis, the little farm town right next to Fresno. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I feel that Fresno City College has an average reputation. However, the fail/drop out rate for the school is higher than other city schools, I believe. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Having your AA degree doesn't mean you are going to be making the big bucks. These days you need a bachelors and a masters degree in order to get anywhere. |
| Instruction | 1 | I always had a difficult time in school. However, I stuck with it and graduated with a "C" average. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The work load, I feel, was on par with the college level. Although, it certainly was not easy. Lots of hard work and time was put into that school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my classes required purchasing an expensive book. As a result, I was very poor because of this. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | If your grades are not up to snuff, then you might have to wait until you get your chance to register for classes. This can make your schedule really hectic. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The availability of tutors at Fresno City College is good. That's why I rate them a 10. Also, the library is a nice quiet place to study and chat with babes! |
| Social Life | 8 | What can I say, people love me. I have high spirits all the time and I am also very attractive and athletic. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I rate Fresno City College a 3 on job placement and career services, because you usually have to wait for long periods of time to meet with a counselor. I have had to wait 2 hours one time just to talk to a counselor for 5 minutes. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | My school had a great network and support. There were tutors available for practically any type of class, which helped me out a lot. |
Pepperdine University • Malibu, CA
Studying Humanities (completion in 2007)
• 8/11/2011
"I think Pepperdine is a great school with excellent professors and students. I wish I could have taken better advantage of my time there, but I was hindered by personal setbacks. I also received a minor in music, and I wish the music department didn't have such a narrow focus (classical music). In general, Pepperdine's classes were very traditional and not necessarily innovative or cutting-edge. I think this is acceptable for an established university, but I think it's best for a university to have a mix of both types of courses."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wanted to just work in an office in administration, Pepperdine would certainly provide the education needed. However, the person would very likely be overqualified after receiving a degree from the school. If someone wanted to become a songwriter as I do, I would not recommend the Pepperdine music program because the music department focuses primarily on classical music. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I'm not really aware of the reputation for my particular major. However, I do know that Pepperdine is one of the few schools that have this major (if they still do). |
| Program Quality | 6 | The program itself was good, but there were very few students in this department. It was also a very broad major, so I didn't feel I was an expert in any particular area. |
| Instruction | 9 | My professors were very qualified and passionate about what they did. For the most part, they genuinely cared about their students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The workload in regards to reading and writing was very heavy. However, a senior thesis was not required for this major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This is due to the nature of the major itself. The humanities major of course required lots of reading and writing, and hands-on experience may not really have applied. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were no weekend classes and only a minimal number of night classes, but that didn't bother me as I was a full-time student. Numerous general education classes were offered during the summers. I took summer classes the summer after my freshman and sophomore years. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Computer resources and classroom space were good. Professors were very accessible and always willing to help. Library facilities were good as well, although many of the books in the collection were older and sometimes a bit outdated. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school itself provided plenty of social activities, clubs, etc. Big athletic events were well-attended, and school spirit was fairly strong. Personally, however, I had a hard time connecting with the student body as a whole. Throughout my four years there, I really only had a handful of close friends. |
| Placement Services | 7 | My impressions of the job placement and career services were good, although I only made an appointment with the career center once or twice. Other students who utilized the center more may have had a wonderful experience. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni network seems to do a good job of staying in touch with alums. However, I haven't really utilized the network to a great extent, so it's difficult for me to assess it accurately. |
San Bernardino Valley College • San Bernardino, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2010)
• 8/11/2011
"I was very satisfied with the school because of the ease of obtaining my AA degree. Although they weren't very helpful in assisting me with job placement in finding a BETTER job in my field of study, they have allowed me to continue my education at a 4 year University and therefore I am pleased."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to anyone that needs to obtain an associate's degree as a way to continue their education at a 4 year University and would like to complete their coursework as fast as possible. I wouldn't recommend it for someone who is looking to get an AA degree in Business Administration alone and then immediately find a high-paying career upon graduation. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I again rated this as average because I hadn't heard much about the program's reputation before I began taking courses to obtain my associate's degree. I took many of the course's online and therefore wasn't at the school often enough to interact and hear of the program reputation. All I can say on this matter is that my associate's degree that I obtained through this program has allowed me to continue my education at a 4 year University, so I believe the program to have a decent reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The business administration program at Valley College was quick and easy to me. I am pretty satisfied with the time and ease it took me to obtain my associate's degree, and felt that the teachers were very knowledgeable. |
| Instruction | 8 | The class sizes weren't too big allowing for a lot of one-on-one teacher-student interaction. I felt that the teachers were very competent in their subjects and very eager to help me succeed in my program of study. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I found the coursework in the business administration program at Valley College to be very easy. I spent only 2 to 3 hours studying 3 to 5 days a week and completed the program in a year and a half including summer sessions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I completed a majority of the coursework online, and therefore the experience was very book oriented for me. The classes that I did take on campus were also very book oriented and not very hands on. I gained all my hands on experience in this field through working. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take most of my courses online. During the year and a half it took to obtain my associate's degree I only had to take 2 courses per summer semester that were actually on campus. This is only due to the fact that there are less online courses offered during summer sessions. All other courses that I needed to graduate with an AA in Business Administration were offered online during fall and spring sessions. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | I again completed a large number of courses online so I spent little time on campus using the school's academic facilities. I only used the library at the college twice due to the length of the lines to check out. I preferred to use the city library and internet resources when necessary because I simply didn't have the time to wait in the school library. |
| Social Life | 1 | The little time that I spent on campus I rarely saw or heard anything promoting school spirit. I rarely interacted with any classmates and not once did I attend a school sponsored function (although I may have considered going to one had I heard about it). |
| Placement Services | 5 | I was already working at Frito-Lay when I finished my associate degree program so I haven't had the opportunity to explore my school's job placement services. I do believe that the school has an office that lists job openings in certain fields of study, but I am not sure about the school's involvement in helping their graduating students find employment as I again didn't need to use this resource nor did I spend enough time on campus to do so. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I rated this one as average as I did not have much experience with the alumni network at Valley College. I was able to complete the program with little assistance from my professors and even less from alumni. |
Cal State Long Beach • Long Beach, CA
Studying Sociology (completion in 2006)
• 8/11/2011
"The school provided me with a good basic education. More importantly, it taught me to to think for myself and consider options that may not be apparent."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I enjoyed my experience at Cal State Long Beach. It allowed me to fully immerse myself into the program, but it also allowed time for a social life and to work part time. The education is basic in the sense that it covers all the necessary material and allows you to use your degree to whatever you'd like it to be. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Cal State Long Beach is the best school within this system and each department is respectable in its own right. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was what I was interested in at the time and it was easy. |
| Instruction | 9 | The program was great due to the experience and knowledge the professors had. The information was outlined in a manner that was suitable to learning and coupled with my interest in the subject, I learned I a lot. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The academic work load was fair given that I was able to study, write papers, and work part time. Some of the more complex theories required additional work to understand, but for the majority, I found the coursework interesting and fun. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This depends on your major. For sociology, there are not a lot of hands on things that you can do. The majority of the program is centered on learning the history of societies and theories therefore requiring a lot of book work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There were no weekend classes available for my program, but there were summer courses offered. If a class I needed wasn't available, there was always an alternative class to choose. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | To meet with a teacher, I could attend office hours or schedule an appointment. If I had a quick question, email would work well with the professors. The library provided a place to study and had all the course books and materials on reserve so I wouldn't need to purchase all the required text. Computers were available throughout campus at the library and media centers. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were a lot of social activities that were available for students through the school and student organizations. Having a state of the art athletic facility that would house national and state competitions, our athletic division was strong. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The student work center provided a lot of workshops and leads for employment. They had counseling services that they offered the students to determine what route would potentially be best for them. There was also assistance with resume and interviewing skills. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am not part of the alumni network and I am therefore unable to rate this properly. |
Foothill College • Los Altos, CA
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2012)
• 8/12/2011
"I'm very satisfied so far. As I have mentioned, I am not done yet."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Online classes are great when you've got nothing to do at work! Always use ratemyprofessors.com to judge your teachers, too. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school I am currently enrolled at is a community college. I'm not sure of its reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I've been engaging in online classes, which are pretty convenient seeing as I work 9am-6pm. I think the problem is it's also easy to cheat. |
| Instruction | 9 | Some instructors provide videos that are very thorough and easy to follow. Other instructors provide huge blocks of text that don't really make much sense. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Coding is not for everyone. It definitely was not for me when I was younger, but it is what I'm proficient at. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depending on the instructor, I have had classes that involve zero book learning, and classes that involve a little book learning. None of the classes I've had have relied heavily on the book though, and for that I am grateful. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer evening classes, classes all day, and online classes. They also have another campus and a sister college. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I take online classes. I have not been able to utilize any of their facilities yet. |
| Social Life | 5 | The interaction so far that I've had with other peers is through a chat room, and it is minimal at best. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have not used them yet. I am able to find my own employment through craigslist. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't know yet. It's funny because I am an administrative assistant with only having a high school diploma. I also have a father who is a software engineer, and I'm actually quite bright, just was lazy and had a boyfriend in high school. I am so over qualified for this position that they have given me IT related projects to do, including designing and coding the company website. |
UC Davis • Davis, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2005)
• 8/13/2011
"I love my school. If I had to go back and do it all again, I'd do it in a heartbeat."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I felt UC Davis was a fine institution of learning and would recommend it to anyone who thought about going. It was 4 of the best years of my life. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Again, it's a perfectly fine business program. Nothing special but just as good as most other programs. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The business program was perfectly fine. Nothing special about it, but I got everything I was supposed to get out of it. |
| Instruction | 5 | Instruction was generally good overall, but it was really hit or miss depending on the instructor. There were clearly some professors that cared more about teaching than others. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Business is such a broad major with so many students that the classes were never that hard. I think in general business majors have an easier curriculum than other majors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my classes, especially within my major, were almost strictly from the text book. I preferred it that way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Again, since there are so many students, it was hard to get the schedule you wanted. It was basically first come first serve based on credits completed. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities and resources were pretty good. I could always get the information I needed and always had a quiet, clean, and nice place to study on campus. |
| Social Life | 9 | I think for most college students, the social aspect of college is great. There was always exciting, fun stuff to do. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I went to the career center a couple of times and they were next to useless. With so many students it's hard to have a good job placement service. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I cant really comment on this since I never really utilize the alumni network. I get emails and stuff about it, but I never check it out. |
Cal State San Bernardino • San Bernardino, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2004)
• 8/13/2011
"The school provided the education necessary to obtain my position. While some things could have been better, I feel that I got a good education for a great price."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It provides you with a solid foundation but doesn't bankrupt you. You can get more out of it if you put more into it. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Locally they have a strong reputation in the business admin field. Overall the school is a mid range school so the reputation falls in line with it being a mid range school. |
| Program Quality | 7 | There wasn't a specific focus on this career but I felt that I did receive a well rounded education that gave me broad knowledge that helped me prepare for my present position. Again, my position requires a little knowledge of a lot of areas, so it fit well for my career. |
| Instruction | 7 | My degree had an emphasis on accounting which would have prepared me for that career. Even though I didn't continue on that path, having that background is an advantage in my position now because I work in a business focused environment and constantly deal with accounting principles. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was difficult only in the areas I'm not strong in, such as science-related classes. There would also be challenges with different professors in not understanding their style, but overall the program was only moderately challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'm sure it's even more so of a hands-on environment with new technology as it was moving in that direction when I attended. There was a huge focus on internships which provided hands-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | When I attended they offered quite a few evening classes. However, because it was a school that was attended by a lot of working adults, those evening classes tended to be difficult to get into. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They promote a strong peer support system in each of the academic programs as well as in the individual classes. Tutors were readily available but professors were less so. |
| Social Life | 5 | I probably could have had a better experience, but I worked full time while attending college so I didn't have time to engage socially. There are a lot of social opportunities available to those who want them. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They are good with assisting in internships with local businesses and government agencies. It lacks in the area of assisting in obtaining positions with large companies with a global presence. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | This is a mid range school and it's not big on alumni support, but there is a network should you choose to utilize it. More often than not, you are required to prove yourself rather than relying on any sort of alumni help. |
California State Northridge • Northridge, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2010)
• 8/14/2011
"I was very satisfied with my school. I just wish there was more career preparedness."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Political Science is not the best degree for an administrative assistant, but its a good program. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The reputation of my school is very good. Political science is seen as one of the best programs at the school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Political Science is a very good program at CSUN. There are some great professors in the department. |
| Instruction | 9 | All of my professors were amazing. They combined on the job instruction and textbook material. |
| How Difficult | 9 | My program was very challenging. Each of my teachers expected a lot of the students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | At CSUN they offer a great hands on education. I spent tons of time in the community. This prepared me for the working world. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The school was very large so there were a lot of classes to choose from. This made the classes very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facility was absolutely amazing. I spent a lot of time in the computer labs and library. |
| Social Life | 10 | I lived in the dorms the first two years and I had an amazing social experience. I loved my social life at CSUN. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The job placement at my school is not very good. The school does not even direct the students in the right career path or direction. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | My alumni Association is not very good. Since I graduated I have received very little information from them. |
Pitzer College • Claremont, CA
Studying A.A. - Accounting; B.A. - Sociology (completion in 1991)
• 8/14/2011
"My school was difficult, demanding, and at times, exhausting. However, I don't regret one minute of the time I spent there. None of my time was wasted. The professors I had focused like a laser beam on what I would need in the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would suggest to anyone planning to be an Administrative Assistant that they choose a field of expertise outside of their administrative functions. Mine was accounting. This was an excellent place for me to learn what I needed. It is important that you select a school with a strong program in whatever you have selected as your field of interest: accounting, fashion, medical, education, etc. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | This college is not known for its Accounting major. It is known and respected for its Sociology major. |
| Program Quality | 10 | In addition to providing a very practical, pragmatic approach to the field of accounting, their placement service was outstanding. The placement service contacted me when I was one semester away from graduation. |
| Instruction | 10 | My professors were still functioning in the business world in major corporations, and so were able to provide insight into current practices. No time was wasted on "un-usable" theoretical work. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I must admit this was not an easy degree to earn. The work itself AND the professors were very demanding, and the professors accepted nothing but my best efforts. It was certainly good training for the job I'm in now. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The professors assigned homework that was very close to what I would be doing in the "real world." However, they also insisted that we learn the theoretical and historical information that has given me a base from which to expand my knowledge and add to my responsibilities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | This is a traditional school, with mostly daytime classes and some evening sessions. There was little flexibility in the course schedule. However, the professors were very understanding and tolerant of my occasional need to skip a class for work-related emergencies. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The computer training I received in the university computer labs has been invaluable to me. I was able to step right in and understand and work with the existing computer people in my current job. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was not in a position to socialize, attend sporting events, or do any of the usual "college" social things. I do know that there is a rich and varied social and athletic schedule for those who are interested and able to take part. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The placement service initiated contact with me when I began my last semester. I was prepared to be "off and running" when I graduated. They had job interviews lined up for me two months before I graduated. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I was working full time while I earned this degree, so had little or no contact with the alumni groups. However, I believe there was no effort made by them to do any kind of outreach or provide support for current students. |
San Diego State University • San Diego, CA
Studying Social Work (completion in 2008)
• 8/18/2011
"SDSU was not amazing. However, it was a good value for the degree I received."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | In San Diego, SDSU is the best value for a degree. I would recommend it for others going into administration. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | SDSU is known regionally. However, outside the region, it is not very prestigious. |
| Program Quality | 5 | There were not very many class schedule options. However, I did receive my degree, which has made me a more desirable employee. |
| Instruction | 6 | Some professors were excellent. Other professors didn't teach anything useful at all. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I attended a far more difficult undergrad program. The classes were very easy in comparison. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a good mix of hands-on vs. academics. Each year we were required to do an internship of at least 16 hours per week. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | There were very few classes after hours. Some classes which were required could only be taken during certain times. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The building itself is very old. The library is not well suited to assist social work students in particular. |
| Social Life | 5 | The undergrads seem to have lots of social activities. Graduate students living off campus have very few. |
| Placement Services | 3 | There is not a good method for job placement. My professors have been helpful in making connections for me, though. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I didn't join the alumni association as it's very expensive. However, the social work alumni are a tight knit group. |
Claremont McKenna College • Claremont, CA
Studying Double Major - Math And Government (completion in 1999)
• 8/19/2011
"While I certainly learned a vast amount of information, I feel it is now going to waste. The school did not offer enough in terms of career or job placement assistance. It was also way too expensive considering the meager salary I earn now."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If one was certain of a career path and had the funds to pay for the school, I would recommend it. The professors are excellent and you will learn what you need to know. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school was good, the teachers were great, and I learned more than most college students. The school, however, was too expensive and offered very little assistance in finding a job. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers were excellent and very knowledgeable on the subjects. Preparation for the kind of careers you could have was severely lacking. |
| How Difficult | 10 | This is a top liberal arts college and all the courses were set at an advanced level. The major of mathematics in itself is a difficult study. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While there was book learning involved, the professors also made time for hands-on learning. Some of the hands-on learning was creative and fun. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes were mainly offered during the weekends with no online, weekend, or summer options. There was, however, the option of evenings. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school had a great library and good academic advisors and professors. The computer lab was in need of an upgrade. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school did offer plenty of activities. I was too busy studying and working to pursue any of these, however. |
| Placement Services | 3 | While there was some effort of job placement at the end of the 4 year program, it was not sufficient. There should be more alumni activities dedicated to career assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Most alumni activities involve raising money for the school. There should be more emphasis on helping alumni with their careers. |
Citrus College • Glendora, CA
Studying Office Technology (completion in 2011)
• 8/21/2011
"I am pretty satisfied with my college. They have a pretty helpful counseling office and great professors. The job placement could be better, but hey, the education I received was superb."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | There are three certificate programs that aspiring administrative assistants can take. The counselors help you figure out exactly what courses you need to take and the fastest way of obtaining certification. Also, a major benefit of Citrus College is all the online classes that it offers. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have never heard anything bad about my school's Office Technology program. I flew through my Office Occupations certificate with ease and do not have any complaints. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My college counselor gave me a print out of exactly which courses I would need in order to complete my certification. It was convenient because many of those classes were available online. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction at Citrus College is top notch. I had great professors. I took several classes online, and I learned a lot, surprisingly. The video instruction was very helpful. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The work load was pretty heavy in a couple of classes, such as Introduction to Microsoft Applications and Spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel. However, that is necessary in order to learn how to use the software. The Excel and Outlook classes were the most challenging for me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although you will not make it through a single class without purchasing the necessary textbooks, everything is very hands-on which is needed in order to be prepared to enter the workforce. Mainly, books were used for study and to get instructions for assignments. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There were not many winter or summer semester class offerings for Office Technology. However, they do offer plenty of online classes, which is very convenient. Unfortunately, most of the Office Technology classes that you need to take for this program that are offered on campus are only offered at one class time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The resources are great. Citrus has a magnificent library and computer lab. There is also a tutoring center with very helpful and knowledgeable tutors. |
| Social Life | 3 | The athletics teams are not a big deal amongst the student body. There are very few social gatherings or organized parties. This school is pretty much all study and no play. |
| Placement Services | 3 | There is little to no help with career/job placement upon program completion. It is a bit disappointing. The only jobs Citrus College really assists in finding are on-campus jobs for the most part. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network at Citrus College is somewhat weak. Actually, I don't believe they have been in contact with me at all. There is not much as far as career help either. |
Cuesta College • San Luis Obispo, CA
Studying Paralegal (completion in 2009)
• 8/24/2011
"It was difficult to get the classes that I needed taken care of because every class is not offered each semester and there is no direct plan for the course of action - like, for example, the nursing program has a very specific course outline to take: first semester you take Classes A, B, and C. Second semester you take... It is not like that for the Paralegal Degree program. I would have liked a direct course outline to follow."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It is difficult because in this are there are not a lot of schools that offer the paralegal degree program. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | Again, because of the issues with the accreditation, the school is not well regarding for its programs. There is another local community college and more people are going there. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Recently the school has had issues with its accreditation. It is an ongoing battle that makes one review the choice of going there. Plus, due to it being a community college, the classes offered are staggered which made it difficult to take the classes in the flow that I needed to take them in. |
| Instruction | 9 | Although the school is just OK, the instructors that I had were phenomenal! They really knew the material and are not only instructors but are also working in their respective fields. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The paralegal degree program is a study intensive, procedure heavy course. There is a wide range of information that must be covered in what seems like a very short period of time. Also, because it covers various areas of law - like tort law, family law, business and contract law, etc., there is a lot to learn and remember. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The paralegal field is a degree in which theory (book learning) is one thing, but application (hands-on) is something else entirely. It is hard to get a proper understanding of the procedures by just the way things are done in the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Really pretty flexible as far as locations - There's the main campus, 3 local high school campuses, and online. They also offer online, weekend, summer, and what I like to call crash courses - 2-3 week classes. Even some main classes are only 9 weeks instead of the usual 18. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Cuesta has a great library that was redone in the past few years. They have online resources, tutors available for free, a computer lab, and a writing lab that offers instructor assistance for writing assignments. These are all offered free of charge to the students. It really does help a lot! Instructors always post their office hours to their syllabi and are available to assist when needed. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a non-traditional student I did not play sports or socialize much. I made some really good friends with the other people in class who share the same interests as me. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I know that the school offers job placement assistance but it is not necessarily career specific - for example, if you graduate with a degree in automotive technology, they don't guarantee you a job in a mechanics shop. But they have a career center to provide assistance locating jobs in your field. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Honestly I know very little about the alumni program. I do not participate. |
Riverside Community College • Riverside, CA
Studying Music (completion in 1996)
• 8/22/2011
"I believe RCC is a good community college. It is affordable tuition wise, but the book prices are outrageous. Since graduating I have still heard positive news about RCC."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe RCC is a good stepping stone to a four year college. It is not the most challenging school, but it does offer a lot for its students. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I do not hear much about the music program at RCC now. I do know, however, that the marching band is still very good. |
| Program Quality | 6 | RCC has or had a good music program. The teachers are all great and easy to communicate with. |
| Instruction | 7 | RCC is an above average community college in my opinion. The counselors will take their time to help guide you in the right direction. However, the school is overcrowded and it's only getting worse. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Since I have been involved with music my entire life, it was easy for me to do well in this major. The classes were challenging in some extent, but could be more so. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | When I attended RCC I do not remember there being more hands on training than book training. They do offer classes, i.e. automotive and machine shop, that involved more hands on training than book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Due to the school being over crowded, the schedules for classes were tough. Now that so many teachers are being laid off I've heard that it is more difficult to get the classes needed. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I would have to say that this area is very good. RCC always provided plenty of open time for labs and the library. However, classroom space is very limited. |
| Social Life | 9 | RCC has/had excellent school spirit. The football games were always a big deal during football season. |
| Placement Services | 9 | RCC always has a great career program. They utilize all resources they have available and have assistants to help in this field as well. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | From what I know, it is a good program. I do not receive notices for anything happening regarding alumni. |
American River College • Sacramento, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2007)
• 8/24/2011
"I would say that I was satisfied overall, but I am upset that I had to change my plans. I would rather have transferred to a 4-year college and completed my education at a higher level. I think if I had done that I would have been able to get out of this career sooner."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It very much depends. I think that the one business class I took was sort-of valuable, however it felt more like a high school class. I would definitely suggest the school to people looking to have SOME kind of degree on their resume, as I have gotten several jobs just because I have a degree. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | For a community college, American River has a very good reputation. However, on the whole community colleges are looked down upon. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I went to a community college that was near my high school. I found the instruction and courses to be adequate, but not necessarily above average. |
| Instruction | 8 | I only had to take one business class, so my answer is mostly about the quality of my other professors (I was studying to transfer to a 4-year school and get a degree in Anthropology, but my math skills prevented me from meeting the transfer requirements. I ended up with an AA in Liberal Arts instead). I thought the instruction was very good, informative, thorough and interesting. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The majority of the schoolwork that I have done in my life has been extremely easy. My college experience was no different. In fact, in a lot of ways my courses were often easier than those I had in high school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my courses were a combination of lecture and lab, with only a precursory glance into textbooks. I think I only had one class that used all of the books they required at sign-up. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | ARC provides evening and weekend classes. Their office services are also open late and on weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Every Los Rios College (of which ARC is a member) has a Learning Resource Center (LRC) that contains computers for student use, tutoring, and other resources. Their library resources are also very good, as are their math tutors (I used a few). I also had good experiences with their counselors (other than the career counselor mentioned earlier). |
| Social Life | 10 | ARC is not a "party school" by any means, but I met and made good friends there, and was able to hang out with them in a variety of settings. I also noticed that there several clubs and other extracurricular activities for students, although I did not participate in them. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I met with a job placement specialist at my school twice. She was a complete idiot and I got no help from her. She was far more interested in reformatting my resume (which did not need reformatting) than actually assessing me and counseling me for a job that would have fit me. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Professors were available when I needed them and interested in solving problems I had. I developed good working relationships with several of them and at least one of them offered to be a work reference for me after school. |
UC Davis • Davis, CA
Studying English (completion in 2007)
• 8/24/2011
"I received a great education while having an amazing time. They were truly the best years of my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You cant go wrong with a UC school. It was amazing! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is a highly respected school. My degree has served me well. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UC Davis is an exceptional school. I enjoyed my time immensely and received a top notch education. |
| Instruction | 8 | My major encouraged an excellent work ethic. As for job preparation, I use my English background when formulating office memos and presentations, but the rest has been on job training. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It was extremely challenging. I would have to write multiple papers at one time on diverse and complicated subjects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It is a true academic school. Very text heavy. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It can be difficult to get classes because of the size of the school. You have to be on top of your schedule to make sure you get what you need. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Absolutely amazing. There are computer labs in every building and an extensive library. Tutor are available in every class. There are also study halls and groups that meet regularly. |
| Social Life | 7 | A spirited school. Again, you have to seek it out, though. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The resources are there if you seek them out. You have to be willing to do the work, though. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | I graduated several years ago, but still feel very connected. They send out correspondence several times a year to keep us all close. |
San Francisco State University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Physiology (completion in 2008)
• 9/9/2011
"When I take everything into account, I am grateful for my time there; I learned a lot, and I grew up and felt prepared for the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school, not for its popularity with physiology but for the overall experience one gets from going to SFSU. If you really integrate yourself in the school environment and try to make the most of your time there, the experience can be very rewarding and enlightening. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My school is only average when it comes to my major (physiology). SFSU is known more for being a liberal arts school and for its ethnic studies department. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I liked my school a lot, it was very liberal and I was able to do more hands on learning instead of just reading from textbooks. |
| Instruction | 8 | My courses were difficult and my teachers challenged me, but I learned a lot due to these difficulties and challenges. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I was going to school full-time and supporting myself financially. It was very rough, but in the end it all paid off. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many of my classes usually, if not always, had required textbooks, but this was tempered with hands on learning as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | SFSU provides multiple time options for the same class but due to the economy, these options are fast dwindling. As a result, it is becoming harder to arrange a schedule that works well with the individual. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | SFSU is a good campus that tries to provide for its students, but due to the economy many services are being cut. |
| Social Life | 8 | Due to the atmosphere on campus, a lot of students were able to interact easily. |
| Placement Services | 8 | SFSU holds career fairs on campus which providing students with easy opportunities to network. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get emails about get togethers at my university, but never pay attention to them since I have better things to do. As a result, I assume my alumni network is good; I just do not take advantage of it. |
Reed College • Ucsb, CA
Studying English (completion in 2011)
• 9/13/2011
"I don't regret going to UCSB, only my major."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCSB is a great school. It is very well-rounded in terms of academics, social life and opportunities it provides. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | I've heard nothing extraordinary about the English program at UCSB. It was decent, but just nothing above and beyond. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Though I liked me school I wish I didn't Major in English but something that provided me more tangible skills. Hence my decision to do a more specialized Master's degree. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instruction was good considering the subject matter. I just didn't find English literature that relevant to what I now what to do, which is Media relations. |
| How Difficult | 6 | UCSB wasn't very challenging to me. My major could have something to do with that as I have always been good with English literature and essay writing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | UCSB was very book-oriented, though that could attributed to my major in English. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes were very flexible. I studied abroad several times and got transfer credits for it. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I went to tutors and study groups numerous times. I found them very helpful. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was very involved in the social aspect of school. I wasn't in a sorority, but I made an extra effort because of it. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Within the school I could have found a better job for teaching, I just am not that interested in teaching English. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I have already connected with people from my alumni network who live in New York and are helping me out with jobs. I feel like I run into UCSB alumni all the time. |
University Of California • La Jolla, CA
Studying Economics And Political Science (completion in 2011)
• 9/16/2011
"I am satisfied with my school. However, I do feel like there can be improvements."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This school is more for people wanting to follow a career in research. There is little direction for others who do not. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The well-known professors are where the school gets their reputation make the reputation. They push their students hard. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I can not accurately say. This job was recommended to me by my sister's friend. |
| Instruction | 8 | This college hires top professors. Many of the professors have made research advancements in their fields. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The workload is manageable. As long as one does not procrastinate, it can be handled. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This school is mostly composed of book learning. There is little hands-on experience unless one proactively looks for it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There are many classes to choose from. However, due to budget cuts, libraries and classrooms are closed at inconvenient hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Everything is safe and clean. However, it is not considered a very beautiful campus. |
| Social Life | 5 | We are known for having poor school spirit. Most students are more concerned with school work rather than social events. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Job assistance is poor because students are on their own. Career Services does little to help students. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I feel that there is not a strong connection between alumni. There were also not many organized events for alums. |
UC Davis • Davis, CA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2011)
• 9/16/2011
"If I didn't want it's name on my diploma I would have chosen a State school over a university. The university is much more expensive and not created to be a fit for a working professional."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend if student were going to be full-time, live in the town and didn't mind a lot of reading. I put maybe because it is a great school but there are so many options in California. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is known for agriculture and research. The research side is where Psychology would be relevant, but it doesn't really deal with the clinical side of psychology. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I worked full-time while attending school so it was difficult for me. I do believe UCD has a great psychology program, I just feel I didn't get the most out of it. |
| Instruction | 5 | The amount you learn in school is extensive, though there is little emphasis on career preparation. The professors are very good, however I also attended a Junior College and the professors there had more time for their students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was extremely difficult due to working 40+ hours a week. Also, the amount of reading required in Psychology can be overwhelming and a lot of information to remember and take in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were always lectures but also a ton of book work. I once had up to eight books for one course. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The school is geared towards full-time students who do not work. It is definitely not fit for working individuals. There are not very many options for evening only classes… I never found an online class but they did have summer sessions. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | I think I am at a disadvantage on this one due to not being the "typical" college student. If you were available from 9-3 then you had a better chance of being part of study groups and making professor's office hours. |
| Social Life | 6 | The school is very spirited and has many clubs to join. There is always something going on around the campus or in the town. It's a terrific atmosphere for students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have heard from other students that the job placement is decent. I have looked on the website but the pay is not what I would need to survive. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I am not sure about the Alumni network...hence the reason for the score of 4. I did get one year free but have never heard from them since. |
University Of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2007)
• 9/18/2011
"I was very satisfied with my school, though I wish I had chosen a different major. The school itself though had lots of amazing people and great opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | There are other schools with stronger academics in certain fields, so if you want to go into those fields, you may wish to choose a different school. If you think you'll end up in a job unrelated to your major (like I did), my school had lots of opportunities that helped build skills one would later use. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I'm not sure what the school's reputation is in political science. There were some prestigious faculty, but I don't think most people who are serious about political science go to UCI. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school had lots of great opportunities for undergraduates. However, the Political Science program didn't offer a wide variety of courses. |
| Instruction | 7 | The courses I took were very good. However, I do wish they had offered a greater variety of courses in my field. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I have always been good at academics, so I found very little challenge in most classes. However, I still felt like I learned quite a bit. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I hardly ever took a class that was hands-on. It would have been nice to have had more of that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | By the time I graduated, they had started offering more and more night classes and summer classes. Online classes didn't exist at the time, though (I believe they have started since). |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | By the time I graduated, most classrooms had become "smart" classrooms, with computers and video projectors. I rarely took advantage of the other academic resources, but I had always heard of them and knew people who were satisfied with them. |
| Social Life | 5 | There is plenty to do on campus if you make the effort to go out and find it. Weekends were very dead on campus though, as nearly everyone went home. |
| Placement Services | 7 | All of the people in the Career Center were very nice and accommodating. I did not use their services much, but I know many people who did and walked away happy. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have never really looked into the alumni network. I usually only hear from them when they're trying to raise money. |
University Of California, San Diego • La Jolla, CA
Studying Literature (completion in 1990)
• 9/29/2011
"It would have been good to offer more social activities for commuters. Overall, the school is more focused on academics."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCSD is a great choice no matter what. In this economy, you do not necessarily get a job in the field you study. At least as an office manager I am able to use my writing skills for business correspondence and to help edit sales collateral. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Again, UCSD is science and engineering focused. Liberal arts is not the main focus. |
| Program Quality | 10 | While UCSD is predominantly a science/engineering focused school, I still liked how they ran their literature department. It was small and intimate. |
| Instruction | 7 | Literature/Writing was good in terms of preparing students to write business letters with proper grammar. Obviously it is not a business major, so I am learning those types of things on the job. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Not a difficult major but there is a lot of writing. This might not be easy for people who have trouble putting words on paper or who do not like to read. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Literature was a good combination of both hands on (writing) and book oriented work. Literature professors are very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | From what I remember, there were mostly morning and afternoon classes. I believe they have a good offering of evening extension classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | UCSD does pride itself on elite faculty. Tutors and group support were readily available. |
| Social Life | 1 | I lived at home and didn't attend too many school activities. I didn't feel as if I had a lot in common with a lot of the students there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use the career services so I can't really give a great opinion either way. The one or two times I visited, I thought it was useful to view the job board. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | You have to actively seek out alumni support. However, I think that if you do, the attention is pretty good from what I have heard. |
Yuba College • Marysville, CA
Studying Metrology (completion in 1982)
• 9/29/2011
"I wish there would have been more after-graduation support. I felt like I was pushed out to deal with the work world without much of a support system."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't know if this major is still offered there. If it is, I would recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't think they still offer this major. The last I heard this major was discontinued. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It seemed as if the teachers were just trying to get us through the courses. They didn't seem to care if we were actually being challenged to learn anything. |
| Instruction | 1 | I wanted a job in the field of metrology (study of weights and measures). I got a job with a scale company, but it was doing secretarial work because I was a woman. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I was able to complete any homework within only an hour. Showing up for class seemed to count for a major part of the grade. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes were taught mostly hands-on. We didn't refer to textbooks often. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The courses were available on days and evenings. Some courses were available on Saturdays. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had adequate access to library and media resources. The instructors were readily available. |
| Social Life | 7 | Through the instructors, we attended industry-related events. We met many people in the scale industry. |
| Placement Services | 10 | About five students in my class were given a lot of help to find a job in the scale industry. All five of us were hired by scale companies. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There was no alumni networking at the time I graduated. There has never been any alumni networking since then. |
Nottingham Trent University • Nottingham, CA
Studying International Relations (completion in 2011)
• 9/30/2011
"Not a bad program, but then again, not a great program either. They need to improve it to prevent it from sliding into poor status."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would have to talk to the potential student first. What sort of person are they and what do they want out of the program? |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Middle of the road school. Nothing bad is spoken, but nothing good either. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It has a decent enough program. However, they do need to "jazz" it up a little. |
| Instruction | 6 | The curriculum, while limited, was interesting. A couple professors made certain classes come alive. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Easy to just slip by and get a decent grade. Some more motivation from the staff would have been helpful. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The focus was very book oriented. I would have appreciated more discussions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Had a few choices for electives, but not much. You were locked into certain courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The ability to use a computer 24 hours a day was wonderful. This was nice, especially since my laptop would sometimes act strangely. |
| Social Life | 4 | Since I was older than most of the students, my social needs were a bit different. I wanted to do other things than just get drunk and dance. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Some binders in the career center, but not a very professional looking place. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Joined the alumni website and not much is happening. Hopefully, in the future it will come alive. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying International Development (completion in 2002)
• 9/27/2011
"I loved UCLA and if I could do it all over again I would go to UCLA again."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program for International Development is great at UCLA and you can meet a lot of interesting people looking to work in the same field as well as a lot of experienced professors who can help you find a job or point you in the right direction. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UCLA is rated highly for it's medical, business, and economics program. We are also famous for our political science program and my major falls under this category. My major is very specific so I can't say too many people even know that a Development program exists and what it's about. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I am not working in my field of study but the training I received for my specific major was excellent. I hope to work in my field soon. |
| Instruction | 10 | UCLA provides great education and excellent faculty. My professors were great and my classes were interesting. I wish I could go back to school. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The curriculum was difficult but not impossible. I loved what I was studying so I had an easier time dealing with the workload because I enjoyed doing it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had a good mix of both hands on and real-life experiences. Our professors made it a point to give us examples from their jobs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Class schedules can sometimes be very difficult to organize and fit with each other, but generally classes that are within a major are offered at different times so you can find a way to work around it. I had a hard time making classes fit one right after another so I usually had classes all day with long breaks in between. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | UCLA libraries are fantastic. The campus is beautiful and there are so many places to sit and study. The classrooms are very nice and the buildings are rich and classy. |
| Social Life | 10 | UCLA has great school spirit. The athletic program is great and the students enjoy participating in organized events. Parties are held regularly and people hang out with each other. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I never used the Career Services assistance at UCLA because I moved out of the state, but I do know that employers like to see I have a degree from UCLA. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't know much about our alumni network, but I do get e-mails from them often. |
Fresno State • Fresno, CA
Studying Mass Communication/Journalism (completion in 2007)
• 9/26/2011
"In fairness, I enjoyed my time as a student. However, my degree hasn't proven to be the difference I expected it to be."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It would depend on the goal of the prospective student. Fresno State is a great college that is inexpensive and has fantastic programs. I just think they could do better in my field than to study there if they can be accepted elsewhere. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school of journalism is respected at Fresno State. That is because many of the local graduates have received jobs in the Central Valley area of California. |
| Program Quality | 6 | When I attended, the instructors were uneven. A couple were outstanding and frankly, there were some who had no business teaching at the collegiate level. |
| Instruction | 5 | On one hand, I learned the ins and outs of my field. On the other, the practical aspect of what I do was not adequately brought to us. I felt ill prepared for the work force. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Again, it gets back to the instructors. I found that if you were able to develop a rapport with them, grades would be skewed in your favor for most anything subjective (i.e. essays). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Much of this is due to the field itself. It is tough to have much practical mass media instruction. That said, one of the final classes I had was essentially a 30 minute news program that aired on public access television locally. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to take classes as early as 8am in my major and had classes that started as late as 6pm. All five days had instruction. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There wasn't much to make our college/major stand out. Other than a few new Macintosh computers, it was pretty bland. |
| Social Life | 9 | I worked as a resident advisor. That in and of itself made me more social than other students. However, being older, I also took opportunities to attend sporting events, concerts, theater... anything unique to my school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | It is nonexistent. I have not had any success with finding work through my alma mater. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | This is solid. Networking allowed me opportunities I would not have received without it. |
University Of California, Davis • Davis, CA
Studying Psychology And Communications (completion in 2008)
• 10/1/2011
"I have a lot of great memories and I feel like I learned a lot. If I sound a bit negative toward my school, part of it is because I had a lot of financial hardship coming out of school with the economy souring in 2008, which is when I graduated. I hope that down the line I'll feel like my degrees are more applicable to my future line of work."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Overall, I think UC Davis gives its students a full college experience. However, I would only recommend this school to someone interested in eventually pursuing a Masters or higher educational program after their time at UCD, especially if it's a science related field, such as becoming a researcher or a doctor. But for less educational/more hands on career goals, I'd recommend a trade school or a university that has more skills based courses. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I'm not really sure what the current reputation is. However, I know not much has changed about my program in the last 3 years. I know that the University of California system is having a lot of budget problems, so I'm assuming that they may have cut some of the course I got to take back when I was attending. |
| Program Quality | 6 | UC Davis is a big school and that perhaps is why I felt somewhat unprepared after graduating. Now that I've been out for 3 years, I feel I wasn't fully prepared when it came to computer skills like using Excel, Outlook, and even basic computer/accounting skills, mainly because my course consisted of looking at a lot of research studies and writing papers and so it didn't quite have a hands on approach. So in a sense, even though my majors were considered "broad" for career choices, in terms of helping me find a career, they were most suited for those wanting to go into a research field than work in the private sector. |
| Instruction | 6 | Again, it was mainly about research and paper writing--theory based learning rather than skill learning--so I feel like I learned a lot, but when it came to finding work and having the right skill set, it was difficult applying my degree to any of the jobs I've held in the last three years. |
| How Difficult | 8 | UC Davis is on a quarter system, meaning that students had roughly 10 weeks or so to learn material as well as write papers and study for midterms/finals with a lot less time than schools on a semester system. I always took 3-4 courses in a given quarter, sometimes 5, so meeting deadlines was always a difficult with so little time to complete assignments and really learn material. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | At UC Davis, science based majors have a bit more hands on work than do social sciences or humanities majors. But no matter the field one is studying, book learning is much more prominent than hands on learning at the school. Some courses had 2 or more days of in-class lectures with a lab, but that all depended on how scientific the course was. Less science seemed to mean more book work, essays, and multiple choice exams. The exception was for art students who got a lot more hands-on and almost no book work or essay writing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Since it's a large campus, there were classes as early as 7am and they went until 11pm when I attended. Professors were also flexible if an issue came up with students. There were also a lot of majors and minors students could pursue and since the school is on a quarter system it was possible to pursue different majors or minors throughout the year, including during the summer. Some classes, however, could be really impacted. Some were even graduating requirements courses students needed to take to graduate on time. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I feel like I mainly took advantage of the self-service type of resources, such as the computer labs, to work on papers and print them out. I went to Shields Library once in a while for research work. I found it pretty hard to take advantage of tutoring sessions since timing seemed to be always off with other courses I was taking, or sometimes, it was just not really heard of that a certain course had a tutoring session available. Usually if I needed help, I'd go to office hours or ask another peer in the same class for help. |
| Social Life | 7 | There were a lot of activities when I went to UCD. We had just about every kind of sports team imaginable, even intramural frisbee teams. There were a lot of cultural and religious organizations, some of which I was a part of. Plenty of fraternities and sororities, some with partying and some more academic oriented. Throughout the year there were festivals such as one held on Earth Day and an open campus event called Picnic Day. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They have a career center. They have workshops and about 3 career fairs a year, but when it comes to helping in terms of really landing a job or getting leads, they aren't good at all. I've found more leads on craigslist or Indeed.com than in any of the school's databases. I have friends working in sandwich shops or unemployed and we've all complained about our university not really helping us find work. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | They give little to no help when it comes to finding a job. I get a postcard and/or magazine in the mail once a month to get me to pay for alumni membership or make a donation, but no calls or special invitations of any kind. I don't really think it's because they don't care, it's just a large organization with an enormous population of alumni. |
Musician's Institute • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Music Composition (completion in 2004)
• 9/26/2011
"They were too disorganized for the cost of the education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I didn't go to school to be an administrative assistant. It's not really a career that requires extensive education. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It's a music school - that's what they do. |
| Program Quality | 5 | They were disorganized and the teacher tried to date me. |
| Instruction | 4 | I didn't go to school to be an administrative assistant. My education has nothing to do with my job. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was more fun than difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We didn't use text books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | There was one schedule, and that was it. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Great, we had several labs to practice all different types of instruments and we had access to recording studios. |
| Social Life | 1 | I'm a misanthrope. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The music industry is a tough field. |
University Of California • Riverside, CA
Studying English (completion in 2010)
• 9/20/2011
"I did enjoy my experience at UCR but I would've liked a better geographical location. Also, I would've liked to have a football team."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think it's a great school for any major; however, there are other schools that are known for their specific fields. For UCR, it's their business program and their Master's program and for that I would definitely recommend that someone pursue their career there. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | UCR's reputation is geared more toward their business program and their Master's program. I would say that for English it probably would be about average. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UCR is located in a remote area which made it easy to stay focused and not miss class. I also enjoyed the course requirements; I felt I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge pertaining to my degree. |
| Instruction | 10 | The curriculum was extremely relevant to gaining an English degree. I also felt that the instructors played a vital role in that. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There was a lot of reading each week. The actual work is writing persuasive essays about each book. If one has actually completed the reading, then the writing should be easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt the professors did a great job at making sure we could comprehend all of assignments through a combination of hands-on and textbook. Obviously, in English more of what we are doing is in books and there's not much as far as hands-on but there were group projects and discussions that made it easy to comprehend the material. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The school had enough classes available to set a fairly flexible schedule based on the courses one needed to take. However, each class had required attendance. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The libraries were well equipped with computers and study rooms which was great for group sessions and/or research etc. There was also a great tutoring program in place that helped me through Spanish courses. They have a separate hall for all teacher offices which made it easy to locate any professor. |
| Social Life | 5 | I enjoyed many of the social activities but I felt there wasn't a lot being offered. Also, UCR does not have a football team which made me lower their rating. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not participate in their job placement program but I do know they have a program in place that many students enjoyed using. Also, their Master's program gave students the opportunity to teach for work and I know that many people enjoyed having that opportunity. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I honestly didn't take advantage of the alumni support network. However, it did seem as though there were a lot of groups and networks available for those who chose to use them. |
Dana College • Blair, CA
Studying Biology (completion in 2009)
• 9/21/2011
"The school was overpriced. I might have gone to a vocational school in retrospect."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Even if the school was still open I would not say it was worth the thousands in tuition I paid! |
| Program Reputation | 1 | In 2010 the school shut down due to funding. As such it has no reputation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I did not really use my major, as it was unrelated. However the facilities etc were adequate. |
| Instruction | 5 | Nothing about the instruction really stands out. In one class I received an A without passing a single test by doing countless book reports for extra credit. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was not overly challenged. It was a rather average level of instruction and regurgitation. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were many unique hands-on projects and labs that were enjoyable. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school was small so there were not numerous offerings. With that said, it was not overly lean on options. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Based on the tuition cost they should have been better. However, they were hardly substandard and were generally well equipped. |
| Social Life | 4 | I was really there to learn. The social aspect was of no interest to me. However, there was a robust social community. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I do not believe there ever was career placement but the school has since closed anyway. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The school is now closed so there is no alumni support. |
Heald Business College • Rancho Cordova, CA
Studying Computer Business (completion in 1998)
• 9/20/2011
"I was a single mother of two working for minimum wage, which wasn't cutting it. I went into Business Administration because I thought it was a broad field and I wanted to be employable. My goal was to make more money and have "family friendly" hours."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I'd recommend the school. I had few grammar skills and no computer experience and I walked away with both. I would recommend this school to "non-traditional" students who are looking to improve their skills and further their careers. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They may be worthy of a 10 rating but I have not been in contact with them due to my location. I was able to move to Chicago and pass a temp. test with flying colors. |
| Program Quality | 10 | When I began school I didn't even know how to use a computer. Now many people come to me in my office with questions that seem simple. |
| Instruction | 10 | Upon graduation I was prepared to get a job, and that's what I was looking for. I still use information that I learned today and remember the faces of the professors who taught me. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was difficult and time-consuming but I learned from the hard work. I was unable to work full-time while I completed school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was very hands-on and although we were required to read the books, much of the information was "hand-fed" to us, though I did walk away with some very valuable resource books! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | I was able to complete a two year program in 18 months. The school day is very much like a work day - you are expected to show up on time and be dressed in business attire. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were always computers and tutors available to help with studies. These were all I needed so I never tried to contact the professors. |
| Social Life | 5 | This was a business school and there were no extra curricular activities. This is a school for someone who is looking to improve their skills to get a job and not the "normal" college experience. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I moved from the area and was not able to take advantage of the career services. I did hear from other classmates that they were placed right away and enjoyed their positions. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Others who attended with me were placed in positions right away. I chose to move away from the area and did not have access to these services. |
Fresno City College • Fresno, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2008)
• 9/25/2011
"Overall the school wasn't amazing or horrible. It was much more centered around transferring people to other schools than teaching career skills."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It really depends on why you're going to school. If you want to be an assistant permanently it'll be fine. If you want to have a better opportunity at advancement once you get the job Fresno City is fine as long as you transfer to a four year before you start working. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think it has an okay reputation for a city college. The school tries, but it's too overcrowded and under-funded. |
| Program Quality | 5 | There isn't really a college degree that specifically prepares you for this job and I could have gotten it without the degree. I'd like to go back and finish a bachelors. |
| Instruction | 4 | My instructors were good, but my school didn't really help me with career prep. Classes taught me a lot, even though it doesn't directly relate to my job. Mostly it helped teach me time management. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I was working part time in school and taking a large class load, but I never had to spend too much time studying. I went to a very prestigious high school so this didn't seem too bad. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Even our science classes weren't very hands-on. I don't think the school had the resources to do much hands-on stuff. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They had a lot of classes and plenty of weekend and online classes. The school was so over-enrolled that it was hard to get a seat in any class. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had a great library and computer lab. There were quite a few tutoring services and the professors had long office hours. |
| Social Life | 4 | It was a commuter school so not much partying. Most people just hung around with their high school friends who went there also. Not much in the way of school- organized activities. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They have a career center, but the staff isn't helpful. The year I left was a really bad economic year so I'm not sure if it was the economy or the school, but we never had any real job openings listed in there. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I'm not aware of any alumni group. A lot of my classmates still haven't transferred or graduated yet. |
City College Of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA
Studying Construction Administrative Assistant (completion in 2009)
• 9/20/2011
"The school was overcrowded and I had a poor experience with the counseling staff. Decent instructors but were hit and miss."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would pay the extra bucks for a more personal experience. I have to admit that the commercials for the expensive vocational schools look pretty tempting, however, a community college education is probably more transferable than that of an expensive "saw it on TV" vocational school. More likely to transfer to a 4 year college from a community college. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | City College is neither better or worse than any other community college in the Bay Area. The price is right but the chance of getting a good instructor is hit or miss. |
| Program Quality | 3 | The year that I went through this program they were going through a number of transitions. Despite the name of the program, I learned absolutely nothing about construction. I learned the majority of the construction specific info from internships I was awarded. Also, my classmates agree but two of my instructors were terrible. |
| Instruction | 3 | The program I went through had Accounting, excel, computer skills and resume writing classes. I came to the class with a great deal of experience so the computer training classes were dull. The most valuable class was the Accounting class. The resume writing instructor was terrible that particular year. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I already had computer skills when I took the class. The Accounting instructor was excellent. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The only classes I took were book related. I sat through the first couple of weeks of a photography class that seemed pretty hands on. This class filled up too quickly for me to get a spot. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I completed a program where the classes were set in stone. My experience with City College classes outside of the program I went through was that a class with a good instructor was really hard to get into. The first couple of weeks are standing room only. You have to enroll in classes many months in advance. This school is overcrowded, unless you want a substandard instructor. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I don't have much experience with the resources at City College. The library was overcrowded. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in any of these extracurricular activities. I hear that City College football is pretty popular. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I got job placement through the Mission Hiring hall and not City College of San Francisco. My experience with City College is non-existent |
| Alumni Network | 1 | What alumni network? There was some follow up from Mission Hiring hall and I did eventually get a job based upon entering my resume into future job opportunities. |
Palomar Community College • San Marcos, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2012)
• 10/10/2011
"I am very pleased with my career choice and the school I attended."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Palomar offered a wide variety of classes for the working student and great financial help to attend the college. |
| Program Reputation | I do not know anyone else personally that has taken the business administrative courses before, but based on my personal success, I believe it's a great program. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | The program my school offered was very good in terms of the different types of business administrative classes offered. I was able to select some fairly easy classes. |
| Instruction | 5 | My school provided me with great information and skills for this career. However, on-the-job training has given me more insight and training than my school could have offered. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There was an occasional workload. But overall, there was not much of a challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned a lot in class, but on-the-job training is where I learned the most. All the customer, filing, computer, etc., problems that occur cannot be taught in a classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I have/had a lot of online courses that allowed me to work and go to school, as well as many night classes that I'm currently attending. |
| Academic Facilities | I didn't take advantage of the academic facilities at the school. However, I do have friends that have, and from what I've heard, they are very good if you are in need of them. | |
| Social Life | 4 | I never personally attended any social activities, but from being on campus, I noticed there were a few social activities that the school had. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I found my current job on my own. My school did not offer much (if any) job placement. |
College Of San Mateo • San Mateo, CA
Studying Associate's Of Arts (completion in 2014)
• 10/11/2011
"College of San Mateo is a satisfactory school. The faculty I have worked with have been terrific; they really like what they do and take as much time for students as they can, while respecting their boundaries with schedules. I do think if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have gone through school in California and would have moved again."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on the amount of experience they want to gain from attending classes (especially if they are considering online classes). It also depends on the amount of money they want to spend. College of San Mateo is an affordable option compared to a university, but it is still no walk in the park. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I think there is another college in the district (La Canada) that might have a better program geared toward administrative careers. There are a number of schools in the Bay Area who are probably better rated. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I took a lot of online classes and hybrid classes, which worked well for my schedule. However, there wasn't much of a social aspect online (despite all of the avenues with which students can now interact with each other on a college website). |
| Instruction | 7 | The quality of the curriculum was stellar in some classes (Adobe Creative Suite) and quite poor in others (Microsoft Office Suite). I feel that teachers should remember that their personal communications and lesson plans can help or hinder a class, as it isn't all about the software! |
| How Difficult | 6 | Overall, my workload was simple in most classes. The only classes I had challenges with were math and history. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | If you take a specific software course (such as Adobe Photoshop), you will get a good hands-on experience. Otherwise, it is very book oriented (English, writing, film-making, etc). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Weekend and summer options are poor at CSM. I have seen the class schedules dwindle with lack of funding. They do have some good online and evening options, but I do hope to see more in the future. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Lack of funding has led to a crisis when it comes to library resources, media, classroom space, and especially counselors. I feel like I have had to fend for myself when it comes to study materials, tutors and computer hardware/software. There are some decent labs at the school, but the hours are off-putting. |
| Social Life | 5 | They have a nice track and field and they put on great extracurricular events (drama, sports, etc). I would not say school spirit is very prevalent at this college. I do not even remember what the school mascot is. |
| Placement Services | 7 | If you are persistent, you can have a good chance at success. It will often require visiting other colleges in the district for job fairs, classes and seminars. All are great opportunities to network. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Most of the alumni seem to socialize online. With a lot of follow-up, you can locate support; it took me a number of trips to the office and a specific career class to find the specific people who could help me. |
San Francisco State University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Corporate & Commercial Law (completion in 2007)
• 10/12/2011
"I am more satisfied with SFSU than anywhere else. I would highly recommend it to anyone. However, a 4-year college is not for everyone and it is a burden on finances and social time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | SFSU was a wonderful school for me to attend. If you have the drive to work hard and keep your eyes on the prize, it is well worth it. I left making far more than I expected to with my first job out. Now I work for a multimillion dollar corporation. The only problem is that the economy is hurting every aspect of the private sector of employment. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | SFSU wasn't particularly known for its legal program. I don't feel the school invests as much attention into the legal program versus others. |
| Program Quality | 8 | SFSU was a very good school as far as their education. I feel I learned more there than any of the other educational institutions I attended prior to enrolling there. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers were very helpful and instructive. Most were always willing to go out of their way when approached personally. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The easiest way to sum up the program would be, study, study, study. To say the least, the books were dry, but they were informative and were always the newest editions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For my field of study, there was little room for hands-on learning, other than interning with a law firm. However, with my elective classes, such as anatomy, there was a great deal of hospital trips for work with organs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The flexibility was wonderful. They had many times and dates available for each class. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They were so-so. As with any California university hit by the economy, they had their financial burdens, thus preventing any real head start beyond what is publicly available. |
| Social Life | 10 | I've made some of the best friends I will ever have at SFSU. In the city, there is an open-minded atmosphere more than any of the other locations where I attended school. |
| Placement Services | I never used my school's job placement program. I'm sure they have one, but I never looked into it. | |
| Alumni Network | 3 | It's more useful to use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter than it is to use the actual school site. |
CSU Monterey Bay • Seaside, CA
Studying Communications (completion in 2006)
• 10/6/2011
"It was an OK experience. My degree means nothing, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's in a beautiful place and the professors were decent. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | My school was fairly new and still is. It doesn't have a reputation for any programs. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was satisfied with the major course-learning work I did, but some of the required classes seemed to be not so much useful as just there to have me fill up units. |
| Instruction | 6 | I had no amazing professors and I had no amazingly bad professors. It was pretty standard. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Most of it was simple, but I think that's because communications is not the most technically complex major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A very straight 50/50 mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | It was always hard to juggle around my schedule when I was an underclassman. Once I got to start doing major coursework it became a tad bit easier, but not noticeably. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Resources were pretty good. I think it's mainly because class sizes were small (30 students on average) and many students didn't use the facilities. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was involved in a lot of clubs and lived on campus for the first two years of school, so it gave me a lot of opportunities to make friends. |
| Placement Services | 6 | My advisor did not get me any jobs, but one of my professors was able to get me seen for an internship I worked. The career services were not great. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I hardly ever hear anything from them. Once you are out and done (and have paid all your bills due to them), you might as well not exist. |
California Polytechnic School • Pomona, CA
Studying English (completion in 2006)
• 10/8/2011
"Great education program and great campus!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I am glad I went here! |
| Program Reputation | 2 | The school is known for its technical and business programs. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Great professors! |
| Instruction | 9 | I took away a lot more than I anticipated. |
| How Difficult | 7 | A lot of reading is expected. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Perfect combination of both. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to take night classes after work. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Great facilities; tried to stay current. |
| Social Life | 3 | Being a commuter school, most people did not get too socially involved. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I got my current job through the school's partnership with JobTrak. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I am not too familiar with the alumni network, although I do enjoy reading the newsletter. |
American River College • Sacramento, CA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2010)
• 10/9/2011
"AR was a good school. On top of that, it was an enjoyable experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a good school and program. I would not necessarily recommend this as a career, but the program was excellent. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The school has a very good reputation. They provided very good support and instruction. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It is a good school and they have awesome teachers. The only issues that I had were that the population was huge and it was hard to get into classes. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The teachers were awesome. They were fun, accessible and interested in the subjects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There seemed to be a good balance of hands-on and book learning. I was very well prepared for the job market. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They were very flexible. I never had an issue scheduling classes around work. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school had a lot of programs. They had Beacon, a group tutoring and study program, and they had reading and writing programs. |
| Social Life | 10 | There were lots of clubs. There were also events and study groups. |
Humboldt State University • Arcata, CA
Studying English (completion in 2008)
• 10/20/2011
"I loved the environment of my school, the professors, and my time living in the area. I'll remember that time with a lot of pleasure and will be close to some of my college friends forever."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wanted to pursue work in the field, I'd probably advise them to attend a more urban school. But if this person was an English major and appreciated a more laid-back campus experience, I'd definitely recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The English program is strong. Professors are well-known in the community and are generous with students. |
| Program Quality | 7 | There are business classes available. Many cover topics that have transferable information that pertains to the role of administrative assistant. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instructors and professors are good. My major did not pertain directly to my job in the business world, however. I was able to include a couple of business-related classes, and they were helpful to my future job prospects. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Most courses were challenging without being excessively so. I had to work hard, but rarely felt I was pushed to the limits of my abilities. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Lots of emphasis on experience. There are intensive practicums for social work students; the marine biology dept. has its own sea-faring research ship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I think more non-traditional students would take advantage of classes offered if the classes were held at times when older students are not working. More evening classes or online classes would be great. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | HSU has a great library. Professors, for the most part, were extremely approachable, and it was always easy to create study groups. Tutor availability is pretty strong, too. |
| Social Life | 8 | HSU is a unique place, with a strong campus culture. Whether your interest is in academics, the environment, or politics, you can always find like-minded people and activities. The college town of Arcata is like nowhere else, small and inviting. The town tends to appreciate the college students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The difficulty is that English majors have a tougher time finding work that is directly applicable to their degree training. Freelance writing, editing work, etc. tends to be located in large metro areas and typical "career services" don't quite fit. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | HSU has an alumni association and magazine. This helps keep alumni in touch. |
Allan Hancock College • Santa Maria, CA
Studying Administrative Office Skills Certification (completion in 2006)
• 10/20/2011
"I loved my school experience. Teachers were wonderful and the academic advisers made everything so simple to progress."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, definitely. I feel like I was very well prepared for my career. The teachers made my experience great. The school was cost effective as well. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school's reputation is fantastic. They produce many great office assistants and administrators. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I felt prepared to enter the job arena. I learned more than I need to know for my current job. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt very prepared for work. The teachers were great in preparing us for all arenas of administrative work. The curriculum was spot-on to real life work. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program may have taken a couple years to complete, but was mostly busy-work. I had to study but nothing was terribly difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My classes were very hands-on. I gained a lot of great experience that I have since used in the workforce. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I had a great experience with my school schedule. I worked 9 to 5 during the day and completed my certification at night and on Saturdays. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The resources at my school were great. The library was up-to-date and the academic advisers were always easily accessible. |
| Social Life | 5 | My school was a community school so there wasn't too much going on. I did work a lot so I didn't have time for the events. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I never heard of a career program through my school. I never went looking for it but nothing was ever offered up to me through my classes. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have not heard a word from my school since I graduated. This might be because I moved out-of-state. |
Compton College • Compton, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2008)
• 10/22/2011
"I can say on my own view I was very satisfied with the college. The reason for that is because instructors at Compton college motivate you and through this motivation you acquire the determination to work hard in your books and also outside classroom."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I'd recommend the school to others; but you need the motivation and you need to work hard to ensure that you've attained personal success in education which will help you and boost you in your career. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is on average in terms of reputation but hopefully as years go by we'd see the school fame growing in terms of academic and athletic reputation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school is young and is becoming more diverse with large developments in terms of technology and staff. |
| Instruction | 5 | The school is average in terms of quality instruction and the staff is developing into a better managerial team. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I can say the academic challenge is not easy and it's not hard. It all depends on personal effort to make it to the next level. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The college is more of book learning oriented program which is helpful towards students success, there is little hands-on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school schedule is flexible to a point. Instructors spend most of their time in classes trying to guide students in their education. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The facilities are growing and developing and improving. Other resources have made the school an even better place to learn. |
| Social Life | 8 | The time I was in Compton college was great and they're those memorable times that I'd not and will never forget especially instructor's interactions with students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The career center at Compton college is in the middle. The career staff at Compton college are very helpful in seeing that you've achieved your goals and aspirations. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni support is average as the staff is trying to develop it further. The staff is friend and they support you to ensure success in your college career. |
Cal State Long Beach • Long Beach, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 1998)
• 11/23/2011
"It was not my first choice, but I wasn't sure what I wanted when I left high school. Overall, I met people I thought were intelligent, and I feel I got a decent education due to my major."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My major and my career have little in common. If you want to be an administrative assistant, majoring in business is a better idea. Not sure if my school is the best for that. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Long Beach maintains a good reputation as a school for Poli Sci. I occasionally read about the department and of those who have moved on professionally in the field. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Long Beach has a good PoliSci department, but the teachers all seemed to think the same way. I hadn't planned on that major--I would have chosen a different school if I had known I was going to go in that direction. |
| Instruction | 7 | The curriculum was varied and interesting. The department did a good job preparing us for experience on political campaigns. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some classes were easy and a few were difficult. It seemed to depend on the professor and how complex the subject matter was. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix of reading and discussion. Depending on the coursework, we might do more reading than talking, or more writing than talking. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The schedule was usually flexible. However, classes would fill up sometimes, and I couldn't get in or had to wait. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The professors were very open and available. The library's resources were plentiful, so I never had to wait for a computer or study room. |
| Social Life | 5 | I lived off campus, so I wasn't involved in school events beyond my major. Within my major, we were very active and took part in interesting events, including a presidential campaign and town meeting on MTV. |
| Placement Services | I wouldn't know, because I never used them. I'm sure if I had, I could have at least found a few leads--but I moved out of the area. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I have run into others from the university in my work. One of them was someone who hired me. But I never felt I got a boost from the school or any inside help. |
Shasta College • Redding, CA
Studying Sociology (completion in 2008)
• 11/18/2011
"My time at Shasta on campus as well as online was always pleasant. I was able to get in, get educated and get out! I started working administrative jobs right after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Shasta College for anyone pursuing any career, especially administrative, because it only takes a couple years of hard (but fun and rewarding) work to get your associate's and get on your way. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My rating is my personal opinion. I don't have friends who have shared my major or the classes that I took, but as far as I know (from word of mouth), Shasta College has a good reputation for most all of the programs they offer. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Shasta College has excellent curriculums and has always been very flexible and helpful when it comes to achieving educational goals. The counselors are very personable and stay involved in the planning of your future throughout the time you are enrolled. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teaching staff, especially in the life sciences, are all wonderful and committed to helping the students get the one-on-one time they might need. I graduated confidently because of the quality of instruction provided. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I can't say that it was always easy keeping my grades up, but it wasn't always hard either. The workload was fair, never overwhelming. Plenty of time and instruction was given to prepare for the midterms and finals. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It really was about a perfect 50/50 mix. We had the privilege of engaging in many hands-on activities, but we also had our heads buried in textbooks! We also got to do a lot of shadowing in our chosen career paths. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My opinion is a little biased because I have yet to attend any other college, but Shasta was always VERY flexible with the class schedules. My teachers were very patient and helpful when things came up and I missed a deadline or lecture. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The best part of my experience at Shasta was the availability of their resources. Many lectures were made available online via video hubs, the library kept excellent hours, and all of my professors had open-door policies. It really helps when a question can be answered at almost any given time. |
| Social Life | Unfortunately, I concentrated on my education only. I did not participate in any athletic or social programs created by the school. | |
| Placement Services | This type of assistance was made available to me, as it is to all students, but I did not use it. I started an administrative career through my own network of contacts. | |
| Alumni Network | After graduation, I haven't had many dealings with the school or staff. |
East Los Angeles College • Monterey Park, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2005)
• 11/16/2011
"I accomplished what I was trying for in a short amount of time (one semester), and it helped me to get my current job. It was a good learning experience as well, and I did learn things I didn't already know."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, if they would like to get a job in an office or the administrative field, I recommend obtaining one or more certifications ELAC offers for this type of career. I think the program has improved since I have attended, based on what I've heard. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Well known for being good for working adults, and the cost is fairly low. There are very many options in this program for other types of certifications. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Straightforward, fast paced, good price. |
| Instruction | 8 | Some of the teachers were not as knowledgeable with up-to-date technology. The course itself seemed a bit outdated in many areas aside from technology as well. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The academic workload was pretty heavy, but for me, the work was not difficult, just time-consuming. The hours for lab work were very limited, so that did pose a challenge for me and my schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of reading involved; more than I cared for. It is difficult for me to learn without visuals or more in-depth explaining. I often had to reread chapters and notes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Morning, midday, and evening classes are offered. I believe they may also offer Saturdays. The classes are not too long; usually 1 hour to 1.5 hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They have an abundant library and other facilities, such as a computer lab, a training lab, and volunteers to help with homework or assignments. The counselors are very helpful in directing the best path for whatever goals you have for yourself in terms of education. |
| Social Life | 4 | There weren't many social events or parties while I attended. They did a poor job at promoting school events; I wouldn't find out about them until they happened or were over. There was, however, a lot of school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They didn't provide any job placement assistance. They did give advice, but there was no formally structured job placement person/center. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Very supportive faculty and administration. The instructors helped as much as they could and overall there was a lot of school spirit all around. Some people like myself were just using this program as a stepping stone until we're able to reach a higher level of education and a "better" job. |
California State University • Northridge, CA
Studying Communications (completion in 2010)
• 11/27/2011
"I am very proud of my school and the education that I received. CSUN is a largely underrated school, and is mistaken for 'that local university in the valley'. In spite of budget cuts, minimal class offerings and tuition increases, I still feel that the education you receive is worth it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it to anyone. I am thankful for my degree and the opportunities it's provided me. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Growing up as San Fernando Valley kid, CSUN gets a very low reputation simply because of its proximity. I didn't realize how great my department was until I graduated. |
| Program Quality | 9 | CSUN is an incredibly amazing school which provided me with an incredible experience. I feel very prepared for my field and can recall situations or assignments from my schooling that apply in my day to day work. |
| Instruction | 7 | As with the majority of my classes, the instructors were a hit or miss. Some Professors were very passionate and knowledgeable and others weren't as much. I don't feel like the coursework was relevant to my careers until I reached my last few semesters in upper level classes. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The most difficult aspect of my college career came mostly from content and not quantity of work. In my early college years there was a huge workload, but as things became more technical, it was more about showing my ability to understand and put my knowledge in to practice. I was expected to perform instead of just repeat back a bunch of information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The type of learning in the classroom largely depended on the professor that was teaching the course. Some were very into using books, or even recommending side reading that wasn't discussed in class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Class schedule flexibility has been completely destroyed due to budget cuts and department downsizing. When I began school, I had the luxury of choosing my classes regardless of time or day, and I found employment that fit my schedule comfortably. As time progressed and classes became more limited and more difficult to get into, job security was more important for me. I sacrificed school hours for work to make sure I could survive, which was, inevitably, a poor choice. |
| Academic Facilities | I never had the need to use tutors or educational resources on campus as I did above average in most of my classes. I always enjoyed study groups or group projects, but they were difficult to complete because of the commute for each student. Professor office hours were also minimized with budget cuts, however the professors in my department all made an extended effort to be available to students who need it. | |
| Social Life | 3 | CSUN was a commuter school and the majority of my classmates came from towns 20-30 miles away. There were many sororities on campus, as well as clubs and school functions. We do not have a football team (one of my favorite sports), as their funding was cut to support our parking structures. |
| Placement Services | 5 | CSUN is a commuter school and it is difficult to get involved with many programs on campus. Though I know of job placement and career services that are provided at CSUN, I have never participated in any. |
| Alumni Network | I do not keep in contact with alumni for career purposes. It is something that I am working on. |
Chapman University • Orange, CA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2007)
• 11/27/2011
"Although the transition to college is tough in the beginning, I'm so glad I went to Chapman. I wouldn't have wanted any different."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Hands-down I would recommend my school. It's on the expensive side, which deters people, but it was the best experience I ever had. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I'm not sure that anything has changed, other than they switched us into a different department, which might give our major more credibility. There are fewer part time teachers as well, which tends to add weight to the program. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It's not necessarily known for my major and is small, so research efforts are limited. However, the staff is excellent and there are a lot of connections with alumni in the field. |
| Instruction | 10 | I only had one professor I didn't care for. Everyone other instructor was challenging, supporting and helped me reach my potential. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Papers and the ultimate thesis were challenging and required every ounce of knowledge I had. However, I did very well grade-wise so I don't know if it could have been harder. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They have the standard book learning and class setup but also include labs, lectures, on-campus activities, and off-campus volunteer projects. It's incredibly well-balanced for all types of learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are a variety of options to accommodate athletes, part-time students, and commuters. There really is no schedule you can't have. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They just moved into a new building which is incredibly up to date as compared to their last building, which was 100 years old. I still think the space is small and we get overrun by other departments, but otherwise I think it is good. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are so many things to get involved in like clubs, athletics, leadership, academic organizations and so forth. They also all work together so there is limited competition between the clubs for involvement, allowing the students to really experience a multitude of activities. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I cannot comment as I did not use any career placement services post graduation. However, I did utilize their workshops on creating a resume as well as the placement process for my internship. They didn't help find the location, but they did provide adequate services and feedback once it was in place. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | It's a small school so connections are limited and mostly local. However, they continue to emphasize their importance and actively seek out ways to connect us. |
Napa Valley College • Napa, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2008)
• 11/30/2011
"I feel that for a JC, it's a good school. I do, however, regret occasionally that I did skip out on the 'typical' college experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, if it is someone who is working or doesn't have a lot of money for college. The school is ideal for someone returning to school - the older college student. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | Business is not one of the majors that NVC is known for. It's also a junior college, which doesn't always hold much weight. I, however, found the program to be completely adequate. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was a junior college. There were two groups - the people who wanted to be there and wanted to get an education, and the recent high school graduates who didn't want to be there. |
| Instruction | 8 | The classes were smaller and many (though not all) of the instructors were very open to speaking after class about questions. Overall, the quality of the instruction was good. That is one thing NVC has going for itself: good teachers. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Some courses were easy (speech, physical education), while others were difficult (I took a nutrition course that almost killed me). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depends on the course. Most tend to be book oriented, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I have heard that some courses, such as ones for the nursing program, are very inflexible and hard to get into. I didn't have much of a problem getting the courses I needed on the days/times that I needed. That is one great thing about a JC - there are plenty of day/night/summer/online courses to choose from! |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Some facilities and resources are great, but some are not so great. The library is small, but most instructors are pretty accessible. Study group support really depends on the course - the heavier courses tend to have more serious students, thus more study groups. Computers were accessible. The campus was in the middle of a remodel when I attended, so it's possible that a lot has improved since I was there. |
| Social Life | 2 | When you attend a JC, you really miss out on the social aspect of the typical college experience. You pretty much go to class and then go home. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I didn't take advantage of the career services, except for the mandatory meetings when I enrolled. I'm sure they provided good support for those who sought it out. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | What alumni support? I didn't go to a 4-year college; I attended a JC. It's lacking in the typical college experience in some ways. |
Claremont McKenna • Claremont, CA
Studying Economics (completion in 2006)
• 12/1/2011
"I loved the experience, but I wish it had prepared me better for the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Liberal arts colleges have lost a lot of value in this economy. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I think it has a pretty good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | CMC was a great school, which is why I expected being further along in my career by now. |
| Instruction | 9 | I felt completely ready to take on the corporate world. Instead, I am still answering phones. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Schoolwork was very challenging and I felt like I learned a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A bit of both. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Pretty average for an undergrad college. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | School was part of a campus that included 5 other schools; there was a large amount of resources. |
| Social Life | 9 | I loved my experience at CMC, including my social experience. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Their career services helped with resumes and whatnot, but didn't really help me find a job. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I thought it would be pretty strong, but apparently not. |
De Anza College • Cupertino, CA
Studying Business Management (completion in 2007)
• 12/1/2011
"Great value. The education you get for the cost of the tuition is excellent. I just wish there was more student involvement and events to socially interact, and more school spirit and promotion of events."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | A great value, considering many of the teachers at this community college are also instructors at the local state university. My only beef was the parking situation. Parking was a real inconvenience, but the location of the campus was great...right off the freeway, yet lots of stuff around to catch a quick bite between classes, etc. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | For the area, the business program at De Anza is a great value. Many of the instructors are also instructors at the local state university, so you get that level of education for the community college price. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Typical curriculum for Business Management. Glad I took classes here at the community college, instead of paying higher tuition for the same stuff at a state university. |
| Instruction | 9 | For a community college, the instructors were fantastic! Many of them also teach at the local state university campus, so I felt like I was definitely getting my money's worth, having them as instructors at the community college and not paying state university tuition prices. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Typical for a business major. Lots of reading. Lots of accounting and math. The classes/topics that pertained to my major were very interesting to me, but the electives were mind-numbing, such as nutrition and contemporary dance. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | About half of my classes were online and half were on campus, so it was a good mix. There was definitely more reading necessary for the online classes, so I appreciated the more hands-on approach for on-campus classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Especially being in the Bay Area, De Anza College offers quite a few online classes. Between the online classes and early morning/evening classes, the flexibility was great for someone like me, who had to also work a full-time job along with going to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were NUMEROUS resources for the business program at De Anza College; it was amazing. Unfortunately, with my work schedule alongside school, I wasn't able to take advantage of these resources very often, but I really appreciated that all of my instructors were only an email away and very approachable. |
| Social Life | 1 | It's a community college, so there was really no sense of school spirit. Athletic events and games were not really advertised or promoted. There was an ice cream social one day in the main quad area on campus, but it didn't seem that many people were taking advantage of this opportunity to really mingle with other students. |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize these resources at my school. I have heard good things from other students about career placement assistance, though. | |
| Alumni Network | I did not utilize these resources at my school, so I have no opinion on this topic. It's a community college, so I assume the alumni network is not as strong as, say, an Ivy League school. |
Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo • San Luis Obispo, CA
Studying Theatre (completion in 2009)
• 12/8/2011
"I loved the small feel to this school, and most of the kids were nice. There was always something to do in the area, but I wished we had a bigger theatre program - more diversity."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would go to a real theatre school. I got very little networking, and in show business, you NEED that. You have to go somewhere you can meet people who will help you find gigs. Go to Los Angeles or New York. New Orleans has tons of film going on. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | We are a theatre program in a technical school. No one knows we are there, really, but what people know of us, they do like. I wish we had done more publicly pleasing shows, but that's the teacher's decision. |
| Program Quality | 8 | We had a very small program with not as much funding as I would have liked. It would have been nice to perform in something like UCLA's Theatre. |
| Instruction | 7 | I really would have preferred more career help. It simply was not there for going abroad for my career. I've had to do it on my own. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I was in the library all of the time researching a play I was in, a theater history class paper, or a play I was writing. The teachers pushed us very hard and I had school from dawn until dusk. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Our motto is "Learn by Doing," and especially in Theatre, this is true. It is not a normal learning environment. I learned to build a stage, seriously! I had hands-on costume training and design training. CAD software on Apple computers was available for me to use any time I wanted. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | I can only attest to my major, but it seriously needs help. I understand it is small, so options are tiny, but the teachers were very strict about classes and it was not flexible. Classes that you can't fit in one year, that may overlap, force you to fill up certain quarters. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Our library was my home every weekend. We have floors and floors of books, articles, databases, study lounges, coffee rooms...everything to get by. Even a quiet floor. |
| Social Life | 10 | I could have participated more, but chose not to. We always had things going on - concerts, rush events, theatre shows, student council happenings, parties for clubs; anything you wanted. We had outdoor clubs that would provide rock climbing on campus! |
| Placement Services | 6 | For the overall school, great. But for my major, not so great. Theatre is hard to get into, and I needed more help. The career fairs were posed for the tech students. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school itself sends me emails all the time, but I feel like they just want money. I wish my own college in the school did more. I don't have money, but I want to still participate and do things! |
ITT Technical Institute • San Bernardino, CA
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2010)
• 12/1/2011
"They had flexible schedules, and financial aid helps out."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You learn a lot in the class. The classes are flexible. |
| Program Reputation | It's a brand-new program. There aren't very many reviews. | |
| Program Quality | 10 | It helped me in my career. They were always helpful. |
| Instruction | 7 | It's a new program. They're still working out the kinks. |
| How Difficult | 3 | It was not very challenging. I found it rather easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mostly book oriented. There was not a lot of hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They had all kinds of different options. Some classes were online. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are a lot of resources. The library is extremely resourceful. |
| Social Life | 1 | There is no social experience. There is not a lot of school spirit either. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They're very hard to get a hold of. My job was not through them. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | It's very hard to get a hold of anyone. They don't follow up. |
CSU Sacramento • Sacramento, CA
Studying Criminal Justice (completion in 2005)
• 12/2/2011
"I am very proud of where I got my degree. I wouldn't change a thing."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My career is unrelated to my education. For Criminal Justice, I would say it was a great experience, and I would recommend that to anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Our university is known for Criminal Justice. I have heard it is the top program offered in California, and among the top programs in the nation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My university is best known for Criminal Justice. My general education did assist in what I do now, though. |
| Instruction | 10 | Our class sizes were manageable. The professors were always going above and beyond to assist us as students. |
| How Difficult | 7 | For my major, there were many requirements. Getting all my classes done was probably the most difficult for me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I experienced both techniques. I would say my university had a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They offered online programs, which are flexible. The university also held weekend classes for people who worked full time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | It seems they were always improving things at school. I especially liked how they kept up with technology. |
| Social Life | I commuted to school, so I was not into the social scene. The campus itself was very diverse and had a friendly vibe to it. | |
| Placement Services | 5 | Given that I am not in my field, I would say the services could have been better. Sometimes life happens, and what you want to pursue doesn't work out the way you thought. |
| Alumni Network | I have heard it is a wonderful network. However, I do not pursue our alumni program for anything. |
Orange Coast College • Costa Mesa, CA
Studying Design (completion in 2009)
• 12/1/2011
"I was definitely more satisfied with the quality of my program than the school as a whole. Frustration and complications seemed to follow me whenever I left the design department."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Despite the downfalls of Orange Coast College as a whole, the design department is superb! I think the most notable factor is the faculty. I had great experiences with every one of my professors. They are smart people who love the field and love passing on their knowledge. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I cannot list them offhand, but I know that Orange Coast has won several student competitions, and although they are only a city college, they have stood up against some of the universities in the area. I also believe that they have one of the highest transfer rates to some of the best design schools. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Orange Coast College has an excellent desigrchitecture program. I felt as if I was learning all necessary aspects (even those that I knew I would not pursue further - construction) of the design field. The labs had excellent equipment and on-campus building sites for learning. It was a great combination of theory and hands on. |
| Instruction | 8 | I found the professors and even the dean at Orange Coast College to be truly committed to helping the students realize and then obtain their goals and dreams. As someone who can be quite fickle, I never once found myself bored with the curriculum; in fact, I was often excited to go to class and learn. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I cannot even count the number of times I stayed up all through the night to complete reading, sketches, models, and projects. Design is an extremely time-consuming endeavor, especially if you are a perfectionist like myself. I recall a professor telling my peers and I once that design school is more time-consuming and expensive than the medical field, for half the salary, but that they had the highest job satisfaction rating of any career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My courses were a great balance of theory and hands on. There were actual half-built houses in the lot right behind the design building, where we were able to learn construction principles, electrical practices, and aesthetic differences. There was also an airplane for the aviation program, right next to where my studies were. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | One major frustration that I faced was the lack of available (open) classes. I don't believe that this was so much a lack of offerings or flexibility, as it was overcrowding at the school. As far as what they offered in general, I found the flexibility to be very accommodating. As a working student, I had to take most of my classes in the evening, and all of the courses I needed for my major had evening sessions. I also took a couple of online classes, but I did not find it suitable for my learning style. They did seem to have many courses online. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I know that the faculty in my program were very active in seeking out grants and private donations, so we always had the best equipment. I loved being in the studio, the huge work stations, tons of computers and blotters; it was great! I was not, however, impressed with the library on campus, but this is because a new library was being built on campus, so the interim library was a small trailer with barebones resources and few computers that were next to impossible to use. I was very lucky that my department was so well equipped. |
| Social Life | Sadly, because of my work and course load, I barley ventured away from the design building. I did not participate in any school events and did not feel a sense of community on the campus overall. | |
| Placement Services | I never ventured over to the career center, which could be a reason why I lacked focus and have not transferred to a four-year university yet. However, the professors in my department were always very helpful of notifying students of job opportunities (and also cautioned us against the temptation of just working and not completing our education). | |
| Alumni Network | I actually had no personal experience with any alumni programs at Orange Coast, so I cannot rate it. However, I have had help from former professors in obtaining some freelance work. |
Azusa Pacific University • Murrieta, CA
Studying Educational Counseling (completion in 2012)
• 12/14/2011
"I enjoyed the learning process at APU, as well as my colleagues and professors. However, I wish there was more guidance and hands-on learning, instead of projects and presentations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | APU has one of the best programs. Their class times are great and many courses are offered online. Classes are small, which allows for more discussion and learning. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | APU is a private school with an intense program. Also, many of the professors are active in the field we are working in, so they have a vested interest in teaching you how to do a job. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was happy with the education I received at APU. However, there was a lot of busywork and not much hands-on experience or guidance for "real life" situations. Much of my expertise was learned via actually doing my job and figuring out things along the way. |
| Instruction | 5 | There was a lot of busywork that really was not applicable to school settings. It would have been more beneficial to assign us to a mentor who knew the administrative assistant fields. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of reading, work and projects required. I learn best by doing, not reading or presenting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Students are required to purchase expensive books, which I feel are outdated and not necessary. Hands-on experience and class time is much more beneficial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They have several campuses throughout Southern California and have evening classes available. They also offer many online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | I never used these resources personally. If I had a question or needed to do research, I would go online or meet with a fellow colleague. | |
| Social Life | I never participated in social activities. I attended a satellite campus and did not go to the main campus at all. | |
| Placement Services | 2 | It is difficult to find a job in this economy. With that said, I have a master's degree in my field and do not get paid what I am worth. I feel that if you invest the time and money into your education, the school should have an exit interview with you and have potential employers available to you. That is not the case with APU. |
| Alumni Network | I am not familiar with the alumni program. I do not wish to participate in the alumni program. |
Westwood College Of Technology • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Computer Networking Of Engineering (completion in 2003)
• 12/24/2011
"Very dissatisfied. I was left with a $20,000+ loan. Never again."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Never in my life. I strongly suggest anybody go to a community college or none at all, if they don't want to pursue the university-level schooling. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | The school's reputation was very poor in regard to the program they offered. The reason was that the teachers weren't very involved or caring towards the students. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I was not satisfied, because most book content was not fully covered. Also, the books were overpriced, without the option of purchasing books elsewhere. |
| Instruction | 1 | One of the teachers used to come to work bruised up, and his education level seemed very low. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The program of study was not very challenging and the hands-on experience was very low. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I actually had a better experience at my local Regional Occupational Center with hands-on experience. The teachings at this college included mostly book material with little hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Class schedule was okay. They had afternoon classes and morning. They also had weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | They did not have a library, group study support, or tutors. Also, I came to learn later in life that their academic advisers were actually salesmen. |
| Social Life | 1 | No social experience was provided. No IT conferences, no networking, no school spirit, parties, or any organized social events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The job placement was not there as promised. They never followed up with the students regarding job placement, and they never actually continued their support. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The alumni network and support was very low. Finding a job was tough, and they did not help search for jobs as originally promised. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2008)
• 12/26/2011
"It was a great college experience. I think it will help me for a lifetime."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UCLA has so much to offer. I think my degree will pay off. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UCLA is top in poli sci. We are a world-famous school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UCLA has a great poli sci program. It was a great experience. |
| Instruction | 9 | It has been a rough job market, but I feel that when things are better, I will be ready. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program expected a lot from students. I believe the workload was in the better interest of the students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They offered both. It helped students with different learning abilities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are classes for all types of students. I have taken a few courses online. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My teachers were always available by email, and academic advisors really listened to my concerns. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school pride was nice. I liked the connection felt with other students. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Even with the economy down, UCLA has still helped. They make a great effort to offer opportunities when they are available. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | UCLA alumni are a large group. I find their networking supportive. |
California State University • Camarillo, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2005)
• 12/29/2011
"I liked the instructors. I also enjoyed the setting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The education was good. The connections were not. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's not highly recommended. Also, I don't know anyone who's heard of the school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | They had good teachers. They also offered a variety of options for class schedules. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instructors there were attentive. The coursework was demanding, but fair. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Business has several math-intensive requirements. Also, the humanities were not easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Business requires books. Other disciplines were more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Lots of options and schedules. Also, sometimes more than one teacher to choose from. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Library had computers, which were good. Classroom space was limited. |
| Social Life | I had to work a lot and did not have a lot of social time. I also found it harder to make friends out of state. | |
| Placement Services | 3 | I did not receive any useable job information. The availability of business connections was few. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have no knowledge of the network. There doesn't seem to be one. |
San Diego Mesa College • San Diego, CA
Studying Civil Engineering (completion in 2010)
• 12/29/2011
"I love my school, and so does everyone I've talked to who attends. Usually, starting at a junior or community college isn't something you announce, but this school makes us proud."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it, because it's a great school. They have a ton of programs and it can benefit anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They have a very good reputation in education and transfer. The school they are preparing me for is one of the top engineering schools. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I like the program I am currently enrolled in. The professors are mostly people who work in the field every day. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instruction is good and most of the instructors are fairly hands on with the students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It's a fairly difficult program, but it's only in memorization. Even with a 16-week course, it feels like there is a lot of information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I believe my school does a good job overall. I believe most of this is teacher based, but they do a good job at mixing their experience with what's in the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | My school usually has a lot of options. However, with budget cuts, there are not very many options, and some semesters, some classes are not offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has everything I could need as far as facilities. They even recently built a building that covers a block, just for tutoring. Having a cafe in the library is a nice bonus too. |
| Social Life | 8 | I have met some great friends in my classes. However, I'm not aware of what the teams or social organizations are. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I haven't needed this or depended on this yet. I did take a glance at the website they have set up for job opportunities, but that was just two days ago. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There's only been one instance in which this came up for me; a teacher asked if I could give him advanced information on my company's bids. I suppose I could rate it good for that, but it wasn't for my favor. |
University Of California, San Diego • La Jolla, CA
Studying Economics (completion in 2011)
• 1/5/2012
"I'm satisfied with the work I did there and the people I met there. It was an interesting experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It was good education. I think that a vocational school would suffice and would help someone save money. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | We have a good reputation. There are award winning professors. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The education and professors were good. Not sure if it prepared me for working life. |
| Instruction | 3 | The field that I administer in is not related to economics. It did not prepare me well. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There was a lot of competition at school. Grades were given on a bell curve. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There wasn't exposure to the outside world. The courses are very book based. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | It is not quite flexible. There is a strict plan one must follow. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | There are office hours by professors. However, not much other help. |
| Social Life | 7 | There are social activities if you are interested. However, many of the students are too focused on studying. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The help is there. However, not many students take advantage of the help. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There is an alumni network. However, the network is not very active. |
CSU Fullerton • Fullerton, CA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 1/7/2012
"I enjoyed my program, and it is a good general degree. I didn't learn anything particularly important for Admin work, but learned valuable overall skills."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | For Admin I would recommend an AA at a community college, not a university. I am overqualified. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is a good program for psychology. |
| Program Quality | 4 | I didn't go to school to be an Administrative Assistant, nothing was really particular to my job duties. |
| Instruction | 4 | The curriculum didn't really pertain to my work outside of the research and writing. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I went to school at night, it seamed fairly easy to me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mostly book learning and research reports. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I went to school at night and online. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I didn't use facilities much. The computer lab and library seemed sufficient. |
| Social Life | 1 | I went to school at night and didn't participate in school functions. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career center and student/alumni center had exclusive job postings. |
| Alumni Network | I don't subscribe to any alumni functions or newsletters. |
Copper Mountain College • Joshua Tree, CA
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2014)
• 1/8/2012
"For where we are located the school seems to be pretty good. Sometimes it gets frustrating that the school does not offer a whole lot."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If becoming a nurse is in your future this is a good school. They do not have any interior design programs. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The one program at this school is the Nursing program that is really popular and gets a lot of attention. Becoming a teacher is fairly easy at this school as well. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It's a small college in a small town; they do not offer a whole lot. The highest degree you can get is an AA, then you have to transfer to a different school. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors are very precise in their instruction. A lot of the instructors teach relevant and current material. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The student office will not place you in a class you will excel in. The workload can be heavy at times but it's college and you need to learn the material. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some courses are hands on and others are a mix. The RN program is mainly hands on, every class varies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | There are classes early in the morning and later in the afternoon. The Nursing program isn't very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There is a tutor and support group at the college you can see and get help with your work. The professors have a really good communication program through email and telephone. |
| Social Life | 7 | There are no athletics at our college. The spirit around the school is positive. |
| Placement Services | 4 | The nursing program has a really good job placement program at the hospital. Career services will help find you some jobs locally but not teaching . |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am not too familiar with the alumni program at this school. I have not heard of anyone talk about this program either. |
Coastline Community College • Fountain Valley, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2011)
• 1/11/2012
"I enjoyed the online courses. They always returned any questions quickly. I was able, with their assistance, to finish my associate's degree on my time available."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I do recommend this school. They rate your training and years of experience. Definitely a good, military-friendly school. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It has a solid reputation in the military community. Always recommended by co-workers. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Good school. Learning from a distance is challenging. I took courses online. |
| Instruction | 8 | I had very attentive and experienced instructors. Any problems I had were taken care of or cleared up. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload was high, as it was an 8-week course and they had to cram a lot of information in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All book related. The courses were online and the quizzes were taken from the book. It was not hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Took a lot of discipline to take my courses at my pace. Being online, I was afforded a lot of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Academic advisers were very helpful. I always received help quickly. |
| Social Life | The courses were online, so I do not know about the school's spirit. | |
| Placement Services | School did not offer job placement services. I was active duty military, so I already had a job. | |
| Alumni Network | I don't know about the alumni. I took courses online. |
Cal State Fullerton • Fullerton, CA
Studying Liberal Studies (completion in 2009)
• 1/16/2012
"I came out with the degree I wanted. College served its purpose."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall, I learned what I needed to learn to get where I wanted to be in life. I had a great college experience overall. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | CSUF seems to be the school of choice. It also impresses on a resume. |
| Program Quality | 4 | I feel that CSUF has become more concerned with making money than hiring great teachers and providing quality education at the B.A. level. However, I did have some great teaching in the graduate-level classes. |
| Instruction | 4 | Some professors seemed to be unfair. They did not grade fairly or put in enough effort. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I had some very difficult courses. Other classes seemed very easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the majority of classes, you sit and listen to a lecture. Then, you go home and read a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Classes were extremely difficult to get into. You get what you get. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I felt that the classrooms were old, but the resources were available to me. Professors were always available during office hours. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I was given no help with finding a career. Also, I did not feel they helped to expand this department. |
| Alumni Network | I have not dealt with the alumni association. |
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