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 Capital Community College, Housatonic Community College, and Norwalk Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Capital Community College, Housatonic Community College, Gateway Community College, and Naugatuck Valley Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Capital Community College, Asnuntuck, Norwalk Community College, and Quinebaug Valley Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Asnuntuck and Briarwood.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Briarwood.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Briarwood.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Western Connecticut State University • Danbury, CT
Studying Arts: Photography (completion in 2008)
• 8/14/2011
"I was able to get through in 4 years and was happy while I was there. I had help where it was needed and support from all of the professors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school has a great atmosphere and student body. Each program was very supportive of the students. It seems to be that the students that come out still are happy with the university. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Since I have left students have nothing but good to say about the program I went through. The professors they brought in while I was there have only become more experienced. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school had a wonderful Photography program. I was very satisfied with what I learned while in school. |
| Instruction | 7 | During my first two years there were a few professors that were sub par. They were very strict and unwilling to work with students that were new to the subject. The last two years a different set of standards were set and it made the classes much better. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I went into the program with prior knowledge of the subject. The training involved an average load of work, but we were critiqued on a regular basis. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt there was a little more book than hands on. The science classes in the new building were more hands on than anything else. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take some courses just on Saturdays and evenings. There are flexible schedules for all courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Academic advisors were always available to help out. There was a library on campus and computer labs in all buildings. There were labs that were open 24/7 for late night work. |
| Social Life | 9 | I wish we had a few more school wide events. There was only one a semester as I remember. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not participate with any career placement programs. I do not know if the school has a one. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do get a small amount of material from the alumni association. I do not feel that any of it pertains to me, or my career, or is that supportive. |
University Of Connecticut • Storrs, CT
Studying Accounting (completion in 2010)
• 9/18/2011
"I loved my school! If I could, I would go back and be an accounting major there ten times over."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school may not be #1 in the ratings for any particular program, but I would 100% recommend it. I loved the close-knit, family-like aspect of UConn, and I believe that any person would feel at home there! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UConn has a good reputation for accounting, but it is not the best. The accounting department is huge though, so I know a lot of people trust in the quality of it. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My major was not necessary for my current job. I do like that I handle accounts payable and the background in accounting certainly helps with that. |
| Instruction | 10 | My professors in college taught me a lot, not only about accounting, but about life, too. One of my professors told me I should consider an accounting-based administrative job and I am very glad she did because it suits me perfectly. |
| How Difficult | 7 | For me, the course material really was not difficult because I enjoy math, paperwork and other tedious tasks. For most of the people in my classes it was a lot more work and more time-consuming for them. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used spreadsheets and real-life accounting practices much more than bookwork. I learned much more in most of my accounting classes than in any other class. I loved the hands-on teaching because it really made me comfortable with the practice of accounting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Throughout college, I had the opportunity to take classes at all times of day and night or even online. I wish all programs were like that, because I would take a few more to further my education a bit. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | My program had its own computer lab, tons of classrooms, several advisors (I had two), and my professors were always available. I believe that there were tutors available as well, although I never utilized them. Overall, the facilities and resources available to accounting students was great. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was a member of the color guard and always felt like part of a family. I was also a member of an academic-based sorority, which was AMAZING and a great decision. The social aspect of my school was perfect. |
| Placement Services | 1 | UConn did not help at all with job placement. The only thing that helped me was my teacher leading me in the right direction, but she did not give me any other help besides that. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Our alumni network is great when it comes to sporting events, but that is about it. Any alumni event takes place at a football or basketball game, never anywhere else, which I definitely think could use some improvement. |
Western Connecticut State University • Danbury, CT
Studying Business Management (completion in 2007)
• 9/18/2011
"It was a good priced school that allowed me top get a job right out of college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is very flexible in that they offer day and night classes. It's also a very reasonably priced college for in-state students. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's a smaller state school so it's not on the same level as Conn. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I like my program at college a lot. It taught me how to work in groups and how to deal with people. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned in HR management that you have to be fair and not to treat certain people in different ways. I also learned about Labor Law to better understand what employees are entitled to. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I like the business program so it all came very easy to me. I did struggle with the advanced math parts of the degree. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The non-business classes were mostly book learning classes. My core business classes were a mix of book but a lot of hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I work full-time and I was still able to go to college full-time. They offered night and day classes on two campuses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They had two libraries and many computer rooms located on the campus. They also had big study hall areas for students to study and do there homework in. |
| Social Life | 2 | I didn't live on campus, so I didn't really socialize with anybody there. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They have allot of local contacts in the area. There's a local hospital near the college and they use all of the nursing student as temps and eventually usually hire them. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I don't ever have anything to do with the alumni network. |
Tunxis Community Technical College • Farmington, CT
Studying Criminal Justice (completion in 2001)
• 9/21/2011
"Although I have had trouble finding work in my chosen field, I feel that the education I received truly prepared me for entering the work force. This degree helped prepare me for real life, not just the criminal justice field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | No matter what degree program is chosen, anyone who attends this college will receive real life lessons and a very realistic picture of what working in their chosen field will be like. They will also receive real world education about how the professional world operates which is helpful in whatever field is chosen. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Tunxis is a community college and although it is considered to be a good, it lacks the prestige of major universities. It is well known in CT but I don't believe that it is highly regarded anywhere else. |
| Program Quality | 10 | All my courses were taught by professionals who were already working in the field. For example, I took a Criminal Investigations course which was taught by a well-known prosecutor. |
| Instruction | 10 | I believe the quality of the instruction at Tunxis was wonderful because all information was given realistically and in terms of how it could be used in the field. Instead of useless theory and facts , I was taught by career professionals about the every-day workings in the field. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I really enjoyed the academic atmosphere and didn't find the work load to be too strenuous. I feel that I did have to make an effort. I didn't just breeze through the program but I didn't struggle with it either. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I stated earlier, it was mandated that I complete an internship in order to really understand what working in the field entailed. The professors usually gave lessons that incorporated the material in the book but also combined it with real world lessons. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | I completed my degree by attending classes at all different times in order to accommodate my work schedule. These included day, evening and online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | There were many resources provided to help with research and tutoring. There were definitely enough classrooms and laboratories. Overall, it was up to the student to take advantage of them. |
| Social Life | 1 | There were not a lot of extra curricular activities provided due to Tunxis being a community college. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no help provided after graduation in the form of job placement. The only contact provided by the school was the organization where my internship was to be completed. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | As far as I know there is no alumni network. I have never been contacted about any events nor have I heard about any events from any other sources. |
Naugatuck Valley Community College • Waterbury, CT
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 10/19/2011
"I honestly enjoyed going to school there, and the most important thing to me, was how impressed I was with the quality of the professors. I really don't have any complaints, even though they could do plenty of things better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think going to CC is a good jumping off point to get a Bachelor's and possibly then a Master's. Naugatuck is a great CC, with a very good staff. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | This school seems to have a great reputation in the area. It is considered a very good CC. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Although it is a community college, some of my professors were amazing. I had an English professor for several courses who taught for years at Northeastern. The business dept. also had some great professors. |
| Instruction | 6 | I don't feel any schools I've been to do a good job in terms of the relevancy of the curriculum in relation to where you might work after school. Unless you are going for nursing, or a 2 yr certification, I do not feel you get prepared well for jobs if you take a major like English, or Psychology or Business Admin. |
| How Difficult | 2 | Community college is generally considerably less work and easier. The professors are way more accepting of missing assignments or class, and are lenient in grading. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was rare for our classes to be hands on. I would say 85% of the course work was based on text books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I've taken courses at a few institutions and this one seems basically the same as the others in terms of availability. I feel like availability of classes at different schools is pretty standard. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Great library, good computers to use. The school was very nice looking, and comfortable. A lot of places to hang out, talk to peers, do homework. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in many activities, but I have seen some organizations for political events or athletics. Seemed pretty average as far as community colleges go. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I think you really have seek out these services, which I did not do. They do not offer or ask me to participate. I can't speak on how well the counselors are at job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have received mail from the alumni network, but that is pretty much it. I have no interest in anything alumni-related, as I don't live in the area where I went to school anymore. |
Eastern CT State University • Willimantic, CT
Studying Political Science (completion in 2007)
• 11/25/2011
"I do not regret my education experience, however, if I was given the chance to go back, I would not do it the same way. I might have attempted to find a school that would have more options for hungry students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | All my experiences are from 2003-2007, and the school has undergone great changes since then. They have updated and offered many more computer labs, there are more professors, and the course offerings have changed. I would recommend that anyone pursuing a degree examine my school thoroughly before making an informed decision. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I believe that it is strictly average. Eastern Connecticut State University doesn't have much of a reputation at all. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I found that a few of the professors I worked with were disappointing. My senior seminar was vastly overrated, as my professor was sexist and pandered mostly to the males. |
| Instruction | 7 | I felt I learned a great deal more as a result of my motivation and high sense of self. I thrived on my self-directed studies and independent work. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I was able to keep my program challenging by working with my adviser and utilizing outside entities. Working on independent studies and taking many courses outside of my major kept me satisfied where a straight course was disappointing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt this was more book learning than hands on, although it can go both ways. I did most of my independent work from books and via the library, rather than having much hands-on activity with other students or my professors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My school did offer flexibility. There were weekend, evening and summer courses, as well as winter break classes that enabled a student to get the courses they needed to graduate. However, many necessary classes were still so limited that some students needed five years instead of four to make it through programs. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | At the time I was a student, the facilities were growing, so while they were limited, it was important to realize that they would be offered in the future. It was tough to find many computer sources, as there was only one computer lab available. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a dry campus, many non-organized events would be broken up by either campus police or student resident assistants. Most of the accepted events were student-run, which could either go extremely well or be dull. I worked on campus and felt that was where most of my social interaction came from. |
| Placement Services | 3 | When I was in attendance, there were barely any job placement services or career services available to students. I was handed my diploma without receiving any of these services. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Since graduation, I have not heard from my alumni network. As a student, I worked on campus, and while I heard lip service regarding it, I didn't experience it at all. |
University Of Connecticut • Storrs, CT
Studying Economics (completion in 2010)
• 1/5/2012
"The school is a big part of our state and I feel proud to be an alumni. I think I would choose this school over others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It just got voted in a Top 30 Bargain Schools and is one of the top public universities in the nation. We offer great sports teams and lots of social events. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The program is good. We have teachers who are nationally recognized. Two of my teachers are active in politics. |
| Program Quality | 8 | There were good classes but they were short-staffed and some courses were difficult to get into. The courses themselves were good. |
| Instruction | 5 | I use little of what I learned in school besides being able to write and edit documents and examine data. I wish I took more writing courses. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The courses were challenging and many students had trouble. Constant homework and exams. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Pretty good mix, it really depends on the course. Some courses we didn't even have books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Not very good. They could offer more online and evening courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The infrastructure is always changing and new buildings are being built. The library can be busy but has plenty of computers. |
| Social Life | 10 | Lots of parties and sporting events. Almost weekly for both. |
| Placement Services | 3 | Unlike the School of Business, Liberal Arts does not guarantee you a job or internship. You have to earn it by actively emailing companies and searching online. |
| Alumni Network | There is a network but you have to pay to be a part of it. I didn't join the network. |
Gibbs College • Norwalk, CT
Studying Office Administration (completion in 2004)
• 1/18/2012
"They weren't perfect. However, I must say that my professors were very understanding and gracious when I was ill."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they lived in or close to Norwalk, I would recommend the school. If they did not live in or near Norwalk, I would not recommend it, because it's a long ride and truly not worth the gas for what they offer. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The curriculum is average. When I attended, they had gotten rid of medical coding and billing, medical administration, and many law positions, such as the paralegal program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | At the beginning of the final semester, I needed a minor operation. All my professors worked with me to help me stay up to par, which allowed me to graduate with my class. |
| Instruction | 8 | The college promised job placement during and/or after graduation. This was the only thing that they were incapable of doing for me. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Most of my courses came easy to me. I only had trouble in two classes during the whole two years. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | They only had classes in the school's only building when I attended there. To schedule classes, for example, only morning classes, was trying for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The campus was inclusive of one building, which didn't hold enough research sources, computers, or assistance in the only small library. Many of my professors were unable to help me after classes, because they either had to leave or they had another class. |
| Social Life | I was unable to join any school programs, because I had to travel minutes to work after classes every day. My time was limited on a daily basis. | |
| Placement Services | 3 | The more I asked about placing me in a job, the more I was denied. To me, it seemed they simply ignored me or played favorites - I had a 3.75 GPA. |
| Alumni Network | They didn't place me in any job situation after my graduation. If they had an alumni network, I don't think I was asked to be part of it, or else I would have. |
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