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 Georgia Highlands, Clayton State, Abraham Baldwin, and Valdosta State.
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 Bainbridge, Clayton State, Georgia Highlands, and Abraham Baldwin.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Dekalb, Clayton State, Albany Technical, and Sandersville Technical College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Dekalb, Flint River Technical College, Lanier Technical College, and Central Georgia Technical College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Georgia Highlands, Columbus Tech, Clayton State, and Darton.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Abraham Baldwin, Valdosta State, Clayton State, and North Georgia Technical College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Altamaha Tech, Southeastern Technical College, Sandersville Technical College, and Southwest Georgia Technical College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Gwinnett College • Lilburn, GA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2004)
• 8/12/2011
"I would never recommend this school. There are other schools within 25 miles away that are better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This school was unprofessional and the reputation isn't what I want for my record. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They have a lot of commercials that prompt people to attend. There are not a lot of schools in the area to compare it to. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school was a little shoddy. The instructors were not interested in going above and beyond expectations. |
| Instruction | 3 | She did not seem qualified. She also was unprofessional. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Our grades were basically guaranteed. None of the tests were challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There weren't many open discussions. Most lessons were read from power point presentations from the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | This is the main reason I chose this school. They have night/evening/and weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | The facility looks like a warehouse. Books are outdated. |
| Social Life | 3 | I did not participate in any social activities. There were no school-sponsored events. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There were many workshops on how to interview. Also, they were actively participating in the community to find openings. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | It is hard to get in touch with people when you need something. Also, they strongly encouraged the use of financial aid. |
Georgia State University • Atlanta, GA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2007)
• 8/14/2011
"There were great social activities and networking opportunities and a flexible schedule. The school was a good choice overall."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would recommend the school. Whether you are young or old, a high school student or a returning student, the school is a great choice. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The school is becoming more well-known nationally. It's a state school so the reputation must surpass the traditional view of public universities. |
| Program Quality | 8 | There was an excess of book work, but not enough experiential learning. I expected there to be more hands-on experiences. I appreciated the class speakers who have provided great networking for my career. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers were well qualified, and had much experience in the field. The coursework was relevant. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was basic knowledge of business sense. The work load was fairly easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Too much book work. I would have appreciated more hands-on experience such as working with more applications and learning more about the different programs or a comparison of the programs used in the career field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My major was catered to non-traditional students so the classes were flexible. There were evening and weekend classes that could fit my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The numerous on-campus computer labs provided opportunities to work between classes. The library has invaluable resources included books, media, and tutors. |
| Social Life | 9 | I found a fine balance of work and play. The greek life, athletics, and other combinations of social opportunities left me with a great college experience. |
| Placement Services | 8 | With resume assistance and career guidance, I found a job in no time. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The school provides numerous opportunities to meet and greet other alumni in various fields. The alumni office provided excellent career development advice. |
Brenau University • Gainesville, GA
Studying Business Administration-Management (completion in 2005)
• 8/15/2011
"It was flexible and somewhat affordable. It was also very convenient to where I was working and the schedule was great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends--I don't know what the school is like now as I've not been back and it has been 6 years since I graduated. So, I might recommend it if it is as good as it was when I went. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't know, I haven't spoken with anyone about it. But, Brenau is more know for liberal arts and music, nursing, teaching, not Business. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I assume it was average, as it is the only school I've attended for that degree/major. It was expensive, though. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors were pleasant and made themselves available. I don't currently hold a position where the course material is particularly relevant. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some classes were extremely difficult (Statistics). Some classes were not so difficult (Management). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was business management--not a lot of hands on training available. However, the nursing program looks to be very hands on and there is a daycare center where teaching students can work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Had the option of Weekend classes, evening classes, or online classes. Also, they had daytime classes availabe and there are classes year round. Very flexible and great for adults that are also working. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There are a lot of buildings and computers. The library is a little on the older side. The professors are available, never made use of any tutors or study groups. |
| Social Life | 5 | I don't know, I think it is good from what I heard from other students. I was a working adult at the time so I didn't make use of the social network. |
| Placement Services | 4 | As far as business jobs, not very well. But if you are a nursing major or teaching major, I think the career services are much better. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Haven't used the network nor do I know how I could use it. I receive a newsletter every now and again... |
Georgia Institute Of Technology • Atlanta, GA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2008)
• 9/30/2011
"While I am appreciative of my education and my school's reputation, Georgia Tech does not take care of its students. There were definitely times when I wanted and needed a gentler touch."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | While it isn't for the faint of heart, you will come out of Georgia Tech knowing what you need to know. Also, you'll probably graduate without any student load debt, which is invaluable. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Our program is extremely well regarded, especially for Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The department is small enough that everyone knows everyone, which can be a blessing or a curse. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My program was difficult, math intensive, and very interesting. Since I completed the research option and got a business certificate, I have a good background to help me find better work or go to graduate school. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot, but most of it was in lab rather than in class. The only classes that have proved useful have been my statistics courses, which have been invaluable and have helped me get two jobs so far. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Georgia Tech insists on an incredibly technical education. I have had several years of calculus, chemistry, biology, physics, and statistics in addition to research methods and psychology content courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While classes are good, lab experience was the best way to learn. Sometimes, however, nothing can replace a stack of well referenced journal articles. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Because this department was so small, courses were usually only offered in the Spring and Fall, were not offered abroad, and usually only had one offering per semester or year. They did, however, make sure that they didn't conflict. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The online resources were unparalleled and the lab space was adequate. With the addition of an MRI on campus, the potential for really interesting research increases. There was, however, little tutoring available for people in my major. |
| Social Life | 10 | I went greek and was the sweetheart of a fraternity. We won homecoming my Senior year. Suffice it to say that I never lacked for wonderful social opportunities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I had absolutely NO job placement or career services assistance. I made an appointment with the office that would do this and found no help whatsoever. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Georgia Tech does not really help psychology majors much. In addition, they offer very little out of state help. |
Spelman College • Atlanta, GA
Studying Sociology (completion in 2014)
• 9/24/2011
"I loved my school and its traditions and history. We were lacking a bit in technology and services, and the campus was located in a rough area of town."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to anyone, regardless of their career path. Being an administrative assistant does not require a particular time of educational training. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | As far as I know, it has a great reputation. The school itself is usually ranked highly on the list of private colleges. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I went to a smaller college, so there was a lot mentoring and close involvement with faculty. I was able to get a lot of assistance on research for my major and my particular interests in that field. |
| Instruction | 10 | The classes were small, so you didn't feel lost in the shuffle. Professors were always available to their students and they were invested in our success. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Due to the immense amount of theory, writing, and research in my major, it was quite challenging. Learning about statistics and the many sociological theorists was daunting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was focused more on book learning. I did, on my own time, participate in internships where I was able to apply what I had learned in the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Since it was a small school with limited faculty, there weren't too many offerings of major courses. There was more flexibility with general education courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I would rate the accessibility to professors very high, but there was a central library for all of the neighboring schools that was not on campus. Faculty members served as advisors, so we did not have a separate academic advisor. I'm sure they had tutoring. |
| Social Life | 9 | There were always activities going on around campus. There were many Greek events, dorm parties, football games, and a lot of school pride. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was a small career services office that offered mock interview training, resume assistance, and career fairs. I didn't take advantage much. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The Spelman Alumni Association actively contacts graduates to encourage us to participate in events, such as homecoming and reunions. They also have a large gift campaign to recruit donations from alumni. |
Augusta Technical College • Augusta, GA
Studying Business (completion in 2001)
• 9/22/2011
"I'm happy to have graduated. I loved school at Augusta Tech and will probably go on and get my Bachelor's as my daughters get older."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Particularly if they have kids. If they don't, they might just want to go ahead and get the Bachelor's degree. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Everyone knows it's a good school because the people who graduate are doing better than those that only have high school diplomas. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I think the school is very good. I just wish I would have gotten a Bachelor's instead so I would have more options. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers there are great. They work with you and understand the kind of situations that come from trying to go to school and be a mother. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It wasn't hard as long as you paid attention. Don't expect to go to any school and learn anything without doing the work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There's a good mix of both. This made me happy, because I get sick of looking at a book. That's not learning - it's just memorizing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Having online classes makes everything easier. They also have night classes and other options, though I mostly did night and online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They're good, but not as good as Augusta State University. You can tell that they could be better. |
| Social Life | 2 | There's very little of this at Augusta Tech. This is one area they could improve on if they want to attract younger students. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They helped me get my most recent job, when I lost my last one due to cutbacks. I don't know what I would have done without them. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I don't know if we have an alumni network. This says something about it. |
Augusta Technical College • Augusta, GA
Studying Associate Of Applied Science (completion in 2009)
• 10/2/2011
"They gave me much opportunity to complete my associate's degree. They worked with me when I needed to pass the compass test so that I could go on to the degree program. I am happy that I accomplished that feat."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended other individuals to the school. I have suggested the classes and the instructors that I felt comfortable with, and which classes they should ask the admissions staff about taking. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I have noticed quite a few people with certificates hanging on their wall, showing that they studied at the college. They are quite satisfied with the program and where it got them. |
| Program Quality | 6 | They have taught me what I need to know to hold down a position in an office. The technology classes could be more in-depth and longer for today's workforce. |
| Instruction | 6 | I had some really great instructors and others that were more focused on what they were doing outside of the classroom. Some instructors were not always present, and when they were there, they talked about themselves most of the time. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some of the classes given were sort of redundant, such as humanities, and I wondered why I needed that for a secretarial position. It should have been what I chose to take if I wanted to go on to higher learning. It was difficult going to class and work, but the people I worked for were very understanding. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They tried to accommodate everyone; they had online classes, evening classes, day classes and even hybrid classes. I did not have a problem getting to my classes. Because of the flexibility of the classes, I took mostly online ones. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I was having problems with math, and they had a tutoring section where groups were allowed in the library to conduct study sessions. They had computer rooms where you could go and finish homework, do lessons and do research. I had access to instructors out of class time and even during class time, when questions could be asked. |
| Social Life | I did not participate in any organized social events. They did have field day, but because of my work, I did not attend. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | They do try and get you into an internship position and I was most grateful for this. I was out of work for a long time raising my children, so I was quite a mature student when I returned to school. Because of the internship, I was not as intimidated with going out to work as I thought I would be. |
Georgia State University • Atlanta, GA
Studying Business (completion in 2004)
• 10/5/2011
"I enjoyed my college experience. My degree is helpful to my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My degree has been helpful to my current career. It will also lend itself well to something new if I ever choose to change my current path. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My school's reputation is good for business majors. This institution is held in good regard. |
| Program Quality | 7 | GSU has a good business program. I rate it higher than average because it is one of the better schools to get this degree and the value is high, based on the cost of tuition. |
| Instruction | 7 | My degree helped prepare me for my current position. I also enjoyed the classroom and education experience there. |
| How Difficult | 5 | While academically challenging, I do not believe my workload was higher than average. My workload was fair and necessary for what I was being taught. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program had a fairly even mix of hands-on and book learning. However, it did tend to lean more towards book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The schedule flexibility available is wonderful. GSU is a school attended by people fresh out of high school who live on campus, as well as people who commute and only attend classes before/after the typical workday. There are many schedule options. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I have no complaints about the academic facilities and resources that were available. Most facilities were located in a centralized location, which was helpful. |
| Social Life | 5 | GSU is a city campus in the heart of downtown Atlanta. It is not the typical "college town" by any means. Also, the athletic department isn't much a focus at all. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school's job placement assistance and career services are helpful and readily available. Not all students take advantage of them, though. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There are alumni support and networking opportunities at my disposal; however, I have not taken advantage of them. It would be unfair for me to rank it anything above or below average. |
Troy University • Covington, GA
Studying Social Science (completion in 2010)
• 11/28/2011
"I am very satisfied with Troy University. I was able to gain a quality education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Troy University is a great school for non-traditional students. It allows individuals the flexibility of completing a degree while working. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Troy University's Social Science program has a great reputation. It was named one of the best colleges in the Southeastern region in 2009. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Troy was a wonderful university. I was able to complete my degree while working full-time. Troy gave me the opportunity to complete online courses as well courses in a traditional classroom. |
| Instruction | 8 | My instructors were very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. I feel that the courses has prepared me for a career change. I was able to learn through independent study and through peer interaction. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The academic workload was a bit of a challenge but manageable. Each course required a great deal of studying and independent research. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Troy University is a mixture of hands on learning and book learning. I was required to complete several projects that required a hands on approach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Troy University is extremely flexible. I had the choice of taking courses on line or in a classroom setting. Weekend and evening courses were also offered for working individuals. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Troy University has adequate resources for students. The professors were always accessible and willing to provide assistance. |
| Social Life | Troy University's Convington Campus is a satellite campus. Its main campus is located in Troy Alabama. Unfortunately, there were no organized social events. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Troy University's main campus offers an outstanding career services program. The program offers job placement services to students. It also hosts several job fairs each year. Career services also offers graduate school planning. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Troy University's alumni association is excellent. It offers social events, course audit opportunities, and various discounts. |
Georgia State University • Atlanta, GA
Studying German (completion in 2011)
• 12/12/2011
"Very satisfied with what I learned and my degree. Unsatisfied with my student loan debt."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Not a good school for striving administrative assistants. I would recommend it in other fields of study. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Best school in the Southeast US for German. Well-known teachers in the subjects. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school had an excellent foreign language program. My only problem is that the degree is not very useful in clerical work. |
| Instruction | 6 | Professors are excellent and well versed in their subjects. It lacks quality career preparation. |
| How Difficult | 6 | There was a moderate challenge in this program. However, since I enjoyed the subject matter, the challenge was not too great for me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Study abroad: very hands-on learning. Other major classes were book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Lots of evening classes. Freshman-level classes have a wide variety of timeslots. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Very large library, plenty of computer labs, plenty of study rooms. Sometimes professors were hard to get a hold of. |
| Social Life | 1 | Commuter campus makes it hard to do anything at school. I didn't participate in any of my school's activities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Nothing relevant to my studies or experience. Jobs offered through the career center are all technical and IT. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I get regular emails from my school's career center; however, the careers they offer are not relevant to my studies or experience. Alumni fees are too high. |
Seminole State School (Formally Seminole Community College) • Sanford, GA
Studying Business (completion in 2007)
• 1/7/2012
"I was very satisfied with SSC. I enjoyed the smaller class size and flexible class times. I have nothing negative to say about Seminole State School."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think others would enjoy going to school here, especially if they are working, parents, or older. There are a lot of options and have very affordable, flexible classes. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Seminole State is a great place to get an AA. It is one of the top growing schools in Central Florida. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school I went to was good in preparing me to be an executive administrative assistant. They offered many computer programs that I use on a day to day basis such as Word, Excel, Publisher, Adobe, QuickBooks etc. |
| Instruction | 8 | My classes were very informative and prepared me with the information I use on a day to day basis. I had intelligent, helpful instructors and the overall experience was good. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There are many other professions that are harder to learn than business. If you are the least bit computer savvy, then I feel most people can accomplish an AA degree in business. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Instructors at SSC used a mix of book to hands on learning. Of course all of my computer program courses were very hands on, but the basic classes such as Algebra and English only used books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | SSC offers many night, weekend, online classes. The only problem with class selection is that classes fill up fast because SSC has smaller class sizes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | SSC has full libraries and Students Success Centers at every campus. The Student Success Center offers free tutoring and has many helpful resources. |
| Social Life | 5 | While there are some clubs and on-campus activities, I found that it is harder to interact with other students. When I went there it was still a community college so most students were there to move on to a four year university. |
| Placement Services | 9 | SSC has many outlets for career placement. They offer you assistance in finding jobs with several career fairs, and the Student Career placement center. |
| Alumni Network | I have not seen a lot of Alumni information available. Besides a Facebook there is not much networking set up. |
South Georgia Technical College • Americus, GA
Studying Business And Office Technology (completion in 1989)
• 1/24/2012
"I am very satisfied with South Georgia Technical College. Additionally, I was elated about the job placement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think you should always share good experiences with others. South Georgia Technical College provided me with knowledge that I still use today. |
| Program Reputation | I graduated in 1989 and have no knowledge of the current reputation. I have not heard anything negative. | |
| Program Quality | 10 | South Georgia Technical College, along with my creative mind, prepared me for this career. I am very satisfied with my choice. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors did an excellent job. As a matter of fact, one of my instructors serves on the school board where I am employed. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I believe it was easy for me because this is what I was destined to do. The curriculum was not difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I am pretty much a hands-on person and enjoyed the classroom setting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Flexibility was not an interest to me at the time, since I was a full-time student. I would assume they offer online classes, which would allow flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I was able to access all the resources I needed. I used the library on-site quite often. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was able to meet people from surrounding counties. I actually ran into a young lady I attended school with last year. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I began working as a temporary employee during my third semester. This temporary job became permanent within two months. |
| Alumni Network | I've not pursued the alumni network or support. I am sure it exists; however, I am not active. |
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