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 Moraine Valley Community College, College of DuPage, Triton College, and Harper 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 Midstate College and Roosevelt University.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Midstate College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Saint Augustine College, Morton College, Prairie State, and South Suburban College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Wabash Valley College, John A Logan College, Frontier, and Saint Augustine College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Roosevelt University, Wabash Valley College, Danville Area Community College, and Black Hawk.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Roosevelt University.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Midstate College and Roosevelt University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Eastern Illinois University • Charleston, IL
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 1996)
• 8/10/2011
"I am satisfied with my education and my experiences there. I would only change the assistance/preparation for what is to come after graduation. They taught us, then booted us on to real life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think my school is one of the better ones around as far as education. The majority of teachers are great. The campus is fantastic. The buildings are interesting. The people are friendly. You can do a lot worse at other schools and pay more for it. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | From what I have read, the school's Education program is still going strong. It is known as being a Teacher's University. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school provided the instruction but not placement help after graduation. At the time, there was also limited help with resumes. |
| Instruction | 9 | My instructors were very knowledgeable. They helped immensely with class projects. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Nothing was what I would call difficult. I finished all assignments quickly. The rough part was the field work at various schools. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had some teachers who strictly followed the book and offered little discussion, while others always involved the students and seemed to use textbooks very little. The latter were usually the professors who had been there the longest. Newer teachers stuck to the books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They did provide summer and evening classes. The courses offered were not always what was needed. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | EIU had a great library. The computer/media departments were lacking, but I believe they have corrected that now. The labs and classrooms were conducive to learning. |
| Social Life | 6 | I did not participate in any extra-curriculars. The focus seemed to be mainly on fraternities/sororities and athletics. Occasionally, I did participate in class activities outside of the classroom. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Again, I am going off of the time that I was there. They made no attempt to make any help available. Finding a job after graduation was difficult, which is what led me to doing office work. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It has improved in the last decade, thanks to internet, email, and social networking. When I graduated, mail and phone calls were the only support and communication used. |
Northwestern University • Evanston, IL
Studying Creative Writing (completion in 2007)
• 8/11/2011
"I really never wanted it to end. My only complaint is with society, meaning that I could not get a teaching job with my degree right out of college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely. Some of the teachers are award-winning authors. The director is accessible, fun, and thoughtful. If the idea is to learn how to write, this is a great place to do it! |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The program was fairly new to Northwestern when I started. It also only offered an M.A. in creative writing, while the terminal degree is an M.F.A. Because of this it was not highly ranked. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Well, I went to school for creative writing. The program was run by well-known authors who were also quite skilled teachers. In addition, the community of writers in the program was a tight knit group. |
| Instruction | 8 | In the ways they could prepare us, they did. To teach in the university setting you need to publish, so the teachers tried to make us the best writers we could be to prepare us to go out into the world and publish. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program was time-intensive because we had to write our own work, read and assess the works of our classmates and also read published works. It was all quite enjoyable, which made it not seem difficult. The difficulty I had was with simply finding the necessary time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Writers learn to write by writing. That was the motto. While we did read the classics and other great writers, we were encouraged to write more than read. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | This was a continuing studies program, so most classes were offered in the evenings and in the summer. The core classes were offered every quarter so you could easily meet your requirements. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Northwestern has an amazing library with smart labs containing access to computers. The professors in our program were primarily working in other jobs during the day and taught classes here and there at night; while they were not always available on campus, they were very responsive on email. |
| Social Life | 7 | Because it was a continuing studies program, we came for class and then left quickly afterward. However, the community was close on email and every opportunity we got we met for drinks and talks about writing and literature. |
| Placement Services | 4 | It's difficult to find a position teaching creative writing before you've published. In addition to that, unless you have a wealthy spouse, it's difficult to simply be a full-time writer. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | While I haven't joined in the fun, a group of alumni from my area still meet regularly to have writing workshops. As well, the listserv I belong to sends out great information to alums about program news, job opportunities, and the like. |
University Of Southern Illinois - Carbondale • Carbondale, IL
Studying Workforce Education And Development (completion in 2010)
• 8/16/2011
"I was satisfied with the school that I attended. I felt that I had good instructors and support from the staff at our local office. I do wish that the main campus made more of an effort to develop a sense of inclusion for off-campus students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The program I attended was truly a degree completion program that would not be appropriate for younger learners or students straight out of high school. I feel that degrees that are more general in nature may make finding work easier, but my degree program required a lot of collaboration with others, the ability to do needs analysis, and develop proposals, all of which are skills that easily transfer into the workplace. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The master's program for my major is ranked number 6 in the nation, and our school has a great reputation for research. The only downfall, as I stated earlier, is that our major is very specific and it has been my experience that people don't really understand what the program is. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I feel that the classroom environment was very encouraging, but the work was still challenging. The program was small so a lot of individual attention was given to each student. The degree is somewhat specific, however, so after graduating it was a little difficult to obtain a job. |
| Instruction | 8 | For the most part the quality of instruction was very good. I think one of our instructors may have been experiencing burn out and gave everyone 'A's as a result. This was somewhat upsetting because grades should be based on merit. Aside from that one issue, I feel that there was a good transfer of knowledge in almost every class, and I feel that I was reasonably challenged in each class. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I don't feel that the material in the program was difficult to understand if the work was put in. The main challenge was finding time to complete assignments and finding a company to work with for my internship. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While there was a good amount of lecture and reading, we also did several things in a "hands-on" environment. Part of our degree requirement was two semesters of internships in which we developed and then taught a training course for adult learners. We also gave several presentations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | While the schedule is convenient (classes are held on the weekends and online), the schedule is not flexible. There are not options to attend on different days, and students are grouped into cycles. The cycles complete courses in a sequence that usually is not changed. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The classrooms have reasonable amenities such as projectors, internet access, white boards, flip chart holders, nice desks and chairs, etc. However, aside from online access to our library, there are no physical library resources. There are no study halls and the only time that the school is open to students is during class hours. |
| Social Life | 7 | In regards to social events, because the class sizes were small and cycled, students got to know each other very well. We often socialized outside of the classroom, and I attended several study sessions with other students. I have also kept in contact with other students as well. I feel that we were lacking in school spirit due in large part to our dislocation from the main campus. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There simply isn't a job placement program for off-campus students. Most of the students who take the off-campus degree program are already employed, but there are no services for those students who are not. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have heard good things about our alumni association, but I haven't been contacted by them or provided information in regards to the association because I attended classes at an off-campus location (I attended classes in Southern California). According to the alumni association, California has the highest population of SIU alumni outside of the state of Illinois, so you would think that their association would have more of a presence in this state, but I have yet to hear from them. |
North Central College • Naperville, IL
Studying Education (completion in 1998)
• 8/17/2011
"I was extremely satisfied with my college career and feel I came out with more knowledge in my content area, and in areas that were not part of my major, too. I was well prepared for the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe NCC is the perfect college for anyone pursuing a major in Education or the liberal arts. The outcome of graduating students is successful and students learn to the max. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | NCC is very popular in the US and is listed as one of the top 12 liberal arts schools to go to for an education degree. Since this was my major, it helped me a ton! People from all over come to NCC, including foreign exchange students that are studying abroad. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I majored in Music Education and performance with a minor in psychology and communications. I used my major as a full time music teacher, but I also am a full time Administrative Assistant to the Dept. Chair of Fine Arts, so I have a double duty job full time everyday. I find that college prepared me well for what I do everyday in my career. |
| Instruction | 10 | The college I went to prepared its students for the real world in the liberal arts, fine arts, and business. The instructors all had masters and Ph.D.'s in their fields and were very qualified to instruct the classes they taught. I feel the professors I had prepared me more for my career and in other real world necessities greatly. I came out of school ready to work and ready to take on what came with the job. I couldn't have been happier with my education. |
| How Difficult | 9 | My program was difficult due to the demands and course work involved to receive my degree. It was challenging but worth the hard work for the rewards of a successful career. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program I was enrolled in and graduated with my degree in was exceptionally wonderful. I believe I was extremely prepared for my career choices because of my education at NCC. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classes and course schedules were wonderful and flexible. Options for summer, winter, and interim courses are always offered and several sections of a class are also offered on different days and times of the week each semester to accommodate students' schedules. It's wonderful! |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | NCC has amazing educational facilities and is in a fabulous location. All buildings are up to date with technology and resources. |
| Social Life | 10 | My social experiences were wonderful at this college. I was involved in athletics, music, theatre, speech, the Future Business Leaders of America Club, and several other clubs and activities. NCC also has tons of parties, dances, and other social events for students to get involved with campus life. It's fabulous! |
| Placement Services | 10 | After graduating from NCC, I would say that they have an amazing job placement/career services dept. They are up to date with the most recent job postings and are constantly there to assist with resume writing, portfolio designs, and practice with interviewing if needed. Most people leave NCC with a job after graduation due to our amazing career services dept. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network and department are amazing at NCC! They use many methods to contact all alumni through e-mail, internet messages on the website, dept. e-mails from the actual dept. from which you received your degree, and newsletters via mail. All alumni are welcomed and feel like family. |
University Of Illinois At Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Human Resources (completion in 2009)
• 8/17/2011
"Go UIC! I love my school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Of course. I wouldn't be where I am without them. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I don't think we are know for our amazing Human Resource majors, but I hope I can change that. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school prepared me with the tools needed to succeed. I'm very confident in my abilities. |
| Instruction | 8 | Wonderful professors. I plan on getting my graduate degree at my alma mater also. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I have a knack for what I studied. Technical instruction came easily to me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's a very good mix between theories and experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Classes are very accessible for all types of people. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | It has some of the best campus facilities in Chicago. |
| Social Life | 8 | I made some of the best friends I will ever have in life. |
| Placement Services | 6 | There are plenty of opportunities to move up in this field. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have yet to really benefit from or utilize the alumni network. I was hired as an undergrad. |
Eastern Illinois University • Charleston, IL
Studying English/Journalism (completion in 1999)
• 9/10/2011
"The school was small enough to have a comfortable, close knit feeling, but large enough to offer a wide curriculum to students of different interests. I wouldn't change a thing about where I went to school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My career is completely unrelated to my degree. I am unsure there even is a program for Administrative Assistants. If there is, I would definitely recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Eastern Illinois University isn't really a school that is on the map. I enjoyed college there and believe I got an excellent education but as far as the reputation for producing writers, it is non-existent. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I loved my English program in college. The professors were friendly, open, and honest. They treated us like real people, and not just students. |
| Instruction | 3 | My degree has nothing to do with what I do for a living. My classes were more Utopian and idealistic--they didn't do much in the way of actually preparing for a career. There was a lot of writing, literature, and discussion of ideologies by writers. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was a lot of reading and writing. It was extremely time-consuming and, for the average person, difficult as the reading load was extremely high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my curriculum, my learning was strictly from books. A few journalism and photography classes were hands-on, but it was mostly reading literature, and writing about it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There are some evening classes, but no weekend classes that I am aware of. There are summer sessions available. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | My professors were always accessible when I needed them. They kept regular office hours, and were always available via phone or email if necessary. There were study groups which met often, and a huge library with a large selection of books and study materials. |
| Social Life | 10 | My school strongly encouraged joining fraternities or sororities. Even if you were not in a fraternity or sorority, there was still a place for you. Football games were a big deal, a lot of parties, and a close network of students whose dorms were close by. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I don't know anything about job placement from my school. I don't even know if they have career services assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I keep in touch with a few people who I went to college with, but mostly via Facebook. My school doesn't really have a strong alumni connection. |
SIUC • Carbondale, IL
Studying Workforce Education (completion in 2007)
• 9/8/2011
"SIU-Carbondale has a great reputation. The school accepts individuals of all different ethnicities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program is offered off site at different campuses. It is very flexible for the working man and woman. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The program is very popular with military. |
| Program Quality | 9 | SIU Carbondale is a great college. The program I was in showed me how important public speaking is in the workplace. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instruction helped me to be successful in my career. The experience that I have obtained has been great. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program itself was not difficult. The instructors made things very easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program I was in was very hands on. The hands on approach gave me useful real life experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The school is great in terms of class flexibility. All of my classes were on the weekends and online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | |
| Social Life | 9 | SIU Carbondale is known to be the party capital. I was too busy to attend any of the social events they had. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I have never used the job placement service. I hear they work very hard to make sure their students get placed. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Carbondale's alumni network works very hard at communicating with its past graduates. The alumni also makes sure that the past graduates support the school in every capacity. |
Joliet Junior College • Joliet, IL
Studying English (completion in 2012)
• 9/17/2011
"I picked it specifically because I was interested in the availability of classes. The support system and the ability to finish the course load in a good amount of time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend the school, the teachers are friendly and helpful. The classes provide some challenge but offer a comprehensive view of other careers. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Most people go for hands-on training, I don't know many who go for the arts. Most of the other students I've spoken to didn't know that there was an English major. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I think they have a great program with core classes needed to get to the next step. My school also provides writing support, homework support and study group sessions. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers at Joliet Junior College are very helpful, extremely interested in one-on-one assistance and some have been teaching for a long time. My Intro to Psych professor was awesome, providing us with great insight and lively debate on Psychology and Society today. |
| How Difficult | 9 | While I am taking a core group of classes needed to advance, each of the classes has been somewhat difficult. Because I am concentrating on a English Major it has helped somewhat with my writing and analyzing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | So far I've found that my professors like to teach more hands-on than not. In visual arts, painting and seeing first-hand what processes to follow during drawing, painting and sculpting is hugely beneficial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer tons of classes at all times of the day. I have the opposite problem with not being able to go to evening classes so there's a good amount offered during the daytime. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I'm not doing much in labs, I've yet to take anything that required more than a desk. Otherwise it looks like they are very well equipped. |
| Social Life | 2 | I don't really take part in any social events. Due to the lack of time and my regular full-time job I don't get to go to mixers often. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I believe they do a great job for those who need assistance with job placement. Personally I believe that most students who come here already know what their next step is. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I don't know much about the alumni groups. |
The University Of Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying History (completion in 2011)
• 9/29/2011
"I loved my entire college experience--I found it really fun and intellectually stimulating. It's hard for me criticize it, but I suppose it could have prepared me practically a little more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't think the University of Chicago is about preparing people to be administrative assistants. You will certainly be able to do that job quite well after graduation, but the school is preparing you better for a very different kind of career (or more likely for research/academia). |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The University of Chicago is a very well-reputed school, so that helps. My particular program is well regarded too, as we have a lot of prominent professors. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The professors were stellar, the courses were interesting, and the work was challenging. I enjoyed it a lot, and the only reason it's not a ten is that I feel like I could have been more prepared for the workforce or to pursue academia further. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers were brilliant and really made us know our discipline. Again, the only reason it's not a ten is that there was very little career preparation. |
| How Difficult | 10 | We engaged with difficult texts and were expected to write research-level papers by the end of college. My work was always challenging and interesting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The University of Chicago really explicitly emphasizes book learning and intellectualism over practicality. Mostly I like that, but it did make the transition to the workforce more difficult. If you really want a hands-on experience then you can construct one for yourself, but it takes effort. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | We offer some summer classes, but most classes are pretty set during the week during the day. I think some programs might have a more flexible schedule than mine did, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The University of Chicago has a stellar library, and lots of archives for historical research. Professors are very generous with their time, too. |
| Social Life | 10 | Our school isn't known for being much of a party or sports school, but it had a really wonderful social environment for me. My dorm was very close-knit, and I made some of the best friends I will ever have there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Our career placement website is pretty good, but doesn't have enough of a focus on procuring entry-level jobs. The people at career services are very helpful, but it's a large school and it can be hard to get enough attention. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have had a lot of trouble tapping into the alumni network, and it's unclear how I would. It might be fairly solid once you've connected to it, but I'm not sure how. |
University Of Illinois • Champaign, IL
Studying Speech Communication (completion in 2008)
• 9/20/2011
"I loved the social experience at U of I. However, I felt I could have gotten a little more bang for my buck in the academic aspect of it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wanted to pursue a liberal arts degree, I'd suggest a smaller, more intimate school. However, I've heard great things about U of I's business and engineering schools. Check it out if you want to major in one of those fields. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I haven't heard anyone raving about U of I's communications program. It is a good school in general so it looks good on a resume, but I don't think the communication program is that prestigious. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The Communication program at U of I was so-so. All of my classes were in run down buildings and taught by TAs. Overall I was not very impressed. |
| Instruction | 5 | Half of the classes were taught by TAs. U of I has a reputation as a research school, where professors don't really focus on the teaching aspect of education. Had I known that going in, I would have considered a different school. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The communication program was not too difficult. There was a fair amount of preparation involved for classes, but the material itself wasn't particularly challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was pretty hands on. We did a lot of speeches and forums, and I never found myself buried in a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My schedule at U of I was pleasantly flexible. There were a few larger courses that I had to take at a particular time, but other than that, I had free reign to put my semesters together as I saw fit. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The communication program at U of I seemed almost abysmally under-funded. All of my classes were in the most rundown building on campus. We had a library, but it was old and dusty. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social life at U of I was awesome. The parties were great, the students were friendly. Overall the social experience there was amazing. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I had no help from the school in finding a job upon graduation. They had a little department that was supposed to help, but it was rudimentary and not of any help to me. I had to find a job on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I heard that U of I had one of the biggest networks of alumni in the country. However, I haven't had much success taking advantage of this. Maybe it is the case with the business or engineering schools there, but I don't deal with any other communication alums. |
Loyola University Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Sociology And Women's Studies (completion in 2008)
• 9/20/2011
"I think I could have chosen a school that fit my personality better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I kind of fell into administrative work, it wasn't in my plan coming out of college. I think that my coursework did not directly help me in this career, but maybe indirectly through critical thinking skills, etc. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I think the program's reputation is doing fine. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do, so I did not get the full experience I think. |
| Instruction | 7 | This degree did not prepare me for my current position, but was a lot fun. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Sociology is what you make of it. What you get out of it all depends on what you put in. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Sociology is a real mix of book learning and hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I didn't take any evening or weekend classes, so I'm not sure, but I'd guess they are average. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The campus is undergoing construction now, so it is getting better, but when I went there, classrooms and such were okay. |
| Social Life | 7 | We don't really have enough school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I did not feel prepared for my career even after taking career and life planning courses. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Loyola doesn't seem to do much for its graduates |
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Fine Arts (completion in 1992)
• 10/4/2011
"I was satisfied with the art education I received. I am not sure it was my best choice as far as getting into a career I could really advance in, but I as a wife and mom to a teen son, I am content with my life as it is."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Art education is obviously kind of pointless for an administrative assistant. If one had aspirations of commercial or graphic art, SAIC would be a good choice. Administrative assistants would not need to spend so much money on their education. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | SAIC is one of the top art schools in the country. The museum itself is one of the most fantastic in the world. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My education had little-to-no training for my career. I am an artist in my spare time these days. |
| Instruction | 6 | Fine art training gives no real career training. If you happen to sell your work, that's wonderful, but most of us cannot make a living at it. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Art and art history were challenging and interesting. I am good at it and enjoyed the challenges. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I took many studio classes, which were certainly hands on. My history courses and other electives included textbooks. Some were typical, while others were challenging and a great complement to the lectures given. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | It has been many years since I attended school, but I never had any issues getting the classes I wanted or needed when I wanted or needed them. I am sure that in the last nearly twenty years, that has likely only improved. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Every area of discipline was top-notch, with state-of-the-art facilities. My instructors were among the best in their fields. |
| Social Life | We were moody young artists... no need for a cheerleading squad here. Chicago was a magnificent campus to get an education. I miss it. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I imagine one gets out of it what you put into it. I am not involved in my alumni program, but I receive publications and emails from them about what's going on. |
Northwestern University • Evanston, IL
Studying Environmental Sciences (completion in 2011)
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | There aren't enough classes in ecology for someone pursuing ecology to attend my school. I would recommend ecology majors go to a bigger state university or somewhere well known for their ecology programs. |
| Program Quality | 3 | There were no research professors in my major. I wish they offered more classes. |
| Instruction | 8 | I enjoyed most of my lectures. Even lab sections were usually interesting and fun. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Classes you would expect to be hard were hard (e.g., organic chemistry). However, I wrote my thesis in 2 days and did fine. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are few opportunities for hands-on learning besides lab sections for basic science classes. However, they do offer a few outdoor classes, such as Field Ecology. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | There aren't any online classes. There are also very few (if any) weekend options, and summer offerings are very limited as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The laboratory facilities are great. I'm not familiar with tutoring services. |
Northwestern University • Evanston, IL
Studying Performance Studies (completion in 2008)
• 10/17/2011
"For learning it was great. For getting a job/career that I'm happy with, not as much."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It is good for learning basic skills, but I wish I was further along in my career. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is very unique. There are only a few schools to offer this specialization. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school's program isn't really very related to my current administrative work. However, employers are often impressed that I went to that school so it helps get jobs. |
| Instruction | 8 | Northwestern is a large research institution so it is really geared towards that type of academic work. It is extremely rigorous and significantly improved my writing/typing/logic skills. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Northwestern is a difficult school in general and the professors expect you to contribute to their work. The workload was the equivalent of a full time job. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was very book oriented. We read a book a week per class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | To work with specific professors you have to work around their schedules. There are a lot of class offerings but specific ones aren't always available throughout the year. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Northwestern is one of the best equipped universities in the state. You work very closely with professors and administrative staff. |
| Social Life | 8 | In my particular area, the academics were so rigorous it was difficult to socialize too much. The undergrads partied like crazy, though. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The world of academia is waning so it is hard to find long term career options. They are helpful with administrative work, though. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Northwestern has a notoriously good networking system. Alumni are present in New York and across the country. |
Northern Illinois University • Dekalb, IL
Studying Political Science (completion in 2002)
• 10/6/2011
"I loved college. Northern gave me a great mix of academia with social growth."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If someone I knew was looking to go to a school for political science, I would absolutely recommend NIU. I really learned a lot and enjoyed it. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I think they have a very good Political Science program. Many of my classmates moved on to grad school and law school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Northern had a great political science program. I really enjoyed the classes they offered. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I feel like my workload in college was no more or less than anyone else's. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My major was mostly book learning, so I didn't have the opportunity to do very many things hands-on. I suppose if I had been in a different field, it may have been a different story. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was a traditional student when I went, so I didn't really explore too many other options. I did take a few night classes, so I think they were flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I think Northern did a great job in terms of the office hours for professors. I also think that the library and access to other media was top-notch. |
| Social Life | 9 | I was part of a sorority, so I really took part in the social aspect of college. It helped me meet many new friends and made me feel at home. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I recall they had a pretty good system to help undergrads find job opportunities. My first job was from a job fair that the college held. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I don't participate in any events, but I do receive emails from the alumni office. I think they really do try to keep alumni involved, but I live too far away to participate. |
Lake Land College • Mattoon, IL
Studying Administrative Assistant - Executive (completion in 1996)
• 10/7/2011
"I am very happy with the education I received at Lake Land College. In two years, I had my degree and joined the workforce, making a decent wage. I entered the 9-5 world of weekends off with paid holidays and benefits."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think Lake Land is a good school. A student can begin their education at Lake Land and later transfer to a four-year college if they desire. It is a good value for the money. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Lake Land's graduates were favored by employers in the area. Lake Land does a good job of educating their students in their field of work. |
| Program Quality | 8 | At the time I went to school, three semesters of shorthand were required and there was a lot of homework. Even though I passed all three semesters with an A, I have never used any shorthand in my career. I feel I could have done better in my other classes if not for all the shorthand homework. |
| Instruction | 10 | The faculty at Lake Land College was excellent. My advisor was well qualified and always there to answer any questions. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I enjoyed the classes and the workload. I averaged about 15 hours a semester, which worked out well. The most difficult class for me was accounting, but I did well in my other classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes I took leaned toward book learning. The only hands-on class I took was typing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | It was usually fairly easy to find classes that would fit your schedule. At the time I went to Lake Land, the internet was not widely used and online classes were not yet offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Lake Land has an excellent library and learning resources. I always felt that my advisor was readily available to help me. Tutoring services were also available. |
| Social Life | 5 | I enjoyed meeting new people in my classes. However, as a single working mother, I did not participate in sports or social events. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The placement center at Lake Land did a terrific job of helping students to land interviews with employers. They also helped students to polish up their resumes. |
Walden University • Chicago, IL
Studying Public Administration (completion in 2011)
• 11/3/2011
"I very much enjoyed my educational experience. It was something that I would recommend to others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I have been unable to find a job in my exact career setting but I hope to do so soon. Those that are already within the field will benefit most from this online program. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There are a lot of negative views regarding online education and this hurts the school's reputation. However, being accredited helps the school to prove it provides high quality education. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I enjoyed my classes and teachers. Also having the ability to work and take classes was enjoyable. |
| Instruction | 5 | The amount of information that I learned during my degree was great. However, career preparation was very minimal and I feel as if I did not gain any of it during my schooling. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Average time spent per week on a class was around 10 hours. There was a 3-4 page paper due every week and a class participation discussion as well due during the week; a lot of time needed to be dedicated to the program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was very little hands-on learning. The only hands-on learning was during discussions with other students during classes; all of the work was mainly out of books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | All of the classes are provided online for one to take on their own time. Also, when you do your work is completely up to you because the classes are open online 24/7. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are many different libraries for research work available to students. Also, all of these libraries are online so it makes it easier to get the information you need. |
| Social Life | 5 | There was very little socializing with other students and no student organizations to join. This could be because of the online school environment but there was no interaction between students. |
| Placement Services | 3 | There has been no job placement help at all at Walden. I have not received any career assistance or networking opportunities while attending school. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have not been contacted by any alumni association during my time at the school. I am unsure if there is any alumni network within the school. |
DeVry University • Downers Grove, IL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 11/1/2011
"Overall I was very satisfied with DeVry. I am considering pursuing another degree there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I definitely would recommend the school to other students looking to become administrators. It is a great school and the program is fantastic. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It has pretty good reputation. It is by no means the best school in the country but it is a great school and rated highly. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was comprehensive. The education I received was fantastic and the faculty members were great. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was very well prepared for my current job. If anything I am over qualified. I received a great education and the curriculum was extensive. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some courses were slightly challenging and the workload was at times pretty big. However, the professors were fantastic and helped a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the first semesters there is a lot of book learning, but as you take more advanced classes everything is definitely more hands on. This made the classes entertaining and engaging. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | There is some flexibility but some courses are only offered at certain times. I had no trouble graduating but I know people who had to stay an extra semester to get all the classes they needed. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities at DeVry are fantastic. The library is well stocked, computers are new, many buildings are brand new or have been renovated and support from study groups, tutors and professors were always fantastic. |
| Social Life | I wasn't involved in many social aspects so it is not fair of me to judge. | |
| Placement Services | 4 | Although the school does offer some job placement help, I found my current job by myself and didn't find the aid to be that great. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network and support were fantastic. There were tutors and after-hours help if needed at all times. |
University Of Illinois At Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Urban Planning And Policy (completion in 2010)
• 11/21/2011
"I felt very confident while in the program; however, the lack of job placement has created poor feelings towards my overall experience. I currently do not feel very connected to my program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on which concentration they plan to pursue. If they were interested in Economic Development or Transportation, then yes, I would recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | This is based on reviews I have read from previous attendees who praise some of our professors. The school is also in a prime location for the field. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school had strengths in some of the concentration areas of my program. As a student, you had to navigate through professors which you would hear from previous students were good. If you chose a poor professor, the classroom experience decreased significantly. |
| Instruction | 3 | There was very little policy. Real-world experience was hardly considered. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Due to the education level, the coursework was difficult. There was much analysis and much reading. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This really depended on the professor. Some brought in real-life work projects for us to work on. Others simply taught straight from the texts. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are classes available in the day and evening. However, there was very limited availability on weekends. Multiple professors taught the same courses each semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We had older drafting tables and computer equipment. The library is a very good size and is well stocked. |
| Social Life | 3 | There were a few events for my department, but most events were geared towards undergraduates. Because of this, many graduate students felt ostracized. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Job placement events were poorly attended by those who actually give jobs. Many of the attendees recruiting students were only trying to hire free interns. Beyond these events, career placement did not exist. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The alumni network exists, but it is so broad that the alumni tend to get lost. It could benefit from chapters to represent each field or college. |
College Of Dupage • Wheaton, IL
Studying (completion in 2010)
• 11/28/2011
"It is a good school for the money. They offer lots of courses."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I wouldn't think you need to go to school to become an assistant, perhaps land a job and get some experience and go to school for what you really want to be, Or just take extra classes to help you make it to the top. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It is a community college. They are not known to specialize in anything to my knowledge. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I don't have a problem with the school or any teachers, but I feel that the materials were somewhat outdated. Also, I think we should have learned more about business law. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers were very professional. The courses were behind the times. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was not difficult. I majored in Biology (BAS) and minored in Administration. It was an easy work load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had lots of hands on in Biology classes, but most classes were book learning. I really like hands on because it becomes textile. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | They have some flexibility with schedules and offer some courses online. I rated this average because most schools do. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Good amount of resources available to students. The library basically has everything you would need. |
| Social Life | 5 | It had clubs available. I was not in any nor did I go to parties. I live off campus at home and I was not at school for social reasons. |
| Placement Services | I have not used the service. I do remember there being a career counseling office. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I don't actually even hear from the school. I have never received a newsletter or alumni information. It is a very poor system. |
DePaul University • Chicago, IL
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2009)
• 11/27/2011
"Professors are famous in the field, and there were many opportunities available to meet their peers. On the other hand, nothing about the department organization seemed to have been designed with the well-being of the graduate students in mind."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | DePaul's philosophy program might have been a better fit for someone who had a stronger sense going into it of what exactly they wanted to do. It was not good for someone like me, who wanted to spend more time exploring than was allowed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The DePaul philosophy program is one of the five best in the country for the type of philosophy it does. It's reputation reflects this. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The philosophy program at DePaul produces very good scholars. On the other hand, it is an extremely political environment, which I found very unpleasant. |
| Instruction | 7 | The quality of instruction was very good, but the actual career preparation was sorely lacking. This is typical for graduate programs in the humanities. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Written work needed to be of publishable quality, and in addition to coursework students were required to do the work of teaching assistants. This, again, is typical for the humanities. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | One would expect a degree is philosophy to be very book learning oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | You had choices, but there were no summer, online or weekend classes. All classes were afternoon or evening, so you could TA during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Libraries were new and extensive. Computer labs were accessible, even to graduate students. |
| Social Life | As a graduate student, I didn't participate in any social activities organized by the university. I had a social life with other members of my department, but nothing that would have been considered school-organized. | |
| Placement Services | 2 | If you're having a hard time getting a job after defending your dissertation, you have to hide this from the community, or else you'll risk getting tarred with the brush of failure? (Perhaps you're getting a sense of why I don't work in the field anymore.) |
| Alumni Network | Because I left my program before completing the PhD, and because I am not working in my field, I don't have much contact with the department's alumni network. DePaul as a university contacts me frequently, but this is to donate money. |
Northern Illinois University • Dekalb, IL
Studying Anthropology And Southeast Asian Studies (completion in 2010)
• 11/29/2011
"I loved my major and don't regret it. I wish there was more career guidance."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what they are expecting or want to do with the degree. Not good if you want to travel. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Southeast Asian Studies is top 3 in the country. Anthropology is also highly rated. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I loved my major; it was very interesting. Career guidance was lacking. |
| Instruction | 7 | Anthropology really changed the way I think. I enjoyed it and my instructors, but there was little career preparation. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Analytically challenging and heavily research oriented. Heavy workload, but very interesting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Anthropology is very book based, since a lot of the studies involve inaccessible people and places. Teachers made it more hands on when they could. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | It was good if you only needed it once in a while. Bad if you were trying to rely on it. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Good selection, but the collections weren't centralized. Professors were very good about making time for you. |
| Social Life | 5 | I worked 35+ hours a week, so it was hard to be involved. Campus was heavily into sports, which I was not. |
| Placement Services | 4 | It varies department to department. General career services was very unhelpful. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Southeast Asian Studies works to stay in contact and support me. Anthropology does not. |
Southwestern Illinois College • Belleville, IL
Studying Psychology (completion in 2008)
• 12/5/2011
"I enjoy the atmosphere and I feel that I have learned a lot so far. I look forward to completing my bachelor's degree and learning even more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel that the structure of the curriculum could be a good fit for many types of individuals. The professors are supportive and understanding. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | This college was recommended to me by a friend who had received her degree from my school. She had nothing but high praise for the curriculum, and she received lucrative job offers after she graduated. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I have learned a great deal about dealing with others in general. In addition, I have had great professors who go the extra mile. |
| Instruction | 8 | My rating of 8 is based on my learning about different personality types and how to handle them. My major in psychology is actually quite unrelated to my current job as an administrative assistant, as I have gotten most of my work experience through my previous employment. |
| How Difficult | 10 | I have a full course load and I work full time as well. My current courses require a lot of essays and intense examinations. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My required classes, such as chemistry and physical education, are very hands on. The psychology classes intended for my major are very lecture oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I currently take 3 on-campus classes, 1 online class, and 1 weekend class. I consider this extremely flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My professors have made it known when they have office hours available to students, and all of the equipment we use in class is up to date technologically. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a working adult with a young child, I don't really have an abundance of time to devote to social activities. I am aware of and have participated in various fun, social events at school, but not many. |
| Placement Services | My friend utilized the job placement service. She was offered 3 lucrative, attractive offers. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I have professors who are always willing to help a student who needs it. There has never been a time when I needed assistance that I did not receive it upon asking. |
American Intercontinental University • Hoffman Estates, IL
Studying Marketing/Administration (completion in 2010)
• 12/17/2011
"Honestly, it makes me wonder why I went to school. I am not getting paid what I should be making, and I am in debt because of the student loans."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If it's a degree you're looking for, then yes; if it's experience, then no. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It's got a good reputation, but it has been in the news recently for negative issues. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My school needs to have more one-on-one relations with students. |
| Instruction | 3 | They did not provide me a lot of options/information about getting into the field. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program had its up and downs. It was very interesting, once completed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Not very accurate; they seem to stick to the books and have little in terms of hands-on classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They are extremely flexible and easy to work around. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They had good facilities and really did keep them clean. |
| Social Life | 4 | Not a lot of friendly people at this place. |
| Placement Services | 1 | No job placement was available. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There is very little alumni networking at this school. |
Loyola University Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Economics (BBA) (completion in 2011)
• 12/18/2011
"I spent 4 years and lots of money in order to be at a job that I could have gotten without a college degree. I am pretty unsatisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend college at all for anyone pursuing a career as an administrative assistant. I know that I am lucky to have a job, but I don't think having a college degree helped me get this one. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | LUC had a decent business school. However, they are bad at launching people's careers. |
| Program Quality | 2 | My school does not offer classes for administrative assistants. My school also did not do a good job of preparing me for a career I wanted. |
| Instruction | 3 | I was in the school of business, and the things that I learned did not apply to my job now. I basically got no skills from college that apply to my job now, except for Microsoft Excel. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was too hard, considering my job title now. I learned way more than I needed to know. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We mostly had tests after reading from our textbooks and having discussions about the material. Very infrequently did we have presentations or simulations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to organize my schedule basically how I wanted to. This was one of the great things about LUC. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Professors seemed disinterested in the students. My advisor made me retake a class on accident. |
| Social Life | 6 | There was a lot of school spirit. Our teams weren't very good, but they still had fans. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The jobs that LUC connects alumni with call for people with experience. I am not the only one who is working at an administrative assistant job despite having a college degree from LUC. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The school has a network for finding jobs. However, most of the jobs are for people who already have relevant work experience! |
College Of Lake County • Grayslake, IL
Studying Occupational Studies (completion in 2011)
• 1/2/2012
"I was wary about going there because it was a community college but it turned out to be great! Classes were cheaper and very flexible and that is just what I needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Depending on what they were looking to get into I would certainly recommend the school. I cannot think of any reason not to. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I never knew anyone who had previously gotten their degree there so it is hard to say. I never heard anything bad about the school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school was great! I learned every computer program that I have ever needed, and had a built in office to practice and learn in. It was very hands on. |
| Instruction | 10 | My teachers were great, but I don't think that it is such a hard course to take. Much of my degree involved independent or group learning. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I think that my job is pretty easy, but it changes day to day. There is always something new going on. The work itself is not hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes that I went to in person were very hands on. The only time I really did book work was through my online classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My number one reason for choosing the school was their flexibility. They have night and day classes as well as the option to take online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everyone was really great at our school as far as support went. The library, computer labs, and tutoring center were also great. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not partake in many activities. Also, it was a small community college, so I never heard too much about anything. |
| Placement Services | 10 | It was really easy to get a job through internships and our career placement center. They really tried to help everyone they could. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | It's average because half of my schooling was done online and I did not participate in many events. I heard it was excellent but that is all I know. |
DePaul University • Chicago, IL
Studying Sociology (completion in 2010)
• 1/3/2012
"It could have been better if there was a good support group to find a job after. It feels like a waste."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Depends on what you major in. As a liberal arts major, it is difficult to find a job. Business or IT would have a better experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | DePaul is known to have an amazing sociology program. They have very famous and well known professors. |
| Program Quality | 8 | DePaul had an excellent sociology program. They had amazing professors. |
| Instruction | 9 | DePaul provided me with all I needed to learn. However, when it came to preparing for a job, the professors were more interested in their work than their students. |
| How Difficult | 10 | There was a lot of writing and researching in the program. A lot of time was taken to write papers and present the final work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used a lot of books to learn. However, the school is becoming paperless. Electronic books and research papers were more accessible because the professors knew that the cost of books are too high. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | DePaul has classes at all hours of the day. They also have multiple classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facility is good. They are up to date with libraries, media and computer resources, laboratories and classroom space. They keep renovating each year. When it comes to finding professors it is very difficult. They have specific hours and sometimes are unavailable to their students. |
| Social Life | 8 | DePaul has amazing clubs, however they are all at night. They have basketball events at the all state arena. The students are very supportive of each other. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They do not care. After you graduate you are on your own. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The professors only care about their work. DePaul does not really help their students after they graduate. |
Loyola University Chicago • Chicago, IL
Studying Economics (completion in 2011)
• 12/18/2011
"I spent four years and lots of money to get a job that I could have gotten without a college degree. I am pretty unsatisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend college at all for anyone pursuing a career as an administrative assistant. I know that I am lucky to have a job, but I don't think having a college degree helped me get this one. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | LUC had a decent business school. However, they are bad at launching people's careers. |
| Program Quality | 2 | My school does not offer classes for administrative assistants. My school also did not do a good job of preparing me for a career I wanted. |
| Instruction | 3 | I was in the school of business, and the things that I learned did not apply to my job now. I basically got no skills from college that apply to my job now except for Microsoft Excel. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was too hard considering my job title now. I learned way more than I needed to know. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We mostly had tests after reading from our textbooks and having discussions about the material. Very infrequently did we have presentations or simulations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to organize my schedule how I wanted. This was one of the great things about LUC. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Professors seemed disinterested in the students. My advisor made me retake a class by accident. |
| Social Life | 6 | There was a lot of school spirit. Our teams weren't very good, but they still had fans. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The jobs that LUC connects alumni with call for people with experience. I am not the only one who is working at an administrative assistant job despite having a college degree from LUC. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The school has a network for finding jobs. However, most of the jobs are for people who already have relevant work experience. |
Lincoln Land Community College • Springfield, IL
Studying Science (completion in 2004)
• 1/30/2012
"I accomplished my main objective, which was to get my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Affordable place to get your associate's degree. Take advantage of the online classes. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | A good commuter school. Easily accessible from the interstate. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It's a good community college, but there is lots of room for growth. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instructors were not enthusiastic. Many instructors have been there too long. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Academic load was challenging. Plenty of work for a person who also works full-time. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There was a variety of times in day and night classes. Some classes are only offered once per calendar year. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Many offices to take advantage of. Learning center is great. |
| Social Life | 3 | Attended classes and left quickly. Not a place to hang out. |
| Placement Services | I was not placed by my school. I'm not sure if they do job placement. | |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I haven't received much in the lines of alumni materials. They are always asking for money. |
Kaplan University • Chicago, IL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2011)
• 1/22/2012
"I was satisfied with the school because of the flexibility. I was not satisfied with the price of the program and the loans I will be paying soon."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think price plays a big role in whether I would recommend this school to others. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I have not heard from others what they think about the program at Kaplan. The students that I met at graduation did not really say whether they liked it or hated it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was great and easy to complete online. However, I think it was too pricey. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors in the program were working professionals who taught on the side, so it was great to hear real-life scenarios when learning. The courses I took were online, so the instruction was limited. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some courses were difficult and some were a bit easy. I think it has to do with your time management and how you schedule yourself when it comes to online courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was online, so it could not be hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The main reason I chose this school was for the flexibility, so I can say that this school has great scheduling options. The track system is great for real life, because the 10-week semesters make it easy to schedule trips/work. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There is an online library for the school that was helpful with research projects. The other things are hard, because the school is online. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school was online, so social interaction was nonexistent. |
| Placement Services | 3 | There are no career services that I am aware of. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have not received a lot of support after graduating in August. I am a little disappointed, because I was under the impression that I would get career help once I graduated. |
University Of Illinois At Urban-Champaign • Urbana-Champaign, IL
Studying Political Science, Pre-Law (completion in 2010)
• 1/29/2012
"I received a very well-rounded education for the price of a public university and I found a secure job, so I am satisfied. I am not in any student debt either."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school was consistently rated in the top five for programs such as engineering and business. Therefore, I definitely recommend my school to others. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Numerous publications, such as Newsweek, have named my school as one of the top schools in the nation, so even if I don't have any personal data on hand for my school's reputation, I can say for sure that my degree has definitely made my job search easy. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I went to one of the best schools in my state. It is a highly rated school, even amongst other schools in the nation. The professors are all very knowledgeable, and a degree from the school allowed me to obtain a job relatively easily. |
| Instruction | 8 | I had a lot of internship opportunities offered to me while in school, so I think that's a big plus in gaining job skills. However, administrative assistance is not exactly a major you can do in a four-year college, so I still need to learn a lot while on the job. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Yahoo recently had a list of "most stressful schools," and my school was listed. However, I don't believe my major was nearly as stressful as many other majors, such as engineering. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I majored in social science, so there are not a lot of hands-on learning opportunities to begin with. However, the professors did their best for hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There were literally thousands of classes being offered from 8 am in the morning to 8 pm at night, along with the possibility of online learning. I would say it is extremely flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school receives millions of dollars in funding from the government, so they have the best resources. In fact, my school's library has a larger book collection than any other school in the country. |
| Social Life | 10 | My school is in the Big Ten Conference, the oldest Division I college athletic conference. We also consistently win awards for organized events, such as the Academic Buzzer Team, math team, etc. |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize any job placement services. However, other people I know who have used the services told me they had good experiences. | |
| Alumni Network | I left the city shortly after graduation, so I did not use any of the alumni resources. I did not care to join any alumni networks. |
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