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 College of Court Reporting, Ivy Tech Central Indiana, Ball State, and Ivy Tech Northeast.
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 Ball State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider College of Court Reporting.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Vincennes University, Ivy Tech Northwest, and Ivy Tech Central Indiana.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Ivy Tech Whitewater, Ivy Tech Kokomo, Ivy Tech Northcentral, and Ivy Tech Northwest.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of College of Court Reporting, Grace College and Theological Seminary, Ivy Tech South Central, and Vincennes University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Grace College and Theological Seminary, Ball State, and Vincennes University.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Ancilla and Ball State.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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ITT Technical Institute • Evansville, IN
Studying Computer Science (completion in 1976)
• 8/10/2011
"I was very satisfied with my overall program I completed at ITT Technical Institute. The textbook and practical hands-on learning gained led to excellent entry level jobs with competitive income potential."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | ITT Technical Institute offered me the training needed for the current technology standards in the '70s and '80s. Today they offer computer networking and security in addition to programming. I believe that anyone who considers ITT for training is making a wise choice. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | To my knowledge, I have experienced very positive feedback from recent graduates as well as students that are currently enrolled. |
| Program Quality | 9 | During the time I attended ITT Technical Institute, the school had a small enrollment. My class size was 20 people. I had more 1:1 time with the teacher, which was a great advantage and led to a very satisfying overall experience with the program. |
| Instruction | 9 | Academic instructors were excellent at the time I attended ITT Technical Institute. They were knowledgeable and had current jobs in the field of the course subjects they were teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | During my time in the program, I felt challenged in my studies, but I was so inspired by the course subject content and instructor support to want to do my best. The course offerings prepared me for many of the skills I would need in future job positions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school provided an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning with a mainframe computer and other equipment easily accessible in the building. If you learned something from textbooks in the day, you had ample time to put that into practice later that day in a lab or in the evening. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | At the time I attended ITT Technical Institute, only day classes were offered; however, the school now offers evening, weekend and online classes. The school now has a nursing program, business program, and other IT options available. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I had a tremendous amount of academic support while I was in attendance. There was ample availability for tutoring and professors made themselves accessible on a regular basis. I often met in study groups to compare notes and get support from my fellow students. |
| Social Life | 6 | With so few students, our school did not have many organized social events and did not offer athletic opportunities, but we had an awesome school spirit and frequent parties together. Our class seemed to have a great balance between learning and just getting together to have fun. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to work and gain on the job training at the school after my first year in attendance. I was also aware of other students in class finding job placement rather quickly. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Especially because of the small student size of the school during my enrollment, I feel that the alumni network and support was awesome. They followed up with me and guided me in job placement. |
Oakland City University • Bedford, IN
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2010)
• 8/11/2011
"The things that were positives for me really don't outweigh the negatives. I'm not super proud of my school, though I am thankful to have a degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | One class at Oakland CIty in the adult program costs about $1000. To finish an entire degree from the ground up, the bill would be well over $70,000. I'm sorry, but for a small country school, it's not worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'd say the school's programs are average at best. Many students leave with a degree, but also a lifetime of debt that may hurt more than help. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school was a very small satellite campus. The actual building was very old, technology was outdated, etc. The price for my education was very, very high here. I chose this school based on the proximity to my home and the accelerated evening format which allowed me to work during the day, but if I could do it over again, I'd switch schools. |
| Instruction | 7 | Most instructors at the school genuinely cared about their students. Rather than professional educators, they were professionals in their fields which really helped us get a feel for the "real world experience." I was able to take a lot of what I'd learned into my administrative job. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The accelerated format of my BSBA program was very difficult. The workload was very intense and the amount of material was just plain daunting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school is very hands-on in that the instructors bring real-world experience to the table. In the best classes, we did surveys, watched video clips, had roundtable discussions, etc. Limiting learning to what I read in a book was the worst way to learn. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Like most schools, there are options. The problem is, since the school is so small, if there aren't enough students signed up for the Tuesday 6pm class you really need, you may be out of luck. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The Bedford campus was in a poor state when I graduated in 2010. The building is old and smelled of mold/mildew. The classrooms were outdated and the technology seldom worked. Computer labs were few, and if they were occupied by classes, were not available to students. They rarely worked well anyway, with outdated Windows programs and software. The library was small, but the librarian was able to get books from anywhere in the state. Instructors were accessible usually via email in my program, so I didn't have a problem with that. Academic advising was a problem, because it seemed like everyone told you something different. |
| Social Life | 1 | The only social experience I had at OCUB was what I made myself after classes or in between. The daytime program had some activities going, but nothing that ever really included the evening program. Of course this is all changing since the school is currently under serious changes for the better! |
| Placement Services | 1 | To my knowledge, the campus I attended had zero opportunities for job placement. No career services department exists. I'm sure individual staff people would have helped via word of mouth, but there isn't a set program. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Oakland City (at least the Bedford campus) has zero support available for graduates needing help with anything. There is currently a lot of change being made in the school, and many alumni graduate and never look back. |
IUPUI Of Indianapolis • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Social Work (completion in 1998)
• 9/9/2011
"I was not satisfied that the school delivered the education and employment I was seeking. I am underemployed, over worked and feel that a very costly education (student loans that are unpaid) did not result in earning the annual $80,000 income I was projected to earn with this degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would suggest that others look at other fields and investigate what people in those fields are earning realistically. They should make a written comparative analysis of costs and benefits of social-work-related careers. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It has a good reputation as an accredited institution, but its job placement record is notoriously dismal. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The School of Social Work at IUPUI did not assist me with finding adequate employment upon graduation. I achieves a 3.9 GPA but finding employment that is compatible with my abilities was not part of the education process. |
| Instruction | 5 | The School of Social Work did not realistically prepare me for the job market in Indiana. The course work should have included on-site visits and experiential opportunities at viable work sites in Indiana. Professors should have also included job search techniques for the current world. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The technical and empirical work in statistics and research should have been taught with more tutorial assistance available to students. It should have not been left to students like me to assist my peers (without compensation). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were classes taught from books and our notes were about what we had read. Two practicums were hands-on, but were graded on a pass/fail scale. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | The schedule for the Master's Program for Social Work is fairly rigid. One must attend classes as set and quit any employment that interferes with your school schedule. This means that older students with families must be unemployed in order to complete their final year. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | There was a fair amount of difficulty getting tutorial help and having enough guidance by professors on difficult projects. Resources in the library were often in short supply or simply not available. This meant buying the references or guidance materials that professors instructed us to use. |
| Social Life | 1 | I was not able to participate in the social activities due to my school and work load. I was an adult parent returning to school and activities were a luxury I could not afford. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I did not receive any job placement or career services assistance before or after graduation. This makes me and some of my fellow students believe the school has no focus on assisting students in making successful transitions to worthwhile employment. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not received any networking advantages from my membership in the School of Social Work Alumni Association. There is no support coming from my alumni peers and attendance of events has not resulted in networking support. |
Indiana University Northwest • Gary, IN
Studying Education (completion in 2014)
• 9/19/2011
"I would have to say of the colleges around where I lived it was a decent school. I learned a lot while attending there and hope my experience with my new school, University of Illinois at Chicago, is just as enjoyable and productive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it to someone choosing between other local universities in the area. It is actually worth the thousands of dollars in student loans you are collecting while attending because you learn something. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Indiana University is a good school with a decent reputation. Some programs are better than others, just like most universities. It is a good place to attend. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was interesting to learn there and they have a great bookstore. The campus was easy to navigate and the teachers were insightful. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors were very involved with their teaching for the most part. They found creative ways to make learning an interaction that would make it easier to connect and remember. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I did a lot of note taking and individual reading, which for someone like me worked very well. The homework load was never too heavy but I was always busy studying. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The professors assign a lot of individual reading but get involved beyond that. Most of them find ways to interact and help us retain what we're learning so it's not just forgotten after a test. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to set up all my classes on the same two days of every week. None of the classes were too long and the summer courses were accelerated which was very helpful. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The resources were great, there were many programs available for the students. The only thing they really need to work on is the limited parking on campus with so many students. |
| Social Life | 6 | I did not pay to meet people at college, although there are some interesting students on this campus. Social aspects of the school have never interested me, although IUN does provide a number of social groups and clubs one can get involved in. |
| Placement Services | 6 | There is a career center and other programs and places to visit on campus that can help you with job placement and entering the workforce. There are also bulletin boards throughout campus with postings of local and school jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The alumni network and support is minimal. Certain staff take interest in certain students, but other than that the help isn't very sufficient. |
Ivy Tech State College • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Business Management (completion in 1990)
• 9/24/2011
"At the time I was satisfied with what I attained, however I wish I had gained more. I imagine if I were a student, currently, I'd be much more satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As with anything it requires determination and effort to achieve full benefits. I would suggest this school over most others. I'd include a disclaimer that it takes one to want "it" in order to achieve it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | In comparison to ten years ago the program has improved greatly. This is not to say it was a bad program prior to the current state. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I wasn't as involved with school activities as I should have been. I believe if one utilizes everything offered, or at best, as much as possible available at their fingertips doors will open for more experience and pleasure in what they are doing. |
| Instruction | 7 | For the most part the classes were as expected: created so that one could receive basic knowledge in their field to prepare them for the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program was simple, nothing too mind-boggling. However, this was over ten years ago when academia didn't require as much as it does now to advance on a career path. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school has progressed and pulled away from being so "book" oriented. During the time I was a student, books were the most significant part of our academic progress. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | At the time, as a new mom the flexibility offered was perfect. Saturday and evening classes are an option to accommodate parents and others in the work force. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Ten years ago the facility was much smaller and resources were not as accessible as they are now. Since then more classrooms and additional buildings have been added along with a broader campus with more space for residents. |
| Social Life | 3 | If I'd gotten more involved I imagine my social experience would have been much better. With its current state the school has gained notoriety and has been recognized for its involvement in many statewide activities and social functions. |
| Placement Services | 7 | One thing that is and was significant is the effort put forth to provide employment for students prior to completion. Unfortunately, with the current economic state it is a bit more difficult to place students. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I can't say there was no support, but it was not much more than expected. I feel that private facilities have a stronger network and support channel. |
Kaplan University • South Bend, IN
Studying Medical Transcription (completion in 2013)
• 9/26/2011
"I really enjoy the classes and the professors and the learning. I really hate how costly it is to go to school here."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As long as they understand how much it costs, I would gladly recommend the school because of the flexibility. Also, the degrees and backgrounds of the professors are excellent. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The program was very flexible, but it was way too expensive. |
| Instruction | 8 | |
| How Difficult | 8 | I was taught the same as if I was actually in class. The professors were helpful but stern. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We use the books more than we do hands on activities because the program's online. The professors do go over things during the seminars. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very flexible given that it's online. They do flex seminars. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The online library and resources are available at all times. They also have online tutors and several ways to speak to your professors and classmates. |
| Social Life | 6 | They require us to interact with each other by making us comment on other classmate's posts. They also have us talk during the seminars to each other and the professor. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They are supposed to help me with that when I graduate. So, I will find out when it comes time. |
Indiana University At Bloomington • Bloomington, IN
Studying Accounting And Finance (completion in 2011)
• 10/2/2011
"I am definitely satisfied with the education I received and their resources. But the location of the school is very isolated from the big city, so you feel you are trapped."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Our school has a great alumni network and a great career center that really helps you prepare for your career. Also, our curriculum is well structured and better than many other business schools in the nation. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It's ranked in the nation's top 20, so it is pretty well known by business students and some non-businesspeople as well. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Our school's business program really promotes team-oriented attitude. Also, our program is well-structured and organized. It really helped me understand the real world before I stepped into it. |
| Instruction | 7 | Our program included a course on career planning and preparation. In that class, we learned how to prepare for a career (resume, cover letter, behavior, and how to interview) and we also had a great career center that helped me. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Our business school has a course on computer programming that other business schools don't have, and this is something our school takes pride in. It's really tough, but helps us stand out among other competitors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | One of our school's goals is to provide hands-on experience to the students. So when the professors give out projects, they try to make the settings like real-world work environment and emphasize teamwork. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school tries not to have classes on Fridays. It also has a lot of business courses during summers to help student graduate early or satisfy requirements. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | It seems like our school invested a good amount of money in our facility, especially the graduate school building, which is amazing. |
| Social Life | 7 | Although our school doesn't have a great sports team, we had amazing school spirit. We are well known for frat parties and bars. So overall, a great social experience. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Our program is very rigorous and includes a computer programming class that will help us in our career and help us stand out among others. So it contributes to good job placement rating. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | We have a website dedicated to the alumni network. I know that our school has produced a great number of businessmen that are influential. |
Indiana University • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Liberal Arts In Humanities (completion in 1977)
• 10/19/2011
"I felt the school gave adequate academic preparation and skill set knowledge. But, the connection to the business community was not strong enough to provide a link to work placement after graduation. More job preparation was needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Prospective students would get a good business education and skills for administrative business jobs. But, I would caution them to consider work placement success records in comparison to other business colleges in the area. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Indiana University has a satisfactory reputation in the business community in Indianapolis. It is also looked upon favorably by the local chamber of commerce in our community. |
| Program Quality | 3 | Indiana University should provide more realistic information on work opportunities available for administrative assistants in the Indiana area. The University should also provide more job placement assistance. |
| Instruction | 5 | The necessary business courses were provided. The necessary skill set for business was also provided. But, more networking opportunities and practicums would help prepare students to enter the work arena in Indianapolis. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload and academic challenge of business courses were challenging. The skill preparation and business area specialization was quite informative and targeted to my field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Indiana University should have increased its real world connections with hands-on learning opportunities for students in the business community of Indianapolis. This would have provided a stronger job search link after graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were adult class options for evening, weekend, and summer school. There were no online classes available at the time I was in the program. I think it kept up with the schedule flexibility trends at the time. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | All study resources and supports in the form of research, libraries, tutors, media, computer labs, and laboratories were available to me. The professors and advisors were available and helpful upon request and regularly scheduled appointments for assistance. |
| Social Life | 3 | There were sporting and social events while I attended Indiana University. But, I was not able to attend any due to raising a family and struggling with part time work. Therefore, I was not aware of the social scene. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Indiana University has a job placement service available to students and alumni. It did help with work study placement while I was in school, but was not effective in helping me find a job after graduation. I developed my own networking and leveraging opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There are alumni letters sent with info about events and newsletters. But, it costs more than I can afford on my current salary to join the alumni association. Therefore, I have not been able to take advantage of any networking or support from that venue. |
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne • Fort Wayne, IN
Studying Women's Studies (completion in 2001)
• 10/6/2011
"I was satisfied with my experience. My only regret is not going away to college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | IPFW is a great school that is reasonably priced. The location is good, with Fort Wayne being a great town to live in. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | IPFW's reputation of Women's Studies is decent. I don't know that there are many in the state, so it may be one of just a few. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I thoroughly enjoyed the women's studies program. |
| Instruction | 9 | Great professors who were well qualified, friendly and attentive. |
| How Difficult | 5 | My program of study wasn't really challenging at all. Interesting, but not challenging for me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My line of study doesn't allow for much hands-on work. That being said, I did have the opportunity to participate in an internship my senior year, and that proved invaluable. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I never had trouble getting the class schedule I wanted or needed. Scheduling at IPFW was quick and easy. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The WOST department at IPFW had an extensive collection of resources available to students. Materials covered a broad range of topics and were readily available. |
| Social Life | 5 | I wasn't involved in any extracurricular activities, clubs, etc., but I know there were many on campus. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use their services and haven't heard much about them. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have yet to be contacted by the alumni group, and I graduated 11 years ago. |
Brown Mackie College • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Business Management (completion in 2011)
• 11/4/2011
"There were some pros and cons. I like the accelerated learning and the more independent studying. I would have take more time to look into a program with a better reputation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My recommendation would depend on what the student needed to suit their needs. This is a great school if you're looking for flexibility and independency, not so good if they are need more one on one learning. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I believe the Business program is average. Their reputation is better in Nursing and Criminal Justice. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I am somewhat satisfied in the program. Some classes I would have liked to be a little longer. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot when it came to career preparation. The quality of some of the classes could have been a little better. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I considered the academic challenge to be easy because I chose a field I am interested in. The work load was suitable for my time schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We mainly did book work. Some specific classes did offer hands on but a majority was book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They have great flexibility, offering morning, afternoon, and evening classes. They're lacking in online classes in spite of the increased popularity. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school does have good resources, such as tutoring and computer resources. The one thing they should offer is study group support which would be very helpful for students. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not have the opportunity to join any extracurricular activities due to work and home life. I mainly socialize during class meetings. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Career services is very helpful in offering leads and resume building. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | This school does not have a very good alumni network. The graduation rate at the school is not very high. |
IUPUI • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Business (completion in 1982)
• 12/1/2011
"Overall, I'd say my experience was satisfactory. I'm sure there is room for improvement; however, I enjoyed my years there. I am satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe IUPUI is a good alternative for people that don't/can't go to a big league school. IUPUI offers just as much education as any other college, so yes, I'd recommend this school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The business school is rated very good as far as reputation. I chose IUPUI because of its reputation. |
| Program Quality | 9 | IUPUI prepared me for my career choice. I feel the business school is one of the best in the country. |
| Instruction | 9 | Loved my instructors. Each one took the time and effort to prepare all the students for their careers. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There is not really an academic challenge to being a secretary. The workload in business is average at best for challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My experience was more book learning as opposed to hands on. I did miss the more hands-on experience my friends experienced. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Classes seemed to be flexible for me. I went evenings and found the schedule to be the best for my situation. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities and resources available to students are very good. I spent many evenings in the library and media center, and I feel I had a good experience. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school is not really known for spirit and organized social events. I did not partake in any of the parties or athletic events there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I don't feel that the school's job placement is any more than average. They certainly don't get out there and apply for you. |
| Alumni Network | Not involved in the alumni network. |
Ball State University • Muncie, IN
Studying English Teacher (completion in 2005)
• 12/6/2011
"I am completely satisfied with my school. My experience there was positive and helpful in my learning to be a teacher."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe Ball State has an excellent teaching program. They stay up to date with the current standards for both students and teachers alike, and they offer much-needed guidance in this ever-growing field. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Ball State's Teacher Prep program was the best in the state when I went there. That was why I chose this university. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My university was very student oriented. They worked very hard at helping students earn their degrees. |
| Instruction | 10 | Over the past 4 years, I have learned a lot about how to deal with all types of people and how to anticipate their needs. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I would say my work/study load was about average. I finished within 4 years, so I stayed on track with the program and it wasn't too hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think Ball State did an excellent job of intertwining the two. In most classes, they required both a book report and a "learning experience/field experience" type situation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I went to school as a traditional student, and the scheduling seemed fine to me. I did not know much about alternative scheduling at the time I went to college. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | At the time I went to college, the technology services age was just starting to boom -- I would say they provided excellent services for the times. |
| Social Life | 5 | I would say the social aspect was about the same as it would be in any college. Our sports teams weren't the greatest, so there was not that heightened college team hype, but the other social aspects were about average. |
| Placement Services | I did not use the career center/job placement services to find a job. | |
| Alumni Network | 6 | The alumni network tries to reach out for sponsorships at least 4 times a year. They also do a good job of keeping us informed on things that are going on. They are not overbearing. |
Indiana Business College • Terre Haute, IN
Studying Office Specialties (completion in 1994)
• 12/29/2011
"IBC was a good school to go to for my degree. I think they are a bit above others in this area."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others, and I actually have. My daughter also went there. This school specializes in administrative jobs, as well as jobs in the healthcare field. You don't have to go through all the extra, nonessential classes, like you would at a regular 4-year college. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | IBC's reputation regarding administrative schooling is excellent. They are known throughout the state. |
| Program Quality | 9 | IBC's program was very easy for me to complete. They offered an 18-month course, and I was able to complete this degree at night while working at another job. |
| Instruction | 9 | All the professors at IBC were excellent. They all took the time to help you learn the subject that they were teaching. |
| How Difficult | 5 | This program was typical, in my opinion, of other administrative assistant programs around. The workload was manageable and the challenge was average. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It depended on the course you were taking. Some classes were very hands on, while others required the use of books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I had a very flexible schedule. I went to school at night. They also offer daytime and online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | IBC recently built a new building. I did not go to that location, but the location that I utilized had all the resources needed to do any work necessary. |
| Social Life | I took night classes. There weren't any social events. | |
| Placement Services | I do not have any knowledge of this program, as I did not utilize it. | |
| Alumni Network | I do not have any knowledge of this program. I have not taken advantage of it. |
Purdue University • West Lafayette, IN
Studying Mechanical Engineering (completion in 2013)
• 12/20/2011
"I am really satisfied with my school and I am glad to be a boilermaker."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is one of the best schools for engineering. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The current reputation of Purdue is 4th best in engineering according to some of the academic sites. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Purdue is one of the best schools for Mechanical Engineering. |
| Instruction | 8 | It is one of the best universities for engineering. They spend considerable time on career preparation and professionalism. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Considering Purdue's ranking, the program is hard with many courses designed to challenge and weed out unmotivated students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Purdue gives as much preference to hands on as to theoretical learning with labs pertaining to engineering. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Considering they have a vast student body, they strive to maintain class schedule flexibility. The students make their own schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Purdue has a vast campus and a lot of resources. |
| Social Life | 7 | Considering the huge student body the social experience at Purdue is unique. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Purdue has many career fairs and career service assistance for its student body. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Purdue is one of the oldest and best schools, therefore the Alumni network is huge and strong. |
Bethel College • Mishawaka, IN
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2011)
• 1/20/2012
"I loved my experience at Bethel. I went full-time for three years in the evenings and during every summer until I graduated. I am now looking into their master's degree programs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Of course! They have much to offer anyone willing to learn. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Bethel College was ranked higher than St. Mary's College, the sister college of Notre Dame University. They offer excellent programs. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I went back to college as a nontraditional student. I chose Bethel College because they offer a solid program and it's also a Christian college; for me, that was important. |
| Instruction | 10 | As a liberal arts major, I received a bit of everything. I felt the curriculum and standards of the school met my expectations and then some. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I graduated with honors and I really enjoyed the challenge. I didn't think I could do it, since I'd been out of school for so many years. Bethel has high expectations of all its students, but they give you the tools necessary to succeed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Bethel has high expectations. You do the work and make the grade. The professors are willing to work with you to make sure you succeed. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Bethel offers online courses, weekend classes, day classes and evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I felt that my professors were accessible. Tutoring was free to all. They had a very nice library, and because we attended, Notre Dame University allows every Bethel student to use their libraries and facilities as well. This was a big plus to me. |
| Social Life | I didn't join the extracurricular activities. | |
| Placement Services | I was already employed, so I didn't need these services. | |
| Alumni Network | I just graduated in May of 2011. I haven't been an alum long enough to make a judgment about their alumni network. |
University Of Notre Dame • South Bend, IN
Studying Civil Engineering (completion in 2011)
• 1/24/2012
"Really good experience. I learned a lot, although I think I still have more to learn every day, which I do!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Great school, great development and professionalism that I feel helps you in life. Good reputation as a university. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It's an Ivy League school, and it's a great engineering and architecture school. Large amount of students. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I'm fairly satisfied. There were really dedicated professors. Some of the professors knew our names, and we had a really big class. Some professors just didn't seem to care, though; they seemed more interested in their own studies. |
| Instruction | 7 | Pretty good. Learned more than I thought. It wasn't until I joined my current job that I realized I learned a lot, even just about organizations and professionalism. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Fairly hard. Lots of hours, study hours, essays, everything you can imagine! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of bookwork, but a lot of drawing on CAD, surveying, and more hands-on experience. | |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Some good, some bad. Great library, resources, classroom space. Some lecturers were hard to contact, which was annoying. |
| Social Life | 8 | Really good. Great social atmosphere. Lots of things to do all the time! |
| Placement Services | 4 | Didn't really get any help. Maybe if I had asked, but I didn't. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Always sending brochures about football and the alumni association. Interested in their students. |
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