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 The Community College of Baltimore County, Prince George's Community College, Howard Community College, and Carroll Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Prince George's Community College, Howard Community College, The Community College of Baltimore County, and College of Southern Maryland.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Southern Maryland, Carroll Community College, Hagerstown Community College, and Harford Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Washington Adventist, Allegany, Hagerstown Community College, and Baltimore City Community College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Washington Adventist and Allegany.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Washington Adventist and Allegany.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
University Of Maryland • College Park, MD
Studying Spanish (completion in 2003)
• 8/10/2011
"It was a local school that provided a top notch education on the in-state school price. I recommend it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It would depend on their finances. The school has increased their prices over the years and it's not as affordable as it once was. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't hear much about my school's program. You have to do a search to find out more information. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The Spanish program at my school did a fair job. It did not prepare me much for the real world, though. |
| Instruction | 5 | Most of the instructors came from other countries and were on visas. They should have had a class that focused on language careers. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Trying to understanding the accents made lectures difficult. They should have had a class on understanding different pronunciations from instructors from different countries! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For language study, it was mostly done hands on in the classroom. However, we should have done more things in the community since we had neighborhoods in the area that spoke spanish. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Most classes are held during the day and none at night. You have to be a full time student in order to take classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Some of the instructors cared but most didn't. They were available after class but most expected you to be experts. |
| Social Life | 5 | Maryland tried to get you engaged as much as possible with the school. It was the student's choice not to take apart. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There are no career services for the language department. Due to all the budget cuts, my school was one that was effected by it. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni network. You are completely on your own. |
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore • Princess Anne, MD
Studying BS In Business Admin And MS In Computer Science (completion in 2000)
• 8/10/2011
"A-Plus Rating. The skills I learned will last me a lifetime."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I am an active participant in guiding others to this institution. I can truly say it is like home. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is one of America's top small colleges. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Excellent curriculum, faculty, etc. |
| Instruction | 10 | I left with many new skills, and I was able to utilize the business skills I learned in high school. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I found accounting to be difficult, but that was about it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Both hands on and book learning were well utilized. Field trips, lectures, audio visual, and computerized instruction were integrated into the program. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There was never a problem with enrolling in classes or with a lack of space. Registration was always smooth. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Well maintained and supported. Flexible hours. |
| Social Life | 10 | There was a wide range of social activities available. Many guests were invited to the university to give lectures, etc. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not take advantage of job placement or career services at the end of my undergraduate degree. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They're very active in fundraising and in running programs for youth. |
Montgomery College • Rockville, MD
Studying General Studies (completion in 2003)
• 8/11/2011
"I received exactly what I expected to receive from my school. They gave me exactly what I paid for."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would likely recommend the school itself. I would not be likely to recommend my course of study, however, unless the person taking it planned to apply it to a 4 year degree program. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | On average, the school I attended does not have an extraordinary reputation. Furthermore, I chose a course of study that mainly focused on meeting the prerequisites for other degree programs so having a degree in General Studies is not considered to be an extremely valuable tool in seeking employment. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I had a wide variety of classes to choose from. Most of my professors were knowledgeable and effective and the tuition was not very expensive. |
| Instruction | 5 | Only a couple of my classes prepared me for actually employment situations which is why I didn't rate the quality of the instruction higher. I learned a lot of things that are interesting to me personally, however, which is why I did not rate the quality any lower. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I was able to achieve high marks in my classes without putting forth excessive effort. The courses were not overly challenging and the workload was relatively low. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the material we were expected to master was available either in the textbooks or in supplemental reading materials. I did not participate in very much hands on learning at all. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | When I attended there were many day, evening and online options available. Many classes were only offered during the daytime, however. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school provided excellent computer labs, gym and workout facilities and an extensive, well maintained library. The professors I studied under were all extremely accessible by e-mail, phone or after class. There was more than adequate classroom space. I did not make use of tutoring or group study programs although both were available. |
| Social Life | 2 | I did not participate in any organized school events. Not many were available to those who did not belong to a club or participate in the athletic program. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not make use of job placement or career services personally as I kept the same job in Maryland that I worked while I was going to school and did not begin searching for a career until after I moved to Montana. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not participate in any alumni activities so I am unable to comment on that directly. As far as support goes, the one time I needed to request a copy of my transcripts I was able to do so with limited difficulty. |
Frederick Community College • Frederick, MD
Studying General Studies (completion in 2012)
• 8/14/2011
"I am very satisfied with this school. It is in a good location for me. I also enjoy the classroom environment there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school impresses me in all regards. It is easy to navigate through the administrative tasks -- enrollment, payment of tuition, advisement, etc. It is a nice size campus with very good facilities. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Frederick Community College is well ranked. My major is very general and difficult to rank. However, I have attended many schools around the country due to moving frequently, and I am enjoying my courses very much. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I have enjoyed the classes I have taken. I have been fortunate to have excellent professors. I have also completed the certification as a Veterinary Assistant. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Although the topics have been extremely interesting, there is a lot of reading. Additionally, I have had some courses that require a great deal of writing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It does offer a very good mixture of the two. There are book resources required along with in-class and out-of-class activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Because I work I require a flexible college schedule. I have found that I am able to fulfill my course requirements without difficulty in terms of scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school offers good resources. Their library is very good. They also offer a wonderful writing center. |
| Social Life | 9 | I am at an age where I am not personally interested in the social activities. I do know that the school always has activities occurring for the student body. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I cannot really provide a fair ranking in this category. I already have a job and have not had occasion to use the school services. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Instructors are available through networking. I have not really availed myself of this but I find it encouraging. |
University Of Maryland • College Park, MD
Studying Marketing (completion in 2006)
• 8/16/2011
"I have VERY happy memories of being at University of Maryland and would go back in a heartbeat. Going to school there were the best 4 years of my life (so far)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Maryland works very hard to be a leading business school in terms of rankings, programs, and technology. They always have new programs and cutting edge things that are making headlines. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My school was ranked in the top 35 business schools in the country. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school offered tons of programs to prepare you for the business world including interview courses and practice, resume and business writing help, and other career building-type classes or workshops. |
| Instruction | 9 | All of my teachers had a lot of experience working in their fields and could answer lots of questions. They tried and usually succeeded in making the course materials relevant to things we would experience in the workplace. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I remember doing a lot of book learning, but occasionally we had to do research projects or real-life projects that involved interviewing people outside the school, visiting places outside the town, or other activities that made the curriculum interesting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I went as a full-time undergraduate so I wasn't really aware of other options for undergraduate students. I know for grad students they have lots of options, but I think undergrad students were a little more limited. It could be different now. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school had a brand new building with all brand new technology and it looked VERY hi-tech and fancy. It was very posh. |
| Social Life | 8 | My school had a fairly busy social network with tons of clubs, organizations, greek events, and more. There was always something fun going on and there was no shortage of free food. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The school did a great job of marketing their services and connecting them (i.e. forcing you to use them) to coursework. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | My alumni network seems to have a lot of events and programs but they should've done a better job to get you involved and connected when you were just out the door. I feel like I've been away too long to feel comfortable attending any of their events. |
University Of Maryland • Adelphi, MD
Studying English (completion in 2009)
• 9/20/2011
"I was very pleased with my educational experience. I only regret that no one explained the concept of "graded vs. pass/fail" until it was too late."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The quality of education I received at the University of Maryland gave me the skills I needed to succeed across the spectrum of available industries. As an administrative professional, the ability to be flexible and adaptable are the most important factors in terms of employability. The ability to communicate effectively is the key to being a success in this field. As one employer put it to me "We would rather hire someone who is articulate and trainable than someone who is an expert out of the box, but can't write to save themselves." |
| Program Reputation | 7 | English is a fairly uncommon major in today's world. Most students pursue specialty degrees or "first professional" degrees that lead to employment in a specific field. I felt that having a technically-focused English degree would enable me to enter into any industry, as every employer needs strong communicators. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I majored in English, with an emphasis on business and technical writing. As an administrative professional, my ability to communicate in an accurate, concise manner has proven invaluable. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors I had at the University of Maryland were all experienced professionals in their fields. I felt that I gained more from their experience-based instruction than I would have in a pure business-oriented course. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Most classes required weekly short essays, in addition to regular formal papers. Each course demanded demonstrated expertise of not only the relevant subject matter, but also a clear command of the English language. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program focused more on demonstrated ability and comprehension than on rote knowledge. A large part of most classes was the ability to use all of the resources to demonstrate innate understanding of concepts as opposed to reciting memorized facts from a textbook. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The majority of my coursework was internet-based, focusing more on my ability to communicate than my ability to attend class on time. As a result, I was able to attend school on my own terms as my schedule allowed. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | My school's academic facilities were excellent. I had access to all of the University of Maryland system's resources, both physical and virtual, throughout my education. |
| Social Life | 4 | As an adult student, I was less interested in social opportunities than I was in academics. I joined two honor societies in my last year, but did not generally choose to socialize on campus. |
| Placement Services | 7 | My school provides a number of career placement services, however I have not used them. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | My school has an active alumni network and just prior to graduation I was encouraged to join. I did send my information to them, but have not been very active in keeping up with them. |
University Of Maryland • College Park, MD
Studying Government & Politics (completion in 2009)
• 9/19/2011
"I was extremely satisfied with my school. I gained a well-rounded education in government and politics, and I enjoyed the atmosphere and activities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school provided so many activities and opportunities that I would certainly recommend it for others pursuing my career. I received a great education while having the time of my life, and I feel that others would too. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My school's Political Science program was very highly regarded. So many students applied that enrollment was limited to exceptional students. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school was located very close to Washington, D.C., so there were ample opportunities for internships and campaign experience. My professors were all very passionate about their subject, and government officials and political candidates spoke on campus often. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were excellent at conveying both the theory behind politics and practical information that proved useful in my internship and campaign work. I gained a well-rounded education and have skills that prepared me for work in a variety of fields. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I took a heavy course load with a focus on reading and writing, gaining lots of experience through research each semester. I rated this a six because while political science is complex and fascinating, it is not a hard science or something very technical like engineering. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My school had a good mix of hands-on and book learning. I was encouraged to complete internships where I gained real life experience while also reading dense texts and writing papers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My school had very flexible scheduling. Evening, summer, and winter classes were available, and it was also easy to coordinate my schedule with internships and jobs. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school had excellent libraries, and my professors were always very helpful and easily accessible. Additionally, my school's proximity to Washington, D.C. allowed me to really immerse myself in politics. |
| Social Life | 10 | As a Division 1 school, there was plenty of school spirit on campus. Football, basketball and other sporting events were always fun, and there were social groups and clubs for any activity one could imagine. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not utilize my school's job placement counseling or other services. Therefore, I do not have strong feelings either way about these services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not engaged in my school's alumni network and support activities. I do not feel qualified to rate this answer either way. |
Montgomery College • Rockville, MD
Studying General Education (completion in 2009)
• 9/18/2011
"I was very happy to get such a good education for such little money. I feel I got a very well rounded education and the staff was eager to help along the way."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | MC is a fantastic way to spend the first two years of college. I learned about myself and what I wanted to do with my life, things that would have cost a fortune to learn at another school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Montgomery College is one of the best community colleges in the nation. I hear it's the only community college with students accepted to Harvard. Several of my classmates left MC to go to Harvard. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I highly recommend Montgomery College for its excellent professors. I got a better education there than many of my friends at four-year universities. |
| Instruction | 10 | There were small class, even as freshmen. The professors were not distracted by their research and often taught at prestigious schools as well. They taught because they loved to teach, not because they are experts in their fields. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I was surprised by the level of difficulty at MC. It does not fit with the reputation of community colleges. The classes were rigorous and challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | MC's classes had a great balance of hands-on and book learning. My television production class included reading from a text book as well as using equipment in our on-campus studio. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | As a community college, MC offers classes for every different type of schedule. Their mascot is even the Knights because the school started as a night school. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | MC recently built a science building, which opened this fall. Their performing arts center is excellent and is rented out for prestigious events. |
| Social Life | 8 | MC has great activities and more clubs than one can imagine. If you want to be involved in social activities at the school, there is something for you. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The staff at MC are very helpful. They work with area companies to find jobs for students. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Our alumni network is excellent, perhaps because the MC alumni are down to earth and eager to help others. They offer many opportunities. |
University Of Maryland • College Park, MD
Studying English (completion in 2010)
• 9/15/2011
"My experience at the school was not perfect. But I know that at least in part this is due to me missing out on and not researching the breadth of opportunities available to University students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | A career as an administrative assistant isn't necessarily something that one goes to school for. But I do think that UMD is a great school system and certainly prepared me for my current position. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The program is very progressive in terms of LGBT-based analysis of literature and culture. There are a number of joint programs with the actual LGBT department, that bring in many contemporary artists and scholars to speak to students. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I really enjoyed learning about English Literature, my professors were very engaged in the work. They encouraged creative thinking and allowed us to build on ideas even if they didn't personally subscribe to them. |
| Instruction | 7 | There was a fair amount of preparation given to students interested in pursuing literature as a career. Many professors offered extra curricular opportunities and there was a mandatory professional writing course included with the major requirements. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work was always challenging and engaging. I didn't find it difficult, but I know others did. I worked hard and feel that I got a lot out of each of my courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As an English major, most of our learning was derived from the books. We did not engage in hands-on learning, but certainly were encouraged to state and defend our own opinions of author's works against those of both our peers and professors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | There was not much flexibility offered for classes. Most core requirements were offered in one way or another during the summer, but weekend and evening classes were somewhat sparse, and rarely interesting. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The McKeldin Library was an absolutely fantastic research and resource facility. There was a wealth of tutoring programs available to students. There were several other libraries as well, one specific to Music and Performance Media, one that provided access to general media ranging in form from cassettes to Blu-Ray discs, as well as distinct Art and Architecture libraries. |
| Social Life | 7 | UMD was very competitive in sports (mostly Women's Basketball), and there were always interesting events sponsored by the wealth of groups and societies. Much of my social experience combined elements of friendships I developed on my own and connections built by attending these events and joining on-campus groups. |
| Placement Services | 7 | From the experiences of others I have heard very good things about the career services on campus. Personally, I was unable to find much help outside of resume reviewing and mock-interviews. The campus held job fairs, but the majority of the representatives were recruiting for Government or Engineering jobs (or writing/journalism/business jobs in the government or in engineering). |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is an alumni network, but unless you are able to connect to the alumni through some other networking interaction or connection, it doesn't necessarily help you to find jobs. |
University Of MD University College • Adelphi, MD
Studying Business Admin (completion in 2008)
• 10/18/2011
"I was able to go full time and hold a full time job at once. The flexibility of the school's courses was great!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to adults that hold a M-F, 9-5 job. This school is not really meant for the younger population unless they hold a full time job. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Not a lot of people associate UMUC as a UMD division. UMUC is more geared towards working adults that need classes after 5pm. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UMUC has great classes with fantastic teachers and resources. Great hours for classes for working adults! |
| Instruction | 10 | UMUC offers many resources to ensure you are engaged in each learning activity. Professors do care about your progress. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Business Administration offers lots of aspects of business. Depending on your weakness, some classes can be challenging. Some of the topics covered include ethics, accounting, management, and marketing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Business Administration was more book learning than hands on. All assignments and topics came from the reading in the text books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Most classes are offered either online or at 7pm on evenings with some options for Saturday courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Since UMUC is part of UMD you receive the same access as UMD students. There are lots of libraries and study areas. |
| Social Life | Since I attended in the evenings, I was not active in social activities. | |
| Placement Services | I did not participate in this. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I'm an alum but really don't receive much info from the school. I haven't actively engaged in an alumni search either. |
University Of Maryland • Baltimore, MD
Studying English (completion in 2005)
• 10/18/2011
"I had average expectations, and I came out satisfied. I received a degree at a decent school, and that's all that mattered to me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Ideally they should choose a school that is known for their major. Otherwise, upon graduation, they may find their career options to be somewhat limited. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | My school spends all its money on improving the science and technology programs. Therefore, it is not investing as much as it should in English and the arts. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school is not known for its english department. However, it gave me an adequate enough education. |
| Instruction | 8 | My teachers were well educated and thorough. They provided us with useful, relevant assignments. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The research papers were challenging to write. However, it was enjoyable to research different topics, so I didn't mind. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most assignments were taken from textbooks. The only hands-on activities we had were group projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Most classes were held during fall and spring, during the day or in the evening. Not many online classes were offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Professors were very friendly and accessible. Adequate classroom space was provided for all classes. |
| Social Life | 5 | My school was not a party school. Many students either went home on the weekends or spent all weekend studying. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Job placement is excellent for those in technology majors. However, graduates in the arts have to be a bit more creative about their career options. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | My school has adequate alumni support. Unfortunately, the alumni support is better for alums in the sciences than in the arts. |
Montgomery College • Rockville, MD
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2014)
• 10/14/2011
"I am more than happy with the overall experiences my program has afforded me. I look forward to furthering my education via other programs at Montgomery College."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The Computer Science Program is second to none with respect to other community colleges. I have and will continue to recommend this educational program. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The program is generally viewed as a challenging and comprehensive course. It has a good reputation in the community and with local business establishments. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program is comprehensive and the instructors, for the most part, are engaging and helpful. The facilities are adequate. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instruction of my specific program has been incredible thus far. I have procured many real-world skills, which I apply daily in my life. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program is simultaneously challenging and encouraging. The coursework is relatively difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program utilizes both methods of training. Thorough text instruction and hands-on computer training make for a sufficient balance. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Class flexibility is adequate. It can be difficult to coordinate your work schedule with your school obligations, on account of the limited course availability. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities are very good. The computer infrastructure and networking are amazing. |
| Social Life | 4 | A very broad range of nationalities make for difficult communication at times. Drug use on the campus is prevalent and can function as an embarrassment to the Establishment. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The staff members who facilitate my program assist with job placement upon completion. They connect you with local businesses and other educational establishments. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Amazing computer network infrastructure makes for simple and concise communication. The Student Support Network is phenomenal. |
Montgomery College • Rockville, MD
Studying General Studies (completion in 2005)
• 11/3/2011
"Great price to credit ratio. Very good teachers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For the price it cannot be beat. I would recommend Montgomery College to any working professional or high school graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As far as 2 year colleges go in my area, Montgomery College is one of the best. They have a variety of programs for a 2 year school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The teachers at Montgomery College are great. I enjoyed the environment and flexible schedules. |
| Instruction | 10 | I never felt that I was not prepared for any administrative task I have undertaken. Very useful that Power Point is included. |
| How Difficult | 7 | At times classes were challenging. In general the classes did not overwhelm me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes are very book oriented. This is to be expected when it comes to a general studies degree. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school has everything from online options to night classes. The only thing they lack are 100% online degrees, but that is probably a good thing. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school is well equipped. The teachers provide you with everything you need to learn. |
| Social Life | 8 | The options are limited when it comes to events. Still, they have many sports teams and are very active in the community. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Most teachers work within their field. I found faculty to be very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not participate in any alumni events. It is only a 2 year school. |
The Community College Of Baltimore County • Baltimore, MD
Studying General Studies (completion in 2005)
• 11/17/2011
"I guess I didn't really mind it. It was okay. It was community college. I went here because I couldn't afford a real school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend it for the most part. It will at least get you started if you're doing nothing. |
| Program Reputation | I don't know about that specific program. I know that they have other programs that people rave about, like their nursing program. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was general to say the least. It didn't focus on anything in particular, and that didn't help me find a good career. |
| Instruction | 3 | It's so over opinionated. The books only gave you what they wanted you to believe, without any option for something else. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I don't think I ever did anything that was very stimulating; just giving back the information that the instructor wanted to hear. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They were very mixed. I remember taking a class that brought us outside often and reading often, too. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They do offer a lot of classes online, evenings and weekends. You could even go in the middle of the night, with their TV program. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They're not bad; a little old, but functional. They are still doing major renovations, too. |
| Social Life | I never really got into the social scene. It just seemed like everyone from high school went here. | |
| Placement Services | I am unaware that they have this. If they did, no one told me. | |
| Alumni Network | I was not involved in any alumni network. I hear that there is a great one on the campus, but I was never invited. |
American Military University • Virginia, MD
Studying Intelligence Studies (completion in 2014)
• 11/29/2011
"So far, they have provided what I need, and they are very accessible when I have questions. Their support is very good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I already have recommended this school for time-crunching students. So far, they have been very pleased. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | There are instructors with vast experience in the classes they are teaching. Most of them have more than a master's. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It is a very easy to use online school. They have a really big selection of different degrees. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors are very capable and they are very knowledgeable of what they teach. They all have experience in the careers that they teach and they are very respectable. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There is a lot of reading and analyzing, but nothing that can't get done. Just some time management and it is a piece of cake. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Online classes are mostly books. I have not taken any classes that involved hands-on, i.e., labs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Usually, you have a week to complete your work. They also accommodate on a case-by-case basis, if the work has to be turned in late. |
| Academic Facilities | I go online and not on campus. I have not been able to visit the school campus in person. | |
| Social Life | Online school students are not able to go there because of the distance. I am sure that they have really good programs on campus. | |
| Placement Services | I have not searched for this type of assistance on their website. Will have to check it out. | |
| Alumni Network | 9 | They have a 24/7 support line. They also provide the books for your courses. |
University Of Maryland University College • Adelphi, MD
Studying Psychology, Business Management (completion in 2008)
• 1/15/2012
"I loved my experience with UMUC. It allowed me to pursue my education while raising two children and holding a full-time job. I even graduated in 2010 with my MBA from UMUC, so I am long overdue for a management position."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | An individual who would like to pursue a career in administrative assisting can take a "certificate" program; UMUC has various opportunities. I would recommend the school to all. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Before deciding to attend UMUC, I researched many online schools. UMUC is well known and started as an adult correspondence college during the 1940s; it is extremely well known and reputable. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The college has an excellent program. All of my professors were well qualified and had a lot of experience in their fields. They incorporated their real-life business experiences into the classroom materials. We also had several group projects in which we worked closely with other students as you would in the business world. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instruction was excellent. I went to school in an online environment, and the professors paid special attention to all of their students. While they were far away, it was more of a one-on-one communication, as we had their email addresses, and at times, their home telephone numbers. I enjoyed working with each and every professor. |
| How Difficult | 8 | In an online environment, there is a lot of writing; this is how students interact with each other. Rather than sitting through lectures, we often had to read and write a lot, proving we read the material and were able to apply it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The online environment is much like self-study. However, many professors provided online virtual conferences at times. It was an excellent experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Due to the online environment, the teachers were extremely understanding about most students having full-time jobs and families to attend to. If you needed help, you reached out to the teacher, and they worked with you to meet your needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The help desk is available 24 hours, and I used it a handful of times. The library is well equipped with various online books, books by mail, and a wealth of journals and scholarly references. One must even pass a library class in order to complete their degree. The accessibility to staff was actually awesome and well organized. Academic advisors were readily available and helpful. |
| Social Life | 7 | UMUC is a very active school that is always having functions. The issue was that the school was located very far for me, as it was an online program. However, I made lasting friendships with a handful of students. I am also involved in mentoring other students from the school. I love UMUC. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I am not sure about their placement services, as I have not used them. They did have a resume review service that I used, and they gave some excellent tips. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni association provides an excellent school magazine quarterly. I am also involved in their mentoring program for undergraduate students. |
University Of Maryland University College • Adelphi, MD
Studying Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 1/18/2012
"I enjoyed the classes, the faculty, and the experience as a whole. I wanted to take more classes that were not required for graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would say the program options are great. However, as an online student, I didn't like the proctored exams, because it defeated the purpose of going to school online. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The school has the accreditation needed for me to progress to a master's, which is needed for licensing. Also, even though the school offers online courses, they require proctored exams. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was online and I liked the flexibility. I also enjoyed being able to choose the classes instead of having a set list. |
| How Difficult | 4 | It was slightly difficult, because of the terminology and statistical research. But I am very interested in it, so I wanted to learn more. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This depended on the instructor. Some courses had simulations and actual experiments we had to do, while others were just book lessons. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | I went to University of Phoenix for my AA, and they had classes starting every week. University of Maryland uses a traditional quarter schedule. I didn't like that if I wanted to take a break, it was for a term and not how long I needed. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There is always a tech or academic advisor available to help you. They go above and beyond when providing service. |
| Social Life | I was in an overseas online program, so the only time I experienced school participation was during my graduation ceremony. | |
| Placement Services | They have career fairs many times throughout the year. However, I have never attended one. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There are many people in the alumni community, because it is a worldwide school dealing mostly with military. However, there are not many alumni executives to network with. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.