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 Montgomery County Community College-Central Campus, Community College of Allegheny County, and Harrisburg Area 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
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Erie Business Center, Yorktowne Business Institute, Cambria-Rowe Business College, and Clarion University.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Cedar Crest, Consolidated School of Business, Cambria-Rowe Business College, and Consolidated School of Business.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Consolidated School of Business, Erie Business Center, and Montgomery County Community College-Central Campus.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Pennsylvania Institute of Health and Technology, Westmoreland County Community College, Cedar Crest, and Community College of Allegheny County.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Douglas Education Center, Cedar Crest, Lackawanna College, and Penn Commercial.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Cedar Crest, Clarion University, and Lackawanna College.
Excellence
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Du Bois Business College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Cedar Crest, and Laurel Technical Institute.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Consolidated School Of Business • Lancaster, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2006)
• 8/11/2011
"I did get the education that I needed. It was only the favoritism by the staff and some teachers that made it very hard to enjoy the school experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to other students. It does provide you with a good education and flexible scheduling. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I do recommend future students to the facility. Many do not know of the school or its location. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school was very small. It also had no security in terms of the safety of students. |
| Instruction | 5 | There were a few good teachers. Some of the faculty acted very condescending to students and played favorites as well. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some the curriculum was challenging. I had some difficulty understanding the material sometimes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some teachers were available for extra help. Others did not offer any after school or before school help. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Class schedules were very flexible. They had options of morning or evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Students were able to stay after to receive help. Many times computers were unavailable or hard to find. |
| Social Life | 6 | I had a very good time in class. I met a lot of interesting people while attending school. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I completed my internship with the promise of career assistance. They only helped students that they favored while others suffered. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | They played favorites with certain students. They were very overbearing and rude to other students. |
Temple University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Music Performance (completion in 2007)
• 8/13/2011
"There were a lot of things I missed in my undergrad that were also missing at this school. However, not being in debt from school (and even making money while I was there via my assistantship) were a great bonus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | My degree program is totally irrelevant to being an administrative assistant. Really, one does not need a degree to be an assistant anyhow, just a modicum of social skills, basic familiarity with a computer, and the ability to follow directions. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | We studied with some of the top musicians in the orchestral world, which looks great on our resumes. It is known as an easy and desirable program to get into. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I studied with people who are "big names" in the orchestral world. However, many great performers are not great teachers, and I unfortunately had some bad teachers. Most did not address what I really needed to learn, which is disappointing. However, I was paid to go to school, so at least I am not in debt from it. |
| Instruction | 3 | I had the normal amount of classes, but several factors were missing - no studio class and no brass ensemble, for example. Early music was exceptional at the school, but orchestra was generally terrible. There were no classes in music business, which would have been supremely helpful. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The degree was only 30 credits, which amounts to very few classes. I only had to take one academic course per semester in addition to playing requirements and lessons. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I don't think I had to buy a single book for this school. My program was for music performance, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Ensembles are held when they are held. If you wanted to take only night classes, it would not be possible. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The music library resources are appalling and embarrassing because of what they lack. However, they built a new computer center, which is state of the art, during my last semester. I didn't have much use for it, but if it was there earlier in my program, I might have checked it out more. |
| Social Life | 2 | I really don't know much about this. The music school is pretty much isolated from these topics, and as a grad student you are isolated even more. I never even had an orientation for the school; it was just show up for the first day of class and go. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The job placement and career services assistance through the music department are non-existent. There is no help for students trying to get gigs performing or teaching. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There is no help for trying to start a career in my field. I really don't know much about alumni relations since I don't care about it, honestly. |
Community College Of Beaver County • Monaca, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2010)
• 8/14/2011
"I loved how affordable and convenient this local community college was for me. I also appreciated the fact that since I graduated high school a year early that they easily accepted a 17 year old into their college to take the classes. I did not like how they made you take some science classes and other classes that in my opinion are completely irrelevant to my major."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Money is extremely tight for everyone so I would recommend going to a community college for two years. After taking the classes you could, transfer to a four year school. It will end up saving you thousands of dollars a semester. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | |
| Program Quality | 5 | It did not seem to really focus on the business classes that I thought would be more necessary. I think I learned more in my business classes that I took in high school. |
| Instruction | 9 | I knew what would be expected out of me on a day to day basis. The professors would explain things and show me things rather than just telling me them and hoping I did them correctly. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The business classes were very easy since that's what I am interested in. Unfortunately, the science classes that I had to take were very difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Basically any class I was in involved reading straight out of the book and taking tests on the material. The good thing about that is you knew exactly what you were responsible for studying. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I took a majority of my classes online so I was able to work throughout the day. Unfortunately I could not give them a perfect 10 because there were some classes that were not offered online that I had to take late at night. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I really enjoyed the fact that they offered free tutoring in different subjects. I did not like the fact that they did not have enough counselors. |
| Social Life | 3 | We did not have many sports at CCBC. There were very few clubs as well that were extremely hard to get into. They did not seem to have much school spirit either. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They are just a community college so they do not really help you stand out against other job applicants. Also, they do not place you into work - you are to go out and find it on your own. They do give you the tools you need to feel confident about it. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I enjoyed my school's alumni because we all had a lot of fun. But, I do not miss a lot of them. |
Cambria-Rowe Business College • Johnstown, PA
Studying Business Management/Computer Applications (completion in 2005)
• 8/15/2011
"While what I learned at college was very helpful in my career, the school seemed more to me like a glorified high school instead of a college. For some people, this is the main reason why they chose this particular college, but for others, like myself, it was for the cost and for the excellent job placement ratings. However, if I could do it over again, I would choose a different school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would only recommend it if they are in the position that they need a college with set hours and are on a tight budget. However, if they want the whole college experience, I would most definitely recommend a different school. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The current reputation is not bad, but it's not great either. Their reputation is being geared more towards their medical degrees and not the business management degree like it was when I graduated. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It is an average school because I know that there are better schools offering a wider range of career options. This school is better in price for the education you receive. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instructors were very knowledgeable in their fields, but didn't always offer the kind of career preparation I would've expected. In my opinion, there was quite a bit of common knowledge that was taught, but they were able to teach it in a way that made you think twice about what you already knew. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The academic challenge was there in some classes but not in others. As stated in the answer above, there was a lot of common knowledge applications. The work load was manageable and geared toward the working individual, which was helpful to those working through college. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In most of the classes that I had, the majority was book-learning. But when it came to computer applications, it was very hands-on. Most of the classes I took could not have been conducted in a "hands-on environment." | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The college had a fixed class schedule for everyone; it was set up almost like a high school. There was no flexibility, but I believe some teachers would let you come in during "off hours" to ask questions or receive additional help. The classes were geared, again, more toward the working student. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | As far as I know, the college does not have a library or a computer lab set up specifically for a particular major. The facilities are shared by each of the classes that would need them and are not available during off hours or while other classes are in session. The professors, however, made sure that they were available to anyone that needed assistance at any time of the day either via email or phone. |
| Social Life | 3 | There was no school spirit and no athletics. The classes were made up mostly of older individuals who were working or who had recently got laid off from other positions. The students may have had social interaction outside of classes, but they were not in any way organized by the school. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Their job placement services are much better than anyone's that I have talked to. They were very helpful and even sent out your resume for you. They pretty much did everything but go on the interview for you. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Since I have left college, I have not heard anything about my graduating class or college. The only time that I am able to get any information on alumni or the college itself is when I happen to run into someone that I graduated with, which is not often. |
University Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 8/16/2011
"I'm very satisfied though I wish they had more commuter events."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Advisers and teachers were helpful - all you had to do was ask. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | From what I know, the Psych program at Pitt is pretty well rated. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel I received a great education. |
| Instruction | 8 | Generally instruction was good, however some classes felt irrelevant to my career. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I think my major was more difficult than some, but definitely easier than other majors (bio/chem, etc). |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely a mix, but depended more on the professor. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There was a lot of flexibility, though occasionally some required classes weren't offered at enough varied times each semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Pitt is great in this department. |
| Social Life | 3 | I lived off campus all 4 years so I didn't make as many friends as I could have. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I was never aware of any career services/job placement programs. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I feel like when I left the school they were glad to remove all of my student benefits - for example, my bus pass was taken away even though I graduated earlier than the expiration date. |
Community College Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Communication Studies (completion in 2008)
• 9/7/2011
"I got a quality education at a much more affordable price than I could've gotten anywhere else. Although I didn't love everything about CCP, it was by far the best value school I could've attended."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend it depending on what they want to get out of it. If they have money or the ability to get a good scholarship they might want to attend a four-year college with more support instead. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I am not really familiar with the specific reputation of Communication Studies. I chose that major after I had already started attending CCP. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I had some very good professors and some mediocre ones. My main problem with my program is that in general CCP is very bureaucratic and doesn't offer a lot of student support. |
| Instruction | 7 | I liked many of my professors and learned many things. It's more of a liberal arts school, so the class work wasn't always directly relevant to my actual job. |
| How Difficult | 6 | For a Community College, CCP is very demanding in general. I found many of my courses to be challenging and I often had a large amount of homework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is some hands-on learning, including web and social media design, and some book learning. My classes always had a mix of both. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are many night and online classes, as well as classes at satellite campuses. Many students at CCP work full-time or are older so there's a great deal of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I don't have much to compare with but I thought all these things were pretty good. Our library is very nice and my professors always held office hours. |
| Social Life | 3 | Most people live in different neighborhoods of the city and commute up to Main Campus. There wasn't a ton of school spirit. There are sports teams but no one really cares about them. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I had some minor help from the Career Services department but I have known students at Temple who had much more useful assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Most students who are successful go on to a four-year college. I think that is why we don't have such a strong alumni network; people tend to identify more with their four-year college. |
Duquesne University • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Communications (completion in 2007)
• 9/8/2011
"If I could go back in time, I would have chosen somewhere else but it wasn't too bad."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | No, I would recommend that they choose a larger school. That school may have more and better resources. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I believe it has a good reputation. I've seen it in the News and World Report. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It's a good school with a good program. They just didn't really clearly tell you what to do with your degree. |
| Instruction | 6 | I got a good education and learned a lot. However, I didn't know how to apply it in the real world, which is probably why I had to take my current job to get by. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Certain classes were cake walks, others were much harder. There was a dichotomy between the classes - you never knew if it would be simple, or too much work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mainly books. It's not really a subject that requires hand-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | You could take many different classes at many different times. Scheduling was a breeze. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The teachers and advisors were good enough. Some classrooms were better than others. I gave it a higher rating because overall I never needed anything that wasn't supplied. |
| Social Life | 7 | Some of the people at my school are not the type of people I would want to be involved with. However, the many friendships I gained from different organizations are ones I'll carry with me forever. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They were not helpful for me or any of my friends. We all got better jobs through staffing agencies. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I don't know of any alumni outside of my group of friends. |
Luzerne County Community College • Nanticoke, PA
Studying CIS (completion in 2003)
• 9/19/2011
"LCC provided me with the education I needed to get where I am today. I would highly recommend LCCC to anyone looking to obtain an associates degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | LCCC provided me with the education I needed to get where I am today. I would highly recommend LCCC to anyone looking to obtain an Associate's degree. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | LCCC is known for great tuition rates and class size. |
| Program Quality | 5 | LCCC is a community college. Some classes and teachers are not taken seriously. |
| Instruction | 5 | Both students and teachers fail to take some classes seriously. |
| How Difficult | 7 | CIS is not an easy major for someone not born to program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Anyone can read a book but it takes much more skill to be able to teach out side of a book. Those teachers are few and far between. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | LCCC offers classes at several schools within the county and online. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | There is one computer center that is usually packed. Waiting for a machine does not help with time management. |
| Social Life | 5 | I wasn’t looking to socialize but I did make a few friends while at school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I was never helped out when looking for a job. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I never really cared to look into this. |
Pennsylvania State University • University Park, PA
Studying Art History (completion in 2009)
• 10/2/2011
"I loved the experience. I met my boyfriend of 3 years at Penn State. The good memories definitely stand out more than anything else."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I regret going to college not knowing exactly what I wanted to major in. I loved studying art history, but it has no real world application for me. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'm not sure it has a reputation for art history at all. I kind of fell into the field after taking one amazing art history class as a sophomore. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I feel like I coasted through classes at Penn State. There was not a lot of individual attention. However, I thought the classes were interesting and I enjoyed studying art history. |
| Instruction | 5 | There was no career preparation whatsoever. I wish someone would have told me that an art history degree was pretty much useless unless you wanted to go on to get a masters degree. |
| How Difficult | 4 | There was not a lot of work involved. I never really felt challenged, and I skipped class frequently and still got a 3.5 g.p.a. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes were book learning. I can only think of one class, geography, where I had a lab to do experiments. I'm sure science majors were much more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The class scheduling was fantastic. I was able to schedule classes in the late afternoon, which was great for me. I also took a few online courses, which helped me out a lot. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The library was amazing. I did have access to a tutor once for a math class, so that was helpful. The professors had decent office hours. But my academic adviser was awful, I did not feel a connection at all. |
| Social Life | 10 | The social experience is what makes Penn State the school that it is. The football games were amazing. Jo Pa is an icon. The parties were non stop. And school spirit was out of control. |
| Placement Services | 4 | If they did, I was not aware that Penn State offered assistance with job placement. I feel like they were not helpful at all in that regard. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is a huge network, and I know a lot of people who went to Penn State. However, no one taught me how to utilize the resources. I wish Penn State would make a mandatory class senior year instructing students on how to network. |
Kutztown University Of PA • Kutztown, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 10/3/2011
"The school had everything that I wanted. The campus was great, the classrooms were great, the teachers were great, and so were the social aspects."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend people attend this school, because the school is a great experience. I also feel as though the staff you work with in this program is a great staff, and I learned so much. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Being that this is a state school, they are not well known for the program. They are considered to be average with any other state school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program provided me with a large variety of knowledge in different subjects, and that knowledge has been helpful even after I have graduated. The teachers were very knowledgeable and were always available to help. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers were always available to help, especially on a one-on-one basis as needed. They were very knowledgeable and accommodating. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was not that difficult, besides subjects that I personally had trouble with, such as statistics. The program was challenging in a good way. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a good balance of hands on and bookwork. This was beneficial, because it allowed all types of students to excel. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Flexibility was provided in designing your schedule. However, some classes, such as electives, did not have as many classes as they should have, which would have helped in creating a more accommodating schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has been consistently developing its buildings and campus, and it is very attractive to be a part of. The resources provided, such as the library and computer labs, were very helpful and up to date with the latest technology. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social aspect of the college offered many different types of clubs, teams and events. Not only did they provide me with anything that could be of interest, but they also had several programs to help the community. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There was not much help with job placement, but it seems that was due to the economy. However, career services was very helpful with anything any student needed in order to better their chances of obtaining a job. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The alumni services are not prominently displayed. From personal research, they do have a great center for alumni, that helps in anything from career searching to resume building. |
King's College • Wilkes-Barre, PA
Studying Sociology (completion in 2013)
• 10/10/2011
"I was very happy with my decision to attend King's College. I look forward to further experiences at the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is small enough to get individual instruction, yet large enough to meet a lot of new people and have many new experiences. The staff is great, and there are excellent programs for all areas of interest. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | As a small, private school, it has an excellent reputation for its program offerings. Many local businesses and local charities know of the college and request students to become involved with them. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school has a great sociology program, with many options to customize your area of study. There is also a large support staff to aid you in your studies. |
| Instruction | 8 | I find the quality of instruction to be excellent. Classes are small enough to get a feel of what you are learning. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program is set up well, as you are challenged while studying. There are a lot of real-world experience options. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I find there to be an equal mix of book learning and hands-on experience. Many classes I have taken involved a little bit of both, making for a unique learning environment. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school has many class offerings, including traditional daytime classes, night classes and some weekend classes. There are also chances to study online or create your own specialized study. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The staff is very accessible, through email, office hours, etc. There are many modern resources at the school to aid in all courses of study. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social environment is very diverse on the college campus, including many non-traditional students. Many social activities are held throughout the year for a chance to meet some fellow students. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The school has many opportunities for job placement. There is a career office, website access to current job listings, and many other options for job searches. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The school is very active when it comes to alumni. They have a department dedicated to alumni. |
Villanova University • Villanova, PA
Studying Spanish (completion in 2010)
• 10/11/2011
"The difficult part in evaluating an overall experience is that for me, being confronted with a very different social culture forced me to adapt and steel myself as an individual. This resulted in my working towards discovering creative ways to manipulate the educational system I had found myself in, to suit my particular needs and desires. For me, that I was able to do this successfully can equally be attributed to my own resourcefulness, as well as the university's flexibility."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My university does not exactly train one to become an administrative assistant, nor does my program. My current position is the product of the experience I gained through internships and employment throughout my college term. A liberal arts education in this vein certainly makes an individual more attractive during interviews, in the sense that one is more malleable with various conversation topics. Really, it depends on what this person I would be addressing wants out of the stepping stone prior to entering this field. |
| Program Reputation | This information has not been made known to me as of yet. While the school itself has strong name recognition, I have no other deeper knowledge of the strength of my specific program. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | The faculty was amazing. However, I wish that the course of study was a little stricter in terms of sequencing, so that students were given a chronological introduction to the materials. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt challenged for the most part. There were a few professors that were not the best educators, though their enthusiasm for the material shone through sufficiently. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Time management was very important in order to complete work diligently. However, certain classes did not challenge or expand my intellect; instead, they served as a test of rote memorization. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Since my program was mostly literature-focused, it was largely a book learning endeavor. This normally involved reading texts and analyzing them in class as a part of seminar-style discussions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The class schedule is relatively flexible upon completion of the first semester of freshman year. On the occasions that I wished to register for a certain class and could not do so using regular protocol, i.e., during my scheduled registration time, it was fairly simple to request enrollment on basis of interest with the approval of the specific professor. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | For the most part, facilities were adequate. One of the chief resources available in my program was the language lab, where students could get help with papers written in Spanish. The hours of availability for this lab were amazing, and I found it to be incredibly helpful. Otherwise, the libraries and some of the classrooms could use some updating, but this is in the process of happening at the moment. |
| Social Life | 7 | I did not really fit in with the typical student. However, there were many avenues, backed normally by a wonderful faculty advisor, where I was able to comfortably find friends and interesting experiences. |
| Placement Services | 8 | A few months prior to graduation, I made an appointment with career services. Apprehensive at first, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of service, genuine interest in my future, and overall openness to cutting a path of my own. |
| Alumni Network | I cannot rate this fairly. Since graduation, I have not attempted to use the alumni network when looking for jobs or other opportunities. |
Luzerne County Community College • Nanticoke, PA
Studying Business Management (completion in 2012)
• 10/11/2011
"Not satisfied. I don't feel challenged, and I don't feel that my time at LCCC is anything more than free, easy credits to earn before I transfer to a better school that I will be proud to have graduated from."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they have limited time, need online classes because of scheduling difficulties, or are looking for an easy way to get college credits and decent grades under their belts in order to transfer to a better academic establishment, then I would absolutely recommend it. Otherwise, I'm not sure I or anyone else could take a degree from LCCC seriously. |
| Program Reputation | I'm not sure anyone really knows about it. Since I do mostly online courses, I haven't had much interaction with my fellow students, so I am unaware of their majors and whether or not they are the same or different from my own. | |
| Program Quality | 4 | It's a community college that is more concerned about the money than it is about the students. The teachers are under-qualified and the programs they offer need a lot of work. |
| Instruction | 3 | Only one or two teachers really surprised me with the amount of knowledge, dedication and professionalism they exhibited during my time at LCCC. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I love business, so I did not find it difficult. However, classes at LCCC aren't exactly challenging to begin with. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say neither. Since I attend online classes, I don't really have to read the book, as I can just have it in front of me during quizzes and assignments. There is no hands-on learning whatsoever, except in my accounting class that uses the accounting lab. I find the accounting lab very helpful in understanding the concepts. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very flexible. The one thing they do correctly is the expansive list of available online courses for people who have scheduling conflicts or difficulties. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | Awful. They have computer labs and whatever, but it's not what I would describe as a "real school." The resources they offer are not impressive, the facilities are not impressive, and, for the most part, the staff is not impressive. |
| Social Life | 3 | They don't have many clubs or extracurricular activities available, that I know of. I'm a musician and found no opportunities to expand that interest while at this school. As far as I know, if you want a program, you'll have to start it yourself. |
| Placement Services | Unsure. I have heard a few things that go both ways, but I will not be using these services, so I am not in a position to judge. | |
| Alumni Network | I'm unsure about how they treat their alumni. All I know is, I can't wait to transfer my credits and graduate from a real college. |
Temple University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2001)
• 10/9/2011
"I liked my school. I am not extremely happy with it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The school was not for everyone. It was in a dangerous neighborhood and the academics were tough. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The reputation is very good. It is just one notch below Ivy League schools. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program was great. I learned a lot about politics if I ever want to run for office. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some instructors were excellent. Other instructors were not very good. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program was very challenging. It was not Ivy League or impossible. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned everything from books. It was not hands-on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to change my schedule and classes often. I worked full-time while I attended the program. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The facilities were not very good. They were old and worn down. |
| Social Life | 8 | The social life was nice. I was involved in pep rallies and events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The job placement program was nonexistent. I was not satisfied with it. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network is good. I was very pleased with it. |
Albright College • Reading, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2008)
• 11/1/2011
"Happy with class schedules and choices. Great advisers. Not happy with available resources regarding help, i.e. tutoring, job placement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | This school is great for people working full-time or with families. It's also great for someone looking for a career change. I would not recommend it to a high-school graduate with an outgoing personality. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Have several satellite schools. Also have evening classes, online classes, and accelerated degree courses. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Just taught basics regarding business. Not helpful in finding a job. |
| Instruction | 5 | Again, just taught basics. Courses were rushed. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Not a heavy workload as far as assignments and homework are concerned. Tests followed along with class lessons. You just needed to study and you did fine. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | 50/50 split between hands-on and book-learning. Had a few group projects in a couple of classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Many courses offered. Several locations and times. Could also take courses at other colleges and transfer them in. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Had to meet at libraries or other public places as a group to study or do class work with projects. Sometimes classrooms were too small. |
| Social Life | 6 | Not a large school. Took classes with many adults. Not many school activities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Offered absolutely no help in getting a job. No resources provided. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Have no contact with anyone from school. Only get calls from school asking for donations. |
Tri-State Business Institute • Erie, PA
Studying Professional Administrative Assistant (completion in 2006)
• 11/15/2011
"They taught us what they were supposed to and promised to. Some of the teachers went above their job duties. Some teachers treated us like little kids."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I learned a lot of new stuff, but also "relearned" a lot of old stuff. I've been unemployed for about 4 months now, and I'm having a really hard time finding a job, so I'm not too sure if the degree has really helped any, compared to before I went to school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I would say they are a good school overall. They do their job at teaching you what you need to know. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I liked it because the course covered a wide range of classes that I use now. I didn't like it because they treated us like we were little kids. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers knew what they were talking about. It wasn't extremely good, because most of the teachers treated us like little kids. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I already knew a lot of stuff, because I did office jobs before going to school. The classes were easy, because the material was easy to learn and I had experience with it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They did a little bit of both. It depended on the class. For example, transcription was more hands on and the medical terminology class was more book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They offered morning or evening classes. There were only 2 different class times. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All the classrooms that needed computers were well equipped with them. The teachers were all readily available. |
| Social Life | 3 | I pretty much kept to myself. I only made one friend that I still keep in contact with every couple of months. I didn't attend any parties. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't really use it, so it wasn't that helpful to me. I tried it, but didn't have any luck getting a job through them. |
| Alumni Network | I don't know anything about their alumni network. I know they offer job search help. |
University Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Writing & Political Science (completion in 2004)
• 11/15/2011
"University was a necessary step in my career growth, and I feel that the school did an acceptable job meeting that need. The degree was straightforward to achieve, and the school provided sufficient resources to succeed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | University is important to getting in the door for any office job. My school offered a range of interesting classes with which to meet that requirement. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Both the writing program and the political science program have good national reputations. I feel that this is mostly at the graduate level, however, and doesn't reflect the undergraduate experience. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I feel that the educational experience was not rigorous enough. It was hard to interpret from course descriptions the quality of instruction that one would receive in the classroom setting. |
| Instruction | 2 | There was very little career preparation, and little relevance between subjects learned and the knowledge I use in my career. The quality of instruction could be very irregular. |
| How Difficult | 3 | The classes were not very difficult. Some of them, however, required quite a bit of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes relied heavily on the textbooks. There was a lot of reading required outside of the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There were classes at all hours of the day. There were many evening classes, especially in the upper divisions. For full-time students, however, that could lead to a very long day and/or an unbalanced personal schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Professors were easy to work with and generally very accessible. Public study spaces made it easy to work in groups outside of the classroom setting. |
| Social Life | I had a good social experience at the school. However, I was not at all engaged in the school spirit/athletics experience and cannot speak to university-organized events. | |
| Placement Services | 1 | The career services office seemed focused on making all graduates look identical. It did nothing to help highlight individual students in a job search. It was also useless in career advising, working with the student to find a career that would suit their individual temperament. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I feel that the alumni network is only there to fundraise, and has nothing to share with alumni other than current sports scores for the college teams. I did not have any interaction with alumni as a student, and I don't feel invited back as a graduate. |
Reading Area Community College • Reading, PA
Studying Business Management - Human Resource Management (completion in 2005)
• 11/15/2011
"I was pretty satisfied with the education I received, as well as all the friends and connections I made over the two years I went there. Even though I do not work in my chosen field, I love my job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I do not think my school is the right fit for people who wish to major in business management; I think they should find a school that matches their management field. I would recommend my school in general, but not for my major. |
| Program Reputation | I have since relocated from that area and do not keep in contact with many people from the school anymore, except a few teachers who have moved on. I now live in another state and I cannot speak on the school's current status. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | I attended my school to major in business management with an understudy in human resource management, but I have only been able to work as an administrative assistant. Even though I love my job, I wish I had a higher title; I make more than some managers, but I feel like people just see me as a "secretary" and do not realize all the work I do. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt there were many teachers who really cared about their students and made sure to go out of their way to help with any questions we had, offer references, and make recommendations. My internship helped me gain experience and start a business network that has advanced my career. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I found my course load to be quite easy, once I got serious about school and stopped slacking off. The school wouldn't allow you a certain number of courses if your grades were not up to standards; they were not all about money and they cared about their students a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school offered many classes that were hands on, but some classes were totally book learning as well, such as math, English, etc. Computer classes were all hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I found the school to be very flexible in choosing your own schedule; you could even apply for your classes online. They offered summer and evening options, as well as online and part-time options. The school was open weekends, so students could get homework done in empty classrooms and computer labs, as well as meet with various staff members. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The college library offered a ton of services to its students, and the school had various computer labs and empty classrooms students could use during off hours, to make sure everyone had access to tools they needed to succeed. |
| Social Life | 10 | While there were not many school-related functions, there were many areas made available for students to socialize and get to know one another in between classes. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school's job placement services included resume-writing classes, internships, and counseling on getting ahead in the "real" world. I found the people who worked there especially helpful in placing me in a great internship that I loved and was able to use to start my career. |
| Alumni Network | I am not too familiar with my school's alumni, because it is a community college. I know there is a network of people who graduated top of their class, but I am not aware of any other alumni groups, functions, or networks. |
Westminster Seminary • Glenside, PA
Studying Religious Studies (completion in 1996)
• 11/30/2011
"Overall, my experience was very positive. I feel that my education was life-changing and inspiring. It motivated me to do well in whatever course in life I followed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | My schooling was not a necessary qualification for my job. However, I believe that it has made me a more versatile and well-rounded employee, able to take on various tasks. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school is well respected and has a strong reputation, both nationally and internationally. The program I studied provided a good foundation for my professional and personal life. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My graduate studies do not directly relate to the work I am doing today. However, I feel I gained skills in writing and communicating well, which are very relevant to my job. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instruction was carried out by highly qualified professors who took a strong interest in their students. I feel I gained writing and critical thinking skills that help me today. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The academic work was challenging, but not overly so. If I was disciplined in my study skills, it was manageable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the instruction took place in the classroom. The classroom environment was very traditional, with homework assignments, tests, and papers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school offers evening options and some summer courses. However, the school generally requires full-time studies during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The media availability and library have been much improved, especially as technology has developed. There is good academic support by advisors and adequate classroom space. |
| Social Life | 8 | Social experiences were varied. Most students were married and working, so it was not conducive to student activities on campus. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The school maintains a website posting list to help place students and to allow employers to post their openings. I did not use the website to get my current job. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I do receive regular mailings and updates on alumni events and happenings. However, I am not actively involved in the alumni network. |
Temple University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Geography And Urban Studies (completion in 2011)
• 12/8/2011
"I loved the urban atmosphere, the selection of classes, and the people. I felt as though I was ready to move ahead and was confident in what I had learned."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The professors are all very open and approachable people. Located in urban Philadelphia, the opportunities and connections to related organizations were endless. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Temple is the only local school - aside from UPenn - to have a known GUS program. Of the people who have heard of/come from the program, they have nothing but good things to say. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Temple brings in many speakers and workers involved in local organizations. Most of the professors have experience in the professional world and are now bringing what they've learned to share with students. |
| Instruction | 7 | Curriculum was usually very relevant, except for one teacher who just focused on their own interests and geared all the assignments towards feminism and capitalism. From Research Methods to Senior Seminar, students left those classes with a solid resume and cover letter, and they were prepared to find a job. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload came in waves. Certain times, we had nothing to do for a few weeks, and then suddenly, we had a lot of projects and research to complete. It would have been nice to have it more spread out. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes got us involved in our local community, to truly understand the urban dynamics. Research and projects were related to real-life situations, which is beneficial when in the "real world." | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I took summer courses for two years, and they offered a good variety of required classes and electives. My only complaint is that most of the classes had only one professor and time, making it difficult if two interesting classes were scheduled at the same time. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Professors always had generous office hours, and if students could still not make those times, they planned other meetings. Computer labs, the library, and even some classrooms offered GIS software (which was my focus), making it very convenient to get projects done. |
| Social Life | 7 | At such a large school, there isn't as much school spirit/community events. I loved my social experience, but it didn't have so much to do with the school itself as with other students and chance meetings. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Our particular department did not have the most information about jobs. Of course, that could also be because positions related to Geography and Urban Studies, including GIS, are limited. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Certain schools had their own alumni network, but it was specific to that program. It's just very inconsistent between schools - Fox School of Business and the Tourism and Hospitality programs had amazing connections, but Liberal Arts was not as involved. |
Thompson Business Institute • Harrisburg, PA
Studying Medical Office Assistant (completion in 1982)
• 12/10/2011
"I believe I received a good education for the price. The price was right and I learned what needed to be learned to go out in the workforce and succeed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | To be honest, I am not sure if the school is still open. I do not stay in touch, but if it is still open, I would definitely recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't really know what their reputation is, but I would rate them average. The professors were great and taught what needed to be taught in a professional manner. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school provided everything I needed to get started in the workplace. As I have now been working for many years, there are many things that I see could have been offered, that were not. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very nice and well schooled in the classes they taught. The school itself was very small and therefore a good fit for me, as I came from a small town. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I feel the homework, etc., was a good fit. Not too much; just enough to get it through your head. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very good mix of hands-on learning and book learning. The hands-on learning was very much needed in my major. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I believe only day classes were offered. No evening classes were available, which would have been a plus. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | As it was a small business school, the school was small, with small classrooms, etc. I enjoyed that, though, since I was used to a small high school. |
| Social Life | 5 | Being a small business school, there were no athletic events. I did miss that part of being part of something more. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The school had an 85% job placement rating at the time of my graduation. However, if you were returning back home and not staying in the area, they were not able to help you too much. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There is no network, as far as I know. I have been out of school for quite some time and have never heard from anyone at the school. |
University Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Communication Rhetoric (completion in 2007)
• 12/21/2011
"If I could do it all over again, I would go to a different school and choose a different degree. I don't feel like I made many lasting friendships, and I don't have the education for where I want to be in life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wants to be an administrative assistant and make pennies, then yes, I would recommend Pittsburgh's communication program. I would not recommend it to someone who has high hopes for a challenging career in an office environment. |
| Program Reputation | I have heard good things about Pitt's reputation in general, but nothing in regard to their communication program. This is probably something you should look into before choosing a major. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | There is nothing wrong with the school's program itself; it is your average communication program. I do wish that an internship was a requirement, however, since I did not realize how important one was at the time. |
| Instruction | 2 | Career preparation classes lied about the amount of money we would be making upon graduation. I still have yet to make what they told us we would probably start out with, and I graduated over 4 years ago. |
| How Difficult | 3 | This was a pretty easy area of study, compared with other majors. Not many requirements needed to graduate, including an internship. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was a pretty even mix of both. There was a lot of group work in my classes, which I consider hands on, since I was a communication major. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | I made my own schedule based around my own needs. If you can figure out their clunky PeopleSoft scheduling software, you can take classes whenever you want, for the most part. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Pitt had a nice-sized library. They also gave you access to internet databases with lots of research studies. |
| Social Life | 3 | People in Pittsburgh seemed less pleasant than at other schools I went to visit. Also, the area students lived in off campus was dirty and dangerous. My roommate was mugged at gunpoint in our garage. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They are not helpful. All of the job placement listings are in the Pittsburgh area, which is not where I live. |
| Alumni Network | I really know nothing about it. I can't afford to join the alumni network, because of the lack of decent jobs my degree has gotten me. |
Katherine Gibbs School Of Business • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Information Processing (completion in 1988)
• 1/3/2012
"This was my best choice at the time. In 1988, computers were still relatively new in the workplace, so a lot of women were taking this course to get up to speed on their computing skills. In general, it was a good school, but I still wish I'd gone to an actual college to earn a degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Katherine Gibbs is a good place to start if you have no secretarial skills. Since leaving school I have learned more on my own than Katherine Gibbs ever taught me. But again, this was almost 25 years ago. Things may have changed since then. I would recommend the school to anyone who would like to get BASIC skills. |
| Program Reputation | I don't even know if this location is still in existence, or if they are even offering the same types of programs. In 1988, computers were still a relatively "new" thing in the workplace. These days, my particular program would be a high school course. | |
| Program Quality | 7 | Katherine Gibbs used to be known as one of the premier business schools. That may have been true at one time, but while I was attending, the computer equipment they taught on was already 10 years obsolete. |
| Instruction | 5 | Most of my instructors were very good. I learned what was appropriate at the time, but things have changed in the last quarter century. Katherine Gibbs gave me a good start but that's about it. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It wasn't really an "academic" program. The courses were more geared toward business writing skills and how to be a good secretary. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the course work was from books. The only hands-on or practical learning was typing and the mock interviews conducted toward the end of the program so that we could learn how to conduct a proper job interview. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Each program had different starting dates (spring/summer/fall/winter), so I was able to choose when I wanted to start. Once I chose my program and start date, the courses were assigned and a schedule made up that was pretty inflexible. |
| Academic Facilities | This school location had no library, and I was not assigned an advisor. Instructors were always available for help if needed, but this wasn't a regular college, so this doesn't really apply. | |
| Social Life | As I stated above, this was not a regular college. As a business school, there were no sports teams, Greek clubs, or other extra-curricular activities. I was there to finish the program, not socialize. | |
| Placement Services | I didn't utilize the job placement service. I was already working part time for a company while attending school. Once I finished school, I was made a full time employee. After I left that employer, I utilized the temp and placement services in the area to find another job. | |
| Alumni Network | There was no alumni program at this school. If we wanted to stay in touch with our classmates, we did it on our own. |
Lebanon Valley College • Annville, PA
Studying Music Business (completion in 2007)
• 1/14/2012
"I was very satisfied with my school, because of the academics and the leadership of the faculty. I loved the program and the entire experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Lebanon Valley College has expanded its music industry program, and many alumni return to assist current students. The academics are excellent, as is the faculty support. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The college has a highly respected music program. Students come from a distance to enroll in the program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school had an excellent program. It was a mix of business, music, and music business, and provided hands-on experiences. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were excellent. The material was relevant and helpful. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The workload was about average. It was not too much to overwhelm, but it provided us with more than enough material to learn about prospective careers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Learning was a good mix of hands on and book. In the music business program, we were granted access to the recording studio through a combined project with music recording students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to take classes on any day and at any time, weekends and nights included. At that time, however, there was not much for online learning. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Students had access to the library, a music library, practice rooms, performance halls and more. Professors were accessible nearly all of the time and responded immediately to concerns. |
| Social Life | 7 | I did not attend many events, as they did not appeal to me. I did, however, compete on the equestrian team and performed with the marching band. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was not much assistance for my career path. The school was located in rural Central Pennsylvania; it was not close to cities such as New York or Los Angeles with a network of industry professionals. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The alumni network only reaches out through the occasional e-mail or mailing. Most of the year, I do not hear from them. |
University Of Pittsburgh At Johnstown • Johnstown, PA
Studying Communications (completion in 2006)
• 1/13/2012
"I had a wonderful time at school and thoroughly enjoyed my teachers and fellow classmates. At times, the small size was limiting when it came to resources such as labs and library space, but I still felt that I earned a good education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I believe communications can be taught at most schools. People who go into that field generally enjoy working with people, and I don't know if that can be taught through a book. It was the teachers that really made the program what it was, and I think it was a great program because of them. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't think any school is necessarily known for their communications programs. It is a well-respected school, though, so that weighed on my decision to attend. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I enjoyed the program, because I gained a lot of knowledge to work in many fields. I feel it was too vague, though, so my degree isn't taken very seriously. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors were very enjoyable and had a lot of knowledge to share, and that was good. There were not many instructors, so I had many of the same teachers throughout my time there, which made it hard to get different points of view. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I did not find the program to be extremely difficult in most classes; some were harder than others. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did most of our learning through bookwork. Aside from giving presentations, there was not a whole lot of hands-on learning; however, I don't feel my experience suffered because of it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Although I never needed to work around children, a family, or a job, the classes were inflexible. Since there were so few teachers in the department, classes were set at certain times and there were not a lot of options. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school was small, so there were only one or two computer labs, which were small and often full during finals and busy weeks. The library was also small and was hard to work in, because there were not a lot of quiet study areas. Our professors seemed overworked at times, but they were usually available. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was in a sorority, so I was very social and met many people. I was the "social chairperson" for my organization, so I did a lot to network and plan parties. I enjoyed my social experience very much. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I was told that their job placement had a high ranking; however, I did not use it. I know others have gotten jobs through the job placement service. |
| Alumni Network | I do not rely much on the alumni program, so I cannot say if it is good or bad. I have received a call or two from the alumni network, so I know that it is there. |
Allegheny College • Meadville, PA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2011)
• 1/27/2012
"I am happy I went to Allegheny College, because it got me involved in many things that I would not have done in high school. I wish I knew that it was not geared to prepare you for job prep as much as bigger universities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It taught me to organize my time very well. It did not prepare me for the real world as much as it did for graduate school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Allegheny College is not famous for its psychology program specifically. The psychology department has many respected and well-educated faculty members. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I think my liberal arts education really made me the person I am today. The small student-to-faculty ratio helped me really come out of my shell. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers are very personable and highly educated. They are willing to give extra time to help students achieve success in their class during their office hours. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I majored in general psychology and minored in math. General psychology wasn't hard compared to other majors, but our senior thesis required to graduate was a master's-level research paper. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used both books and labs for most psych classes. Teachers relied on the books, but were ready for hands-on lessons. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | My schedule was pretty flexible. I decided how and when I wanted to take classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We had valid and useful resources at college. This included tutors, a library, computer labs, etc. |
| Social Life | 9 | I joined a sorority and was on the executive board for numerous clubs. It was great, because I knew practically everyone on campus; however, the town was very barren and lacked any form of city life. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They have a department (ACCEL) that deals with this directly. Liberal arts education is geared towards getting students to higher education more than careers. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Alumni provide both financial and mentoring support to the college and its students. The Allegheny College Center for Experiential Learning (ACCEL) is geared towards connecting current students with alumni out in the real world, for better jobs and such. |
Lycoming College • Williamsport, PA
Studying International Studies/Sociology (completion in 2008)
• 1/30/2012
"I definitely wish I went somewhere cheaper. I could have gotten a comparable education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Too expensive. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It wasn't a school renowned for International Studies. |
| Program Quality | 2 | I changed majors halfway through and the school wasn't that great for it. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It really wasn't that challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Nothing too extravagant in the world of hands-on learning. | |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The facilities were nice. |
| Social Life | 5 | I made some good friends. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I actually worked at my school's career center. I am not working in the field I majored in. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Since I went to school out of state, all of the alumni live far from me. |
West Chester University • West Chester, PA
Studying Psychology/Health (completion in 2005)
• 2/1/2012
"I think my lack of participation led me to feel the way I do about my school, however I also feel the faculty do not go out of their way to make it a welcoming environment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I didn't like the campus, the frats and sororities and the individuals belonging to them, or the course selection, and it is certainly not cheap. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | It's very difficult to get a job with only a BS in psychology, and the school offered poor assistance with job placement. They didn't help with the transition from graduation to the working world. |
| Program Quality | 3 | I did not like the mandatory core courses, and they did not have an adequate selection of classes. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some teaching methods were difficult to deal with as I am a visual learner. The testing methods also varied. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had a difficult time in the math courses. I had a lot of trouble concentrating/studying. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I said earlier, I prefer to learn from experience or visuals. Many courses are strictly by the book which can make it very challenging. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I often took night classes because I am not a morning person. Most of my classes were once a week from 4-7. I also took advantage of the summer program because student housing is free and the courses seemed to be a lot easier. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They are constantly going under renovations, expanding the campus and making updates to current buildings. It is almost unrecognizable now from the time when I was living there. |
| Social Life | 2 | I did not participate in any sports or activities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There is really no help other than a bulletin board with part time jobs posted, which they call the career center. |
| Alumni Network | I did not participate in any activities at school, nor did I really associate with most people there. I can not accurately answer the question. |
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