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 Midlands Technical College, Trident Technical College, Greenville Technical College, and Tri-County Technical 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 Denmark Technical College, Williamsburg Technical College, Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College, and Central Carolina Technical College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Williamsburg Technical College, Northeastern Technical College, Central Carolina Technical College, and York Technical College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Denmark Technical College, Tri-County Technical College, and Midlands Technical College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Denmark Technical College.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Central Carolina Technical College and Northeastern Technical College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Clemson University • Clemson, SC
Studying Psychology (completion in 2011)
• 8/16/2011
"The academics were good, despite a few weaknesses in the psychology program. However, the social/cultural environment was annoying at times. Overall, my experience there was pretty good, but not great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It really depends on what they are looking for. If they plan to go to graduate school, then it is probably fine. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I have not heard anything about the psychology program specifically (good or bad). But in my experience, it had good teachers and was well organized. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was good for a psychology program I suppose. But all of the classes were more theoretical than practical. |
| Instruction | 5 | Like I stated before, the classes were more theoretical than practical. The program did not offer a lot of career planning advice or information. They did not even explain what the options were for my field. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I did really well in this program but I also worked really hard. It is not as difficult as other programs at the same school, but it definitely requires work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | At least in my program, almost everything we learned was from textbooks. It was kind of frustrating at times because we never got to see what psychologists actually do. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were very few night classes or online classes available. However, I know there are a lot of classes offered in the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The academic facilities in my program were good. There were a lot of small research teams and labs which really gave students an opportunity to understand the research process. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were a lot of athletic events and a lot of school spirit. A lot of the events and parties only appealed to specific kinds of people. There are not a lot of alternative people at Clemson, so at times the lack of diversity can be frustrating. |
| Placement Services | 4 | There is a career center at the school but they do not have a lot of information for psychologists. Also, they have limited connections with companies outside of South Carolina. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I do not even know of any alumni association. If I still lived in South Carolina it would probably be more relevant to me. |
Dutch Fork High School • Irma, SC
Studying Diploma (completion in 2012)
• 9/22/2011
"I like the University of Phoenix, but if given a choice to go back and choose a different school, I would. This is a great school but not for the degree goals that I have."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | For students wishing to complete a Pharm. D. degree, this is not the school for them. University of Phoenix does have great programs but none of them cater to someone working towards this degree. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | Phoenix does have some great programs but for people attending school for pre-requisites for pharmacy school, this is not the program for them. |
| Program Quality | 2 | While Phoenix does offer about 8 classes that I can use as pre-requisites for Pharmacy School, the remaining credits must be pursued at another university. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors at this school are fantastic. They keep classes interesting and I have learned a lot. |
| How Difficult | 2 | I ranked the school a 2 in difficulty because a lot of the materials available are not utilized. I believe the program is set up to be easy so that as many students as possible can pass and keep their financial aid. Students who could not perform basic algebra were still passing the math classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix between textbook and hands-on learning. Each week, classes are given anywhere from 50-500 pages of textbook reading for homework. However, this is ungraded and all of the graded activities and class activities are not from the textbook. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I work a full-time job and maintain a household, so going to school only one night a week (Wednesday) is awesome! University of Phoenix is very flexible for working adults and parents. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The accessibility of the library, computer lab, and instructors is great. Class space is roomy and study sessions and tutoring workshops are also readily available. |
| Social Life | 2 | My social experience at the University of Phoenix has not been a positive one. The staff tolerates too much inappropriate behavior from students. Also, there are no events to promote social interaction. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am not familiar yet with University of Phoenix's job placement and career services. I have talked to many students who say their friends graduated and were set up with fantastic jobs. People say great things about their job placement program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I rated the alumni and support a 5 because I am unsure of the effectiveness of the alumni and support groups. I am a transfer student and will not be UOPX alumni. |
Francis Marion University • Florence, SC
Studying Sociology (completion in 2006)
• 10/4/2011
"You can make lasting friends there. You will always have a place to call home."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great college. You can learn a lot. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They have a great success rate. I would recommend this college to anyone. |
| Program Quality | 8 | In this department, all of the professors' doors were open any time I needed help. Because I had great professors, I feel like I was provided the best education. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were engaged in their students at all times. They were more like friends, in a sense, as well. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Sociology deals with people, so choosing my major was easy for me. I wanted to help people and knew that this was the best major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We would do activities off-campus to help us learn. We could also bring props into class if we thought the class would benefit from it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I lived off-campus and the flexibility was great. It allowed me to work and go to school at the same time. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had several computer rooms all over campus. Helpers in these labs were willing to help by any means. |
| Social Life | 8 | This college has great school spirit. You can also find some organizations to be a part of. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They are willing to help find you a job after graduation. Also, they keep up with you to see how the job is going. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I'm not a part of the alumni as of yet. However, they are always sending information to me to keep me up to date. |
Technical College Of The Lowcountry • Beaufort, SC
Studying Administrative Office Technology (completion in 2001)
• 10/3/2011
"TCL was convenient. I was able to take classes on campus or on base. I never had any issues or problems. When I first inquired about classes, they didn't try to push me into anything I didn't want to know about. The application process was easy and the financial aid department was most helpful. They explained which courses I could transfer to other universities if I so chose to later down the road. For what I needed at the time, they were perfect."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend TCL to someone who wanted a 2-year degree or wanted to take the basics for transfer. It's an ideal college for military or the military spouse. Very accommodating. Staff was extremely helpful. They have a wide variety of course study and programs. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I'm not sure of the current reputation. When I was there in 2000 and 2001, it was excellent. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was a military wife, and the school was an amazing resource for education, taking into consideration the lifestyle that we had. They were helpful in course selection. |
| Instruction | 7 | I had prior business education, so I already knew some of the required courses, and I felt like they were redundant. However, my prior education was in high school, so I had to take the courses anyway. |
| How Difficult | 5 | This was something that I'd already studied, so the majority of it was easy to average. There were a couple of courses that were more difficult than others, but that was due to not having prior experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We always had to perform what we learned in Office Technology. It was more hands on than book, however, we always had to learn and know the basics of what we learned. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They were very accommodating to those of us who were either in the military or were military spouses. Also, there was never a long lapse between classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Had everything we needed close at hand. If needed, we were able to use other local resources through the college. Professors had set times that students could schedule appointments, and they were always available whenever a student needed advice. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I was always able to schedule an appointment with ease with the career counselor. I already had a job lined up, so I didn't need to use the job placement offer. |
College Of Charleston • Charleston, SC
Studying Biology (completion in 2007)
• 10/16/2011
"I am extremely satisfied with my school. I feel that I gained a great deal of knowledge during my time there and that I benefitted more than if I had attended a different institution. I feel that I received a well-rounded and versed education and my experience there will continue to have a positive impact on my life for a long time to come."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I felt that my school was a great school to attend to gain a great education and it's a definite must for those who want to continue their education after their time there. However, for individuals whose sole career goal is to be an "Administrative Assistant," I would advise them to attend a different institution for the simple fact that my institution wasn't cheap and the kind of salary that an Administrative Assistants usually receives would make it difficult to pay back any student loans the individual may incur during their time at the College of Charleston. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe that my school has a very good reputation for the sciences, specifically biology. Many of its graduates go on to further their education in a post-graduate setting, or even medical school. However, I have not seen any published rankings of the school's biology program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The College of Charleston has an excellent and challenging Biology program. I feel that I learned a great deal, even if my grades didn't always reflect that knowledge. |
| Instruction | 10 | The College of Charleston, and more specifically the School of Sciences and Mathematics, has a knowledgeable and well-versed staff of Professors, Associate Professors and TA's. No matter what science course I was enrolled in, the course material was always engaging and interesting. |
| How Difficult | 8 | In my opinion, my program of study was very difficult due to the standards set by the School of Sciences and Mathematics. Both deans and professors wanted to ensure a well-rounded and thorough understanding of all course work, and I found the course load to be both challenging and profound. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel that there was a good mix of both hands-on and book-learning with my program of study. Naturally, with sciences, there has to be some hands-on learning to go along with the information found in text books. But I feel that the professors in my program understood that students needed as much hands-on application of the material as possible in order to truly grasp the concepts of the subject matter. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school offered many different ways to attend classes, various types of classes, and different length-of-semester options. I feel that they have many different options that can accommodate student's schedules. I, myself, took an evening class once and it was very convenient to my work schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | My alma mater offered many different resources to assist students. While I was in attendance, they opened a state of the art library complete with a vast computer room, study rooms, study desks, knowledgeable staff and online and hardback media. The school also offered a tutoring service and math and language labs, and there was always ample opportunity to seek help from professors. |
| Social Life | 7 | My social experience was fairly positive. The school offered many opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, such as academic and interest clubs, sports, and fun activities. However, since the school did not have a football team, and that the campus was fairly open and in the middle of a city, the cohesiveness of the student body that is typically found at large state institutions was lacking. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I believe that my school's career services office is very capable and very helpful to any students that seek out their assistance. However, since I never utilized their services, I cannot give a in-depth review of their helpfulness. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The Office of Alumni Relations tries to keep the school's Alumni connected and engaged with the College, but due to the fact that the school does not have a Football team, I feel that the connection that Alumni feel to the school is lacking. |
University Of South Carolina Upstate • Spartanburg, SC
Studying Science (completion in 2005)
• 11/18/2011
"I am more than satisfied with USCU - I got my degree and grew as a person. It opened my mind to new ideas and experiences that I wouldn't have had without having gone there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great school for many occupations, administrative included. I think getting a degree of any kind would benefit anyone wanting to be an administrative assistant. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Since science classes are required for the nursing program and that area of study is competitive, USCU had a incredible reputation for this course of study. The classes were made more difficult to ensure the ability to complete nursing school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | USCU is an incredible school for all of the programs they offer. I had originally enrolled in the nursing program, but due to time constraints, I got my BS. |
| Instruction | 6 | My course of study doesn't relate much to the work that I currently do, however, the discipline it took for me to get the degree helped. I think the courses I took and the work required to complete them made me more prepared for a career in general. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I majored in science. That being said, science classes require labs to receive credits. These classes are far more intense than most classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were lots of hands-on type learning in all the labs I took with my science classes. With other classes, they were more geared toward books, but with a mix of learning or relating to life experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Most classes are available during the day. There are fewer classes available on nights and weekends in my course of study. There were also only a limited number of available classes in the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The professors were incredible and made every effort to help students and be available to them. They also had great computer labs, classrooms and support groups. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was a nontraditional student, so parties, spirit, and athletics were not of much interest to me. I did work with various honors groups to organize community service events in the local community. |
| Placement Services | I have never used any job placement or career service from USCU, because upon completion of my degree, I soon had my first child and stayed home with him until recently. I was not looking for work, but was approached about this position and accepted. | |
| Alumni Network | I am unable to rate this, simply because I am not involved with any alumni network, nor do I look to USCU for any support. I know that they have programs in place to help with this, but I am too busy. |
Clemson University • Clemson, SC
Studying Business Management (completion in 2009)
• 11/30/2011
"My experience was very satisfying. I would not trade my experience at Clemson for anything in the world. I learned so very much at Clemson and look forward to giving back to the university that taught me so much."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Clemson, South Carolina is the best place in the world. My experience there and the education I gained have prepared me for every duty asked in my current role as Administrative Resident. In the event I am not sure how to handle a task, I have the confidence to ask questions and communicate with team members. This confidence comes directly from my time at Clemson University. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Clemson University is a top 25 university, according to US News magazine. The research, the alumni, the community, and the history of the school speaks for itself. |
| Program Quality | 8 | One of the best business schools in the country. My business degree involved courses in accounting, marketing, and English. These studies have prepared me for the duties of my current role. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors at Clemson University are not just tenured, but experienced through working in the field of study. Many still perform research in the areas in which they teach, which keeps them current on issues surrounding the topic. |
| How Difficult | 5 | While rewarding, the program was not very challenging. The most challenging are the finance courses; however, with a little initiative, one can easily tackle these courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For me personally, I struggled as a freshman. The Academic Success Center provided great guidance and allowed me to have a successful college career. Honestly, without this hands-on learning center, I would not have my degree. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I went as a full-time student. However, they do offer distance learning. I would imagine, though, that some classes conflict with work or family scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Many buildings on campus are brand new. However, most are historic. In the case of the historic buildings, they have been updated to ensure the best academic experience. |
| Social Life | 10 | The social experience is the best in the country. Students take great pride in the athletic teams and their organizations on campus. |
| Placement Services | 6 | There are ample opportunities for networking, which is effective if the students take advantage. However, in the business school, the jobs graduates take vary. Being so, placement is not as significant as other majors. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Very active in pursuing alumni involvement with a great network of local organizations. As I move up the ladder in my organization, I plan on becoming more involved, because it provides a sense of pride from giving back to Clemson. |
University Of South Carolina • Columbia, SC
Studying Art Studio (completion in 2010)
• 12/11/2011
"Certain aspects of the bureaucracy annoyed me. In retrospect, it's good that I spent so much time fighting it and learning the ins and outs of tearing it down, given that's what I'm now paid to do."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My school might have a good program for those wishing to work in administrative services. As that isn't the program I attended, I cannot say for certain and cannot, therefore, recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | USC is a general university, not an art school. While the art program there is a good one, it cannot be compared to the programs at schools that focus only on the arts. To attempt that would be unfair. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My university had excellent art teachers. The studio program was somewhat weaker than the history program, but that was due to budget cuts rather than any weakness of the professors themselves. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were skilled and excellent. They imparted their knowledge well. It isn't their fault that my final career had nothing to do with my education. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Art is a difficult field of study. Studio classes typically ran 3+ hours, multiple times a week. For that reason, it was physically demanding, as well as intellectually demanding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The arts are, by their nature, hands on. Some book learning is possible, but one will never learn to draw a tree by just reading about them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The vast majority of classes were at standard times. There were, of course, summer classes and some evening classes, which I took advantage of. I'm sure that weekend and online options were also available for certain classes, but they were not available for my particular major. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The art school was rather low on the totem pole at the university. While we had dedicated classroom space and lab space, these spaces were small and often crowded. |
| Social Life | 5 | I cared very little for most social activities at the university. The vast majority of activities were centered around football, basketball, and baseball; sports I dislike. I did, however, attend the occasional literary event and gallery opening. |
| Placement Services | I have not used these services. While still in classes, I did research and determined that it did not fit my needs. | |
| Alumni Network | Although my school has an alumni network, I have not made use of it. I took a look at it while still taking classes and determined it was not a good fit for my needs. |
Charleston Southern University • North Charleston, SC
Studying Music Therapy (completion in 2007)
• 12/24/2011
"The mix of learning styles and small classroom sizes created a wonderful learning environment. In addition, my professors were extremely knowledgeable and personable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My degree program was for music therapy, but I hold an administrative position now. I was lucky in finding a music therapy company needing an assistant. If someone knows that they want to be an assistant, they should pursue other educational opportunities. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | CSU is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association. It is well represented as providing a high-quality music therapy program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My university provided a high-quality integrative approach to education. I was able to learn from a variety of styles of music therapy. This assists me in my career today. |
| Instruction | 8 | The knowledge I learned at the university level helps me communicate with my manager now, when I am assisting with administrative tasks. Because I work in a specialized field, my knowledge of music therapy allows me to correctly bill and communicate with other professionals working with our company. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The content was easy to understand, if you put forth the time and energy to study. It was a time-consuming program and required time management. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My degree program required many music-based experiences, including music lessons and performance and intervention demonstrations. My core classes required a lot of book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | My university offered summer programs. However, many of my classes were only offered during one semester a year. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Libraries, tutors, and professors were often available with extra hours during finals. Tutors were available at no cost to the students. |
| Social Life | 5 | Prayer teams, sororities, and clubs were present on campus. However, due to the nature of my studies, I did not participate. |
| Placement Services | I did not use my university's placement program. I contacted music therapy companies to become a therapist. During my search, I found a music therapist who needed an administrative assistant to help with the office side of the private practice. | |
| Alumni Network | CSU publishes an alumni newsletter and encourages alumni participation at football games, fundraisers, etc. Because I no longer live in my school's state, I do not participate and cannot rate the quality. |
Forrest Junior College • Anderson, SC
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1995)
• 1/17/2012
"I graduated with the degree I enrolled for. I enjoyed my time there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on what type of career someone would be going into. This college isn't for everyone. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'm really not sure. The school is mainly known for the nursing assistant program. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I was pleased with my classes and my degree. There were no job fairs at the end to help me find a suitable job. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers and staff were very informative and intelligent. I enjoyed learning and applying myself. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I learn "hands on" rather quickly. School work has always been rather easy for me. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to work during the day and attend school at night. That worked out great for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The school is a very small, one-building campus. They have a lot of resources for the size. |
| Social Life | It's more of a community college. Extremely small campus and classes. | |
| Placement Services | 2 | I wasn't helped at all in job placement. There were no job fairs or anything of that nature. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I have not heard from anyone in the school since I graduated. I have not received any information from the school. |
Bob Jones University • Greenville, SC
Studying Humanities (General Studies) (completion in 2006)
• 1/24/2012
"No school is perfect, but BJU was the best fit for me. I would not have gone elsewhere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | BJU is not for everyone. It is a tough school. We hold very high standards that accord with God's Word, the Bible. We believe in preaching His word for others to hear; not just by mouth, but by our actions. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | BJU is known for its excellence. Any degree from BJU must be earned. Many employers in the South know that graduates from BJU with any degree are well trained and well prepared. |
| Program Quality | 9 | BJU does an excellent job with the humanities program. I was able to take classes in many different fields. |
| Instruction | 10 | BJU is an excellent school that strives for excellence. Just by having a degree from them, you gain a strong work ethic that is valued at any job. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The program I chose was difficult, because you were required to take classes from every college offered at the university. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It really depended on the class. There was an even number of both types. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | BJU offers a very flexible schedule to fit the needs of both the young freshman and the older, married student. They have many summer courses, correspondence courses, and night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | BJU has very good facilities. Some of them are old, but they still look nice. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was involved in a lot of stuff when I was in school, and I can't even remember how I got my schoolwork done. Between sports, music programs, and formal events, I was never without a chance to meet new people. |
| Placement Services | 8 | BJU has struggled in this area since the economy fell greatly in the last 5 years. However, they do have many job fairs, websites, and contacts available for students seeking employment. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | BJU is a family. I still keep in touch with my teachers and friends that I met at the school. I have seen BJU rally around its graduates in times of need like no other school does. |
York Technical College • Rock Hill, SC
Studying Business (completion in 1986)
• 1/19/2012
"It's a great school where you can get a two-year degree, medical degree, or dental hygienist degree, and not pay a lot of money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school to others. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is one of the best places to get a two-year business degree. I think a two-year business degree is sufficient, if you're planning to operate your own business, such as cosmetology. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had no problem with the school I attended. I was taught what I was needed to be taught. A lot of courses dealt with computers and the office. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors were great. I learned what I needed to learn and apply on my job today. |
| How Difficult | 2 | My classes were easy. I graduated with high honors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | You were able to have hands-on instruction if the professor was available. I can remember using the books a lot more than hands-on activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are morning and evening classes available. I don't know if there are weekend classes. I never went on the weekend when I was there. |
| Academic Facilities | I really don't know. I can't remember using many of the school's facilities. | |
| Social Life | 9 | I met a few new friends there. I still remember those friends and their names. There weren't many parties there. |
| Placement Services | I was placed in a job by the school. I never asked about job placement. | |
| Alumni Network | If they have an alumni network, I don't know about it. |
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