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 Everett Community College, Clark, and Highline Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Bates, Highline Community College, Renton Technical College, and Shoreline Community College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Clover Park Technical College, Peninsula College, Renton Technical College, and Lower Columbia.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Lower Columbia.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Yakima Valley Community College, Skagit Valley College, Edmonds Community College, and Wenatchee Valley College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Washington • Seattle, WA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 8/20/2011
"I wouldn't have chosen another university to go to. My experiences at UW were awesome and I will have lifelong memories."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's an awesome school with a vast amount of resources. Also, it's one of the top innovative research universities in the nation with several programs that are named number one across the country. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Business administration is like the general business degree that everyone is able to choose one you get into the school. Also, some of the other specialized programs, like marketing or finance, have more requirements, which I did not have time or money for. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I feel like more emphasis on job placement after college would have been helpful. Also, a program that is geared more towards internships and externships and hands on experience would have been better. |
| Instruction | 7 | The quality of instruction was pretty good, but the class sizes that each person had to endure in order to get into the business school were way too large. This affected the quality of the material. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The difficulty of the material being taught was pretty average. More challenges, in terms of group projects and individual projects, would be an improvement as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I thought it was average. There were a lot of books and not enough actual hands on field experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There was some flexibility, but not enough to have a full time job and go to school. Some of the classes were only offered once per year or every other quarter at specific times. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Most of the facilities are state of the art. The business school was recently remodeled and access to technology was amazing. |
| Social Life | 8 | UW was a pretty lively school. The parties and the greek life was amazing in addition to the academics. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I thought job placement was pretty average. Also, there was not a real emphasis on internships at all. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The Foster School of Business alumni base is huge and very well connected. It's one of the top alumni networks at the school. |
The Evergreen State College • Olympia, WA
Studying Health Education (completion in 2006)
• 10/10/2011
"I learn best in interdisciplinary settings. Separating subjects into different classes doesn't help me tie them together as easily."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend The Evergreen State College to anyone who is a self-starter and wants to attend an alternative, accredited state school. It is inexpensive and you can choose to study what you wish. It is a great school for those with motivation that know what they want. It can be a huge waste of money for those who are procrastinators or need pressure from professors. |
| Program Quality | 9 | TESC has the option to create your own program. I was able to design my own coursework and do an internship for nine months. I interned and volunteered at Planned Parenthood (Education Department,) as well as did administrative work for my supervisor there. It was very valuable to get school credit for work that I wanted to do! |
| Instruction | 7 | I had some amazing teachers and a great faculty sponsor. What makes TESC stand out is its approach of teaching, using "integrated learning." Instead of taking multiple classes, you enroll in a "program" that is interdisciplinary and is the only class you attend. For me, this was a great way to learn. The downside is that if you end up in a program that doesn't work for you, or if you don't like the instructors, it is often too late to switch programs. I was stuck in a program that I did not like for a quarter. |
| How Difficult | 9 | At TESC, a student has "evaluations," not grades. If someone decides to procrastinate, they simply get less credits for the program. It is truly a school where the amount of work you do and the effort put in is up to the individual. I was very interested and motivated, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to do the best work I could. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Academics at Evergreen are what you make of them. If a student was in a program or had designed their own, there was always a requirement that books and other media were to be a part of the program. The school emphasized applying the knowledge you had gained, regardless of what path you chose for coursework. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Within a program at The Evergreen State College, students have the ability to choose which credits they wish (sociology, statistics, etc.). Also, there is the option to create your own course of study (with faculty sponsorship.) There are also night/weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The library was above average, well supplied with recent technology, and had late hours. Professors were generally welcoming and available. There were labs for math and English that were open late as well. |
| Social Life | 3 | I personally had little desire to be involved with much of the student body. I was almost 10 years older than many of my peers, and as a result, I felt rather out of place there. There were social events; I simply did not feel I belonged there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There are a lot of resources at the school itself. However, the online support is very limited. Considering the school is in Washington State and I am now in Maryland, it doesn't help me or other alums who have moved home very much! |
| Alumni Network | I honestly am not involved as an alum, so I cannot really give a proper answer. They do send out mailings (and call to solicit donations). I know that many alums are still very involved in the school. |
Tacoma Community College • Tacoma, WA
Studying Human Services (completion in 2011)
• 10/13/2011
"I enjoyed my school. I liked my teachers and found the work stimulating. The class sizes were right and the teachers cared if you learned the material or not."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Tacoma Community College can use all the support it can get, and it is a great place for a person to bloom and learn great things. It is a great place to find oneself. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Tacoma Community College is the leader in the human services field around the sound. They are known far and wide for the well-trained professionals that they turn out. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school provided a nice atmosphere for learning. I found their student resources to be very helpful. |
| Instruction | 7 | The class sizes were quite small and the teachers had more time to spend with each student. The teachers went out of their way to make the students feel welcome. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I found the work to be very easy. Other people, I believe, had a difficult time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The whole college is very hands-on from day one. You keep a case file and practice counseling and family therapy. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school had most of the classes during the day, but offered classes at night as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The college was extremely wired with wi-fi all around the college, but the library was lacking in religious material. |
| Social Life | 5 | School spirit was average at my school. There were people with spirit, but mostly there were people who quietly cheered in the background. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They school did what they could. The job market in our area is sparse at best. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They have a newsletter and help students find work after school, but the links are very sparse in these hard economic times. |
South Puget Sound Community College • Tumwater, WA
Studying Business (completion in 2007)
• 10/8/2011
"The school prides itself in providing useful education and remaining a positive input for the community. The school includes students, parents and community in big decisions regarding the progress of the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel anyone attending this school will be provided a well-planned and complete course material and instructions. Also, due to much efforts and priority, the school holds a positive influence in the community. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Obtaining a degree from the college represents a good education to potential employers. Many employers work with the school to select potential new employees for near-future work. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school as a whole takes each course very seriously and provides the best possible education, regardless of the program. The school has built appropriate classroom environments, such as large speaking conference rooms, science labs, dental hygiene labs, large auto mechanic rooms to provide accurate training, excellent stage areas to present plays, and office environment areas to provide similar situations in the workplace. |
| Instruction | 10 | The school prides itself in hiring the best candidate for a position. Much of the staff is on contract, allowing for inferior teachers to be let go and excellent teachers to be kept and well paid. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The textbooks were difficult, but the instructors' classroom training and assistance provided the necessary information to grasp ideas. The instructors make sure everyone is on track and they do not leave any students behind during the process. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school provides easy access to books, libraries and labs to help assist students, regardless of their level and need for assistance. Both hands-on and book learning are a top priority with the instructors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school offers courses several times throughout a class schedule to meet full-time and part-time students' needs. Also, students who work full-time will find it easy to attend class around their work schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school provides an excellent library and computer lab. In addition, there are accessible math labs, science labs, etc., where students can go to receive some one-on-one assistance from higher-level students and instructors who volunteer their time. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school does not have a big presence in the community regarding sports. However, they do offer some interesting cultural meetings in particular local Indian tribes. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school makes information accessible about businesses that are hiring and what they are looking for. Even after graduation, counselors will assist in the job placement process. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The school keeps graduates informed of progress, future ideas, and financial needs. The school also involves graduates and the public to become involved in the arts of the students, such as plays, etc. |
University Of Washington • Seattle, WA
Studying Museum Studies (completion in 2007)
• 10/19/2011
"I wouldn't do it again. I learned things, but much of it isn't applicable in the real world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It's tough to get a job right now, and they don't help with that. Better off with a Master's. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There are not a lot of schools out there teaching the program. Wish it was improved. |
| Program Quality | 2 | The school has poor alumni support and a poor job outlook. |
| Instruction | 2 | Most classes by single instructor. Not all that relevant. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Average for a Master's program. Teachers were tough to get a hold of if you had questions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depends on the class. Law is very theoretical while collections work was with actual objects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | You are either a standard student, or you aren't in the program. There are no alternative options. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The libraries are great but the advisors are clueless. |
| Social Life | 1 | Undergrads are usually more into school spirit. Most grad students took classes and moved on. |
| Placement Services | 1 | It doesn't exist. Most job posts are for work/study, not real world jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | It doesn't exist. Most alumni owe nothing to the program after graduation. |
University Of Washington • Seattle, WA
Studying Informatics (completion in 2004)
• 12/1/2011
"It is what it is. I'm glad I'm done."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a helpful education. I thought I'd have a better job by now, though. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They're one of the few in the country. It's a good program. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was interesting, but I was there in the second year of the program. I'm sure it's much better now. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some of the classes were super useful, like database design and theory. Other ones, however, were not. A lot of academia mumbo jumbo. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was okay. Not too challenging; just boring at times. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because we did a lot of computer work, it was more hands on. However, there was still a lot of bookwork. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | It was mostly traditional. It's a traditional university. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I think it was okay. Hard to remember. But I know they expanded, so it's probably much better now. |
| Social Life | I'm a hermit. I didn't get out much. | |
| Placement Services | 3 | They weren't helpful to me at all. I didn't try that hard, though. |
| Alumni Network | I have no idea. I don't keep in touch. |
Seattle Community College • Seattle, WA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1976)
• 12/20/2011
"It would have been nice to be able to go to a four-year college or university, but the rest of my life didn't work out to support that. SCC gave me what I needed when I needed it to become a success."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | In consideration of the ever-rising costs of education and the continuing lack of governmental support, SCC gives a student the most "bang for the buck." Go ahead and get your two-year degree, get a job, and then work out the rest of the four-year gig. SCC will help you with the first part. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SCC is successful in establishing and maintaining relevant training programs. It's a philosophy that has served it well for many years. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Seattle Community College's strength is in the training and education provided for folks who need to get jobs and be successful. My business administration program was not the only one I completed over the years. |
| Instruction | 10 | SCC prides itself on having educators and instructors who have "real world" experience that they can use to help them teach what's important. I didn't get the "ivory tower" feeling from instructors there. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I was working in administration at the same time I was going to school, which was of great benefit to me. I often used actual situations from work as case studies for class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I thought the instructors used books to meet minimum standards for subjects. I learned more, most of the time, from their personal experience and anecdotal instruction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Over the years, these opportunities have done nothing but get better. It used to be that having a class available online or with TV instruction was a real exception. Now, it seems like you could get most of your degree that way. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | As a community college, albeit the largest in the Seattle area, resources are always available for students. It seems like every year, there are more (if the funding is there), and if the funding isn't there, someone will come along and do it for free. |
| Social Life | I always worked while going to school. Additionally, I raised a daughter, got married and achieved promotions at work, all while in school. I didn't have a lot of time for much socialization outside of my immediate classmates. | |
| Placement Services | I didn't have to use any job placement services from the school. I was concurrently employed and stayed with the same employer the entire time I went to school. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There's not much of an official alumni association, but more often, there are groups that stay in contact. That was usually the case until Facebook came along, anyway. |
Everett Community College • Everett, WA
Studying Business (completion in 2007)
• 12/30/2011
"I learned so much from my courses and the professors, as well as the study groups. I found a full-time job after graduation, with a significantly higher salary."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My experience with Everett Community College was exceptional. I cannot say enough good things about them. From professors to study groups to hands-on learning opportunities, Everett Community College is the best! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Everett Community College has an excellent reputation. Their business program is one of the best in Washington State. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Both the professors and the hands-on experience I received were beneficial. The textbooks were also invaluable. I especially appreciated the guest speakers that Everett Community College provided. |
| Instruction | 10 | Instruction was topnotch from leaders in the business field. The curriculum was relevant to real-life work situations. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had worked as a secretary for many years before deciding to get a degree, so the work wasn't incredibly difficult. The workload was a challenge, due to working full-time while going to college. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Excellent mix of hands on and book learning. This is one of the reasons I chose Everett Community College; I wanted a good mix of both. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was thankful for their night classes, as I worked full-time while attending college. A weekend option was not available at the time I took my courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Study groups were a huge help. I have kept in touch with several of the students in my study group. Professors were willing to give extra time and attention when needed. |
| Social Life | I did not participate in any social activities while at college. I worked full-time and had additional responsibilities that did not allow for such activities. I believe many opportunities are available for those interested. | |
| Placement Services | 8 | This is one of the reasons I chose to go to Everett Community College. I knew they had a great reputation for career job placement and assistance after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I found the network of alumni to be very helpful, and I felt I could call on experienced businesspeople as a resource. Many graduates remained in the Everett area, which I really appreciated. |
Seattle Community College • Seattle, WA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1976)
• 12/20/2011
"It would have been nice to be able to go to a four-year college or university, but the rest of my life didn't work out to support that. SCC gave me what I needed when I needed it to become a success."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | In consideration of the ever-rising costs of education and the continuing lack of governmental support, SCC gives a student the most "bang for the buck." Go ahead and get your two year degree, get a job, and then work out the rest of the four year gig. SCC will help you with the first part. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SCC is successful in establishing and maintaining relevant training programs. It's a philosophy that has served it well for many years. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Seattle Community College's strength is in the training and education provided for folks who need to get jobs and be successful. My business administration program was not the only one I completed over the years. |
| Instruction | 10 | SCC prides itself on having educators and instructors who have "real world" experience they can use to help them teach what's important. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I was working in administration while going to school, which was of great benefit to me. I often used actual situations from work as case studies for class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I thought the instructors used books to meet minimum standards for subjects. I learned more, most of the time, from their personal experience and anecdotal instruction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Over the years these opportunities have done nothing but get better. It used to be that having a class available online or with TV instruction was a real exception. Now it seems like you could get most of your degree that way. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | As a community college, albeit the largest in the Seattle area, these resources are always available for students. It seems like every year there are more if the funding is there and if the funding isn't there, someone will come along and do it for free. |
| Social Life | I always worked while going to school. Additionally, I raised a daughter, got married and achieved promotions at work, all while in school. I didn't have a lot of time for much socialization outside of my immediate classmates. | |
| Placement Services | I didn't have to use any job placement services from the school. I was concurrently employed and stayed with the same employer the entire time I went to school. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There's not much of an official alumni association but more often there are groups that stay in contact. That was usually the case until Facebook came along, anyway. |
Seattle University • Seattle, WA
Studying English Literature (completion in 2004)
• 1/9/2012
"I liked SU a lot, but my experience there was defined by the excellent professors. Aside from the professors, SU didn't seem like an exceptional school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you're interested in long-term administrative work, you can't go wrong with SU -- but then again, you probably can't go wrong with any number of community colleges that provide a degree for less money. SU provided a supportive environment with a wonderful faculty. If that's what you're looking for, then the English program at SU is a fabulous place for you. But don't expect it to propel your career -- you still have to do that on your own. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | SU is known for being a good Jesuit school on the West Coast. It's also known for some of its athletics, and I've heard good things about its nursing program. I'm not sure SU is known for its English program. |
| Program Quality | 7 | SU has great humanities programs and a wonderful faculty. Their program in English literature exposed me to a lot of texts about which I didn't know, and they taught me to write somewhat effectively and think critically. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were the best part of SU. I don't think they did much to prepare me for a specific career, but they certainly expected a lot of me, so that I can contribute a lot to any job. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Now that I've taken master's-level courses, I don't think SU courses were particularly difficult. The workload was reasonable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was more focus on the foundations of English literature than on practical applications of an English degree. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | SU offered the classes I needed, but not necessarily the classes I wanted (in particular, less commonly taught languages). Their summer class schedule was pretty limited, but I don't know what, if anything, they offered online or in the evenings. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The selection at the library wasn't huge, but if they didn't have what we needed, the staff could get it for us through interlibrary loan. There were several computer labs, but I wish they were open longer hours or that we had more IT support for failing computers and printers. The classrooms were fine. The writing center was helpful. The professors were the best part -- many were excellent, and most were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 5 | There seemed to be plenty of school spirit around athletics. I was part of the music program at SU, and that was fun, but casual -- there was no music major at the school when I was there. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The focus at SU was usually more on academics than on jobs. I didn't learn how to craft a resume there, and I held no internships while there. Then again, these services might have been available to students who were less focused on academics and more focused on career tracks. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I don't take much advantage of the alumni network, but they haven't done much outreach to me either. That said, individual professors cared about me and we still keep in touch. |
Cornish College Of The Arts • Seattle, WA
Studying Theatre (completion in 2009)
• 1/17/2012
"I wish I had received more support the first couple of years after I graduated. I felt like I was just kicked out the door with no guidance."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, but I would warn against how expensive it is. Also, I would let them know my experience with their lack of alumni relations. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | On the West Coast, it is a very well-known and respected program. On the East Coast, almost no one has heard of it, so if your ultimate goal is to move to the East Coast, it may not be the right choice. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I learned how to be a self-sustaining artist and am very confident in my skills. The tools I learned were very applicable in the real world. |
| Instruction | 8 | We didn't receive very much after-graduation preparation, which I hear has been remedied due to a business class. |
| How Difficult | 9 | We had to take 18 credits of coursework every semester, which was a huge challenge in time management. Also, they could cut you from the program at any time, which is very stressful and can create anxiety. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost all of the coursework is hands on, with most projects being performances. This worked for me, since I learn best that way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | They don't provide alternative schedules. You have to work your work schedule around the program. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I would say they have good resources. In particular, the library is kept very up to date with great resources from other databases on the internet. |
| Social Life | 8 | It is a very tight-knit community, which can be overwhelming at the time of the program. However, after graduating, it has been a bond that is unbreakable. |
| Placement Services | 1 | This is the biggest negative about my experience at Cornish. They have no job placement after you graduate, and they only invite a panel for the showcase at the end of the year; many employers are not actually looking to hire when they attend this. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | They provide nothing to the alumni network. They do not even help with job searches, and they don't have a good way to stay in touch with classmates. They provide zero alumni relations as far as career advancement, which is a huge drawback. |
The Evergreen State College • Olympia, WA
Studying Creative Writing (completion in 2010)
• 2/15/2012
"I have a great appreciation for the wide variety of learning experience that Evergreen supports. Part of me wishes that I had been able to enjoy a more traditional college experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I actually wouldn't recommend college for someone intentionally pursuing my career. In fact, I doubt that anyone does intentionally pursue an Administrative career. But if someone were going to, Evergreen would be a fine place to start. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The general perception is that Evergreen is a good school for all creative pursuits. It is also perceived as a sham/hippy haven by some. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Creativity is encouraged and nurtured at Evergreen. I am a non-traditional student, and did well in that non-traditional educational environment. |
| Instruction | 5 | I was disappointed more often than not with the personal engagement of my professors. By rating them average, I mean typical as opposed to categorizing them as "not good." |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work load and difficulty were largely determined by me. Having said that, most people who observed my undergraduate course of study considered it to be at a graduate level. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My course of study was very book learning oriented, but the bulk of my learning was done hands-on. I read a lot, and wrote even more. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Most of my work at Evergreen was completed via distance learning and independent study. I did not live in Olympia, and designed all my own coursework for my final 4 quarters of credit. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The student resources at Evergreen are plentiful. If you can think of something that will assist in your studies, someone at Evergreen will help you access it. |
| Social Life | 5 | During my time on campus I created a small network of friends and associates. Since I did most of my studies via distance learning, I cannot comment beyond that. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I do not believe any undergraduate program in writing offers much in the way of career services. Having received no services of this type from Evergreen, I consider that to be average. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive information and requests from my alumni organization on a regular basis. I am largely uninterested in participating at this point in time, and remain unaware of the quality of the network and support it provides. |
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