Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
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 Milwaukee Area Technical College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider College of Menominee Nation and Milwaukee Area Technical College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Menominee Nation, Moraine Park Technical College, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Northland International University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Northland International University, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, and Northcentral Technical College.
Excellence
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Nicolet Area Technical College, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, College of Menominee Nation, and Gateway Technical College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Southwest Wisconsin Technical College • Fennimore, WI
Studying Administrative Assistant (completion in 2009)
• 8/13/2011
"I am satisfied with the information I learned while attending Southwest Tech. However, I wish they would help more when people graduate and are looking for jobs. I think it's bad when the school you graduate from won't even hire you for a position they are need of that you just received a degree in!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I liked the instructors I had, but one I really liked retired. Also, I hear they've changed the program up a bit, so I don't know if I would recommend someone to the program the way it is now or not. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think they have an average reputation for the program. They aren't anything fantastic, but they do do alright. |
| Program Quality | 7 | For being in a small town, I think they have a decent program. Probably like every school though, I think they could do better. |
| Instruction | 7 | Overall they did a good job. However, there is plenty of room for improvement. For instance, they could have explained what electives would benefit Administrative Assistants, such as an Accounting class or Medical Terminology class. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't find the program difficult for me. Computers are easy for me to understand, so the work wasn't really difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think my school was a good mix. The things I did for my classes usually consisted of me following instructions in a book and creating what they described on the computer. I loved how hands-on it was, and how I could work at my own pace. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Flexibility at Southwest Tech wasn't the greatest. They had some classes offered online and in the summer, but not many. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I think the school had decent resources. The instructors I had were always willing to help or find a tutor to help you if you needed it. Also, the computer lab I used was very nice. |
| Social Life | 4 | Our school doesn't have many activities. There are no sports teams, which I didn't like. Also, they basically just had 2 school picnics where they'd grill burgers for students and then have a hypnotist or something. |
| Placement Services | 1 | When it came to finding a job in my program's field, my school was not any help. All they did was give us a website to visit to find jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | My counselor wasn't helpful at all. I didn't find out until going into my final semester that I needed to take electives, so I had to cram them all into my final semester to graduate with my class. |
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse • La Crosse, WI
Studying Community Health Education (completion in 2009)
• 8/20/2011
"Overall, I enjoyed my experience at UWL. However, my program and education was lacking in numerous areas. I am not an active participant in the alumni program because of my dissatisfaction."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend my school to others in general, but NOT to those pursuing a community health degree. The program is simply not developed far enough and the staff needs to branch out and expand its views. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Community health education is a growing field that is not offered by many accredited universities, so UWL is popular and well known for offering it. However, the instructors and board are VERY biased and close minded. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My program for Community Health Education at UW La Crosse based all education on the assumption that all students would pursue a career as a community health educator. I worked as a preschool teacher before my current admin position. I feel like my education is useless if I am not in a SPECIFIC, predetermined role. |
| Instruction | 5 | There were instructors I would give an 11 out of 10 to and there are others I would give a 0 out of 10 to. I wish that tenure didn't determine which instructors stayed, but that student satisfaction could be the basis for keeping or dismissing a staff member. |
| How Difficult | 1 | There was no learning involved, only memorizing and repeating. I did not take any useful information from my program, and I feel like I wasted not only my time, but my money as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost EVERYTHING was book and theory based - very little was hands on or observation learning. I think that left us at a disadvantage compared to those at other campuses in a similar progam. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | We were able to book our own classes and determine which classes we wanted and at which times. Whether they fit together and whether we got the necessary classes we needed was up to us. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Again, average, unless you brown-nosed into a special position with instructors. The library on campus was helpful and filled with staff who enjoyed helping students. However, I rarely utilized the library because it was grossly undersized for the student population size. |
| Social Life | 7 | La Crosse is a well known drinking campus in Wisconsin, so I definitely took advantage of the drinking and party scent during my college years. However, school spirit was obviously lacking during all four years of my degree. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I was not given ANY assistance after graduation. I was not a brown noser in college so I was not given preferential treatment. I also had no interest in staying in La Crosse, Wisconsin to pursue a career, so I was essentially ignored. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I feel that many alums were left with the same sour taste that I was. If you were not immediately planning to pursue a career as a health educator, you were not a priority and you were ignored. The program at UWL is kind of like a cult! And if you don't participate, you will be ignored. |
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College • Superior, WI
Studying Administrative Assistant (completion in 2005)
• 9/5/2011
"I am pretty satisfied. Although I wish I had gone to a four year school to be an executive, the skills I learned have proven very valuable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school. The skills I learned are beneficial and easily transferable among industries. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The school is well rated in the technical school area. I find that in the office, though, some do not consider technical school to really count as school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school taught me many valuable skills. The focus was primarily on Microsoft Office products which I use daily. |
| Instruction | 8 | I had good instructors and learned many valuable things. The curriculum really helped prepare me for my career with classes like Helpdesk Management and Desktop Publishing. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The courses were not difficult. The school focused on skills development so there were not too many unnecessary courses like there are in a four year college. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was a hands on course. I utilized and created many documents and spreadsheets for hands on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes were scheduled at set times with little flexibility. Some courses could be taken online or at your own pace which was very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The school had adequate classrooms. The technology was a bit dated and there were very few tutors. |
| Social Life | 6 | The school had a good social setting. There was a large atrium to mingle with students and watch television. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I was provided with potential employer lists and attended job fairs. Ultimately, though, I had to find my own job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not participate much with the alumni. I do receive support from the student services office when I need transcripts or have questions. |
Midstate Technical College • Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Studying Administrative Assistant (completion in 2001)
• 9/7/2011
"I am happy with my overall experience and glad that I was able to get a job in my field. Also, I did not have to take out any student loans because tuition was so affordable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others looking to obtain an associates degree. It was a cost-effective alternative to a state university. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't have an opinion as to whether my school is better or worse than other schools that offer this program as I am not personally aware of the reputation of others. I can tell you that I was very satisfied with what I learned and the fact that I was able to get a job in my program right after graduation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I felt that my education adequately prepared me for my job. |
| Instruction | 7 | I thought that all of my teachers/professors were well-versed in the curriculum. If I ever needed additional help or had questions, I was encouraged to ask. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I excel at the language arts so this program was somewhat easy for me. I had the luxury of not having to work while attending school and this helped me to focus on my coursework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes that I took were very lecture intensive. I did not have a lot of lab-type classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was able to attend some classes online and I know other students who attended night courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | I was not terribly impressed by our library. However, we also have a state university nearby that was accessible to us. The computer labs were state-of-the-art. |
| Social Life | 7 | I met several really great friends at school but that is because I sought out these relationships, not because the school offered any special events designed to promote this kind of thing. |
| Placement Services | 7 | My advisor was vital in helping me get my first job after graduation. Almost all of my friends in the same program got jobs in the field within 6 months of graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The only communication I receive from the alumni group is when they are soliciting donations. I don't believe the group is organized. |
UW-Milwaukee • Milwaukee, WI
Studying Global Studies (completion in 2009)
• 9/17/2011
"I was satisfied. I would have rather went to semester at sea."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UWM is a great school. There are many pretty girls. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They are one of few schools to offer this program. It is a new program that is still evolving. |
| Program Quality | 7 | UWM is a very diverse school so I got to meet a lot of people from around the world. I also enjoy living in Milwaukee. |
| Instruction | 7 | Small classes provided good instruction and practical use. Large lectures lacked individual attention. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of homework involved. It was not extremely challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were discussions, think tanks and extensive reading for every class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes are mostly during the day. It is hard to fit into a work schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Classrooms are very nice and the library is huge. |
| Social Life | 5 | It was often hard to meet new people. Events do not focus on introducing people. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They help with job placement about as much as a public job center. They only have one professional career coach. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There are a lot of alumni events. I do not participate. |
Carroll University • Waukesha, WI
Studying Religious Studies (completion in 2008)
• 9/28/2011
"I was satisfied socially and academically. I would have liked more placement services and alumni contact."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would not recommend Carroll University to someone pursuing a career as an administrative assistant. I wasn't helped or prepared for this career in my time at Carroll University. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | I don't believe that my program is even advertised. There are not a lot of people who know that the program exists. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Carroll University is a religious based school, so we did have a lot of opportunity to work with the administration on programs and apply our knowledge. We also had a lot of diversity in our course offerings. |
| Instruction | 5 | The teaching staff was amazing, all of them were very knowledgeable in their subjects. I don't feel, however, that I was well prepared to get a job within my major. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The curriculum was difficult to understand at times. A lot of the concepts were open to a lot of interpretation though, so there were rarely right or wrong answers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We focused a lot more on applying our knowledge in the community than we focused on book learning. We often had classes without books and spent time going to other religious communities to learn first hand. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There were a lot of different choices for class offerings. There were night, weekend, seminar, and online offerings. I was impressed with the diversity and flexibility of offerings. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had very good resources in the library - more than we would have found in a public library. We didn't have any tutors, but we had professors who were more than willing to extend their office hours to work with you. |
| Social Life | 9 | Carroll University has many sports teams. They also have a strong presence of fraternities and sororities. We were rarely without something to do. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I was not assisted in any way with getting a job after graduation. I was just lucky to get a job of any kind, as many of my classmates weren't able to. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I have never been contacted by my alumni network. As soon as I graduated, I stopped hearing from Carroll University. |
Chippewa Valley Technical College • River Falls, WI
Studying Administrative Assistant Program (completion in 2009)
• 11/3/2011
"Overall I was satisfied with my school. The instructors and classes were excellent."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone was OK with taking a program with little support, then yes. But if they needed instructor help and overall school support, then another school would be a better choice. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | There are a couple of programs in the area that are known for being better or more popular. This school is more widely known as a nursing degree school. In fact, a few years ago the program was going to be cut from the curriculum. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program allowed for flexibility in classes so I was able to choose classes I was interested in taking. The instructors had a vast amount of real world knowledge. Many of the classes could be taken online or in the lab at my convenience which was great for working students. |
| Instruction | 9 | Instructors applied their industry knowledge where applicable. We also had the opportunity to do an internship with a local business. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I worked in the clerical field previously, so a lot of material was review. There wasn't much advanced material to choose from, but it was a great overall program of many subjects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mix of hands on and book learning. We read from the book and also completed projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Class options and methods of taking the classes are the some of the best in the area. Along with the traditional instructor in the classroom, online from home, instructor on TV from another location, taking it in the lab, Saturday morning classes, and an evening program option are all available. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | We didn't have a lot of resources at this location except a lab, second computer room that was used for classes most of the time, some access to tutors, and a space near the front doors for studying with snack and soda machines. |
| Social Life | 3 | We didn't have any real social events, maybe catered food once a semester. |
| Placement Services | 4 | The job placement services are not advertised and there are no job postings for my career area at this location. Career services is available, but doesn't have very open hours. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There isn't an alumni network. I don't receive any information about the school or any events. |
University Of Wisconsin, Milwaukee • Milwaukee, WI
Studying English (completion in 2011)
• 11/1/2011
"It was partially my fault that I didn't make more of my time at the school, but there were times when I was very frustrated by the experience because making it work seemed so difficult sometimes. I haven't been frustrated by it enough to not want to go back for my Master's degree, however."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The recommendation depends on what they're looking for; I think it's the best school in the area for the urban environment, affordability, and quality of education. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I know that UWM provides a major in Professional Writing at a graduate & PHD level, it's either the only campus, or one of two campuses in the state that offer such a major. I also knew several undergrads who were able to move on to very reputable schools afterwards. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I thoroughly enjoyed my literature, rhetoric and writing classes because my teachers were very knowledgeable and the school itself is exciting to be a part of. I wish I would have had more flexibility in choosing my classes. There were times when I had to take something because it was my last option, or I had to take a course to meet a specific degree requirement. |
| Instruction | 8 | As I mentioned before, I enjoyed the classes that I choose to be a part of. Other times I didn't enjoy the material but I knew I had to do it. I also felt on my own in dissecting the needs to meet my degree requirements. I didn't feel much support, or rather, no one at the campus cared if/when I graduated. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Because I enjoyed the work, I didn't find it as difficult. There were times when I had to use the school's facilities for projects and things, and that was difficult work out with my schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My major isn't the type to involve much book learning, it was mostly lectures & classroom discussions. The classes I took outside of my major were at a different school. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I was able to make it work because my job was flexible. There were many occasions when I would be back and forth throughout the day, or it would be full of gaps. Online options were available, but I prefer classroom learning. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school has an excellent library. I enjoyed working there more than I did at home. There isn't much of a support option unless you hound the professors. Some of them were very willing to check work before it was turned in, but others weren't so easy to talk to. |
| Social Life | 4 | I know that extra curricular were available, but I was only at school for my degree. I didn't spend any time on campus outside of classes or working in the library. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The job development website only offers links to job finding websites. I believe they had a resume workshop once while I was there, but you could find that free in a lot of places. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I've gotten a catalogue or two about the alumni association, but I haven't really made an effort to be involved. I'm sure there are things going on with the group that I am totally unaware of. |
Marquett University • Milwaukee, WI
Studying Pre-Law (completion in 1998)
• 11/17/2011
"Marquett University is an excellent school and I highly recommend it to all."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Marquett has a lot to offer; lots of different programs and fields of study. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I would say that Marquett University is considered an excellent school to attend. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Marquett U is an excellent school. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction was top-notch. I felt very prepared, and the quality of curriculum was excellent. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty of my program was challenging, but very rewarding |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A little bit of hands on, but mainly lots of book learning. More hands on toward the end. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Back when I was going to school, online options weren't really heard of; however, weekend and evening classes were available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities and resources were excellent! |
| Social Life | 10 | Lots of organized social events that I attended, and, of course, parties. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was provided with leads for internships, which helped me to get a job after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Alumni network and support was great. |
Viterbo University • La Crosse, WI
Studying Psychology (completion in 2009)
• 11/19/2011
"Viterbo was the perfect mix of academics and social scene. Small enough that you felt connected to your school and the staff, but large enough to have all the perks of a big university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Great practice for the future. Viterbo cares about its students and their futures. They do their very best to prepare students for their careers and their lives in general. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Viterbo is not known for their psychology program. Most students are nursing, theater, or elementary education majors. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Wonderful instructors and staff who really cared about my learning. Viterbo really cares! |
| Instruction | 9 | Classes prepared students for real-world uses of their majors. Instructors took personal interest in students' well-being and education. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Workload was about average for what other majors we were working on. Assignments were challenging, but not impossible, and furthered the curriculum. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a good mix of book and instructional learning. Instructors cared to give students real-world experience in addition to theory. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Most classes are offered at a variety of times throughout the day. A number of online and weekend classes are also provided. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library was wonderful; it was fully stocked and the staff was very helpful. The psychology department had mock offices with a video system for students to practice their craft and receive constructive criticism. |
| Social Life | 10 | Viterbo students are thrilled to be there. Many students are active on campus in sports and activities. The social scene is wonderful, with many opportunities to meet new people. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The career center provides career placement tests, mock interviews and resume assistance. They also call/email periodically to check in with students. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Alumni receive job counseling and updates on the school. Alumni are eligible for most on-campus services, including library and athletic center privileges. |
University Of Wisconsin-Green Bay • Green Bay, WI
Studying Business Administration/French (completion in 2011)
• 12/2/2011
"It was small, and I didn't want anything in a big, noisy city. I got what I needed to get done, and they helped with that."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't know what I want my real career to be yet. If there are people looking for a school that is more about studying and less about partying, then yes, I would recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | I am not sure. I am sure it's not the best, but it wasn't a bad school by any means. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | My French program was very interactive. The business administration program is very good. Our classes were small and our teachers paid attention, which helped. |
| Instruction | 6 | I learned a lot, but I feel what you get doesn't really master at the bachelor's level. Everyone's looking for doctorate and masters' degrees. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The business classes were extremely difficult. Since the classes were so small, the professors could watch each one of us closely and assign more projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Since the classes were so small, we did a lot of group projects. Books were still essential to the classroom process, however. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | In my senior year, I had surgery, which left me bedridden for three months. My school helped me to finish on time by providing flexible scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | My teachers had flexible office hours, and the library was always open. I just worked a lot and barely had time to use these resources. |
| Social Life | 3 | My school did not have a football team. It was also set up in the sixties to prevent large gatherings of students. There were also a lot of commuters/people who went home on the weekends. I think these things hindered community. |
| Placement Services | I didn't use their job placement services, though I doubt they would have been of any use to me. I am moving out of the state. | |
| Alumni Network | I'm not particularly involved in the alumni programs. I just graduated and have not yet received any information. |
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh • Oshkosh, WI
Studying Journalism (completion in 2011)
• 12/5/2011
"I was a 5th-year senior because of the Army, but I believe that my school prepared me for the working world. I would most definitely recommend it to anyone looking going into public relations."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | With our recent accreditation, I am very happy to say I am a UWO grad from the Journalism department. Pride has a lot to do with my recommendation. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The J-program may not be what students come to UWO for, but the overall reputation within the program is extremely proud. Our program competes with large schools, such as UW-Madison and Ohio State. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school recently participated in a certification for the Public Relations emphasis accreditation. I participated in this accreditation process and I am very satisfied with the results. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of my professors were well versed in their material, and most came fresh out of the workforce, so they could apply current practices to the classroom. I was extremely satisfied with the social media coverage in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Some classes had more of an emphasis on writing, which made them difficult. Most of my PR classes were lecture with tests that needed to be studied for, so I wasn't stressed with the workload as much. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Our school focused on what was going on in industry all the time. Though we learned from a book, our focus was very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | For a commuter-based college, there aren't a lot of online options, and rarely do the schedules of classes change. Each semester, from year to year, the classes fall into predictable patterns, which may block them off for some students to take. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Journalism was recently moved into the brand-new academic building, making it top of the line. The technology we are presented with in class makes all of our coursework compliant to what the industry standard is. |
| Social Life | 7 | College is what you make it. I was involved in ROTC, so I stayed up with my involvement in that manner. |
| Placement Services | 6 | With the high emphasis on internships, they are difficult to find. Most PR internships around the area are unpaid. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Alumni help current graduates get jobs - hands down. I am very satisfied with the relationship and openness that our alumni have laid before us. |
Community College Of The Air Force • Milwaukee, WI
Studying Information Management (completion in 2009)
• 12/18/2011
"I feel that I am a very capable worker in my field. I received a lot of good training."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I like the fact that there are strict guidelines followed by the instructors. I feel that the training is updated often. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is well known that military education is reputable. There are strict guidelines that must be adhered to, which assure that all students get the required training. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Community College of the Air Force provides technical education and hands-on working experience. I received credits for each career course I took. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction is provided by professionals in the career field for which you are taking courses. There are strict guidelines for instructors. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The courses required written essays, group projects and the like. If one is not comfortable speaking in front of people, this is quite difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are pre-approved, written course books we use for each course. We are also required to perform hands-on training tasks. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | With the CCAF program, you are given credits for technical schools, so you are required to travel to the course locale and stay there for several weeks. This is good for retention of information and can be bad if you do not want to leave home for several weeks at a time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | You are provided with classrooms, study materials, and lodging. You are often required to travel to the course, so lodging is supplied. |
| Social Life | 10 | Military personnel have a bond and are used to traveling for training, so we often socialize outside of the classroom. There is a lot of camaraderie. |
| Placement Services | 7 | When you have military or government training and experience, that is valuable. Employers respect government employees and veterans. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The military, and the Air Force in particular, is a great place to learn. It is hands on and learned gradually through support from veterans. |
CCAF • Milwaukee, WI
Studying Information Management (completion in 2009)
• 12/18/2011
"I feel that I am a very capable worker in my field. I received a lot of good training."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I like the fact that there are strict guidelines followed by the instructors. I feel that the training is updated often. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is well known that military education is reputable. There are strict guidelines that must be adhered to which assure that all students get the required training. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Community College of the Air Force provides technical school and hands on working experience. I received credits for each career course I took. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction is provided by professionals in the career field for which you are taking courses. There are strict guidelines for instructors. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The courses required written essays, group projects and the like. If one is not comfortable speaking in front of people this is quite difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are pre-approved written course books we use for each course. We are also required to perform hands on training tasks. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | With the CCAF program you are given credits for technical schools so you are required to travel to the course locale and stay there for several weeks. This is good for retention of information and can be bad if you do not want to leave home for several weeks at a time. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | You are provided with classrooms, study materials, and lodging. As I mentioned you are often required to travel to the course so lodging is supplied. |
| Social Life | 10 | Military personnel have a bond and are used to traveling for training so often socialize outside of the classroom. There is a lot of camaraderie. |
| Placement Services | 7 | When you have military or government training and experience, that is valuable. Employers respect government employees and veterans. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The military and the Air Force in particular is a great place to learn. It is hands on and learned gradually through support from veterans. |
Lawrence University • Appleton, WI
Studying Music And Classics (completion in 2004)
• 1/31/2012
"It was the perfect place for me. I wish I could have done more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think most students don't go to Lawrence to become administrative assistants. Most of us have higher aspirations. I do - I'm on to law school in Fall 2012. I'd recommend it for that! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Lawrence's music programs have a very high reputation. The Classics department lives in obscurity, because there are many other programs that are much better-known there. I don't think any school's Classics department is going to be the darling of the school, though. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Lawrence's music programs are tops amongst small private schools. The Classics department is small, and didn't have as much variety as I would have liked, but the quality of the instruction was excellent. |
| Instruction | 8 | Ordinarily I would rate my education a 10, but since the question asks about career preparation, I have to drop the rating. Some program areas do very well in career preparation; I happened to go into very specific majors, particularly the Classics, where there are only two career options: teach high school Latin, or go to grad school to become a Classics professor. I had no interest in either of those by the time I graduated, and there really wasn't any specific career prep available for someone like me. The campus does have a Career Center, which did help me find other options not related to my major - liberal arts does have a lot of opportunities, in general. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The curriculum was generally quite challenging. As for work load, I overloaded my schedule every single term, mostly out of necessity, so I wouldn't be the best person to ask! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My Classics degree was by its nature very book-oriented. The music degree offered a lot more hands-on experience, not just in the instrumental instruction, but also in music theory and conducting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | It is a small private school. They did not offer summer courses or evening/weekend courses while I was there, or online. Some of that may have changed in the past few years, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library facilities were absolutely fantastic, particularly for the musicians. The Classics library was also incredibly well-stocked, and the school possesses one of the most extensive collections of Classical-era coins in the United States. Advisors were always available and worked closely with students (in my experience). |
| Social Life | 8 | I'm not a terribly social person, although I did join a sorority (somewhat misleading, as sororities at Lawrence don't have houses and are fairly small - Greek life isn't that important). I gather there were a lot of options for people who wanted to party; it wasn't my preference. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career services center could have done a better job of outreach in terms of requiring students to attend appointments/workshops/etc. They provided a lot of services and gave great advice, but stuck to fliers, and a lot of students didn't seem to spend as much time there as we could and should have. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I am a member of a local alumni group, and when I first left school, there were several "get to know you" type events held in the city I moved to. It was a great opportunity to do some networking and learn more about other Lawrentians. |
University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee • Milwaukee, WI
Studying Administrative Leadership (completion in 2013)
• 2/2/2012
"UWM is the right location for me, and offers a solid education at a good price. I have easy access to my professors, and they are willing to help me make the program personally meaningful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UWM offers a variety of options and is a great way to try out an Administrative Leadership program. Professors are very willing to discuss the program with new students of all backgrounds, and a variety of courses are available to fit many different goals. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UW-Milwaukee is highly respected in the field of Administrative Leadership. Our School of Education, which houses the department, has historically been a leader in graduating top educators. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I think my program is doing a good job preparing its students for the realities of the academic staff job market. We must work together on projects, and that strengthens our leadership skills. |
| Instruction | 9 | We have excellent teachers with a huge amount of field experience. My courses have helped me meet other professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. |
| How Difficult | 5 | My program is not especially rigorous, but it requires a good quality of work from its students. My workload is average - I can easily fit three courses and a 30-hour a week job into my schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A LOT of hands-on learning. Most of my papers involve my own life experiences, or interviews with professionals in the field. I can apply much of my work to my own job in an HR setting. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classes are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters with a variety of online options. Many classes have both an in person and an online section, giving students the choice of which fits better into their schedules. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library at UWM is exceptional. Tutors are not really used for our program. Classroom space can be tight and none of the classrooms have windows or good ventilation. |
| Social Life | 5 | UWM has a lot of school spirit, but it is more focused towards undergrads. Graduate students have more on their plates and are less inclined to be focused on school spirit. |
| Placement Services | I have not used these services. I hope they are good! | |
| Alumni Network | I have not yet graduated from my program. I hope that it has good alumni support. |
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