Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, Tallahassee Community College, and State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota.
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 Florida International, Nova Southeastern, University of North Florida, and The University of West Florida.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, Miami Dade College, Florida International, and Saint Thomas University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Nova Southeastern, Barry, Hodges University, and Florida Keys Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Embry Riddle, Beacon, Eckerd, and The University of Tampa.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Beacon, Stetson University, Webber International University, and Eckerd.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, Rollins College, and Florida State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Edward Waters, Florida International, Florida Memorial University, and University of South Florida-Main Campus.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Beacon, Stetson University, University of Miami, and Rollins College.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight Florida Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Maitland, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Clearwater, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Maitland, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Plantation, Sarasota, Tampa, Temple Terrace
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Lake Mary, Miami, Pinellas Park, Tampa
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: Miami
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Certificate, Diploma
- Locations: Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hollywood, Lakeland, Melbourne, Orlando, Port Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, West Palm Beach
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
- Locations: Sarasota, Tampa
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Doctorate, Master
- Locations: Hollywood, Jacksonville
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Diploma
- Locations: Tampa
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
See these schools on a map
Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: 17 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
Keiser University eCampus Online
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Barry University • Miami, FL
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2008)
• 7/7/2011
"I love the school, especially knowing I went to a very well known, elite school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is an elite school. A bit expensive, but worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Barry is a private school. It is considered elite and very hard to get into. It has a very high reputation as a Catholic campus. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Elite school. Good professors. |
| Instruction | 10 | Good professors. Very knowledgeable |
| How Difficult | 9 | It is very technical and a lot of math is required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The type of major I studied required a lot of both. Learning about programming, networks, book learning, and explanation is very crucial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer a lot of class schedules. I attended morning classes so I did not look much at the evening classes, but I believe they are flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It was accessible. I did not often make use of the facility since I lived off campus. |
| Social Life | 2 | I live nearby, and most of my friends did not attend the school. So I preferred not to participate in social events. I like to keep to myself. |
| Placement Services | 1 | If there was a career assistance, I was not aware of it. I was not helped with any job placement program. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I do not participate in the alumni program. I receive email notifications in regards to it, but I do not join in. I cant give an accurate point of view on this. |
St. Petersburg College • St. Petersburg, FL
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 1997)
• 8/11/2011
"I am satisfied. It was a great experience and I would go again if I needed to. The school offers so many opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would recommend the school because I would go again myself. I would use this school over and over again because the return on investment was so great. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My school has a really good reputation for a local community college. Many people have graduated from there in the local area so it gets a lot of respect from potential employers. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I am very satisfied with the school because they helped me find a job after graduation. The school prepared me properly for what I was going to need to do on the job. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors worked in the field in real life in addition teaching, so I trusted and believed what they said. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program is not that difficult if you can read, use a computer for basic tasks, and are willing to learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Both books and online learning was used in the class. I enjoyed both of them - it's nice to get away from a computer and the internet and use a book to learn, like in the old days. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school is so flexible that you don't have to worry about fitting courses into your schedule. The classes can be taken online, at night, and on weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school was under remodel for many years, but when it was finished it was really beautiful, especially the art and performances auditorium. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school was very flexible so it was hard to meet people and get together. Most people are already busy with their jobs and families. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school found me a job after graduation and has a career board that, as long as I remember my log in, I can use to look for a job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I'm not really sure how the alumni program is because I do not get any information about it. |
COMPTIA A+ Certification • Online, FL
Studying Computer Technician Certification (completion in )
• 8/14/2011
"I was very happy with the school. I want to take more classes and programs there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school will advance careers easily. It is a good school. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Anyone in the technical computer field knows about the program I took. It is very effective and respected. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program allowed me to find work immediately. It taught me everything that I needed to know. |
| Instruction | 10 | I used everything that I learned in the program. I am very comfortable with applying the knowledge I learned from the program. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I only needed two months to finish their study at home program. I already knew a lot of the information before I took the classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I took apart and put together computers on my own. I also studied books online. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I could take the class from home. I made my own schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Some of the best computer experts in the world taught the classes. I had access to 24/7 resources online with everything that I needed to know. |
| Social Life | 10 | I have no complaints. The school was excellent. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no job placement or career services program. It would have been helpful to have this type of program. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni network. I am not pleased with this. |
ITT Tech • West Palm Beach, FL
Studying Computer Tech (completion in 2002)
• 8/13/2011
"It taught me everything necessary on this topic. This was all I needed to begin with."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Everything you need is at this school. They set up peoples' careers very well in this industry. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Very good reputation. However, this is not a big deal. The big deal is that they teach this subject very well. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Very good because it provides the basic knowledge and tools. Assistance is also very good when needed. |
| Instruction | 8 | Instruction was very detailed and easy to follow. My prior knowledge made this easier for me as well. |
| How Difficult | 1 | My prior experience was an advantage here. The work load was easy for my standards as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands on is the best learning style for me. It helped me grasp the applications of this topic. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Flexibility is alright. Nothing specia,l but it isn't needed as basic the schedule was good enough for my needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Plentiful resources provided. This made hands-on type of learning easy. |
| Social Life | 9 | Good experience since you need to be sociable in this field. I talked to many on campus about various PC topics. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Placement is upon one's strength of knowledge. It's very good for those with good knowledge of various computer repair tech topics. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Very good support indeed. Help is available any time it's needed. |
Kaplan University - Continuing Education • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Studying Cisco Certified Entry-Level Technician (completion in 2010)
• 8/26/2011
"They ripped me off and this certification doesn't mean jack. They basically made me pay 3 grand to buy a 50 dollar book and take a lame exam to get their certification. I could've passed the ICND-1 exam after studying this book 30 times instead of going through this school which obviously didn't assist much in helping me gain more knowledge about networking systems..."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | No. I tell people to stay away from Kaplan, they're worst than the Art Institute. It's best to stick to community college, unless you're rich or have a scholarship. Grants help too, I suppose. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | I think people already know online college isn't a smart idea. Let me reiterate that for you now: online college is not a smart idea! |
| Program Quality | 1 | Kaplan is a rip off. I was better off going to a real school than learning online. Teachers never helped with anything. |
| Instruction | 1 | I learned enough to pass the CCENT exam with a score of 80%, but that was hardly something worth paying $3000 for a certificate which you have to study for by yourself. You can't ask advisers or the teacher for help on exams, just with schedule matters. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It's not easy cramming for a subject by yourself. I was not allowed to discuss any topics with the professor online about how systems worked; I had to figure everything out for myself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | No hands on work here... You basically learn how to configure cisco routers and switches, work with LANs, WANs, WLANs, and how to bring up a rommon prompt. Oh yeah - you also get to learn what a GBIC is... or a console cable or port. Just a really bad picture though; should've gone to a real school. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | This is probably the only reason I chose to take this course. I was able to study whenever, wherever, and however I wanted. At least I didn't have to pump gas... |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | The school is a rip off. The employees are like car salesmen and bankers. Very shady business is going on with this institution. |
| Social Life | 1 | None of this happened. I studied alone in my room. This isn't 'regular' college; it's online. I would have preferred going to an actual community college, because at least it would have had those things listed. Oh yeah, and it would have had teachers who actually enjoy TEACHING, not just some guy who moderates a forum (online class) and doesn't help the students out with anything. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They didn't help me find work or anything. They only pressured me to pay off my tuition before I received my diploma. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There weren't any on campus sessions so there was really no communication with the other students, just our academic advisers and professors. They would both say that you could not ask about things related to the coursework. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2011)
• 9/8/2011
"The social life, the learning, and if all goes well, the connections, are what made this school great. I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. The combination of all these great aspects would are rare and unmatched elsewhere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I didn't study computer sciences or a related field in college, nor did I have any friends in that field. The only reason I know how to do my job is from personal experience with computers and on the job training. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Good, but not great. UF is a top 50 school according to some ranking, and is among the best public schools, but it doesn't have elite status. It has a great reputation as a party and athletics school, but the academic reputation isn't as widespread. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Despite gaining a lot of knowledge in business topics, I was not able to find a job in my field right away. It's unfortunate that UF's business school isn't yet highly regarded outside of the Southeast US. |
| Instruction | 9 | I gained a profound amount of knowledge, evidenced by my capacity to hold business-related conversations with ease, regardless of who I am talking to. This makes it seem like what I learned was very relevant. However, I have not been able to put this knowledge to practice in a relevant job setting. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The curriculum was challenging, but I am sure it could be a lot more so. I achieved very good grades while taking in a wide range of statistics, marketing, management, and so on. I still had lots of free time on my hands. I'm sure that I could have dedicated plenty more time to my studies if it had been necessary and/or required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I guess it depends on the subject. Business administration was definitely a mix. There was a lot of book learning going on, but I also had to work on a hefty number of case studies taken from the real world. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | One can take programs in many different formats, and classes are offered in ways that allow no excuse for not taking the courses one need. I was able to complete my MBA program almost entirely online. Only a few parts of the program actually required me to be on campus. My undergraduate days were full of online classes, with the option to go to live sessions if one desired. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are libraries, study rooms, and computer facilities all around campus. Even if a student did not own a computer or have a comfortable place to study at home, he/she could go on campus and find the perfect spot. I also made use of the free tutoring programs for calculus and writing my first year there. Absolutely no complaints about facilities. |
| Social Life | 10 | I met people from all walks of life. UF is known for its party atmosphere and it couldn't be more true. A lot of it has to do with how good its athletic department is, especially when it comes to the major programs. There are also all sorts of school organizations one can join. There are ethnic clubs, music clubs, sports clubs, etc. You name it, they have it. |
| Placement Services | 5 | For a school that prides itself on its vast network of alumni, it doesn't seem like it leverages that network as much as it could in order to help place graduates in new jobs. The career center helps to some degree, but some people end up having to do their own thing anyway. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It seems like there are Florida grads everywhere. One of them actually gave me the job I have now, which is why I gave an above average rating. The only way I'd give it a higher rating would be if I somehow managed to use network contacts to land a dream job. |
Northwest Florida State College • Valparaiso, FL
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2009)
• 9/24/2011
"I love NWFSC. The environment is very welcoming and the grounds are beautifully maintained. I love the running water everywhere, and the giant colorful sundial and solar calendar."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would absolutely suggest NWFSC as a place to earn a degree. A very social geographical area, one that is to home to many "beachers," friends are sure to be made, and you are most definitely going to walk away with a quality education. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Being a newly converted State College from a Community College, its reputation can only be that of a community college for now. With time I see NWFSC's overall reputation increasing all around due to its conversion. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Northwest Florida State College, formerly known as Oakaloosa Walton Community College, provided a very good learning experience by using top rated professors and keeping the campus well maintained. NWFSC has constantly been renovating old buildings and building new ones for the entirety of my attendance. |
| Instruction | 10 | Not a single professor displayed a lack of knowledge in their field. Each instructor was always willing to spend time after class or out of class to help with problems I had. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Since it was one of the few AAS degrees that required extra credit hours, it took longer to complete the degree. The classes were somewhat challenging even to someone with a lifetime of computer experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes differ depending on the instructor. Some instructors choose to teach differently, although they are required to maintain a certain level of direction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | NWFSC provides an array of scheduling choices. Anyone can fit their education schedule around their work schedule. Most instructors will even let you sit in on another class to catch up if need be. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | NWFSC has a wonderfully huge library, an architectural piece of art. It is outfitted with modern technology and several assistants. All professors are required to have scheduled office time so that students can reach them. NWFSC has an academic success center open just about everyday, filled with tutors to help students with whatever they may need. A great cafeteria and a great menu, better than most colleges I have seen. The classrooms are all fully functional, and I never came across a problem with room in any class. NWFSC has just built a new science center complete with many labs stocked with all the modern and needed technologies. |
| Social Life | 10 | Everyone is happy to be there, and you can sense an inherent desire from every student to learn - they actually want to be in school. Basketball is the main focus of NWFSC, and the court is always filled during games. There are many clubs on campus varying widely as to their composition and direction. |
| Placement Services | 7 | NWFSC offers some internships at its campus so that you can graduate right into a job on campus. NWFSC instructors are also very willing to help. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There isn't one. |
Miami Dade College • Homestead, FL
Studying Business (completion in 2012)
• 10/4/2011
"I'm extremely satisfied with my choice of school!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend my school for others pursuing the same career. Being a community college, expenses are not as high as other universities/colleges. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It is a community college, so many individuals know about it. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school program is very thorough and very easy to understand. |
| Instruction | 5 | The quality of instruction is adequate enough to understand what's going on. |
| How Difficult | 5 | This is something I love, so I will put forth maximum effort. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The books for this course were very descriptive and beneficial to students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Scheduling is very difficult, many classes are already filled up. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There is a myriad of resources that we can use at any point: libraries, media and computer resources, laboratories, classroom space, academic advisors, tutors and study group support, and accessibility of professors. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are many social events during the week, which make it very enjoyable! |
| Placement Services | 6 | It was alright, though there was room for improvement. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network has been thought out very well. |
Brownsville School Of Ministry • Pensacola, FL
Studying Practical Ministry (completion in 2000)
• 10/9/2011
"I feel they do a good job on explaining my dissatisfaction."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I wouldn't recommend the school to anybody. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | This is not a very popular field of study. The form of ministry modeled is not relevant to our society. |
| Program Quality | 1 | Looking back, I would have chosen a different major at a different school. The disadvantage would be that I wouldn't have met my wife. |
| Instruction | 1 | Since the school was focused on ministry, there was no career guidance unless it pertained to missions. This was a let down. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The curriculum went into great depth. There were also many ministry requirements to complete in order to graduate. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'd say that it was a 50/50 mix. It was decently balanced. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Flexibility didn't exist. It was a loss for the school. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The school did have a computer lab. The library was more of a bookstore than a true library. |
| Social Life | 6 | The school did provide a social environment. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no career placement assistance. The school was poorly equipped to provide career guidance. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is almost no sense of relationship. There was very little effort to provide such an initiative. |
Stetson University • Deland, FL
Studying Business Management And Finance (completion in 2009)
• 10/23/2011
"The school was adequate. I felt the education I received was of excellent quality, however their support and advising left much to be desired."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend that others search for better known universities. The quality of education I received was very good, however most employers care more about the perceived reputation of a degree. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | On a regional level, the program is well respected. However on a national level, it does not carry the same weight as larger, better known institutions. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The school I attended was a smaller institution, and did not have the variety of programs offered at other, larger universities. Overall I would rate the quality as average. Small class sizes were an advantage, but not enough to offset the limited options. |
| Instruction | 8 | Class size and instruction quality were extremely high. I felt that a combination of skill and theory based learning, with the addition of a quality career center led to a solid foundation to start in the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program I was in was quite rigorous. Overall I think more could have been taught, especially projects with real world applications. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The curriculum I experienced was a good blend of both practical and theoretical learning. This was perhaps my favorite aspect of the university as far as the quality of their education. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Flexibility was not this program's strong suit. Very few evening and weekend classes were offered, and the vast majority fell between 8am and 3pm. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Facilities were quite good at this school. I have seen some others and am currently working at a higher education institution, and have seen first hand that other universities have a lack of multimedia equipment in the classroom and libraries comparatively.\ |
| Social Life | 7 | The university provided a well rounded mix of social events. There was athletics, community focused Greek life, and many student run/faculty sponsored hobby and activity groups. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The career center at school was very effective, however it was extremely limited in its scope. It focused on local and regional organizations with only a handful of national companies and corporations. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network is very good about the frequency of their communication. Unfortunately, 95% of the communication is requests for donations. As someone only two years out, and still burdened by student loans, this is not very helpful, and does not increase my desire to stay connected to the university. |
Tallahassee Community College • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Help Desk (completion in 2013)
• 11/13/2011
"I am extremely satisfied with my school because of the helpful recourses I was able to use."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | TCC is the best place to go if you are pursuing a career as a computer specialist. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Most student who graduate in my program have jobs immediately upon graduation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school dedicates a lot of time and money to this particular program. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned a lot at my school in this particular field. My teachers were extremely helpful. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The program was not easy but my love for computers is what made it possible. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We performed hands on activities as well as text book exercises. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My schedule is pretty open aside from the classes that I am currently taking. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There was always a place I could turn to if I was ever in need of help. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a wonderful experience at my school. I was very social and I participated in events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | My academic advisor is very helpful with helping me find internships and jobs that meet my criteria. |
| Alumni Network | I am not sure of my school's alumni network. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Engineering (completion in 2010)
• 11/11/2011
"Overall I had a great experience there and learned a lot. They did help me get my job and the contacts I have made there are fantastic."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It was a great experience and I learned a lot, but I think other schools may do more to help. I got the job mostly on my own with some help from the school, and even though it was great I think there may be some better options out there. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I am not to sure how they are ranked but I would say it's slightly above average. That is based on my personal experience. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The curriculum was tough and took a lot of work. Even though it was very hectic it was mostly busy work and a lot of it was not that hard, although I did learn a lot. |
| Instruction | 8 | Overall I think the quality of instruction was decent, and I did learn a lot. Teachers were always willing to help too. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Like I said it was a lot of work, but not necessarily tough. At times it was challenging but usually was not too bad. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There were some design experiments which were hands on, and also some book learning as well. I like the mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were plenty of classes and times to choose from. I also got to take electives in addition to my major. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The campus is pretty nice and I love the location. The advisors are also pretty friendly for the most part. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social experience was great. There was so much going on. I met so many great friends there. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Only average. They helped a bit but I think could have done much more. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | It is ok, there is not too much help from them though. They also do not help get jobs. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Religion/Philosophy (completion in 2010)
• 11/16/2011
"My overall experiences there were positive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | My education has nothing to do with my career. I wish I had received an IT college education. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | FSU has a very well known dept with top researchers in the field. |
| Program Quality | 10 | FSU has a great Religion and Philosophy dept. I got to work with some of the best in the field. My degree has nothing to do with my career. I have a CompTIA A+ Cert |
| Instruction | 10 | The Grad students and staff in the religion department are very knowledgeable and fun to work with. The research done there is also top notch. |
| How Difficult | 7 | FSU is known as an easy school but when you are working in a top department in the country, the standards outshine the university as a whole. The work is intense but rewarding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Universities are very book-oriented, there's not a lot of hands-on in religious studies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The college is not very flexible. It was reasonable, but nothing special. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They have a great library for a state school with some of the best online resources. |
| Social Life | I did not socialize at school. | |
| Placement Services | I did not use their job placement services. | |
| Alumni Network | I have no experience with the FSU alumni or network. |
Miami Dade College • Miami, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2006)
• 12/6/2011
"The instruction and training were great, and it provided a springboard into my current career. I'm very thankful to the school for that."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have done so in the past, to numerous friends. Financial aid is available and campuses are all over the city. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Miami Dade College is competing with various other local colleges and schools that offer the same courses. It is slowly beginning to become the school of choice, as it is an accredited community college. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The professors were very down to earth. They actually sat down with me and walked me through situations where I might have had doubts. Very professional and informative. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were extremely informative and up to date, which a lot of schools lack. The information and equipment used in the classroom was modern. |
| How Difficult | 7 | You had to put in the time and effort if you wanted to get ahead. The workload was overwhelming at times, but not anything we couldn't handle. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It truly was a mixed bag; you got your hands-on instruction in class, and then you had to study the materials in the book for your testing and certifications. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Any given day of the week, there are classes. Times are available throughout the day and night, and online courses are available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Miami Dade has numerous campuses throughout the county, and the facilities are great. They have high-tech and up-to-date hardware and software. There are also students who help others out in the labs. |
| Social Life | Not a lot of time to participate in extracurricular activities; between work and studies, it was tough. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Excellent. The school provides career placement and helps students find internships and temp jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | We were never really introduced to alumni or previous students who took the course. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Computer Engineering (completion in 2010)
• 12/6/2011
"UF showed me a good time and prepared me well for the future. I am proud to consider myself a graduate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | UF is a large public school. It isn't for everyone. Academically, we're one of the best in Florida, but there are smaller places to go if you have the money. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UF was the highest-ranked school in the state until last year. The engineering school is well respected and many companies recruit from campus. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UF has a lot of work, but the courses made sense and prepared me for my job. The classroom experience was relevant and enjoyable. |
| Instruction | 10 | The classroom experience was relevant to my current career. Oftentimes, callers needed help manipulating VBA or designing in Java. My background assisted me in completing those goals. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The majority of the difficulty stemmed from time management and workload. The courses built well off each other and made everything easier to understand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes were very much conceptual. Once we got to upper levels, the classes began requiring more programming and app development. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes in engineering weren't available more than one or two sections at the upper level. My schedule was pretty fixed. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has many resources because of its size. Often, the labs and libraries were crowded, but accessible. |
| Social Life | 10 | While UF is in the middle of nowhere, the social scene on campus is strong. People are always doing something. It is difficult to be bored. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I'm still working on campus, but career services has helped me find places to apply. I expect a full-time position within the next 6 months. |
| Alumni Network | I have not been out of school long enough to see the alumni network in action. I am still working on campus and have not gotten a full-time job. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Software Engineering (completion in 2011)
• 12/12/2011
"I enjoyed my time at UF, and I am certainly reaping the rewards of my degree, which helped me land my current job. In the end, the experience was very good, even with some of the shortcomings of the teaching method."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I felt that the university prepared me for my career, but also gave me extensive knowledge for real-life skills. While perhaps not the most enlightened Software Engineering experience I could imagine, they got the job done, and the perks of going to a school like UF made the experience worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | UF has maintained a respectable reputation over the years, although the software engineering program in particular has never been a shining star for them. When going for job interviews, employers would recognize UF, but would need to ask how I felt their software engineering program was. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I believe UF did a good job preparing me for working in the field, although some of their practices and classes were perhaps a bit behind with some of the modern best practices I see in my day-to-day work. Overall, I believe the experience was invaluable. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instructors at UF ranged from very interesting and engaging, to very poor and difficult to understand or feel excited for. While this is largely out of the control of the school of the program itself, I felt that with such high-level material being offered, having someone teaching it who doesn't speak clearly can be very difficult. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The course load at UF for my program was certainly difficult, albeit not an impossible load to take on. As with anything, some courses were harder than others, but the advisers were very good at helping determine which courses should be taken together, and which should definitely be taken during easier semesters. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Every class I took was highly book taught, with many classes simply going over the reading from the night before, with no additional information or lesson that couldn't have been taken from the reading. While there were exceptions, I felt that many of the courses I took could have almost been self-taught, given the correct books and time. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | I was in school for an additional semester because of the school's inability to field a class, for two full semesters, that was necessary to graduate. This was the only class I had serious trouble with, however. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | All of the faculty had extensive office hour offerings, were quick to respond to emails, and were very helpful outside of class. The libraries and other facilities were numerous and almost always open. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school always had great parties, a strong student government, and lots of co-curricular and extracurricular activities to choose from. UF believes that a strong social connection helps to keep students focused on their lives within the university. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The school's "job placement" program seemed to involve emailing students with local jobs for their program in town. These were often quite poor, as what software engineer wants to be working for a call center? |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I haven't been contacted by the Alumni Association, unless it has been to ask for donations. I've heard similar experiences from others who attended my university as well -- but at least I was never contacted for a donation while still attending their school. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"FSU was an awesome opportunity. I would recommend this school to anyone - even those looking for a major other than IT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Florida State University will prepare you for the real world of information technology. Through hands-on learning opportunities, you will come out as prepared or more prepared than students from any other IT school out there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Florida State's College of Communication and Information is one of the leaders in academia. The program has many esteemed graduates in the field. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Florida State University provides a well-rounded education in Information Technology. Students are taught Database, Programming, Networking, Web Design, Project Management, Information Security, Technical Writing and more. There are many opportunities for practical application of the skills you acquire throughout the program. |
| Instruction | 10 | I had some absolutely fabulous instructors in the IT program at FSU. They take the time to teach you the latest and greatest in technology, and they also form a relationship with each one of the students. I am still in contact with many of my professors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The difficulty of my program of study really depended upon the course. I found the programming classes to be extremely difficult. I didn't find other courses very difficult, but there was still a lot of work in them. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read the book, but most of our learning was hands on. Being in IT, we spent a lot of time on the computer, reading current information and applying it to our projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The program always offers 1-2 sections of most courses each semester, giving students an opportunity to be flexible with their schedule. Outside of the core classes, there are many electives available at all different times and mediums (web/classroom). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | FSU has numerous libraries throughout the campus. The College of Communication and Information has state-of-the-art labs for their students. There is also a new HIT lab that allows students to mine data for healthcare-related IT projects. |
| Social Life | 10 | FSU has something for everyone. Awesome athletics, tons of fraternities and sororities, social events, you name it. There is so much to do. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most students who graduate from the IT program find a job quickly and in a relevant field. Most of my fellow graduates are not only well employed, but are with the same employer that they graduated with, several years later. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Not only does FSU have an exceptional career center for when you are in school, they continue to be there for you after you have graduated. In addition, professors from the program are also still active with past students. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"FSU was an awesome opportunity. I would recommend this school to anyone - even those looking for a major other than IT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Florida State University will prepare you for the real world of Information Technology. Through hands on learning opportunities you will come out as, or more, prepared than any other IT school out there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Florida States College of Communication and Information is one of the leaders in Academia. The program has many esteemed graduates in the field. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Florida State University provides a well-rounded education in Information Technology. Students are taught Database, Programming, Networking, Web Design, Project Management, Information Security, Technical Writing and more. There are many opportunities for practical application of the skills you acquire throughout the program. |
| Instruction | 10 | I had some absolutely fabulous instructors in the IT Program at FSU. They take the time to teach you the latest and greatest in technology and also form a relationship with each of the students. I am still in contact with many of my professors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The difficulty of my program of study really depended upon the course. I found the programming classes to be extremely difficult, others I didn't find very difficult but they still involved a lot of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read the book but almost all of our learning was hands on. Being in IT we spent a lot of time on the computer reading current information and applying it to our projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The program always offers 1-2 sections of most courses each semester, giving students an opportunity to be flexible with their schedule. Outside of the core classes there are many electives available at all different times and mediums (web/classroom). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | FSU has numerous libraries throughout the campus. The College of Communication and Information have state of the art labs for their students. There is also a new HIT lab that allows students to mine data for healthcare-related IT projects. |
| Social Life | 10 | FSU has something for everyone. It's awesome athletics, has tons of fraternities and sororities, social events, you name it. There is so much to do. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most students who graduate from the IT Program find a job quickly in a relevant field. Most of my fellow graduates are not only well-employed, but are still with the same employer that they went on to after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Not only does FSU have an exceptional career center for when you are in school, they continue to be there for you after you graduate. Professors from the program are also still active with past students. |
University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Management Information Systems (completion in 2010)
• 1/2/2012
"It's one of the best and largest in Florida."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My recommendation would depend on what career track you're thinking of. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | When I graduated in 2010, the school was planning to get rid of my program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Excellent program with many resources available. |
| Instruction | 9 | Most of the instructors were very experienced, but you can always get one who does not what he is talking about. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Not easy, not hard. The harder you study, the better you'll do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands-on experience got us ready for the real world, while book reading got us ready for the exams. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Some classes were easier to register for, other were not. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All kind of resources were available, you just have to familiarize yourself. |
| Social Life | My schedule was limiting, I did not have time to participate in activities. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Excellent. They bring in recruiters while you're still at the college. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I'm still in touch with my alumni office. |
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