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 LSCS, Richland College, TCC, and Blinn.
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 Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Wesleyan University, Paul Quinn College, and UTEP.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Texas Woman's University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Paul Quinn College, Texas Southern, TAMIU, and South Texas College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider University of Houston-Victoria, Northwood University, Texas Woman's University, and University of Houston-Clear Lake.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Central Texas College, University of Dallas, SMU, and LeTourneau.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Jarvis Christian, East Texas Baptist University, and Southwestern University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Rice University, Trinity University, Southwestern University, and Austin College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Rice University, Prairie View A & M University, Paul Quinn College, and Houston Baptist.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Rice University, Southwestern University, Texas Wesleyan University, and Trinity University.
Working as a Computer Support Specialist in Texas
Computer support specialists provide guidance and technical assistance to people who use computers. Computer support specialists install, configure, and remove data and software as and when required. They troubleshoot problems with computer hardware, software, or systems. They also regularly monitor computer systems and recommend fixes or upgrades. Sometimes they are also required to write manuals for users. Read a detailed Computer Support Specialist job description and schools overview.
Aspiring computer support specialists may contact the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) - University of Texas Chapter. This is an official student chapter of the association at the University. Another local ACM organization is the Austin ACM SIGGRAPH Professional Chapter.
State Requirements
The State of Texas does not regulate the practices of computer support specialists.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight Texas Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Fort Worth, Houston, Irving, Richardson, San Antonio, Sugar Land
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: Austin, Cedar Hill, Dallas, Houston, Irving, Plano
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Hurst, Irving, San Antonio, Spring, Sugar Land
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Arlington, Austin, Houston, Richardson, San Antonio, Webster
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
- Locations: Austin, Fort Worth, Houston, Irving, Richardson, San Antonio, Sugar Land
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: San Antonio
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Certificate, Diploma
- Locations: Dallas
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Doctorate, Master
- Locations: San Antonio
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
- Locations: Brownsville, Laredo
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Diploma
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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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South Texas College • Mcallen, TX
Studying Computer Support Specialist (completion in 2007)
• 8/25/2011
"I was ready for the "real world” and even had a few extra skill sets that my professors taught that put me a few steps ahead of my fellow employees. If I ran into a issue or problem at my current job that I could not solve I'm fairly certain that I can pick up the phone and make a phone call and receive help from one of my professors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Teachers were very well educated and helpful throughout my program. The limited distractions from the school really narrows your focus and keeps you on track to graduate. Additionally, you will be well prepared for the work to come. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | They are very well known for high quality graduates by many employers. However, again due to their small size, they aren't very well known amongst the general population and students who may wish to pursue the area of CSS. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Once past the basics the courses start covering things that you will encounter in the work place on a hands on basis. We were well prepared for electronic engineering even though it is considered a different discipline. Instruction for the most part follows real world expectations and thus prepares its graduates well. |
| Instruction | 10 | When any assistance was needed, it is always available. Teachers are always available and individual attention is almost assured due to the small structure of the university. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The level of brain function is rather high in the beginning due to the numerous "formulas and mathematical equations" that you will utilize constantly. Therefore, the program requires a lot of memorization. Also, hand in hand with these equations is the high level of math that will be required of you to resolve issues and propose further actions. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes have a fair blend of both book and hands on lab experiments. Once into your major the instructors place a real focus on theory, and normally one day a week, or sometimes twice, you will meet up for a hands on application of the theory you just learned. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The school has standard class times, ranging from 8am to 6pm. However, if for some reason you absolutely can not make the class times, most professors are willing to work with you either by emailing assignments or by posting them on a community "blackboard" online, where you will be able to login and see any and all class notes, assignments, etc. for a given time period. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | For the most part, once you're into your major the courses contain both a book section as well as a lab for hands on study. Teachers are very well equipped with various lab experiments that will cover the vast majority of issues that you will encounter during you employment in the field of CSS. |
| Social Life | 5 | There aren't any true fraternities on campus and this limits the social experiences you are exposed to. Also, because of the school's remote location, there really isn't much to get into or do without taking a 1.5 hour road trip to Houston. |
| Placement Services | 3 | They do make genuine efforts to assist any graduate in any way they can, but they have some severe limitations. Yes, the number of graduates are small - my class had approximately 125 adults. However, for the staff of such a small college to be able to do their jobs effectively for the next graduates, they just don't have the time they need to fully devote themselves to helping the graduates find employment. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school's support structure itself is fabulous from the chairman down through the boosters. However, since they are a smaller institution they lack the ability to take it to the next level as many major universities can and have done. |
United States Military Academy • West Point, TX
Studying Computer Science, Latin American Studies (completion in 2008)
• 9/8/2011
"I am very satisfied with my education and my experiences at West Point. I received an Ivy League caliber education and invaluable leadership experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Because West Point is among the best Science and Engineering schools in the nation those who study Science or Engineering (Computer) would be working with the best and most established departments on campus. They will gain invaluable experiences and make connections that will help them throughout their career. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | West Point's Science and Engineering departments are national recognized as being on par with MIT, Yale, and Harvard. It is one of the best Science and Engineering schools in the country. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school had a very good computer science program. I had a lot of fun, the instructors were very knowledgeable in the field and we were kept up to date on the changes in technology. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors were among the best. Communications officers had a lot of experience with many different aspects of computer science. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was difficult because there was a lot of work. Especially in classes that covered programming or web design. Those two tasks themselves are very time consuming even to those who are experts in the field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | West Point uses both hands on and the book method. We even use both for testing, i.e. having a final with a multiple choice portion and a hands on portion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | All classes at West Point are taken on campus. Some classes offer an internship or visit to expos or seminars. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | West Point is very good about keeping up with technology. They are often among the first to get new equipment and try new software. |
| Social Life | 8 | West Pointers form a very strong bond and though we do not have the "typical college experience" we do have very close connections to each other. There are also many opportunities for social gatherings at events such as football games and "spirit dinners." |
| Placement Services | 10 | Everyone who graduates from West Point has a job. And many people who study a computer-related field are able to become a communications officer in the Army and use their skills. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The West Point alumni network is great. I can go anywhere and find an "old grad" who is willing to help me. Even if they themselves aren't in the Computer Science line of work they may know someone who is and connect me with them. |
Tomball College • Tomball, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2011)
• 9/27/2011
"I was provided with a good education. I was trained well and classes were generally good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's the best junior college in its area. Many would save by going there instead of a four-year school while getting the same education. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school is well-known for technology and has a good technology department. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Some professors are not very competent, but I was able to make up for it with my own knowledge and self-study. The program was very flexible. |
| Instruction | 8 | I learned a lot during classes and was also prepared from practical life experience working with computers. The classes allowed me to work hands-on with computers in order to advance my skills. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The work load was somewhat light and not very challenging. This may be due to my previous experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned from the books often, but also got hands-on experience. There was equipment to work with that was up to date. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There were many options available. Early class enrollment meant any schedule desired. There were enough classes to easily accommodate any schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Computer resources were well-maintained and up to date. There was little downtime on the main web server. |
| Social Life | 2 | Social events were few and far between. Only one of the clubs interested me. Club meetings were scarce. There was little to do. I was not informed of any events unless they were school wide. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not consult the career services department in my school. I attempted to use their internal online job search but to no avail. There were no positions available. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I did not seek much support or look into the alumni network. My little experience with them was above average. |
Texas State University • San Marcos, TX
Studying International Business (completion in 2011)
• 9/28/2011
"I love everything about it!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I just have such great memories. It's also my mother's alma mater and that makes me proud to have gone there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It's known as THE business school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Very diversified choices of courses for each major. Great school all around. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was made to strive for more and learn more information. Always a great time when going to class - interesting subjects, etc. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Economics is a hard subject. You either get it or you don't. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I never had any scheduling problems. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Libraries had a very organized system for books. It was easy to get appointments with advisors. Tutors and study support groups have a special spot on the 3rd floor of our library. |
| Social Life | 10 | Nothing but good memories at this school. It is sad to be leaving. |
DeVry University • Irving, TX
Studying Electronics And Computer Technology (completion in 2002)
• 10/17/2011
"The knowledge and skills I obtained were very good. The training is designed so that you are able to obtain more training in a shorter time. Good job placement and support has helped me since I graduated."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you are looking for a career in computers, then DeVry University is for you. I would recommend it to anyone looking to learn a career fast. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The reputation of DeVry University is excellent. They are well known for good education in a short time. |
| Program Quality | 10 | DeVry University was very fast paced, but was packed full of excellent information and training. It is a top-rated school, in my opinion. I also began work as a computer technician while I was still in school. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful. The curriculum was fast paced, but the instructors gave individuals attention when they needed it. |
| How Difficult | 10 | My program of study was very difficult, due to the fast pace and the amount of training that you were required to obtain. It was challenging, but rewarding. I would recommend it to other people. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Everything is hands-on, with books, of course. We generally read some while we did hands-on a lot, which was good in order to learn fast. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school's flexibility was awesome. They provide day, night and online classes. They make it easy, even if you work full-time. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities were relatively small, but they had everything that you need for a good education. Classes were a good size and the availability of tutors and study groups was very good. |
| Social Life | 4 | My social experience at DeVry was not like any other college. It is a technical school and did not provide athletics or a lot of organized social events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | While I was still in school, they got me a job in my field. After school, they are very helpful in placing you in a job that you like. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The school's alumni network and support are good. Help is just a call away, even many years after I graduated. I acquired many good friends that provide support any time I need it. |
Hardin-Simmons University • Abilene, TX
Studying Education (completion in 1997)
• 10/18/2011
"Hardin-Simmons gave me the traditional college environment that I was looking for. I met my wife, got a degree and easily found a job after I graduated."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | HSU is a great school with lots of historic traditions. There is a great student-to-faculty ratio, and access to support services when needed is always available. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | In Texas education programs, Hardin-Simmons is highly ranked and has a very good reputation. The faculty is often published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. |
| Program Quality | 2 | Although Hardin-Simmons has an excellent education program, I only taught school for two years before switching to technology support. Now, I no longer use my degree for my current job description. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very experienced in education, and they were very enthusiastic about their subjects. Having this background in education allowed me to easily transition to technology support in higher education environments. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Education isn't known to be the most difficult degree plan. However, to do well in education, a broad interdisciplinary approach was needed, and that could be difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I can't speak for all programs at HSU, but the School of Education is very involved in the community. Students are placed in local schools for various purposes, beginning with their second year. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Hardin-Simmons is very traditional. Most courses are offered only during normal daytime hours on the traditional MWF or TTh schedule. Evening classes are rarely offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The campus of HSU has an excellent research library and a dedicated computer lab for the School of Education, in addition to computer labs for General Education. It also provides a tutoring center for group sessions or individual tutoring sessions. |
| Social Life | 10 | Texas schools are often full of tradition. Hardin-Simmons is no exception, including freshmen beanie hats, a fire-hydrant memorial for "Dammit the Dog," and numerous social events throughout the year. |
| Placement Services | 5 | HSU provided a career placement office to keep and provide recommendations from faculty. However, they did little to assist job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Other than a yearly newsletter, an invitation to homecoming, and the occasional solicitation of money, I rarely hear from our alumni network. I do not contribute to our alumni association either. |
Midland College • Midland, TX
Studying Computer Technology (completion in 1994)
• 10/5/2011
"The education was fair, and the price was reasonable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If it's all you can afford or you live close then it's good. But, don't move to the area to go to Midland College. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Midland College has a good reputation within that community but not so much anywhere else. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Midland College is a good school, but not well known for any type of advanced computer degree. |
| Instruction | 5 | Professors are competent and friendly. They took a real interest in me and my career aspirations. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Most courses were not challenging. Most of the time course work is intentionally slow in order to give everyone a chance to keep up. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | With computers you can never have enough hands-on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There are some night courses, but not as many options as I would like. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The school has good facilities and fairly modern equipment. They are lacking in high end stuff. |
| Social Life | 3 | I was hardly involved in school activities. Our basketball team is pretty good I hear. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have not used this service. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I am not aware of any alumni activities. |
Texas State Technical College • Marshall, TX
Studying Computer Systems And Networking Administration (completion in 2013)
• 10/31/2011
"I wish the general education teachers were as supportive as my computer course instructors. I learn more with hands on."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a wonderful place to get your start. The price is great for the education you get. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | A lot of employers actively seek graduates from my school. I met one guy who made an iPhone app and is making thousands of dollars a month just on residuals from it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The teachers are competent but the students don't seem very serious about school, so that brings me down a bit. |
| Instruction | 10 | All of instructors are very passionate about their curriculums. My programming teacher LOVES programming so much that he would do it for free. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Linux is hard to learn but easy to use once you do learn it. Programming is a bit difficult because there is a lot of math involved when coding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The general academic classes are mostly book oriented. The computer courses are more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The flexibility is good, I would say. It's still hard for me because I have to work during the day and I have a class that is only held during the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We have a wonderful library with loads of information. We also have a tutoring program called LSC, or Learning Success Center. The tutors are students from TSTC and surrounding schools. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school is mostly for adults so there is not a lot going on. But we do have BBQ's, contests, and things of that sort. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Once you graduate they help you find a job that YOU want. They ask you WHO you want to work for and will do everything they can to get you in. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I really don't know about this, but we have a board of alumni that hires directly out of the school. They also offer internships. |
ITT Technical Institute • Austin, TX
Studying Computer Networking Systems (completion in 2007)
• 10/23/2011
"There was a lot about ITT that I have griped about here, but there was a lot of good as well. There are some very talented, creative teachers there, and I want to commend them. They are about equal in number with the idiot professors who should be removed from any technical vocation at first opportunity. ITT needs more resources and actual accreditation to be a good school. I like the hands on approach that it strives for, and wish it well. More qualified teachers, lab resources, hardware to work and learn on instead of simulators, networking classes, programming classes, Linux classes, better research materials and resources, and you may be onto something here. Over all, average education. Great potential...you can do so much better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Find a school that is cheaper with better resources. A good community college can give you much more than ITT can, and it's transferable to another school. A university can give you more than that. The only thing ITT can give that they don't (and they don't do it well enough) is the tactile hands-on training that those of us who are kinesthetic learners need to be successful. To overcome this, learn on your own. Get used equipment at Goodwill, yard sales or craigslist and use the information you get at school to learn on your own. You will end up with a MUCH better education, and the paper to go with it. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | They paid no attention to detail and we learned nothing. Instructors neglected students and failed to provide a quality education. |
| Program Quality | 2 | ITT Tech was one of the worst schools I have ever attended. Their textbooks were missing pages and had misinformation, they had no networking equipment for the networking degree, and a lot of the teachers passed EVERYONE just to make their averages look good without us actually learning anything. It was also $50,000 for a two year degree. My four year degree cost half of that. I am not pleased. |
| Instruction | 3 | While the quality of my instructors and their classes was well below average, I did learn how to teach myself and dig out any information I needed either on my own or from others. I had to because most (not all) of the teachers didn't bother to teach, they just showed up, drank coffee, and hung out with the boys. I am not a boy. I was not amused. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was only difficult in that my frustration level was high. I was trying to learn something that went against my natural abilities and had poor teaching with which to do so. If not for my more knowledgeable classmates, I would never have survived. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had a session of lecture and a session of lab work. The lecture was agreed to be a waste of time about 80% of the time. It was the lab work where we really learned our subject matter and why what we learned in the lecture worked. The resources were so limited that we could not combine both into the same classroom and class time most of the time because we had to share the labs with so many people they couldn't afford to have us in the same room too long. Lab work was awesome. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | One thing ITT does EXTREMELY well is the flexibility of scheduling. Without the ability to go to school at night and on weekends, I would never have been able to go. I had to balance a full school workload with a full time job, and this was the only way to make both happen. That was a HUGE blessing. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | NO test equipment. Horrifically lacking library (there were few books, and the ones that were there were terribly outdated). We had to share classroom space so much that it was not unusual to have three classes in the same room at any one time trying to work on separate subjects. There were no tutors or study group support, and professors were accessible if you could catch them (your best shot was on smoke breaks). |
| Social Life | 2 | I made several lifelong friends there. However most of my social experience there was not just bad, it was scary. School spirit was through the floor, there were no parties or athletics. And the one organized social event was pathetic. However, in each individual class (every class stayed together for two years) there was a tight camaraderie that was unparalleled. We all got each other through and that is where the lifelong friends were made, and the real work and real learning done. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I had no assistance from the school for job placement. I happened to get a job through networking on my own and have been there for four years. I got zero support from the school. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There has been NO alumni network. And they didn't support me while in school, why should they support me now? |
Central Texas College • Killeen, TX
Studying General Education (completion in 2010)
• 11/13/2011
"I got an Associate's from them so it's a start. I couldn't be happier. "
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Flexible school with good professors and a good selection of courses. I recommend it to lots of personnel. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | CTC has a reputation as a fairly decent school that gives good results. It also has a reputation for being easy to complete if you are halfway competent. |
| Program Quality | 8 | General Education is a basic degree that you can get anywhere. CTC was good to me and I learned enough to be able to progress. |
| Instruction | 9 | Most of the instructors knew what they were talking about. Some even wrote the books we used for class. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Online schools seem to have a tendency to allow weaker students graduate. Despite this, I've seen some tougher standards becoming the norm. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I mostly took online courses but there were some classroom courses. I had a good mix of hands on and book learned events. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classroom courses are available in various locations and online is an option as well. Needs will be covered. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were a lot of resources available to us online. Digital libraries, databases and more all available through their online site. |
| Social Life | I never attended any social events with this school. | |
| Placement Services | I have a job on contract for another three years. As such I haven't utilized these services. | |
| Alumni Network | I've never interacted with the school in this capacity. I feel one should at least get a BS before using an alumni network. I've got three years left. |
Cockrell School Of Engineering - The University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Computer And Electrical Engineering (completion in 2009)
• 11/23/2011
"I was extremely satisfied. I would have rated it 10 if I didn't think that nothing is perfect. I was very satisfied and this is why I decided to do my grad school there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend people go to this school, since the experience was superb overall. Excellent academics, connections, and fun! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I believe the school has the first or second program ranking in the nation. It is a highly competitive program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had a really personalized education experience. I also am considering a master's degree at the same department. |
| Instruction | 10 | My professors were all professionals with great visions on the business. I have also interned at good companies because of my professors' connections. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was a really challenging study experience. However, it was really interesting and enriching. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Once we got through all the theoretical information, we started doing mostly hands-on tasks (after about two years in school). We participated in projects involving building equipment and applying our knowledge. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | It is very hard to keep your schedule perfect and not graduate late, especially with engineering. Not many classes are offered in the summer, and none online. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We all had 24/7 access to computer labs, offices, and study rooms. This was in addition to the facilities for other departments, of which we could access a lot. |
| Social Life | 10 | Number one party school in America while I was in it! The University of Texas offered me a chance to meet a lot of people and interact and make friends. I attended organization meetings, events, and parties on weekends. The Austin, TX downtown and music scene also affects student life very much. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I did not get my job through the school's job placement services. However, I received my internships and made many connections because of these services. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Alumni meet regularly, once or more a year. We also keep in touch and use our networks of connections to help each other. |
Stephen F. Austin State University • Nacogdoches, TX
Studying General Business (completion in 2009)
• 11/27/2011
"I was satisfied with the education I received at SFA. I learned a lot."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Although there are many other schools in our area, I would probably recommend SFA. It was a good school. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | SFA has a great business school. It is one of the majors advertised for our school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The business classes at SFA were good. Unfortunately, I don't use my degree in the current job I have. |
| Instruction | 7 | I had several very good teachers. Of course, there are always those who aren't so good. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was pretty difficult to me. That's, in part, because I worked full time while going to school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes that I took were book learning. There were a few that were more hands on. I guess it depends on your major. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There are many opportunities to take evening and online classes. I took full advantage of both. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were several computer labs in the business building. There was never a lack of space to complete your work. |
| Social Life | I didn't participate in any extra activities while in school. That's because I wasn't the traditional college-age student. | |
| Placement Services | I never had the opportunity to use the job services. If I had been a traditional student, then I probably would've used them. | |
| Alumni Network | I'm not a member of the SFA Alumni Association. This is because it costs money to join. |
Texas A&M • College Station, TX
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2012)
• 11/28/2011
"It's just a piece of paper. The only people who care are employers. It does its job as far as the paper goes."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | If you are just looking for a piece of paper, then come on down. If you are looking for actual knowledge, then it's best to look at a non-state school. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | Well, it's A&M. I should have chosen a better school than I did. If I wanted to learn about bio-engineering, this would be the school. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It's not really that great of a computer science school. The IT department and teachers seem to be a bit uneducated when it comes to the latest and greatest tech. |
| Instruction | 5 | I already knew a bit coming into the program and feel that given my experience level, I was more qualified to give the class than the teachers. The old-school tech they know well and taught me a good deal. But anything new, they had no clue. |
| How Difficult | 3 | It was easy because nothing was challenging. Learning some of the languages was challenging, but the teachers did not help with that. I took my books home and studied on my own until I got it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We're supposed to read the book. Then we go home and use our hands on own equipment unless we can get into a class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It's school. You come in when you're supposed to. If you cant make it, just have a friend sign you in. There are no online options but this wasn't a concern for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The computer lab is always busy and full. They need a bigger lab. |
| Social Life | 4 | There wasn't much going on for me as I do not drink. It's kind of hard to be social in my college and not drink or do drugs. School spirit is out of this world though, the school is known for the bonfires. The athletics aren't great. |
| Placement Services | I don't know, I don't need a job. | |
| Alumni Network | I never participated in anything. |
Lee College • Baytown, TX
Studying Business (completion in 2005)
• 12/31/2011
"It was a fun school to attend and graduate from."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a fun school to attend and graduate from. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The school has a great state recognition. Most students attend from the city. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I have my degree. I learned enough to succeed in the career field. |
| Instruction | 8 | I have my degree. I learned enough to succeed in the career field. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Math made it difficult but was not needed. Accounting was not needed either. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mostly class discussion, though books were needed for certain classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to go full-time. I even had a few online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I had everything you need to succeed, including school resources. |
| Social Life | 9 | Plenty of school events and spirit. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They find decent but low-paying jobs. Most jobs are just to get your feet wet. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Great communication. School events are emailed to students. |
Southwest Texas State University • San Marcos, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2002)
• 1/2/2012
"I was satisfied because I did learn a lot. I also made several lasting friendships."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | SWT is in a great community. The school is also still a quality school. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation has gotten better since the school has branched out in class diversity. I only wish they would have done so sooner. |
| Program Quality | 7 | SWT had decent classes for programming. I learned when I graduated that several of the computer languages taught were being phased out in the real world. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of the classes were good. However, some professors were from the public sector and not able to teach the subject matter. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I found the programming aspect of the classes to be very difficult towards the end. I did enjoy the challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was only hands-on if you wanted to be a programmer. There was very little hands-on experience for subject matter such as PC repair, server administration, and networking. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I never had a problem with scheduling classes. There always seemed to be plenty of options. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Our facilities were always more than adequate. Computers were up to date, and the library was easy to navigate. |
| Social Life | 8 | Graduates from SWT are a proud bunch but they should have spoken up when it came to changing the name of our beloved school. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Career services was of little to no help when it came to someone in the technology field. The staff was not equipped to help those of us in a technology field in 2002. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The alumni network was almost non-existent. There were some professors who helped out much more than any alumni. |
Houston Community College Central Campus • Houston, TX
Studying Biomedical Electronics Specialization (completion in 2003)
• 12/29/2011
"I am satisfied that the school provided a foundation for further learning. It is also good to have a credential (Associate's Degree)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I believe most people would be better off seeking work experience and certification instead. This would be quicker than the school program and easier to fit into a busy schedule. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I believe the school has a better reputation than ITT, a similar private institution. It also has a better reputation than the computer training provided by the military. The school's reputation for computer training is not as good as that of the University of Houston. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The courses offered were relevant, especially to the A+ certification test. On the other hand, there was little hands on and no intern or co-op. |
| Instruction | 7 | The electronics courses were good but the computer courses were not as focused. There was an uneven level of instruction; some instructors were very thorough and others not at all. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The program was easy. The hardest courses were AC circuits; probably due to math. The computer courses were easy, although there was much more work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was very little hands on learning; almost all learning was classroom instruction. There was no internship or cooperative education program. The program is limited by the software and hardware available. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Many classes are offered at local branch campuses, which is convenient. There are several day and night classes. Some courses are not offered in summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The computers were somewhat old but functioning. The library was acceptable. The instructors were very accessible, especially the department head. |
| Social Life | The school has a very limited social experience for vocational programs. There is a wide variation in student age. The school hosts some events which are mostly attended by students in the College transfer curriculum programs. | |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school offers jobs placement assistance and holds career fairs but I've never attended. |
| Alumni Network | I never use the Alumni network. However, I have worked with a few people who also went to the same school. |
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