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 Northern Virginia Community College, Tidewater Community College, Germanna Community College, and Lord Fairfax Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider James Madison, Bluefield, Norfolk State, and Virginia State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Sweet Briar College, Hollins, and Mary Baldwin.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Virginia State, Hampton, Norfolk State, and Ferrum.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Southwest Virginia Community College, Bluefield, Patrick Henry Community College, and Danville Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Southern Virginia University, Washington and Lee University, University of Richmond, and Hampton.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Ferrum, Hampden - Sydney, Virginia Military Institute, and Sweet Briar College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Washington and Lee University, William and Mary, University of Virginia, and University of Richmond.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Washington and Lee University, University of Virginia, William and Mary, and University of Richmond.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Washington and Lee University, Sweet Briar College, Hampden - Sydney, and University of Richmond.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Strayer University • Ashburn, VA
Studying Business (completion in 2007)
"Teachers are from the business world. They were able to bring real world examples and case studies into the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The program was easy but doesn't get enough respect in the D.C. area to really help improve careers. Did provide the foundations to build on as I begin to pursue Master's programs. Also, sometimes it seemed the school cared more about the money and less about the students. This could be because it is a for profit university. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | Again, not as respected as traditional schools. |
| Program Quality | 2 | Strayer University doesn't carry the weight in the real world that traditional universities do. |
| Instruction | 8 | Professor's bring real world example's to compliment the text book examples. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Program designed for continuing education, so workload not exactly heavy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | ||
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very flexible with a fair amount of online classes available in addition to nights and weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | Facilities were in dire need of updating. |
| Social Life | 1 | Most students were adults so there really was no school spirit. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Almost non existent. |
Christopher Newport University • Newport News, VA
Studying Applied Physics And Computer Science (completion in 2000)
• 9/18/2011
"The knowledge and experience I gained at CNU proved to be priceless as I left the nest and moved into the real world. My graduate internship at NASA directly led to being hired as a computational engineer after my graduation. This opened doors later in life and all came about directly from my experience at CNU."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend CNU PCSE without reservation. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would, and I look back on those days with very fond memories. I made friends for life, and learned things I never could have imagined. I obtained a sense of creativity fused with scientific ability and applied technical proficiency which serves me well to this day. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The department is involved in numerous science education programs throughout the community and a nationwide experiment with an interactive classroom delivery system. Faculty have research collaborations worldwide and the department is closely connected with the government laboratories on the peninsula (TJNAF and NASA). |
| Program Quality | 10 | The strength and uniqueness of the PCSE department, and its degree programs, lie in its multidisciplined, yet integrated nature. The closeness with which the faculty interact enable outstanding relationships which improve the advancement of sciences, CNU itself, but most of all, the students. Resource availability is unparalleled, and opportunities for real-world experience abound. |
| Instruction | 10 | The Physics and Computer Science program is integrated, so the two programs complement each other. This allows for shared resources and valuable collaborations. These attributes strengthen the department in ways not available to single discipline departments. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The work itself is difficult. However the high faculty-to-student ratio, and hands-on, hardware-oriented, applied components are presented in a way that is attractive to students and provides the important practical experience needed for future development. The availability of equipment, personnel, and expertise mitigate the technical difficulty of the curriculum. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | CNU PCSE offers the perfect mix of hands-on and textbook work. Students were required to learn how to leverage, maintain, administer, and secure heterogeneous computational systems without any loss of theoretical academic rigor. This allows for rich and versatile graduates to excel in their chosen field after moving on, as I did. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | While undergraduate schedules are the usual fare, there are no online options. Graduate classes are almost exclusively offered in the evening, to allow working students to pursue advanced studies. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Beyond the introductory courses, many sophomore, junior, and senior level courses also have hands-on, hardware-oriented, applied components which are presented in a way that provides the practical experience needed for future development. The hardware and software used throughout the curriculum are updated frequently to provide high quality educational tools. The practical orientation of the program is tied to the economic development of the local community through collaboration, consulting, and education. |
| Social Life | 10 | The graduate department was like a family. The students were very helpful, and we always found time for social functions ranging from highbrow cocktails and billiards to heavy metal and strobe lights. School spirit was strong and was bolstered by the addition of the CNU football team while I was there. The various other student sports programs, social and cultural functions are sponsored weekly for those seeking to get more involved with the student body. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The Career Planning center offers services beginning in the freshman year with selection of major through senior year and the final resume and job search. Career coaching is comprehensive, free, and available to alumni for life after graduation. CNU actively solicits companies and other entities to post jobs with their Career Center so local students can find jobs without relocating. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | After graduation, I was always able to maintain key relationships with peers or mentors for the purpose of collaborations, questions, or recommendations, but I always had to initiate contact. I never heard much from the school after graduation except for solicitation for donations. |
Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 2003)
• 9/18/2011
"Unfortunately, the course advisors are not always informed on what they are supposed to do. I wanted to be an engineer, and while I was in the Computer Engineering program, my advisor had a BA in history and did not know the program or the professors very well. Engineering here is harder than it has to be. The impression I got was that the school was trying to fail students or cause them to switch out of the program to seem more prestigious."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I still don't feel like actual IT courses are as relevant as if students went to a trade school like ITT Tech or learned by actually doing. I feel that if a manager liked me, I could've been hired out of high school to do what I do. Mostly what I learned in college was study skills, because what I did in college and what I do now are almost entirely unrelated. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As horrifying as I find it, my school's reputation in the state improved as Michael and then Marcus Vick joined our football program. We got more applicants, the grades and therefore, academic quality of our students improved. Now a degree from Virginia Tech is more valuable than it was before. |
| Program Quality | 3 | When I graduated most IT professionals were going to Business IT or Accounting Systems IT. Based on the classes offered there, I decided to take my own route. The class materials in the BIT courses were often out of date. |
| Instruction | 5 | The professors knew what they were doing, but again, the course content was weak sometimes. I often learned more on my own in my part-time jobs when it came to actual desktop support rather than in a classroom. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Due to the minors I was adding to my degree, I had to take a lot of courses related to education and teaching. This interdisciplinary approach meant I was exposed to harder and more diverse classes than I would've run across in a BIT class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had a good mix of labs and theory-style classes. I had to do my share of program and script writing, but I also had to learn a lot of theory, and something horrible called Unified Modeling Language, which I hate. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I am currently enrolled in an Educational Technology Master's degree program as an online student. I'm also able to take courses during the regular school year, though the schedule is limited and there are no weekend classes that I know of. The online classes are great though. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Our libraries are up-to-date and contain relevant new materials. We also have access to tech journals and other things that individuals or people at public libraries wouldn't have access to. Advisors and professors are an email away and usually answer quickly. |
| Social Life | 8 | Rabid Hokie fans are a huge turn off, but they are everywhere here. I was more into my church, and I had a fantastic time. I made friends that I talk to daily across the country. I enjoyed more time with clubs than anything else. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Career Services at my school is great. I work for Virginia Tech, but when I show up they do not treat me like an employee trying to leave the university, but rather as an Alum that they are trying to help find other work. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I never hear from my school for donations, and I never receive any information about my degree program. However, when I go back to have my resume looked at, Career Services is always accommodating. |
Central Virginia Community College • Lynchburg, VA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2007)
• 9/19/2011
"I was very satisfied with every aspect of the school. I am very grateful of the position that they have put me in for my future."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Fantastic business and technology professors. Great staff, great facilities to help put you on the right career path. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They have great Business Management and Technology departments. I owe my skills to the wonderful staff. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My training was very thorough. It taught me how to diagnose issues with customer's products as well as providing one-on-one support for all of their needs. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned a lot from seminars and head office training. They taught me how to put the customer first and provide great service. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I have been working in customer service/repair for quite a few years. I had self taught myself over the years so it became second nature when it was time for official training. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I found it to be a perfect mix of hands-on and book work. They also had a lot of options for working on the computer as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer great online classes. They also offer night options for those who are working their way through. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school had a wonderful library and facilities. Computer labs were great and up to date. Professors were always willing to help. |
| Social Life | 9 | Great friends and friendly staff. Lots of events such as parties and fraternities. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They were great. They had me placed into a desirable position in no time. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | They were great with helping place me into a job. They also offer many other valuable resources to help me on my career path. |
Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2012)
• 10/1/2011
"I loved Virginia Tech. It was a great four years and I was sad to have to leave. I always felt at home and can not imagine being anywhere else."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Virginia Tech to anyone who wants to pursue a CS career! It was fantastic. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I think our school's reputation for CS is fantastic. Our research is expanding the knowledge of our department world-wide and some of the best technology is unfolding from our school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The Computer Science department at Virginia Tech was outstanding. It was very challenging at all times and made us think outside the box to solve problems. |
| Instruction | 6 | The professors were not as accommodating as they could have been. I had one professor who did not even teach his own lecture for three months. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Our program was one of the hardest to complete. Many of the students were "weeded out" over time because of the hard courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of our classes were a mix of book learning and hands-on learning. We were given programming assignments and basically taught ourselves with the help of textbooks and resources. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Class flexibility could have been better. Senior year you always hope to have Fridays off, or be done with classes by 2pm and not have to start before 11am. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Virginia Tech has a Computer Science lounge made available only for CS students. This was great to study, get help, sleep, or work on a programming assignment. |
| Social Life | 10 | I am very outgoing so I had a great social experience at Virginia Tech. I went to all the football games, tailgated, participated in Relay for Life, and always had a busy Friday night and weekend with friends. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Career services was excellent at providing opportunities, on-campus interviews, and one-on-one sessions with employers. They will do everything they can to ensure a job for you. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Our alumni department is great at getting former students back to the school to talk about job experience, interviews, or support. |
Strayer University • Woodbridge, VA
Studying Business Administration Management (completion in 2008)
• 10/15/2011
"I am very proud to be a Strayer University alum. I guess, as far as reputation goes, if I was to be interviewed for a job and the other applicant had an MBA from Temple University (but our job experience and other training were identical), then I may have a disadvantage. However, one day, I expect that the Strayer University name will be more recognized/admired than present highly regarded learning institutions. Strayer is located in several states."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My friends range in ages 30 to 60. Therefore, I would recommend Strayer, because it caters to the working professional to help them meet their education needs. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | As a privately owned university, Strayer University is highly regarded, as it is accredited by the Department of Education's accrediting body and has a Business Administration regional accreditation. Strayer is also ranked as one of the top MBA online programs in the nation. Unfortunately, I have read some blog entries of snobs that down Strayer, because its Business Administration regional accreditation is not the same as other schools, such as UNC. Although I don't have all the facts, Strayer's regional accrediting body (for Business Administration) was developed back in the 80's, whereas traditional universities were established approximately in the 30's. Point being, the Department of Education recognizes Strayer's accrediting bodies. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The courses were challenging, as well as the required dissertation. However, the customer service/administrative support still needs improvements. |
| Instruction | 4 | I felt that the quality of the materials, courses and interaction were great. However, although the MBA program, with a concentration in Management, prepared me to manage an office or an institution, it did not prepare me for the subject matter expertise needed to be a logistician. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Working on my MBA required me to put in 8 to 16 hours per week, in addition to an already demanding work schedule. My weekends were obligated to school. Some of the course materials, like Quantitative Methods, were somewhat overwhelming, but I did earn a B in the course. In short, when I graduated, I felt I earned it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Strayer has IT labs, and its classes are fun to attend, as the instructors are great during class. However, the online program really focuses on the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Strayer University's classes are flexible, as the school caters to the working professionals. However, I was required to turn in weekly assignments. Therefore, I worked all day Saturday (usually 10 am to 12 midnight) and sometimes Sunday too, to finish up assignments, take tests, etc. The reason for a rating of 8 versus a 10 is that NOVA, a state-run school, requires its online students to turn in its assignments by the end of the course's quarter. I preferred Strayer University's online program, because requiring me to turn in my assignments at the end of the week kept me organized and disciplined to reach my objective. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The campus has a small resource center (not really a library), because most directives, policies and references are kept digitally. I needed a template for my dissertation so I could quickly conform to Strayer's policy on formatting. Therefore, their forum is fine for me. However, for students who do not have access to the internet and do not take online courses, I think it would be more beneficial for them to be able to stop by the campus library and get a book before or after their classes. |
| Social Life | 1 | The instructors talked the talk during class, but were less than helpful after class. The staff at Strayer was nice at times, but did not seem to all be on the same page regarding policies. No sports team, no get-togethers. In short, it is a privately run institution. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Strayer provides monthly scholar magazines. Strayer also has an awesome website with links to several networks. That is all good stuff. Unfortunately, the one-on-one interaction with staff and those that are to help implement career services, is not all that good. That is my opinion. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Strayer University provides me a monthly scholar magazine that gives recognition to new graduates, success stores and networking activities. Strayer gives students and graduates all the tools for networking and continuous development. |
Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA
Studying Aerospace Engineering (completion in 2013)
• 10/27/2011
"The campus is very beauteous. However, public education ALWAYS has its drawbacks."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Go to Georgia Tech for Aerospace. Otherwise, go here! |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Better than average. However, it is still less than 15th in the nation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The school is lower than 15th in nationwide ratings. Research is done here at a very low rate and getting a degree in Aerospace Engineering is looked down upon by the department. |
| Instruction | 7 | It is hit or miss with the professors. Some are okay, but many spend too much time talking about unrelated experiences rather than the subject matter. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It may be difficult compared to other majors, but not difficult generally. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Lots of design lab experience and other theoretical hands-on experience. However, not much experimental experience is available unless in a specialization with lots of exposure. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Daytime options are diverse. However, not much in other areas are available. No evening or online options for Aerospace Engineering. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Many resources and facilities are available. Full size campus for every student's use. Academic advisors are limited in scope considering they are major specific. |
| Social Life | 7 | Too concentrated around FOOTBALL! I wish the girls would wear dresses more often. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Many career fairs and networking opportunities. However, not all job market niches are available. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Not much support. However, there is enough for it to catch your attention. |
George Washington • Ashburn, VA
Studying MS IST (completion in 2012)
• 11/21/2011
"The program is rewarding for the curriculum, prestige, and name."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is great for those who want to be a part of a weekend executive cohort. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | GWU is a well known school in the Washington DC area, and possibly further out in the country as well. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program is challenging, and fulfilling. |
| Instruction | 8 | The program teaches management of IST, and does a good job. I feel more confident and am able to think strategically regarding IT concepts. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I have spent many hours at my desk studying for class. Managerial Statistics has been a tough course and most people are struggling. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We perform quite a bit of classroom and book-work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The class schedule is fixed, but you have an allowance of 1-2 days you can miss without falling too far behind. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are plenty of rooms. Tutoring is not available at our level, but our cohort helps each other out. |
| Social Life | 7 | As in most graduate programs, social experiences are non-existent. |
| Placement Services | 8 | GWU uses GWORLD to help employers find students who fit their job requirements. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I have heard one notable alum who built and sold a start-up for 123 million dollars. It is motivational to know these alum exist. |
Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA
Studying Aerospace And Ocean Engineering (completion in 1999)
• 2/11/2012
"I enjoyed my time there and made some great friends. I would encourage my children to consider VT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | VT is a good school with a good reputation. It is also fairly affordable. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | VT is always ranked highly in engineering. There are a lot of people in my area familiar with VT's engineering program, so it helps with the reputation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I'm not working in the field of my degree, so it's hard to judge against other professionals. If I had to do it over again, I would have chosen a different program. |
| Instruction | 5 | Since I'm not working in this field, I can't state how well it prepared me for my career. There were a few classes that have helped. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had a dual major, so it took me an extra year to finish. Required more credits than other majors. Friends in business majors always seemed to have less work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In Engineering, there were lots of hands-on experiments. Other subjects, not so much. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were no weekend options. There were very few online options in 1999. I did have one class where students participated over VTC. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They seemed adequate. Sometimes TAs were used too much for some classes. |
| Social Life | 8 | VT's football program was just starting to get good, so going to games was fun. College town; always parties. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Career fairs were held on campus. I ultimately got my job offers through previous employment and friends. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I live in the same state as my college. There are a lot of alumni in this area, so the support is good. |
James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2001)
• 2/22/2012
"I had a great educational and social experience. Although this school was not my first choice of colleges, I always say it was probably for the best. It was small enough that I didn't feel like a number, but big enough that I didn't know everyone on campus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely! Although JMU is not known as a technical school by any means, it has amazing computer related programs. It gave me a wonderful all-around experience that I don't think I would have found at another school! |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Working in a school system, I hear quite a bit of chatter from the students and teachers about different colleges. JMU does not have a reputation for being a "computer major" type of school. Most students who want to major in Computer-related fields have other schools as their first choice. However, JMU has a strong Business program, so students interested in the business side of the computer industry strongly consider it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I enjoyed my major because it gave me the technical foundation to be successful, but also gave me a business background to understand the bigger picture. |
| Instruction | 7 | The hardest part about getting a degree in any computing area is the market is constantly changing. The things I learned in college are already obsolete. However, I learned how to learn, which is most important in this industry. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Because I also double majored in Operations Management, my work load was greater than most. It is difficult for me to differentiate between the majors to determine the work load for just Computer Information Systems. However, I felt the work was challenging and manageable, but not overwhelming. The professors did a great job of giving us balance. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my core classes were mostly book learning, but my major classes did more hands-on work. In every major class, we had to do some type of practicum or project that required us to actually apply the skills we were learning. The applications class I took had us create a database of books for the library at a local school. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | As I came into my freshman year with a number of credits, I was able to register for my classes before most students in my class. This made my experience much easier than others. At that time, there were not many classes available online, but the number and variety of course sections allowed me to take all the necessary classes as well as classes I was purely interested in without extending my allotted four years. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The professor were very helpful and made themselves available as much as possible. However, there definitely was not enough computer lab space. There was only one lab at that time open past 9 pm. If there was a difficult programming project due at the same time the English majors had a major paper due, there was a line out the door to get into the late night computer lab. Some of the software programs we used were only available in the labs. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social experience at my school was really what you made of it. I was in a social sorority that also did a lot of philanthropic work. This was a great experience because it allowed me to be involved, make friends, and also raise money for a cause I strongly support. There were always parties going on if that is what you were into. There were was every type of club under the sun! |
| Placement Services | 8 | Although I no longer work for the company I did right out of college, I would not have found that first job if it wasn't for the career office. They had recruiters from numerous companies visiting, interviewing, and hiring right there on campus. I interviewed with my top three choices right there on campus. It made the process less stressful than I had anticipated. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I get a magazine 4 times a year, and that's about it. I know the alumni network is out there and relatively strong, however, I have never sought it out. I have not used it to make connections for a job or anything. |
George Mason University • Fairfax, VA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2007)
• 3/15/2012
"I was satisfied with GMU mainly because of the flexibility. The ease of registering and signing up was also very important to me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend to others GMU because if even they are taking a major that is not directly related to their job, GMU offers a wide variety of electives that would benefit them at work. It is also a great commuter school for those who choose to work while In school. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'm not very familiar with other colleges' programs. I assume it is average but since I have nothing to compare to I can't be sure. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school's psychology program was flexible. It also kept me interested as it progressed. |
| Instruction | 5 | I also attended NVCC for some of my college career. Comparing this with GMU makes me think the instruction was average as it was very similar. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Parts of my Psychology major was difficult due to the amount of research that was needed for it. I also took a minor in Business which involved many time consuming projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my classes followed a textbook pretty closely. Only a few of the computer/business classes went outside the textbook and we did group projects more in those types of classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | GMU offered online courses as well as in-person courses. They also offered some courses at a campus closer to my home, both allowed extra flexibility in making my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The academic facilities appeared average to me compared to NVCC. That said, the campus was under a lot of construction during my time there. |
| Social Life | I never really attended any school-sponsored social events while I was there. As a commuter student, I didn't spend extra time on campus outside of class time. | |
| Placement Services | 4 | I'm not aware of any job placement services offered by GMU. if they exist, they weren't communicated to students very well. |
| Alumni Network | I have not been a part of any alumni activities on or off campus since graduating. I've never really been part of any extra activities for the school. |
Strayer University • Alexandria, VA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2008)
• 3/18/2012
"I was satisfied with the education I received. It will help me in my future endeavors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I found the education to be solid. I found the online classes to be convenient. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Business Administration will always be needed in the workforce. Whether it be managing or working. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel I learned what was needed for my field. The classes were challenging and topical. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were organized. The instructors were always available to field questions. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The classes were challenging. However, with proper study, good grades and understanding the material was achievable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'd say it's 50/50. You needed to both read the books and participate in the online discussions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The classes were online. The classes were flexible in the fact you could log in 24/7 to complete assignments. |
| Academic Facilities | I only took online classes and can't answer questions about the brick and mortar school. | |
| Social Life | I only took online classes and can't answer questions about the brick and mortar school. | |
| Placement Services | I never had to work with job placement. I never had to work with career services. | |
| Alumni Network | I never had to deal with administrators. I never had to deal with support. |
Old Dominion University • Norfolk, VA
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2010)
• 3/31/2012
"I was very satisfied with my school. The professors are really great and the campus looks beautiful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I highly recommend ODU to anyone going the IT major route. Even if you're not, I recommend ODU. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | ODU is known for being one of the best universities to participate in for information technology in Virginia. I'm glad to have graduated from ODU. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was very satisfied with my experience at ODU. All the professors used to work in the IT Field so they know what the bosses of today expect from us. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors used to work in the IT field. So once you get to the three and four hundred level classes they start teaching you about scenarios that you would see in the real world. |
| How Difficult | 5 | You put in as much time as you're expecting to get back. You have to work hard in order to make good money or get that job that you always wanted. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was not a whole lot of hands-on experience from the professors at ODU. Almost everything you learn is from the book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | ODU offers classes throughout the day and night. The schedule is very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The IT field has their own computer lab just for IT majors. IT majors get free printing, unlike everyone else. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was very social with everyone in college. Most people wanted to keep to themselves though but I made a lot of friends. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The CMC at ODU helps get you an internship and eventually help you get a career once you graduate. They follow you through every step of the way. |
George Mason University • Fairfax, VA
Studying IT (completion in 2014)
• 3/28/2012
"Overall it's pretty good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great place with a solid foundation that can only get better. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is an up-and-coming school, so soon enough it will be very note worthy. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It's a great school with a great program, just wish I had the money to finish going to school. |
| Instruction | 7 | I met a few great professors who really helped me. |
| How Difficult | 4 | This is what I'm best at, I didn't expect it to be hard, only informative. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's rather book-intensive stuff, with a little hands-on thrown in. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | About what you'd expect from a public university. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Nothing that would leave you wanting more, completely fulfilling. |
| Social Life | I don't really do any of that kind of stuff. | |
| Placement Services | I haven't used them. | |
| Alumni Network | I wouldn't know yet. |
James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA
Studying Corporate Communications (completion in 2007)
• 3/27/2012
"My school was excellent. Certainly four of the most satisfying and useful years of my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I definitely would recommend the school. The professors are focused on helping their students convert book learning into skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. I learned things there that I still rely upon today! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It seems to be well known but I am not sure what employers' impressions are. |
| Program Quality | 9 | They offered a good combination of informative lectures and hands on training. The professors were very eager to help me learn. |
| Instruction | 10 | The things that I learned were relevant. Also, the courses were interesting. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was very challenging. However, the professors provided a good support network and were willing to provide insight to struggling students. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The majority of my classes were focused on hands on training. Even the ones that had a heavily oriented book component were often coupled with fieldwork. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | They generally had classes at all hours of the day and night. However, some courses were only offered at one time slot per semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They were really eager to make sure we were aware of all resources available to us. Sometimes, they would agree to meet with me outside of normal office hours. |
| Social Life | 10 | There were always fun things to do. Thankfully, they did not all involve alcohol. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They were willing to help me find a job that fit my skills and interests. They were also good with giving me internship opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | There are a lot of social events for alumni and job fairs before we graduated, too. |
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