Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Elementary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Southern Connecticut State, Eastern Connecticut State, Western Connecticut State University, and Quinnipiac University.
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 Eastern Connecticut State, University of Hartford, Western Connecticut State University, and University of Bridgeport.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider University of Bridgeport, University of Hartford, and UConn.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider University of Bridgeport and Southern Connecticut State.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Fairfield, Quinnipiac University, University of Hartford, and University of Bridgeport.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Mitchell College, Quinnipiac University, Eastern Connecticut State, and UConn.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UConn and Fairfield.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at UConn, Central Connecticut, and University of Bridgeport.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at UConn, Fairfield, University of Hartford, and Southern Connecticut State.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Central CT State University • New Britain, CT
Studying TESOL (completion in 1997)
• 7/3/2011
"I really enjoyed the program at CCSU. I felt that I learned a lot and got a lot out of the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is one of the only schools in the state that provides this major. It is a very interesting program! |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There aren't many schools, especially in CT, that have this major, so that is a plus. The major that I had is not acceptable for a teaching cert any more (only a cross endorsement), so I'm sure that the classwork/program has changed. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel that the program at CCSU was excellent. The teachers and research that we did was relevant to what we were learning about and I use the information daily. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers were really excellent at CCSU. The only thing it was lacking was classroom experience (we tutored and worked with groups but there was no actual student teaching for the master's program). |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work load was reasonable for a full-time student. I had a lot of research papers and other things to do, but I finished everything. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had to tutor and write about that experience. Most of the classes were lecture-and-listen. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | All classes in this major were evening classes. When I took my classes it was a good schedule for someone who was teaching full time already. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | CCSU had a good library and a good computer lab. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was a grad student and wasn't really interested in the social aspects of the school. I did join a club and would go to events on campus (concerts, etc.) |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use the school's job placement services. I didn't use the school's career services assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I'm not involved with the alumni network in any way. I'm not really interested in the alumni network - my program was very small. |
Trinity College • Hartford, CT
Studying History (completion in 2008)
• 8/30/2011
"Trinity is an academic leader in this country. Socially, it can take a while to find your niche, if you ever do at all."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Trinity has all the resources you need to become a teacher. Most of the staff is passionate about educating and always willing to help an aspiring teacher. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I am not aware of the reputation of my major at Trinity College. Sorry. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My liberal arts degree was peppered with courses that aid me today. Acting has helped with public speaking and history courses have helped with research into new methods. |
| Instruction | 10 | Trinity College provided every student with instructors who were there and always available. I was free not only to explore my interests but to explore them with engaged adult scholars. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Because it was easy to make friends with your professors, it was easy to convince them to help you out at the end of the semester. It kept you from having to work hard on things you didn't care about, like statistics. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was a history major and an architectural studies minor. In history I learned mostly from books and vice versa with my minor. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Trinity is a residential college. Its schedule is designed to accommodate residential students. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Libraries were linked to other colleges. We had access to every imaginable internet resource. |
| Social Life | 3 | Trinity students tend to stay on campus due to the neighborhood. Most of the social life consisted of frat parties. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I rarely utilized the career center, as much of what they said was common sense. They were very efficient at getting people banking jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Trinity has very high alumni giving rates. I am inclined to support even with a very small amount because I know it will be matched. |
University Of Connecticut • Storrs, CT
Studying Educational Psychology (completion in 2009)
• 11/1/2011
"Overall I had a positive experience. The only thing that brought my overall rating down was the cost of attending. I considered it very high."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I learned more from this program to increase my confidence and make me a better teacher than I did in my undergrad program which I also considered fairly good. I felt that this program made more of an impact on my day to day teaching than any thing else I have done professionally. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Very highly respected in the field of gifted education. Teachers come from all over the country and in some cases the world to be part of the program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I enjoyed my MA in Ed Psych greatly. It had a large impact on my classroom teaching. I also greatly respected the faculty and other students I worked with in the program and the intellectual stimulation was priceless. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most professors were very well prepared and knowledgeable. One was very intelligent but had a difficult organizational style for me to follow as a learner. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Very high expectations. Projects and assessments that were done in conjunction with teaching jobs that strained my ability to complete and made me work very hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many opportunities (and requirements) to apply what we were learning in our own classrooms. There was a good mix of book learning for the large amount of information we needed to have a grasp of as well as application of that learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Core courses were offered during the summers for teachers who work during the regular school year. The ability to take electives in person or online and select from a variety of topics, as well as earn credits in alternative ways was a plus. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | High quality library and computer facilities. Very accessible professors. Classroom space was comfortable and ample. Academic advisor was fantastic. Peers were available and helpful. |
| Social Life | 7 | I only took part in social events through the particular program I attended. They were adequate. |
| Placement Services | They provide information about job openings. I did not have to use any of these however, so do not know much more about them to rate higher. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They continuously communicate information via email. This information however comes from one source who others funnel information through. If this source was not as competent, I don't think the alumni network would be the same. |
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