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 Wayne County Community College District, Macomb Community College, Henry Ford Community College, and Michigan State.
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 Wayne State, University of Michigan-Flint, Finlandia, and Lake Superior State.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Wayne County Community College District, Andrews, University of Detroit Mercy, and Wayne State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Spring Arbor University, Bay Mills, Andrews, and Kirtland Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Andrews, Calvin, University of Michigan, and Hope College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Adrian College, Albion, Alma, and Hope College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Michigan, Albion, Calvin, and Hope College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at College for Creative Studies, University of Michigan, Ferris State, and Andrews.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Andrews, Finlandia, Calvin, and Albion.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Central Michigan University • Mt. Pleasant, MI
Studying Special Education/Elementary Education (completion in 1977)
• 6/28/2011
"I found a job right out of college and have been a very successful teacher for 33 years, so I believe the university gave me a good foundation on which to build. I matured a lot during those years and look back on that time with fond memories."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | As a said before, we have a great small university nearby that I feel does an excellent job preparing educators. Part of that could be that many of the students are commuters and are very serious about getting an education and not just interested in going off to college and having the whole "college experience" (parites, sports etc.). So maybe they are more serious students to begin with. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | To be honest, I don't really know the answer to that question. I haven't been in touch or had experience with anyone in that particular program. The student teachers in our building that were special education teachers all graduated from different schools. |
| Program Quality | 8 | While I think they did a fine job, I did notice that once I was in the field and hosted many student teachers, the students that came from a small nearby university seemed to be better prepared than I felt I was. I can remember that during my very first couple of weeks on the job, I felt totally lost. I was the only special education teacher in the building at that time, so with no mentor, I was on my own. I wasn't quite sure where to start or even what the curriculum should be. The administrators told me that I could do "whatever I wanted" to do, but I wasn't really sure what I SHOULD do! |
| Instruction | 8 | As a stated above, I didn't feel as prepared as I felt some of these other students were. At the smaller university they got the students into the classroom sooner and more often than did the college that I attended. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I am an above average student, but I did not have to work extremely hard to achieve good grades. Much of the work often seemed like busy work, and as long as you completed it, you received good grades. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Again, this was years ago, but we did have labs and learned how to use manipulatives and hands-on activities with the kids. I was also placed in two work-site situations, although one was just tutoring and the other was in a home for the severely mentally impaired (not an educational facility). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It's much better in the last few years with the rise of online classes. They also offer classes at off-site locations. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I'm sorry but it's been so long since I was in school that I have no idea what those resources are like now. |
| Social Life | 9 | Maybe the experience was even too good. This university has a reputation as a party school although I know they are taking MANY steps to try and change that image. We had a lot of fun when we were there, but we studied hard, too. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The last time I used the service was 33 years ago, and it was pretty good then. I have no idea what it is like now. I do know that our school has contacted them when looking for employees, but I'm not sure how helpful they were. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I receive mailings but that's about it. It seems like all they really want is money, not to keep you informed about what is going on. I was also disappointed that when my son went to the same university, there was no consideration (or a break on the tuition) even though both my husband and I graduated from the same university. |
Ferris State University • Flint, MI
Studying Bachelor Of Science In Elementary Education (completion in 2008)
• 7/3/2011
"I had a great time in college overall. There were so many nice people who were willing to help me, and I definitely increased my knowledge, which makes me feel accomplished."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you weren't the best student in high school, this school isn't terribly difficult to get into. If you love teaching it has a great program that will get you your degree and a job right out of college. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It is a good school for getting your degree in early education, but it is by no means the best. I'm sure many people haven't heard of this university, but it got me my degree so I'm satisfied. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel like I knew a lot about how to deal with children going into this program already, and I didn't agree with some things I was taught. All in all, it is a good program at a good, decent school, though. |
| Instruction | 9 | Everything was relevant, and I didn't feel like any classes were unnecessary to my future career. The professors knew what they were talking about, even though I disagreed with them on some points. |
| How Difficult | 3 | While teaching is my passion, it is not very difficult to become a teacher, especially an elementary school teacher. It doesn't require any high level math, such as Calculus. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depending on the professor, we did a variety of different activities. Some included just straight readings from the book, and some were geared towards actual teaching situations, which were the most useful in my opinion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They offer summer classes and online classes. Most of my classes were earlier in the day, so I'm not sure of how late the latest class was. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There is an excellent library, and the professors were always encouraging students to come to office hours. My academic advisor was my biggest help, though, offering me assistance whenever I needed it. |
| Social Life | 6 | I was never much of a sports person, but I did have a small group of friends. It isn't a party school by any means, but there were parties here and there, which I attended occasionally. |
| Placement Services | 8 | It was extremely easy to get a job after college. The career services department helped me tremendously, and they were willing to work with me until I found offers. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't know much about the alumni network, as I am not very involved with it. I'd imagine it is decent, though. |
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Studying Elementary Education And Elementary Development (completion in 2003)
• 6/28/2011
"I am extremely satisfied. The only reason I marked a 9 is because I feel there is always room for improvement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would surely recommend this school to anyone pursuing teaching. Great school, great teachers, and great advisors. You surely should go here! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I believe their reputation is very good. It is a great school to go to for many careers, especially teaching. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I am pretty well satisfied with my schooling. They did a great job in getting us ready for our job as well. They could have offered more support after graduation, but other than that, they are great! |
| Instruction | 10 | Instruction was great! I was very well prepared for everything I have encountered thus far on the teaching front. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I believe the difficulty of studies was average. I don't feel it was any more or any less rigorous than any other subject and/or school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say that it was an equal mix as far as books vs. hands on. I did many different things far away from the books, but I also did book learning! I think they have a great mix of these two learning styles. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Class schedules are pretty flexible. They even offer classes online, and that is great! |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I loved my school's academic facilities! They have awesome resources and academic advisors. I am so thankful for them still to this day. I do not know how I would have made it without such great facilities! |
| Social Life | 10 | School Spirit is definitely great! There were a lot of places on campus where there was nothing but spirit! Great sports teams, lots of fun. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I would say it is average. It is average because their job placement is good, and they are helpful. However, they just kind of end there and it would be helpful if they continued just a little further. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I would rate it as average. They are really right in the middle of other schools I have heard about. |
Grand Valley State University • Allendale, MI
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2007)
• 7/16/2011
"I loved GVSU. The class sizes were small and the professors were great. The campus was beautiful and allowed us to grow into productive members of society."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I tell everyone about GVSU and I highly recommend it. They have many great programs in addition teaching and are becoming more well known each year. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | One of the reasons I chose to attend GVSU is because of their teaching college. They are known for their quality program. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I feel that I did a lot of work that did not have anything to do with my career. I studied complex math topics that I will never use as an elementary school teacher. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were very knowledgeable in their subject areas. They were also very willing to help as most of the classes had 20 students or less. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I have always been good at math. I felt challenged but never felt like I had much studying to do outside of class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My specific program allowed for a lot of interaction with students. I was able to tutor and interview students. This hands on experience allowed me to have a better idea of what it would be like to be a teacher. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I typically took classes that were during mornings on weekdays because I was a full time student. However, I do know that they offer many classes during the evenings and summers. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | GVSU has great resources. Their library was old (they are building a new one) but it was filled with everything that I needed. It even had a teacher workroom which I used often. It had laminating machines, dicut machines, and more. |
| Social Life | 7 | I did not participate in many school organized social activities. Since I lived on campus I was able to meet many new people and make lasting friendships. |
| Placement Services | 4 | We were given advice on what to include in a resume and common interview questions. However, we were not given much help in finding job openings and getting interviews. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have nothing to do with the alumni network. They send me e-mails, but that is about it. |
Central Michigan University • Mount Pleasant, MI
Studying Major 1: K-12th Art, Major 2: Biology Secondary Education. (completion in 2010)
• 7/19/2011
"Overall I loved going to Central Michigan University. I received a great education and I was able to put it to use right out of college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend Central Michigan to anybody going into the education program. Central Michigan will give them the the tools they need to succeed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Like I already stated, central michigan has one of the best education programs in the country. They rival Michigan State University's program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Central Michigan University is one of the leading education programs. The program gave me critical help and real life experience in the classroom. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors in the education program were amazing. Many of the instructors had numerous years of experience in the field. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The actual workload for the education program is fairly heavy. I found that my science major provided the largest work load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say there was a good amount of hands on learning. This may just apply to me more because of my science major. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school's schedule is pretty student friendly. We did have opportunities for summer classes as well as online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school just built a 50 million dollar library as well as a brand new education building. There are adequate services for whatever the students could possibly need. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school always had a large support system when it came to the student body. The school placed new rules on some school activities that students did not agree with. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I did not personally use the school's job placement program. I don't know that the university does a good job of trying to place students somewhere. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The school has a large support system when it comes to alumni. The alumni donates a lot of money back to the university. |
Eastern Michigan University • Ann Arbor, MI
Studying Fine Art (completion in 2012)
• 7/25/2011
"This school met my needs, though it could have been more challenging."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | All in all, it meets requirements for a good education. Additionally, it is located in a good area. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | At one time the fine arts dept. was highly rated. However, over time this rating fell. |
| Program Quality | 5 | There was limited funding for art classes. |
| Instruction | 5 | I did not find in-depth instruction. I found that the classes were limiting. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload was light. I could have benefited from more assignments. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They do have a specialty on student participation hands-on. The students learn more with this approach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They do provide many online classes and they have evening hours for classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They do offer a good library. They could use more computers, though. |
| Social Life | 5 | I have not participated in these types of events. Lack of funding might limit these activities. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have not used this service. I believe that they do provide these services, though. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I did not receive any support from alumni. I am unfamiliar with this concept. |
Hope College • Holland, MI
Studying Emotional Impairments, Elementary Education (completion in 2006)
• 8/5/2011
"I feel I was very prepared to begin teaching in my own classroom after graduation. All of the classroom experiences we had with real students helped me to be better prepared for all of the challenges a teacher faces in the classroom."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Hope is set up to allow students to complete their degree within four years. In addition to this, each student that completes the requirements for an education degree are incredibly prepared. I have not met an unhappy student that was involved with Hope's education department. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have heard from numerous people how impressed they are when I tell them I went to Hope. I had a teacher say she preferred using student teacher's from Hope because they are more prepared for organizing and dealing with daily classroom struggles. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Hope was an amazing school that allowed you to think independently while guiding you to use appropriate teaching techniques. Hope also focused on getting people into schools to work with students in every education class you took, which helped people decide early in their studies if they were in the right field. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were all experienced teachers and kept up with best practice teaching. They would inform us about new literature in the field of education and say why they agreed or disagreed with new ideas. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I think Hope professors pushed you to do more than the average student studying to become a teacher, so we were experienced and well-rounded. Learning is easy for me, but there were many times I was challenged by a new project or assignment. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The majority of our classes in the education department involved personal experience and trying the things we were learning about. All ideas and theories were backed by text. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Being a small school, there are not many alternative schedule options. Hope caters to the traditional college student. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The classrooms were large and comfortable, and there was always room to complete the activities that were needed. The library was amazing! |
| Social Life | 10 | There are many campus groups available for people to join in a wide variety of interest groups. Also, the school has a student activities committee and is committed to having activities throughout the week that all students can enjoy. |
| Placement Services | 6 | There is a career services center and they help with interview skills. I have not gone to them for job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I know how to access help from the college if I need it. Also, all professors are open to meeting with you and sharing career information if you make an appointment. |
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Studying Art Education (completion in 2007)
• 8/13/2011
"Michigan State always felt like a home to me. The school was easy to navigate and resources were always available for any questions or concerns that a person might possess."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | While the art education program was small, it gave me the support to succeed. The program helped me to create a strong portfolio that allowed me to successful find several jobs in this difficult economy. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The education program at Michigan State is highly regarded. However, the Art program is not viewed as strong. It was in transition the year that I went through the program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | We have a decent art budget which allows me the opportunity to create lessons with a variety of materials. I also have funding for visiting artists to work with my students. I have access to different technologies in my classroom to assist in my teaching. |
| Instruction | 8 | I don't feel that college necessarily prepared me for real life teaching. My actual experiences in a classroom helped to prepare for teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | During my undergrad experience, I had to teach a Saturday Morning Art program every week for a year. In addition, I student taught for an additional year. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In education, we were placed in inner city schools to volunteer for a semester and then we would meet in class and reflect on our experiences. We would use literature to support or dispute our experiences. Most classes offered a good balance. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | In education, specific courses are offered only during certain semesters. They must be taken in order. They may be offered at a variety of times. Few classes are offered online for the undergraduate degree. Master's classes can be taken online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We have a large library, various computer facilities, and professors available to support students. Classroom space has been congested in some instances. |
| Social Life | 9 | Michigan State felt like a melting pot of ethnicities and people. It was truly a place where everyone was welcome. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They offer an online job search and mock interviews. In addition, they offer job fairs in education at the university. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Alumni information is sent periodically in the mail. However, my classmates have created a network in which we connect and discuss our teaching. |
Eastern Michigan University • Ypsilanti, MI
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2005)
• 9/1/2011
"If I had to do it all over again, I would still go to EMU. There is nothing better than walking across that stage and getting a degree from a well known school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | EMU is a top notch school. The teachers are great and the school is clean. There is always someone there to help you with whatever you need. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Eastern is known for its teaching program. It is one of the best overall teaching schools. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Just about every school I have been in has an emphasis on mathematics. I have worked through many different programs, but the focus is all the same. |
| Instruction | 8 | Every teacher has their own way of teaching. As long as we can all learn from each other, all will be well. Eastern's teachers are very accessible and easy to talk with. |
| How Difficult | 8 | For the most part, the teachers made it easy. There were a few higher math classes and science classes that made me struggle, though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say there was a mixture of book learning and hands-on learning. I am a haptic and a visual learner and I felt that most classes met my needs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | For the majority of my education, I was able to take the classes on days that I wanted and at times that were workable for me. EMU has a variety of times and days available, including Saturday classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library at EMU was incredible. The staff always had a smile on their faces and there was never a book I couldn't find. Also, the computer labs were awesome. |
| Social Life | 3 | I was not going to school to make friends and party. I went to my classes every day and then I went home. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use these services, so I really can't rate them. I do remember there was a board in the education building with job postings and people who had found jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | To be honest I haven't tried to contact anyone since I graduated. I have heard that EMU alums are all over the country. |
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2005)
• 9/13/2011
"The reputation of MSU's elementary education program will be beneficial to any student. The program produces well-rounded teachers who are eager and ready to have their own classroom. The school spirit and beauty of the campus make it a nice place to spend a few years."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I loved my time at Michigan State and felt well prepared to take on my first teaching job. I was tuned in to different curriculums and teaching methods and landed a job easily. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Michigan State is well-respected in the field of elementary education. They have a school on campus where their students can work and get hands-on experience with children. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I felt very qualified to enter the world of education once I finished my program. The amount of time spent in the classroom prior to graduation and obtaining a job prepared me well for a career. |
| Instruction | 9 | I felt that my program was tuned into the demands of school districts. The instructors provided us with a good deal of information about lesson planning, methods of instruction, and meeting the requirements of various curriculums. |
| How Difficult | 8 | This program provided a challenging curriculum while providing scaffolding to help us meet the demands of the program. The instructors were always willing to help us work through any difficulties we had with assignments or placements in our student teaching schools. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The nature of elementary education is hands-on. Student teaching is a must for this program and MSU places a huge emphasis on spending as much time as possible working with students in the classroom. Obviously, there is a lot of book work at the front end of the program, but that changes in the end. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | MSU does a nice job of offering many of their classes in the evening in order to allow students to hold a job while they attend school. Due to the nature of an elementary education degree, it is not always possible to take online classes. Weekend classes were offered rarely. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Michigan State is a huge school that is churning out thousands of graduates every year. The Master's programs do a good job of making the classes smaller than the undergrad programs, but the professors don't always seem genuinely interested in their students. They also place a large focus on their research. The libraries, classrooms, and computer labs are fairly average for any large university. |
| Social Life | 6 | Michigan State is a fantastic school in terms of social activities. They offer world-class sports, wonderful school spirit and a wide variety of things to do. They could figure out a way to plan more social events for Masters students who tend to be a bit more disconnected from the social scene. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Michigan State has many contacts in hundreds of school districts across the state of Michigan. Due to the job market and number of teachers who are looking for jobs, this is not always going to help when it comes to actually landing a job. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I haven't really needed to use the alumni network very much. I was pleased with the number of connections the school had with different school districts for our student teaching. |
Central Michigan University • Mount Pleasant, MI
Studying Integrated Science Major, Planned Program Minor (completion in 2011)
• 9/21/2011
"I was very satisfied with my school. They offered classes when I needed them and in the mode of learning that I needed. The instructors cared about the students and were always available for help."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Central Michigan University provides a comprehensive education that is good for working adults and parents. I have a strong background in science and education. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Central Michigan University is well-known as a "teacher college." I just feel that there is such a flood of teachers in the field right now, so I don't know if my major is as valuable as it once was. |
| Program Quality | 8 | A lot of my education was completed at a community college that only offers two year degrees. I only took 3 classes for my major at Central Michigan University. The education classes that I took at the university were top notch. |
| Instruction | 10 | The education classes that I took were taught by people that are currently teaching or in the school system. They were able to relate practical knowledge throughout the courses. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I maintained a 3.95 GPA throughout my college career so I wouldn't really say that the classes I took were really difficult. I thought that if you just showed up you would get a good grade, but then I talked to some of my peers and they told me that they were working really hard for B's and C's. So maybe I just learn material easily. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Much of my experiences were hands-on. We went on field trips and used lab materials in all of my science classes. And in the education classes we did classroom activities in local schools. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take classes online, on weekends and in the evenings. I also took classes during the summer. This made it easy for working parents to attend. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | My instructors were always available for questions and were willing to work out any attendance issues with me. We also had a computer lab available to us. But the classrooms changed often and the resources needed to complete the assignments weren't always available. |
| Social Life | 5 | I attended a satellite campus and so there weren't athletics or parties arranged for us. On the main campus all of these things are available. Within my cohort, we were social. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The university offered job fairs and the staff in my area were very helpful. They helped me make an effective resume and they were more than happy to make recommendations. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I was awarded several scholarships by the local alumni chapter. They are very supportive of current students. |
Olivet College • Olivet, MI
Studying Music (completion in 2005)
• 9/27/2011
"I'll never regret my decision to attend Olivet. Though I felt it lacked in many materialistic things, I believe that I chose to pursue my education with vigor and took it into my own hands. For those who need to be pushed along, I do not believe it to be a good school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The program has grown immensely since I left. The degree program was revamped and many people leaving the school are finding employment. I just don't know if many people respond well to the small school environment. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I am not sure what it is today, but I know that the music program was in high standing in the state. The education program however, was lacking. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The program was great when it came to personal attention, I really felt that I was able to learn my craft well. I was more disappointed with the caliber of the music ensembles. |
| Instruction | 6 | The education program was going through a revamp and I felt that many skills were lost along the way. I wish that there was more practicum work as opposed to theory. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Music Education majors on average take over 140 credit hours their entire career due to the courses needed for the major. Essentially you have a double major. So with practicing your instrument, performing in ensembles, learning theory along with general education courses and education theory courses, it is quite time consuming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the music program, we had a nice mix of hands-on and book education. One could not exist without the other in a creative field. We not only had great equipment (piano, etc) we also had great ensembles to practice our craft. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Since it is a small liberal arts college, many of the courses were only offered once a year or every other year, depending on the major. However, the education courses were offered every semester which was helpful. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We were very lucky to have a music conservatory, but the school did not maintain it. Many of the practice rooms were converted into offices. I hear that the building that the practice rooms have now been restored, save for offices for the music teachers only. |
| Social Life | 8 | In a way, I feel that Olivet is more concerned with their spirit as opposed to the quality of their education. It was clear that many students were given multiple chances regarding academic probation and were still allowed to attend school. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I felt extremely lost when it came to applying for jobs. Olivet was great at helping insurance and business majors and the like, but anything artistic was ignored. We were able to puff up our resume, but never received any guidance unless we searched for it on our own. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Olivet thrives on alumni. I believe that since it is such a small community, when they go out in the world they really do connect and take care of one another. I am always receiving information about fellow classmates and news about development at the college. |
Oakland University • Rochester Hills, MI
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2005)
• 11/1/2011
"I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, majoring in Language Arts and Social studies with honors. I have my hard work and great teachers to thank! I definitely felt that my school prepared me for a teaching job!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | A lot of schools have programs in education but I feel that the teachers/professors at Oakland had success in their minds for their students. They were always on campus and available for help or questions. Rather than just assigning homework and reading they took the time to explain and teach the course. Many of my teachers graded based on understanding and effort, not just on tests. I have friends who went to other schools and felt completely unprepared on the first day of teaching and had very little support from their teachers. Many wished they had the experience that I did at Oakland. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | In Michigan there are 3 schools well known for their teaching programs: Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and Oakland University. I chose Oakland because I liked their campus and wanted to save money by commuting - Oakland was the closest. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had a great experience at my school. Especially in my major classes. I had great teachers who really wanted me to succeed and gave me the tools to become the teacher I am today. |
| Instruction | 10 | While my professors couldn't possibly prepare me for every situation, many did a great job of helping me to prepare for the world of teaching. I also received many resources from them to help me in areas of difficulty. Student teaching is what really helped me to take what I was learning in my classes and apply it to teaching students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some of my professors were harder than others but a large majority of them explained that the amount of work I chose to do is what would ultimately help me in a teaching position. Thinking of my school work in that sense was beneficial because I looked at it as a responsibility to myself to succeed in my assignments rather than just complete homework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | All of the classes I took had course books and required reading. We also had to do teaching observations each semester. Most of my teachers tried to do more hands on work so that we could apply the content to our observations. I feel that I learned the most from the teachers that taught using a hands on method. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Oakland University offered day and night classes, Saturday classes, and online classes. We had fall and winter semesters as well as a Summer 1 and Summer 2. Within the summer classes you had your choice of a 4 week course or a 7 week. I did a 4 week course once and it was definitely fast paced! |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The year that I chose my major they had just finished building the Education building. It was completely dedicated to all students in an education program. We had our own library, cafe and computer center. I loved that I just had to come to one building for all my needs! |
| Social Life | 7 | Oakland University is primarily a commuter school so my social experience is a little different than if I had stayed in a dorm. In my general education classes I would meet a lot of people and then not see them again. However, in the education program they tried to keep groups of us together in the same classes so that we could network better. We did not have a football team so that definitely was different. We did have a pretty good basketball team and I went to many of their games. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I spent lots of time at the career services office once I chose my degree in Elementary Education. Every semester they would recommend that we come and see them to make sure we were signing up for the correct classes and on a path towards graduation. It was nice to have the extra confirmation that I was on the right path. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I am constantly getting emails and letters from my Alumni network for job fairs and Master's degrees. I recently moved to North Carolina though and cannot attend any of the functions my school holds for alumni. I get emails that pertain to my degree and enjoy reading about fellow classmates and new teaching resources. |
Western Michigan University • Kalamazoo, MI
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 1995)
• 11/21/2011
"I have great memories of college experiences and all that I learned. For such a small chunk of time it's a very defining experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Both Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University would be highly recommended to others. My undergraduate work was excellent at Eastern. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They offer higher education degrees in outreach locations, which made it convenient. I don't think it is exceptional, but pretty average or a little above. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I began teaching in middle school for a couple years, but the last 15 have been elementary. This has been a great fit. |
| Instruction | 7 | My career prep was a little above average. I have learned more during my teaching years than during college. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I had to work hard, but nothing was too challenging. I would say it was a little above average in time and effort needed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was very little hands-on learning. Some of my pre-student teaching required more observations and working with small groups of students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Many classes were offered in outreach locations. There were evening and weekend options with short time commitments. This worked well with my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I'm sure these services were provided but I rarely used them. I found the professors accessibility was the service I appreciated most. |
| Social Life | 6 | I was a transfer student who knew no one attending the university. Because of dorm activities, I quickly made friends and was immersed in a number of social events. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Many job fairs were held for new graduates. When I received my Master's degree I already had a job. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I don't really hear from the alumni very often. They call for their annual gift giving/donations. |
Hillsdale College • Hillsdale, MI
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2002)
• 11/25/2011
"It was a small community but I enjoyed learning as much as I did. The professors really stood out and were awesome."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You will be well prepared for teaching. You will be able to think for yourself and know why you believe what you believe. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Future teachers have great success coming from this program. Jobs are found right after graduation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was taught to think for myself. I was taught many ideas on reaching elementary aged children and how best to teach them. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was set up for my student teaching with a great mentor who taught me so much. The curriculum was excellent in preparing me for so much of what I would be facing on a daily basis. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Professors were strict with their grading. There were an abundance of papers and observation hours. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Had to do some hands on observation stuff and then a semester of actual teaching in order to graduate. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Being a small school, flexibility with class scheduling was not that great. Online options were not even available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Professors were always accessible and ready to help. Facilities and everything else were perfect. |
| Social Life | 5 | Just like any other school except on a smaller level. I mostly kept to myself though. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The placement rate is tremendous. The staff is still willing to help with anything ten years later. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There aren't as many alumni as other schools. We are not as closely aligned. |
Baker College • Jackson, MI
Studying Social Studies (completion in 2010)
• 11/28/2011
"I was very satisfied with my school. I loved going there. I just hate how many loans I had to take out."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is amazing. It may be expensive but they help you find a job after you graduate and even for a full time student you only go to class 3 days a week, so you can still have a life with your family. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Its reputation is really good in Michigan but am unsure about any other state. I think it may be hard to find a job with my degree in another state. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The education was great, all the instructors were really nice. the only downside was how much it cost. |
| Instruction | 10 | We had hands on with children from the first year. We didn't just sit in a class room the whole time, we were always doing something. |
| How Difficult | 3 | It was pretty easy but I love learning. The only thing that was hard were the math classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We never sat in a class room. Everything was always hands on. Daily we went to schools all around the county and did student teaching. It was a great experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It was flexible but at the same time it was not. There were a couple times where I had to take night classes when I wanted morning ones. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are free tutors at the school for pretty much any subject you could imagine. The library was also open 24/7. |
| Social Life | 2 | The school does not do anything socially. It is a career college, we did not have basketball teams or even dorms. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Baker helps you through your whole career. 98% of its graduates are employed. They helped me get my current job. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Everyone would always help you, even if you didn't ask. Plus the dean gives you his home phone number where you can call him anytime. |
Oakland University • Rochester, MI
Studying Elementary Education (Bachelor's) And Counseling (Master's) (completion in 2008)
• 11/29/2011
"I am very satisfied with my school. I felt adequately prepared for teaching due to the field experiences. Having additional coursework in classroom management and the legal aspects of education may have improved the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think the field experience Oakland provides is invaluable and is lacking at other universities and colleges. Because of this, I would definitely recommend this school to others. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Based on conversations with my co-workers and friends, many admire Oakland's field work requirements. However, some people do not perceive Oakland to be as prestigious as larger universities, such as the University of Michigan or Michigan State. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I enjoyed Oakland's real-world field experience requirements. The curriculum also did a good job at preparing me for teaching. |
| Instruction | 7 | Most professors were working in the field and very knowledgeable. However, the few who were lacking seemed to be allowed to continue teaching despite having poor student reviews/critiques. This damaged the overall quality of the program. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The academic challenge and workload seemed to be on par with other universities in the area, based on conversations I've had with co-workers and friends. Some courses were fairly easy while others were much more difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Oakland requires field work throughout the degree program. Most other universities seems to only offer this towards the end. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Most classes were offered in evenings during the week, but some daytime and Saturday classes were also available. This seems on par with other colleges and universities in the area. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Although the resources were not as plentiful as a larger university, I always found it sufficient to complete my coursework. Expanding the journal section of the library and broadening online access to journals may help. |
| Social Life | 5 | Although I personally did not participate in many extracurricular events, Oakland seemed to offer plenty. My friends who attended these events always seemed to enjoy themselves. |
| Placement Services | 5 | The career services office does at adequate job at providing job leads and resume advice. The workshops also are helpful. However, since the job market for teaching is so fierce in Michigan, solely relying on it for job placement probably would not secure someone a job in the field. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Oakland's Alumni Association does a good job at keeping us informed through email and newsletter. However, meetings are often held at inconvenient times and the activities they hold often do not interest me. |
Marygrove College • Detroit, MI
Studying MeD (completion in 2010)
• 12/1/2011
"Because we are starting over there are some new systems and policies that are still trying to be worked out. But I believe we are off to a great start!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Our school would not be beneficial to 1st year teachers. Teachers are expected to have basic fundamentals established if they want to succeed in our school. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Our school is re-building under a different name. We are improving in our 2nd year of re-birth. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Our school implements a 1:1 computer system with our students. Every student has their own laptop. |
| Instruction | 10 | All staff are considered "highly qualified." Also each staff member undergoes extensive professional development within their curriculum several time a year. |
| How Difficult | 7 | We are a small school. Many of the tasks I perform would normally require 2-3 people to complete. Due to this stress is often a key factor. I have two roles, technology teacher/coordinator. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Our school believes in differentiated instruction. Small groups working with instructors/aides, is always hands on utilizing books as a reference. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | A summer school program is available. Also there is after-school tutoring. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Students have their classroom teachers, Title I teachers (which pull students into small groups), Paraeducators provide assistance to classroom teachers. Students are immersed in technology, with laptops, computer lab, smartboards in every room and interactive lessons. |
| Social Life | 3 | Our school is very small that we cannot afford to have a sports program. School spirit is not celebrated. |
| Placement Services | 8 | We usually interview candidates for a particular position within 3-5 days. All job placement is handled through our management company. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | No alumni network has been established. There is no interest for it at this time. |
Marygrove College • Detroit, MI
Studying Elementary Education (Bachelor's) And Art Of Teaching (Master's) (completion in 2004)
• 11/30/2011
"Very, very satisfied. I recommend this college to all my friends who need their MA in a convenient way (raising kids). I had 5 total professors for my MA, 4 exceptional and one very flaky."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is the easiest, most convenient way to get a MA online. It's also fairly inexpensive. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My undergrad degree was at a private college, so they have an excellent reputation. My grad degree was completed online and I never set foot on campus. It has a great reputation for distance learning and most of my co-workers have completed their MA this way. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My college was did a good job teaching me (undergrad college), however, it wasn't fully prepared for work in an inner city school district when I left there. There should have been more instruction on dealing with difficult kids. |
| Instruction | 8 | Great instruction, professors and learning environment. My curriculum should have included more strategies on dealing with kids' below the poverty line. Someone should have told me I'd need to feed them first so they can learn; or at least the possibility that these basic functions need to be met for learning to take place. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't find my program of study difficult, as it is/was my passion. However, it was time consuming and I wrote a lot of papers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my grad degree was hands on: assignments videotaped in my classroom and responses that had to include my students' work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was very flexible. It was distance learning so it was all online and completed at your convenience. |
| Academic Facilities | I completed this online. I was never on campus, but my online professors were always available. I had home phone numbers at all times and email was checked often. We were also put into groups with other teachers getting the same degree, so we always had people to talk with. | |
| Social Life | I was not part of any of this. I was not part of campus life at all for my graduate degree. | |
| Placement Services | I really have no idea about it. I didn't use this service at either college I attended. | |
| Alumni Network | I don't belong to my alumni network and have no idea what is going on at that college. I am not sentimental, so I never looked into being part of the alumni. |
Oakland University • Auburn Hills, MI
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2010)
• 12/18/2011
"As with others in my cohort, I got out of OU what I put in. If I took the time to do well, the information and ideas stuck. Two years later, I can apply and clearly recall concepts that were discussed. I know that others who didn't put as much effort in can't do the same."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they're looking for a diverse experience, Oakland University is NOT the school to attend. If they're just looking for a good-quality education and are willing to put the time in, OU could be a great option. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Based on the state evaluation of the teacher education programs in our state, OU did pretty well. I don't know if they took into consideration any real experience or if the ratings are just based on reading the catalog descriptions, though. |
| Program Quality | 6 | In theory, the classes we were required to take would have been helpful, but the professors of many of them didn't actually teach the content that was supposed to be taught. The knowledgebase was there, but the teaching methods were lacking. |
| Instruction | 6 | I learned a lot and had the opportunity to engage in many field experiences that usually lasted for the entire semester. In our area, most schools don't do this; a pre-service teacher's first time in the classroom is usually day 1 of student teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | While the general elementary education classes were quite easy, the ones relating to my major/minor within the elementary education program were very challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think this depends on the class. There were a few extremely hands-on classes, but that was only because of the nature of the class itself (theater and dance, for example). The main courses were book oriented, with the theory of hands-on learning being highly emphasized. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They don't offer as many online classes as other schools in the area. Otherwise, they're pretty flexible. I took many evening classes, a few weekend classes, and online classes. Summer classes are required in the School of Education at OU. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They have an amazing Educational Resources Library (ERL) for pre-service teachers to use. It has everything a teacher might need, and everything is available for checkout. However, I am not aware of any tutors or study group support. |
| Social Life | 3 | I found it difficult to combine the activities of the entire university with the school of education, because it is so involving. Posters and flyers would be posted on the bulletin boards in the building, but it was almost like attending a different school. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They provide a database of job/career opportunities, as well as resume-building workshops/help, and mock interviews to prepare you. Part of the program requires pre-service teachers to submit their resumes to the career services office for review, so that was the only resource I actually used. They also put on job fairs specific to the school's needs. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Apart from mailings to come back, I don't think our alumni network does much. It's actually pretty annoying. |
Central Michigan University • Mt. Pleasant, MI
Studying Education (completion in 2007)
• 12/18/2011
"I had a great time at Central. I met my spouse there and earned the degree for my career. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would say a straight, YES. However, about 1/4 of my entering classmates in the program either dropped out or switched out, when they realized they did not want to teach for a career. If you know you want to teach, come to Central! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | CMU has one of the best education programs in the state. My classmates generally agree with this. Professors are topnotch; they really care about how well you are picking up concepts. |
| Program Quality | 8 | CMU prepared me well for classroom teaching. While a few more hours of observation in urban would have been a bit more helpful for perspective, I cannot complain. |
| Instruction | 6 | Instructors were generally helpful and offered applicable material. A few professors did not run the class in a fair manner; however, I learned what I needed to in order to be a prepared elementary school teacher. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The workload was fairly modest. I switched to education after a year as a chemistry major. There is a lot of reading; however, I do not mind. Student teaching was a great experience; I got to understand the theories more during these hours. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I did a bit more reading than I thought I would; however, I did a lot of classroom learning. Observation and student teaching are clearly hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I had no problem getting into the classes I needed. I took a few summer courses, so this could explain why I was able to spread out my courses, making it easier to fit them in. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | CMU's resources are a little dated. Computer labs are overcrowded, and it takes a bit of time to schedule meetings with professors. Many students wish we could get a new library. |
| Social Life | 8 | CMU has a vibrant social life. Parties, football games, concerts...all very fun. A lot of organizations are involved in campus life. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I knew someone from back home who helped me get my current job. CMU's career placement test did help to confirm that this environment was right for me. No complaints. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | So far, they haven't hounded me for money. I have yet to utilize their services. |
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