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 Northwest Vista College, Colin College, University of Houston-Downtown, and UT Brownsville.
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 Dallas Christian, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Texas Wesleyan University, and Paul Quinn College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Texas Woman's University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Paul Quinn College, UT Brownsville, UTPA, and Huston - Tillotson.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Texas Woman's University, Lee College, University of St Thomas, and University of Dallas.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Dallas, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Southwestern Adventist University, and Trinity University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Arlington Baptist, Jarvis Christian, East Texas Baptist University, and Southwestern University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Trinity University, Southwestern University, Austin College, and The University of Texas.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Hardin - Simmons, Paul Quinn College, and Houston Baptist.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Southwestern University, Texas Wesleyan University, Trinity University, and Arlington Baptist.
Working as a Elementary School Teacher in Texas
Elementary school teachers play a major role in the social and intellectual development of children. They not only introduce children to social studies, science, language, and mathematics, but also use computers, books, artworks, games and various other applications to teach basic skills. They are responsible for encouraging understanding of social norms and cultural diversity. Read a detailed Elementary School Teacher job description and schools overview.
Elementary School Teachers can get information and career related resources from the Texas State Teachers Association or the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
State Requirements
Teachers, including elementary school teachers, are required to obtain a Certification of Educators in Texas (EXCET). A written examination is part of the requirements for this certification. For more details on all the requirements, visit the state's State Board for Educator Certification.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Houston • Houston, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 1998)
• 6/27/2011
"It was a great learning environment which has provided me with a solid foundation for teaching. I know people who attended other schools for Education and they were much less prepared their first year out of school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a great learning environment which has provided me with a solid foundation for teaching. I know people who attended other schools for Education and they were much less prepared their first year out of school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | U of H has been cited in many professional education journals. The professors are some of the best! |
| Program Quality | 9 | The University of Houston has one of the best education programs in the state. The professors are knowledgeable and provide real world experience for the classroom. |
| Instruction | 9 | The last year of the education program at The University of Houston was very comprehensive. The professors gave us instruction allowing for practical application in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I think the program was of average difficulty. As long as you did your work and kept in touch with your professors, you were able to do well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Education at U of H provided a perfect mix of hands on and book learning. We were required to create projects and lessons for classroom use in conjunction with book reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | From what I remember it was pretty flexible. Although once we started student teaching, it was like having a full time job. We had to show up when the teachers did and leave when the teachers did. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The Education professors were a great source of support. The resources in the Education building provided what we needed in terms of technology and resources. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was a member of a sorority and in the Education program, we all became very close. 90% of the friends I have today are due to my affiliation with UH. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I say average because we didn't really receive any assistance when searching for our first job. However, since during our last semester we were actually in schools and working side by side with teachers, it gave us the opportunity to network and see what was available. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The U of H has a great alumni network. To this day, I still am in contact with fellow teachers and have even started mentoring a teacher who was struggling her first year. I am in touch with her through the alumni network. |
University Of Texas At Dallas • Richardson, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 2011)
• 6/27/2011
"I felt I got a good education and for the price, I am satisfied with my degree. I graduated summa cum laude with major honors in three years and had a scholarship. so I can't complain."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a good school for people who live around the area to get to. It is affordable and the campus is very nice and everyone in the education field is there for support. I enjoyed my time there. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The school itself has a great reputation for being an academic school. The teaching program is very small, though, and we do not get the recognition we deserve. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The program was easy to get through and was helpful. They can not prepare you for everything and teaching for real is much different than anything you read in a book. |
| Instruction | 7 | They do teach you a lot about the curriculum for the state, which was good. The classroom management portion could have been better emphasized. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Some classes were “blow off” classes and easy to get through without any trouble. Each class only had one professor, so if it was hard, you had to stick with it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes were mainly discussion based. Since lots of classes involved observation, everyone came in with their own stories about their experiences. There were books, but we rarely stuck to them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | There are often only one or two times for classes which makes it hard to work around your schedule. The classes are often late at night which I disliked because I had to stay until 9:00pm. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The school has great resources for students of every major. The education classes, however, were stuck in portables instead of actual buildings, which everyone hated. The last semester I was there they finally added in a coke machine! |
| Social Life | 8 | The education majors were a very close knit group. The classes were small so everyone knew each other, which made us closer. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They help a lot with preparing you to find a job and setting up student teaching positions. Actually, getting a job is very hard, though, and they do not make efforts to get you jobs after you finish student teaching. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The school is very young and small and is mostly a commuter school, so there really wasn't alumni support. They did have an organization called Teacher's in Progress that brought in guest speakers, though. |
Texas A&M University • College Station, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies/Elementary Education (completion in 2011)
• 7/5/2011
"I was initially deciding between Texas A&M University and the University of Texas. Looking back, I am so glad I made the choice that I did. I could not see myself anywhere else but Texas A&M. I learned so much in my time there and I truly believe it is the best school in Texas."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The education program at Texas A&M is ranked second in the state of Texas. I cannot necessarily say it is better than the number one school, because I don't know first hand, but I do know that I learned more than I could ever imagine there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have never heard anything bad about the education program at Texas A&M University. Texas A&M has a great reputation and it is one of the best schools in Texas. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Texas A&M University is among the highest rated schools in the country. I have heard from multiple principals from across the state that Aggie teachers are among the best. |
| Instruction | 9 | I learned so much in preparation for my teaching career. Not only was I able to have three semesters of student teaching, but all of my classes prepared me for going out into my field. There was only one online class that I felt I did not take anything from, but I am a lifelong learner and I think that you can learn from anything. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I don't necessarily know that my program of study was very difficult. I think that as long as it is something you are passionate about it makes learning about that subject very easy! However, Texas A&M University is a hard school and there was a lot of work that went into where I am today. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the subject classes were straight from the book or a lecture. It was more difficult for me to focus in those types of classes. Once I started into my education classes we would apply our knowledge to hands-on learning. Teachers need to be very hands-on learners and I am glad that Texas A&M taught me how to be so. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Texas A&M provides a flexible schedule in that there are classes everyday, all day. The weekends are the one time that there are not classes for A&M. However, Texas A&M does provide summer sessions and certain classes can be completed online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I have never felt that I did not have enough academic resources. We have over 5 libraries on campus, computer labs in almost half the buildings, and multiple laboratories. I have always been able to access my advisor whether it be by email or phone. Texas A&M also offers study sessions for certain classes and the professors have always made themselves accessible to the students. |
| Social Life | 10 | Texas A&M University is one of the most tradition oriented schools I can think of. We have so many traditions I am sure I couldn't name half of them. Texas A&M always promotes school spirit and athletic events. Texas A&M University is the definition of school of spirit. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There are multiple websites that Texas A&M has that provide career service assistance. I have not had any luck with any of the websites but I have heard a lot of praise from people that found their jobs through Texas A&M's websites. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Aggies have the biggest alumni network and support out of any school I have ever heard of. Our class ring is what separates us from other schools and that ring opens up so many doors. An Aggie always helps fellow Aggies. |
Lamar University • Beaumont, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 2000)
• 7/6/2011
"Overall I was satisfied with my school. I felt that it did provide me with an education that was comparable to that of other universities in the state and country. I was able to find a job very quickly, and I have been very successful in my profession."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As stated before, I was satisfied with my school and would therefore recommend it to others pursuing my career. It's a great location for local students who still need to work in the area or live at home. Yet, students can still certainly participate in a large number of campus activities. I think the professors do truly care about their students and have a vested interest in their learning. Most graduates are able to easily find jobs in the area and beyond. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | For what I know of the school, it has a better than average rating. Numerous people from the local area do receive their degrees there, and I believe most are able to find a job. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I thought my school provided me with a good education. However, I think they could offer more real-world opportunities for learning. |
| Instruction | 8 | I found my instructors to be very helpful and supportive. I did find some of my classes to be less beneficial than others might have been. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I found my undergraduate classes to be rather easy overall. As I progressed into my Masters program, some classes did become more demanding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I really think my school/program was very book-oriented. I remember very few opportunities for hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I believe the class schedule was flexible. I was able to take online courses, night classes, summer sessions, and mini-sessions to complete my degrees as soon as possible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I personally have no complaints about the facilities/resources. I believe my school offered what was necessary for students' growth and development. I did not think our facilities were advanced, but they were certainly not lacking greatly. |
| Social Life | 5 | My personal experience was average, but that was due to my own schedule. I worked full-time, two jobs for about a year, and was therefore unable to attend most social events. I know that they did offer many social opportunities, and a lot of students took part in them. |
| Placement Services | 5 | For me personally, I did not receive any assistance in this area. I believe in other degree areas they do offer assistance. I can only speak from experience, and I found my own job with no help needed. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | For me personally, I did not find it to be very helpful. The only time I ever heard from the university, following graduation, was from requests for me to make donations to the alumni funds. |
Stephen F. Austin State University • Nacogdoches, TX
Studying Education (completion in 2001)
• 7/5/2011
"When I look to continue my education, I will go back to SFA! I recommend SFA to graduating seniors from my campus!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | SFA is know as a teaching school. It has well know education departments, that have been honored throughout the state! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SFA has always been a teaching school. This is what my school is known for: its education departments! |
| Program Quality | 9 | SFA was founded as a teacher training school and has been a leader in the field for a number of years. Even after graduation, we still have contact with instructors and other students that help us in our jobs! |
| Instruction | 9 | The instructors are always knowledgeable in current topics affecting student instruction. The instructors also are caring and sensitive to the needs of 1st year teachers or student teachers. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The curricula that I was exposed to was interesting, but not too challenging. The curricula was on topic with what we needed to know, and was not full of things that would not help us as teachers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Introduction classes will be book learning oriented. Once at a higher level, you will be very hands on with students and techniques at the charter school on campus! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | SFA provides many summer offerings of classes, in 2 summer sessions. SFA also has an online program that I know of, but have never taken part in. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | SFA has recently built a new elementary education building that is really nice and well stocked with equipment! SFA also has a TEA recognized charter school at which student teachers may teach and interact with students. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was married when I started school, so I did not attend parties. SFA does have a large student group called the Purple Haze that is a school spirit group. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use the career services department, so I cannot really comment on this. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | SFA has an active alumni network, but I do not participate in it. The Alumni network is mainly operated by former students, and does not have a large faculty presence, from what I understand. |
Lamar University • Beaumont, TX
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1987)
• 6/28/2011
"Lamar is a safe, quiet and very effective school. I was there for an education and got one. I was not there for socializing."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Lamar is an effective and affordable option. It caters to the needs of the individual student. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Classes are sometimes difficult to get into. A large number of graduates from Lamar are Business Admin students. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I work in a unique school. It is the same school I attended as a child and it was a great place to be then due to the dedicated teachers. I feel that the dedication of the teachers who are employed there now is just as awesome. |
| Instruction | 5 | I earned my degree in business and later went back to become a certified teacher. I could have used more preparation in terms of lesson planning and classroom management. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There was nothing special about my classes. They were average, run-of-the mill prep classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Depending on the program there is a mixture of learning techniques. Where the situation warranted, hands-on activities were applied. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | At the present time, Lamar offers classes on campus, at alternate locations off campus, and on weekends, evenings and online. This was not the case several years ago so they are keeping up with current trends |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Help was always available. If a need arose, professors made themselves available and were quick to help or send us to the help we needed. |
| Social Life | 7 | Lamar is not a party school! Social events are arranged throughout the semester from on-campus movie night to on-campus concerts. Partying is definitely not the main focus but there are social events for relaxing available. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not participate in the job placement services at Lamar. I am not familiar with their program. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am not affiliated the alumni association... I, therefore, am not sure. |
San Antonio College • San Antonio, TX
Studying Education Reading And English (completion in 2014)
• 6/28/2011
"I feel like most everything I learned was vital and that I have retained a lot more information from professors at my college than in previous classes I took elsewhere. I also mentioned that the costs were reasonable and affordable and worth more than classes at other colleges."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend San Antonio College to most any type of student curious about their education, but would emphasize the fact that career counselors and post-grad support are minimal. I know students get a very good, individualized instruction and small classes make the difference worth it and professors really do seem to care about you and not about their own pass/fail ratio. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Compared to other schools in the city, I believe my school was better known for the quality of its education and it was the easiest to transfer into and out of the degree programs. I feel like students that struggle with core classes, especially math and the sciences, would do better at my college because there were really fantastic learning labs for every department. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Really, my school was more for certifications than actually having a lot of options for transfer credits. I had good professors and small classes so the education was very beneficial for me and there were always professionals on hand to learn from. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were very good about giving us projects and real world scenarios to learn rather than just memorizing rote facts or giving us busy work. Additionally, I had very affordable tuition costs compared to many schools so I had the extra motivation to do well and take many of the more difficult classes, especially knowing that they were more intensive other, more expensive schools. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I am a visual learner and had such better experiences at San Antonio College compared to my classes at Johnson County Community College in Kansas because there were fewer students in all my classes. All of my professors knew me and my name and actually seemed to know if I was struggling with something and offered help. Professors were actually able to work on specific topics and that made it easier for me to learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | One of the best things about my college is that I was able to excel in some of the core classes I needed to retake because the professors did not assign busy work. Almost all my professors used real world examples and scenarios to teach rather than assigning reading and expect us to memorize facts. Some of my education department professors would make their own packets from reading materials instead of forcing us to buy books that we didn't understand. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I took many of my classes at night and through distance learning online and it was so much easier for me to work and care for my children while going back to college. All of my professors were very flexible with testing sites and very understanding about due dates on major assignments because there were many students enrolled with similar needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Every department had their own computer lab plus a network of tutors and professors working in department labs to help students. I always was able to get help without waiting in long lines. The best part of the entire school was that all the resources were right there on campus and I spent a lot of time in many of the labs all throughout my enrollment. |
| Social Life | 3 | There were a lot of social groups on campus and I did participate in some of the activities and made some life-long friends. I was actually required to attend some of the events by a few professors as part of my assignments for my grade, like the deaf club's meetings. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There were not very many places to do student teaching or service learning hours. If the school would connect with the community a little more for its students' sake, then it would have been a lot easier finding a job post-graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Post-graduation support is lacking at this college, as there are not a lot of career counselors that spend adequate time with students. Even worse, I had a lot of trouble even finding student employment or job openings. I wish there were more resources for graduates to turn to for support and advice. |
University Of Texas At Arlington • Arlington, TX
Studying English (completion in 2008)
• 7/10/2011
"The school is great. They are willing to help and they make sure you have all of the skills you need in order to be the best elementary school teacher you can be."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you want to learn to have fun and also to teach your future students to have fun while learning, then this is the place for you. If you want to just learn the latest techniques for controlling bad child behavior then this is the place. If you just want a great school in general, then this is the place to be. Good luck! |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Many think the program is hard and it's not worth doing. I think that if you have a love for teaching, it will be the best place to help foster that love. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a good program. They made sure that you were always up to date on the latest information, but the program was always late telling you things such as when you were suppose to take your certification test. So many of us had two days to study. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors are great. They are enthusiastic, they really do care, and they want to make sure that you can teach and also get a good job when you leave them. They are also good mentors even after you do leave. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was difficult. Even though the teachers were great, they still expected you to know the material which is why they graded you so hard. As long as you put in the work then you will be okay. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a lot of hands on training. You are required to do community service and your mentor will come to the school to help you. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The class schedule is not very flexible. They only have classes for education in the evenings so you will have to work around that schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The study groups and facilities such as the computer room and the library are state of the art. You will be able to find any book about the education system. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was so busy that I really did not have a social life. All I did was read, but I knew many students who did have a great social life. |
| Placement Services | 9 | They hold job fairs. I had my first job two weeks after graduating. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni make sure to contact you right after you graduate. They also invite you to social gatherings and help you to get orientated at the school that you decide to work at. |
NCTC • Corinth, TX
Studying Ready, Set, Teach! (completion in 2014)
• 7/10/2011
"NCTC may not work well for some, but it was good for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on if you want the whole college experience or not. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | NCTC is not known for anything. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I had few opportunities to student teach, so I found that sad. |
| Instruction | 9 | I LOVED MY TEACHERS! They were great! |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was easy, yet there were a lot of work and exams. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was not enough real interaction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They provide many class times. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Nothing special. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were various groups of people and a lot of diversity. |
| Placement Services | 3 | This is not a highly accredited school. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They care about each person. |
Texas State University • San Marcos, TX
Studying Family And Child Development (completion in 2009)
• 7/10/2011
"After I switched to Family and Child Development, I became much more satisfied with academic the content. I felt there was much more emphasis on various developmental areas in children. The professors in my major were some of the most progressive in their fields. My major made it very easy to learn both through books and through hands-on-experiences which is great because I am a more visual learner."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The professors in my major were some of the most progressive in their fields. My major made it very easy to learn both through books and through hands-on-experiences which is great because I am a more visual learner. My school provided many extra-curricular activities in which to choose from and provided summer classes, evening classes, and online classes in order to help a student graduate faster. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I am also not familiar with this aspect of my college. Once again, I just don't take the time to look into these types of things. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was not satisfied as an education major but after I switched to Family and Child Development, I became much more satisfied with the academic content. To be more specific, I felt there was much more emphasis on various developmental areas instead of just academics. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors in my major were some of the most progressive in their fields. One in particular made great strides in better understanding attachment in infants and children. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I only rate it so low because the content of my major came easier to me than if I had chosen another major. This reason is because I was extremely interested in the content. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My major made it very easy to learn both through books and through hands-on-experiences. Our campus has a child development center in which I participated at for most of my major courses as well as my internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | This was something I didn't take advantage of often, but was very grateful when I needed to take summer classes, evening classes, or online classes to graduate faster. I took advantage of these classes more so during my senior year of college. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I think that the content of what we were provided was of good quality, but the amount was about average. I don't think we had more or less than any other major. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was very happy with the amount of social interaction I had at my school. They provided many extra-curricular activities from which to choose. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I only rate it so low because I never took advantage of this opportunity. After college I had my daughter and was not directly able to jump into the workforce. I took my own time, months later, to find a job. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I'm not very familiar with this aspect of my college. After college I had my daughter and did not keep up with my college. |
University Of Texas At Brownsville • Brownsville, TX
Studying Biology (completion in 2005)
• 7/17/2011
"I love that it was 15 minutes from my house. I also love the fact that our classes were small."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel that our university has grown immensely in the past 10 years. I go now and there are some places that I do not recognize. I also see the students more united and they tend to hang around the school more. It makes me happy that they are getting closer to the full university experience than what we experienced. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I think people underestimate the quality of teaching that the university can provide. Some students prefer not to attend and go out of town. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I enjoyed that our classes were small. We were able to work with our professors on a one-to-one basis daily. |
| Instruction | 10 | Our professors were extremely knowledgeable and ready to help us. |
| How Difficult | 8 | At times it felt overwhelming. However, having small classed helped with the workload and studying for exams were fun. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I loved my labs. They were my favorite classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It was flexible until my junior and senior year. Since I had to work, there were not many classes open. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They have more stuff now than they did 10 years ago. Our library was big, but the facilities were not as comfortable or as available as they are today. |
| Social Life | 7 | We did not have dorms at the time, so any social events occurred at our homes or at restaurants. The student center was the only place to be in between classes. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They prepared me with not only job placement, but with classes to prepare me for certifications. They were very helpful and informative. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I wish I felt more at one with our university. Today's students have more of a voice than we did 10 years ago. |
University Of Texas At Brownsville • Brownsville, TX
Studying Business And Marketing (completion in 2005)
• 7/18/2011
"I feel that given what I needed, I am happy with what I got. However, I feel that the college offers a lot more to the students nowadays."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they want to kick off their degrees here, it could be a good place to start. However, I would suggest them to venture out of our town to other colleges. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | There are many who have graduated from this degree program. I feel it was one of the easiest degrees to achieve. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I feel that the degree is a mix of different fields and it has no specific focus. I feel it's difficult to tell employers what I am qualified to do. |
| Instruction | 8 | Some instructors were excellent while others seemed to just teach because it was a job. Some classes I found were challenging and others were a joke. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Some of the work was challenging and some was way too easy. I enjoyed the more challenging work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had few hands on-type labs. I had more classes that required reading and writing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Pretty flexible with lots of night classes. I felt that helped since I worked most of the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They were not as nice and supportive as they are now. All we had was a library with 2 computer labs with limited resources. |
| Social Life | 4 | As far as a full college experience, there was not one. There were no dorms and most social activities were done off campus. |
| Placement Services | 4 | No help at all. I needed to do things on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There wasn't much of a network. It was difficult at times to find a straight answer or a good source. |
Tarleton State University • Stephenville, TX
Studying Undergraduate: English. Graduate: ESL. Teaching Certificates: K-8 Generalist, High School Speech And English, ESL. (completion in 2009)
• 7/25/2011
"I was pretty satisfied. However, I believe they are limited in helping me in my next career goal."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would, but I would warn them how difficult and challenging it is for people who are not totally committed to their program. I am not sure if they still have the TMATE program. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I really don't know. I went to Tarleton University for my teaching certificate. I got my Graduate and Undergraduate degrees from Georgia State University. Both schools were pretty good, but Georgia State was harder. |
| Program Quality | 7 | |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers at the school I went to were very good. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I got my teaching certificate through an accelerated and alternative education program. It was very intensive and quite challenging to finish it. However, I did well and had a 4.0 in all of my classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a good mix of both hands on and book learning. The summer SAIL program gave us a chance to practice in a classroom environment. We also got mentors that helped us during our first year in teaching. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Not at all flexible. The program was small so that some classes were only offered once a year. If you couldn't take it when they offered it, you lost a year in your study plan. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I thought the school library and labs were excellent. I did not need tutors. The professors were available when I needed them. |
| Social Life | 1 | I was too busy to get involved in social activities. Also, I am an older student. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I had a lot of help when I looked for my first teaching job from the careers department in modifying my resume. I believe they helped me get my job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I actually don't have any basis for answering this as I have never contacted the school for anything other than transcripts. |
Texas A&M University • Texarkana, TX
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2009)
• 7/27/2011
"I was very satisfied with this school, especially considering that I was able to take all/most of my courses locally and at hours that were convenient to my full-time working schedule. I look back on my time at this school as a pleasant experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I would definitely recommend this school to others that wish to pursue an education degree. If you are willing to study hard and apply yourself, they will definitely prepare you to pass the certification exams and be ready for your first teaching job! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Texas A&M University is a well-known school and has an excellent reputation in my opinion! The education program specifically has an excellent reputation and I would recommend other students to this school who are seeking an education degree. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Pertaining to Texas A&M University, I was prepared very well to teach in Texas schools. However, the public school where I obtained a job has a lot of politics that really take away from the joy of teaching and also impedes the students' learning and progress. Most of the problems begin with administration but only affect the teachers. |
| Instruction | 9 | I feel that my career preparation was highly beneficial and relevant. I know that I have been prepared extremely well to teach elementary education to today's students. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I don't think the program was too hard OR too easy. I feel that it prepared me very well for the education field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Personally, I thought the school had a nice mix of hands-on and book learning. The instructors made sure that the book material was thoroughly covered, but they also brought in tons of manipulatives and "real-world" classroom items and experiences that we could see. It is a lot easier to understand difficult concepts when your instructors take the time to do this. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The school offered on-site as well as online courses to fit various scheduling needs. They also have numerous offsite locations where you can take your classes if you are not close to the Texarkana area. For instance, I took the majority of my courses at the Mt. Pleasant campus but I also had the option of attending the Hallsville location. Having all of these options available is very nice and convenient, especially for working students. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school definitely has an abundance of resources available at their facilities. The facilities are all well-maintained and it's easy to find your way around. Their electronics/computers/media are all up-to-date and professors all have convenient office hours available to every student. |
| Social Life | 5 | I made many friends at this school! You get the opportunity to get to know same-major individuals extremely well since they usually end up taking the same classes as you throughout the program. I enjoyed the association as well as the study groups that I was able to participate in. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I have not personally used the school's job placement and career services assistant but I do know that they provide it because I have spoken with the person in that department in the past. They are more than happy to assist students in finding their first jobs as well as make them aware of what resources for doing so are available. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana had an Education Club of which I was a member. It was a lot of fun to be a part of and they kept it interesting and always had a lot of activities going on. |
University Of North Texas • Denton, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 2008)
• 7/31/2011
"I had a great personal life as well as an academic one. I feel like I was very prepared for the future to teach my class and to work with my colleagues."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UNT provides the best education program and prepares you for a career in education. I feel like almost everything I learned was beneficial and useful. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have heard nothing but great things about UNT. Everyone says they are one of the better schools in Texas. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel like I was well prepared. Student teaching taught me almost everything I needed to know to have my own class. |
| Instruction | 9 | Almost everything I was taught was applicable in the classroom. I learned how to do things such as guided reading and how to best communicate with parents. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The work load was fair. There was not too much, but it was not too easy either. I had a good amount of projects that took some time. Teaching is like this in the sense you have to prepare lessons in advance. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Being an education major meant everything was hands on. Teachers would often model what a teacher should do and then we the students would do the same. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school is very flexible, offering classes throughout the whole day, including nights and weekends. The school also offers online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has two huge libraries and a fitness center. It also offers a computer lab for student use and has a math lab where you can get tutoring. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a great social experience at UNT. I was involved in a sorority and attended many football games. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I do not know because I did not use this service. I did land a job two weeks before graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not hear from them very often. When I do hear from them they are asking for money. I do not receive information about what is going on at the school. |
University Of Wisconsin - Eau Claire • Austin, TX
Studying Double Major In English And History Minor In Education (completion in 1992)
• 8/7/2011
"I've recommended the program to others. I currently have student teachers in my classroom and don't think they are getting the same quality of experience (their student teaching time is much shorter)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I said, I left prepared to begin teaching. I had a basis in my field of study as well as in educational theory. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Eau Claire is known as a good teacher's school. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about it. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I felt like I left college prepared to teach Language Arts, Reading and Social Studies. I was very pleased with the amount of student teaching I did (observing, teacher assistant, and then 1 semester of student teaching). |
| Instruction | 8 | Professors were not out of touch with what was going on in schools. I had two university mentors (one for each of my majors). |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was able to keep up with all requirements. I received excellent grades. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used textbooks primarily. The student teaching experience was very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I believe it was flexible. I had evening and day classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | This was quite a while ago, but we had the latest technology at the time. We had a media lab and an excellent library. |
| Social Life | 8 | I had a great time! My best friend from college is still my best friend today. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I found out about the job fair through my university. I was hired from my first job fair. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | It's been so long since I was in school, I'm not not really aware of their network. I know when I was looking for a job, they were very helpful. |
West Texas A&M University • Canyon, TX
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2008)
• 9/14/2011
"School was great. I plan on attending graduate school at the same university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I always recommend WT, especially a few professors there. I also plan on attending again as well. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Very good program. Students from across the state attend because of the reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel I was fully prepared to enter the field after graduating. There were great programs and field study available. |
| Instruction | 10 | Most professors were elementary teachers at one point. The department head was very knowledgeable and helpful. |
| How Difficult | 6 | At the time I felt it was a bit much. Now that I am in the field I understand why the workload was so high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Perfect balance between textbook and hands-on. The hands-on learning was most beneficial to me. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Many options were available. I took at least one course online, during the day, night and some on weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I was always able to reach professors when needed. We had multiple study groups for each semester. |
| Social Life | 9 | Multiple events were held each semester. Sports were huge for getting together with friends. |
| Placement Services | 9 | There was no job placement. I was able to use multiple professors as references. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I hear a lot of good things about the alumni association, though I am not a member. |
University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Applied Learning And Development (completion in 2009)
• 9/19/2011
"Loved football season but somewhat disappointed with the degree I chose. I know it's not my school's fault but still upset."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think UT is an awesome school. However, I would recommend elementary education to no one. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | A lot of people think it's just too easy. Also, education is probably not the best major right now. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UT's College of Education has really great professors. I hear it's the best within 1,000 miles. |
| Instruction | 8 | While I loved my classes I feel a little under-prepared because every district in Texas has such different curriculums. I think an overview of how to become familiar with various programs would have been nice. |
| How Difficult | 5 | We did spend a lot of time on teaching experience. However, classes were not very difficult as far as tests and that sort of thing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While we did have a lot of time in the classroom which I would consider hands-on, we did have most things taken directly from text books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Once you enter the final three semesters there is no flexibility. You must take the class when it's offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I love UT but a lot of the facilities, with the exception of sports, seem kind of outdated. Not very much new technology was in the classes I attended. |
| Social Life | 8 | Definitely met a lot of people. There are so many activities to become involved in. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I personally received no assistance. Also, when I looked at job boards they were usually empty. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I give it a five because I haven't utilized it. It could be great but nothing has really been offered to make me want to try. |
South West Texas Jr. College • Uvalde, TX
Studying Special Education (completion in 2008)
• 10/4/2011
"I was able to land a job not to long after completing the class. Overall the classes were very helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The recommendation depends what type of education you are looking for and what their desired job requires. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There was a great deal of interest in the classes as each is only offered a few times. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was a non-degree seeking course, but it enables you to get a job. |
| Instruction | 6 | You learn a lot from the interactions with students. The time we spent together was helpful. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Since the classes were based on personal gains it was fairly easy. The grading was based on individual progress. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did field work once or twice if an assignment required it. Most of the work could be completed online. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The hours are set with the standard school timing. You can request days to be taken off but not work around hours. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | This is a small school. The resources available are only what you can find. |
| Social Life | 5 | Some small social events were set up. The town was small so everything happened in a nearby city. |
| Placement Services | 5 | You have as much chance of getting the job as the next person. Working requires training sessions and a few courses. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | There are no alumni in the area. It is a local community college. |
Southern Methodist University • Dallas, TX
Studying English With Elementary Education Concentration (completion in 1994)
• 10/13/2011
"I was well prepared to teach after my time here. I know people from other schools who did not adjust well to the classroom because their expectations were much different."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The professors worked hard with us. The connections I made there are still useful to me today. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | SMU's teacher preparation program is not the largest, but the teachers I know from there are well-prepared. They know their content and are ready to work with children. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors prepared me well for teaching. The student teaching program is very well run. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was prepared for the children when I entered the classroom. Pedagogical content was covered thoroughly. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The work was mostly group-based and took the form of projects. An essay-based program would have been tougher. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I said, most classes were project-based. The experiences we gained in the classroom were vital. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There are some Saturday and evening classes. Online classes are more plentiful at other institutions, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | SMU's library is second to none as far as materials and technology go. Professors are also extremely accessible. |
| Social Life | 9 | I made a lot of great friends. We still go to football games and meet up. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use the career services office. A friend of mine knew of a teaching opening, and I applied. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Alumni help each other find teaching positions. We also get together locally to discuss our schools. |
University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Applied Learning And Development (EC-4 Generalist) (completion in 2007)
• 10/16/2011
"I cannot imagine having gotten my degrees from any other school. I am proud to be a Longhorn, and I learned a great deal during my time there. It was a wonderful experience!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I said, the hands-on experience was super helpful. The professors were knowledgeable and very attentive to the needs of their small group cohort. It was a perfect scenario. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UT is a nationally ranked university with regard to its college of education. It isn't necessarily the best, but it isn't the primary focus of the university, so that makes sense. Still, the entire university has a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was offered many internship opportunities, got to select a cohort for apprenticeship that best matched my interests, and was given exposure to many kinds of schools. The hands-on experiences were crucial to my feeling prepared upon graduation. |
| Instruction | 10 | My instructors always took our learning directly to the classroom. They made sure to show how things were relevant and applicable, and most of our learning was project-based, giving me opportunities to excel, experience, and build a great resume. |
| How Difficult | 3 | There was a lot of work, but it wasn't really challenging per se. I had a second major (Plan II) which had a much more strenuous level of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The education program involves a lot of hands-on learning! We were in the classrooms almost on a daily basis working with students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There weren't really any weekend options, and the schedules were somewhat limited because the program required so much in-school, hands-on time. You can only get that when there are actual students in schools: not on weekends or nights! |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I never had any complaints about the facilities. Similarly, I never had a lot to gush about with them either. It was sort of middle of the road, though the entire university library system is wonderful. |
| Social Life | 10 | I would encourage others to go to UT without hesitation. It is a huge school, but it is possible to find one's niche and turn it into a small community. Its positive reputation made getting a job easier, and I formed many lasting friendships and memories during my time there. I often wish I could go back! |
| Placement Services | 7 | They didn't have much, although they did offer seminars on writing good resumes and meeting with district recruiters. Most of the benefits came from putting us directly into schools for internships so we could start developing those networking relationships. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not really involved with the alumni network. As a result, I can't say with certainty how it is. |
Sam Houston State University • Huntsville, TX
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 1996)
• 10/21/2011
"I am very satisfied with the education I received at SHSU. I also enjoyed my overall experience while attending."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | SHSU is one of the top colleges in Texas for education programs. SHSU is concerned with developing a well-rounded education for the college student. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SHSU is one of the top colleges for elementary education. If someone has graduated from here, they are more likely to be looked at when submitting applications. |
| Program Quality | 10 | SHSU prepared me for my certification tests (which I passed the first time). SHSU did a comprehensive program to help me prepare for all subjects. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instruction I received was relevant to student learning. The program focused on developing concepts in children. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program had its challenges--time management and researching topics to provide the best learning tools available for children. The work load was equal to that of what should be expected while teaching. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some professors used books for learning. The awesome professors would use hands-on learning to simulate what the children would be doing in a classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There was not a lot of flexibility in class scheduling when I attended. I do know that things have changed since. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I loved my experience with facilities and resources when I attended SHSU. I felt that the university tried to stay on top of everything to provide the best learning experience. |
| Social Life | 10 | I lived in a residence hall all years of my college time (except the last semester when I was student teaching). The activities that were available were great! |
| Placement Services | 10 | There were/are teacher job fairs. Career services assisted me with writing resumes and getting recommendations on file. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I used to not receive anything about alumni. Within the past 5 years, I receive more mailings about alumni events. |
University Of Texas At Dallas • Richardson, TX
Studying Interdisciplinary Studies (completion in 2011)
• 10/21/2011
"I loved my school. I am going back to get my Master's."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Good program and great people. I am going back. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | My school has a reputation for being a good business and engineering school. Our program isn't really noticeable and the degree isn't called education. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program didn't really prepare me much for classroom management, but helped with content. If the university cared more about the teaching department, it might have been better. |
| Instruction | 6 | I didn't learn much about what I am teaching now. The strategies taught are fine for some students, but my students tend to have behavioral issues that make it hard to do fun activities. |
| How Difficult | 4 | It was fairly easy work. I got a 4.0. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many more hands-on activities. I preferred that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | There was often only one time and professor to take the class. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We were stuck in the portable classrooms, not even a real building. When there was a weather advisory, we had to move to another building. |
| Social Life | 10 | The people were great. I had a lot of fun and made great friends. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I student taught at the school I got hired at. But it took a lot of work on my own to get that job as well. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | The professors there were good. They brought in former student teachers who got opportunities for us to speak with professionals. |
University Of Texas At Arlington • Arlington, TX
Studying Education (completion in 2009)
• 10/23/2011
"I was very satisfied with my field work experience. I think it really prepared you for all aspects of teaching. Other people who did not get to do field work end up surprised when they actually see the administrative aspect of teaching (paperwork)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UTA had a great program. It had it faults too. The major positive was the field work and the major negative was the strict course outline. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Our reputation in the field is good because the school districts are aware of the strict rules for the education program at UTA. On the bad side, since it's known to be a hard major it scares the newer students. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I believe UTA provides a full year of student teaching. All other local universities only get half of that experience in the field. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some teachers were very good and you can tell they had a lot of hands on experience. Some teachers were not so good and had too much "theory" without practical use. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The education program at UTA is held to different standards than other disciplines. We had to keep a higher GPA to stay in the program. We also had to stay on the university schedule and if a class was dropped/failed you had to wait an entire year to get back into the program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It is a mix. We had a full year of student teaching as well as a couple of other classes that required field work. Then we had many classes that were all book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The education program at UTA is not flexible. You must take each course exactly when they tell you. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I always thought the rooms and libraries were sufficient. I wouldn't say it was top of the line though. |
| Social Life | 5 | I am rating this average since I didn't participate is many social aspects. I was a mother of 2 at the time so I didn't have time for that stuff. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I don't believe they go out of their way to help with job placement. They do however provider a job fair on campus for the local districts to come and meet students. |
| Alumni Network | I do receive emails about our alumni group so it seems the university reaches out. I never participate so I really am unsure of how fair to rate it. |
University Of Dallas • Dallas, TX
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2005)
• 11/28/2011
"UD provided a great, all-round education, of the sort that is hard to find today. It gave me a more varied skill set and a broader range of knowledge than I could have received at most other places."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The wonderful core curriculum prepares you to teach a variety of subjects well. The intense academic experience gives you important skills for tackling the large workload attached to elementary school teaching. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The University of Dallas has a good enough reputation to get it students into many graduate schools. However, it is not very well regarded by some of the top schools in the field. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The University of Dallas has a very good group of professors in the philosophy department, and an excellent course of study. It is not a top-tier university, and did not provide a great variety of courses in philosophy to choose from. |
| Instruction | 10 | The University of Dallas prepares one well for a career in teaching, because it requires students to complete a rigorous core curriculum in the liberal arts. Thus, although my undergraduate major was philosophy, I can now teach Latin, since I was required to achieve a high level of proficiency in that language in the course of my philosophy studies. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The curriculum drew from a wide variety of difficult primary texts. The writing requirements were very high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The emphasis on the liberal arts requires a great deal of work with original texts. Hands-on learning was confined to a few biology and physical science courses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Because of its emphasis on the liberal arts, and its small size, there are not many flexible classes. No online options are yet available. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The library is archaic and in grave need of renovation. It's collection is minimal. Classroom space is cramped. |
| Social Life | 10 | The community of learners was a wonderful asset, and a great source of learning. The small size of the school greatly enhanced the feeling of community. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Such services are virtually non-existent. I know of no one who has benefited from them. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have not benefitted at all from the alumni network or any support services. I know that some services are offered, but none are relevant to my career. |
Texas A&M University • College Station, TX
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2009)
• 12/1/2011
"It was great! I felt prepared when I started my career. Great program and overall great school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have told many young people about my experience in College Station, Texas and at A&M. It is a great place to go and you get the support you need every step of the way. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | A&M has a well known education program. It also helps that A&M is know to have tough entrance policy. |
| Program Quality | 10 | A&M is a great place to be. They have a highly regarded education program. Professor were great. |
| Instruction | 9 | Most of the professor had a true passion for teaching and were willing to help the student on a one-on-one basis. I wish there was more training in a classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The course work was normal. It had times were it was very difficult. Some classes were tougher than others. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very book-oriented! That was my least favorite part. I've always learned best through hands-on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was a full time student and was able to take classes whenever I needed. They had some evening classes too. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | A&M is a huge campus. They had several libraries and computer labs to use when needed. Tutors were also available. |
| Social Life | 10 | What a great school spirit A&M had! loved the town and the school. I still miss it. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I know they have one, but I didn't use it. They help place you in a student teaching position, which is appreciated. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The Aggie Alumni network is the biggest in the nation. There are Aggie alumni all over the world. |
University Of Texas At Arlington • Arlington, TX
Studying Music With An All-Level Teaching Certificate (completion in 2004)
• 1/8/2012
"I love my school. I love my teachers. I am very proud to be an alum of UTA."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The student body is small, but the educators are some of the best in the state. Students pursuing a music degree will more than likely be working with actual professors, not adjuncts or TAs. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | There are 2 major schools for my major. UTA is not one of them, but there are lots more that do not do a good job of preparing students. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school provides great administrative support. In addition, the community is very supportive as well. |
| Instruction | 3 | There is a big difference between "textbook" knowledge and the actual "classroom" knowledge. The tests they prepared us for did not prepare us for the students. The facts that I learned from my education classes are seldom used in my actual classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I have only been to one school. It is hard to compare when you only have one view. I say average, because I never felt it was too easy or too hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Everything as it pertained to my major was book learning. The only hands-on thing I ever did was for an astronomy class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The scheduling was very flexible. Due to the size of the student body, some of the more specialized classes were only offered during specific parts of the year. Some students got stuck waiting around a year to get the class they needed to graduate. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school had a state-of-the-art library and computer lab. The performance hall was beautiful, with a complete organ. Professors, advisors and other personnel were readily available to answer questions. |
| Social Life | I am very much a bookworm. There were lots of social events at school, but I never attended. | |
| Placement Services | 5 | I never used the job placement service. My brother found his job through this service. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | We don't have a sports team to lock ourselves into to build pride. We are there for school and that's about it. When we graduate, we move on. |
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