Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Legal Secretaries
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at University of Northwestern Ohio.
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 Davis.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Ursuline College and Davis.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider University of Northwestern Ohio, Davis, and Cincinnati State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Ursuline College, Sinclair Community College, Cincinnati State, and University of Akron Wayne College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Northwestern Ohio, Washington State Community College, University of Toledo, and Cincinnati State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of University of Rio Grande, University of Northwestern Ohio, University of Toledo, and Shawnee State.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Ursuline College, University of Toledo, University of Rio Grande, and Davis.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Ashland University • Ashland, OH
Studying Political Science (completion in 2007)
• 8/10/2011
"I think there are some administrative and money-handling problems within the University, but I met some wonderful people and gained a lot of knowledge and skills throughout my time there, which I think have helped to make me successful post-college. I think that's a large part of what college is supposed to teach you."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It wasn't my first choice when I began looking for schools, but I think I would have had a similar experience at another school. I think you should pick a school that fits the location you want and has a strong reputation for the program you're interested in, and fill in the rest as you go. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | My professors have held high-raked positions in government, write and/or edit books, attend seminars, give talks, and invite current and past political leaders for presentations, question-and-answer periods, and speeches. I have a hard time believing George Bush would travel to the middle of Amish Country for a talk with 60 students if the program did not have a good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Ashland University is home to the Ashbrook Center, a well-known political science think tank. While I entered the major program too late to participate in Ashbrook, I had access to the same professors and classes. They encouraged discussion, listened to your thoughts and opinions, and I was consistently challenged by the course, reading materials, and class discussions. Although at times I felt I was under a lot of pressure, I never felt that I had made the wrong decision in my major. |
| Instruction | 9 | While I touched on this in my last response, the majority of my professors were fantastic. They demanded you to work your hardest and the courses were well-planned. The work I was doing throughout the semester always related to the overview of the course. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The entirety of my grade often consisted of 1-2 papers and class discussions (which were based on a substantial amount of reading). If you were unprepared for either, you failed the course. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did a lot of reading. Our assignments were almost nightly and if you didn't have reading for one class, you probably had it assigned in another. However, those readings were used to foster class discussion and debate, which led to some rather heated moments. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I rarely had any issues with scheduling my required classes and my core-electives. Within a department, the courses rarely overlapped due to the small size of the student population/majors. Also, several sections of the required core-electives were offered each semester, so you could almost always find one that your schedule would accommodate. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had a rather substantial library, and the program across college libraries - I believe it was called Access - allowed you to borrow books from any registered school in the state and, eventually, any registered school in the country. While the book you wanted for a research project may not have been purchased by our university, you could obtain it within the week and renew it as necessary. This program saved the students substantial amounts of frustration and money over the years. Desktop computers were available across campus and laptops could be checked out for 2-3 hours at a time. While it was more convenient to have your own computer, you always had access to one if yours was getting repaired, etc. |
| Social Life | 8 | Ashland is a small university. It is an hour or more to any major city, so the people around you are what have to make your experience. There are ample clubs, sports, Greek life, etc., available for participation. If you are not a "joiner," there are couches and tables throughout campus (indoors and outdoors) for you to simply converse with others. The University would periodically bring in comedians or music acts for entertainment as well. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have no knowledge of the quality of these services. I think they exist, but the University's Career Center really only focuses on the education and business majors. The job fairs, etc., do not include businesses that would be a good fit for other majors. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't even know if Ashland has an alumni network. I have kept in touch with some classmates, as well as my professors and advisor, through other social networks, but the only communication I have received from Ashland is the yearly viewbook. |
Ashland University • Ashland, OH
Studying Political Science (completion in 2007)
• 10/21/2011
"I had great instructors and feel that I truly earned my degree. I made friends that will probably be part of my life for years to come, if not always."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It was not my first choice - but I made the best of it and it worked out for me in many ways. The political science program is stellar, but you don't need that background to do what I do in the law office - the analytical thinking is helpful, but you could train your mind in other ways than through the program I completed. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Ashland's poli sci is a unique program - especially the Ashbrook Center, which is either one of a kind or rather rare in undergraduate settings. Our professors are published authors and have worked with the government and with other leaders prior to taking their teaching roles. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My professors were wonderful, but I joined the program rather late - my junior year. It was difficult to keep up, but I found my program thoughtful, well-structured, and open to discussion and ideas from its students. |
| Instruction | 9 | As I said, my professors were wonderful. They were frequently available in their offices for questions, concerns, debates, etc. If not in person, they could be reached by email. They made an effort to poke conflicts from all sides to promote discussion, analytical thinking, and new ideas and experiences. |
| How Difficult | 9 | They accepted the best into their program and expected your best in return. An "A" was always earned, not simply given. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read a lot, but we also discussed what we read quite a bit. I think my program is an exception to this comparison given the content of our learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There was often only one section of a specialized class offered, but since the core classes and required classes offered several sections, you were often able to take what you needed along with what you wanted. I rarely encountered a conflict in my scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Our library was part of the link/partnership with other schools throughout Ohio - if they didn't have a book you needed, you could likely locate it at another university and they would forward it to the Ashland location for you to borrow, generally within a couple days. We also had several computer labs for printing your papers or when your personal computer wasn't working/had a dead battery/you needed to be around people/etc. |
| Social Life | 8 | I met many wonderful people, some of which I met through parties and organized events and concerts - and others who were sitting next to me in the cafeteria, or in class, or walking across campus. There were many opportunities to socialize in between classes. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I think they looked at my resume for me once or twice... but they didn't really have anything to assist you in making contact/networking or having any shot of a job being lined up unless you were an education or business major. The poli sci students often created their own opportunities through internships and networking - not the job services offered by the main office. |
| Alumni Network | I know almost nothing about my alumni network. I believe we have one, but I wouldn't know who is involved or whether they have events in my area. |
University Of Cincinnati, Clermont College • Batavia, OH
Studying Paralegal Technologies (completion in 2004)
• 1/25/2012
"I was very satisfied. I just wish the class offerings had been more accessible."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended the program to others. I will continue to do so. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I don't really think there is anywhere else that anyone should consider going for this major in Cincinnati. Also, the program is ABA certified. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I feel that this program really prepared me for most of what I faced so far in my career. I do wish there had been more focus on legal research and discovery responses, though. |
| Instruction | 10 | Jeff Rubel is an amazing director. He is very dedicated to the program and making sure his students have the tools they need to succeed. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program was very challenging and required a lot of homework. I feel that it was quite a workload and for the most part, it was very involved. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I didn't really have any hands-on training for my major. However, my major is pretty book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | At the time I went, it was very difficult to find 2-3 classes at night. I think they offer a lot more classes online now, which would have made it a lot easier to take more classes in less time. |
| Academic Facilities | I never used the school's resources. I used my own computer for legal research. We never picked up an actual law book. | |
| Social Life | 5 | I don't think this school is really a "social" environment. It's a community college. There isn't much else going on there. |
| Placement Services | I did not use the school's job placement assistance, but I am aware that they have such a program. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I personally am not involved in the alumni network. I am aware that one exists. |
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