Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Sales Managers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Santa Monica College, Pasadena City College, Berkeley City College, and Moorpark College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Mt Sierra College, San Diego State - Imperial Valley, San Diego State, and Hope International.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Advanced, Mount St Mary's College, LA College International, and Humphreys.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Northwestern Polytechnic University, Lincoln, San Diego State - Imperial Valley, and Rio Hondo College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Palo Verde College, Lake Tahoe Community College, Mendocino College, and Lassen Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of LA College International, Stanford University, Pepperdine University, and Whittier College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of University of the West, William Jessup University, Hope International, and Stanford University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Stanford University, Southern Cal, Cal Berkeley, and Biola.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Stanford University, Cal Berkeley, UCLA, and Cal State San Bernardino.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Stanford University, San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, and Whittier College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
La Sierra University • Riverside, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2004)
• 5/7/2011
"My school provided me with the tools needed to be successful in my career. It gave me a good social experience as well and although it was pretty sheltered compared to other universities due to the Christian values the school held, it was overall a great school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Due to the Christian values the school has, it may not be of interest to those seeking a more diverse environment. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The school is a private Christian university, and within that realm, it is the best one for Business Administration. |
| Program Quality | 8 | They had great classes, teachers, and students, but they didn't provide many outlets for us to experience what we learned outside of school. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | N/A |
| How Difficult | 5 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was more book learning than hands on because of the Christian network in which the school belonged. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | They can be flexible if needed, but otherwise have a set schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Providing students with great resources has always been a top priority. This is to encourage students to focus on studying so as to maximize their productivity at the school. |
| Social Life | 7 | I had a great experience socially at my school because they always held events that included food, gifts, and an outlet to show off your talents. But again, it was all within the Christian network. It would have been nice if it ventured outside of that. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They provided career services assistance in that they had personality exams to help you determine the type of jobs that would best suit your personality. There were also as several job fairs that concentrated on jobs within the Christian network. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | This is not very good because I have yet to receive any news regarding the availability of a support network. |
Sierra College • Rocklin, CA
Studying English (completion in 2010)
• 5/7/2011
"I feel like I gained a lot from attending my school. I feel like my classes helped me become a more understanding person."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely. It helps to have reading and writing abilities when dealing with the public. Comprehension is a valued skill in my career as we deal with people and need to understand their complaints and where they are coming from so we can think of a solution for them. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The program was rather easy as you only needed 42 units to obtain your associate's degree. They offered over 50 English classes with some of the best professors, so it wasn't difficult to fulfill unit requirements. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I loved my school. I feel like I received an excellent education. The English professors were great and the classes were offered at different times throughout the day which made it very convenient to attend school. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors were willing to work with you and assist you if you could not make a deadline. They were understanding and informative. |
| How Difficult | 8 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'd say it was a good mix of both. Hands on learning was a necessary aspect of labs. The text books could be rather boring, so luckily there was a good mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offered online classes. They also had classes every hour throughout the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They had an online writing center where students could get assistance with their papers. They had a huge online library and a great on campus library as well. Professors were accessible via email and could be reached through an instant messenger service. |
| Social Life | 8 | They had student activities going on constantly: plays, socials, readings, etc. There were many clubs and everyone participated in them. |
| Placement Services | 2 | My school did not help me get my job as a customer service manager of sales. I obtained that job on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't received any jobs through my alumni network, so I wouldn't say it's the best. They do keep me updated on what's going on, though, so I'd have to say it's just average. |
College Of The Redwoods • Humboldt County, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2011)
• 5/8/2011
"I would recommend this school for anyone seeking to do make the most of their education. They offer it all here at a very friendly pace and personalized atmosphere. I would consider attending this campus again to take additional courses."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The experience and knowledge I've gained is irreplaceable. I strongly encourage students seek internships or jobs on campus to get even more hands-on interaction with the business world. Pay attention and ask questions. This campus is meant for those who want to succeed and the instructors are all about it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have met several people who have moved to this region of the state specifically because of certain majors provided by this institution. I find that everyone I socialized with had a good opinion of the school's overall ability to educate. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The curriculum is relevant to what's happening in society and provides us students with what we need to venture out on our own in the business world. There was plenty of one-on-one time available with the professors, and classrooms were not over crowded. |
| Instruction | 10 | The projects that were assigned required hands on work, which provides for a better learning experience in the long run. The professors were modern and energetic, and the books we were using were also relevant to current standards. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The workload was not easy but it was not too overwhelming either. The teachers definitely ensured proper absorption of what they were teaching. The projects, if handled appropriately, were totally acceptable and possible to complete with high grades. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Assignments were usually very interactive and required us not only to read material, but to also formulate physical evidence of our work. The tasks were occasionally done in groups, and this brought an entire new aspect to hands-on learning since things are handled differently with a group mentality. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Nearly everything can be handled online via your student web page. Registering for classes, or even attending them, can all be done from there. Counselors and teachers are willing to work around hectic schedules. For the most part they seemed understanding. There are plenty of open classes with flexible time frames and days. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The campus is located in a beautiful part of our county and it is easy to concentrate with all the beautiful nature around. They are constructing more buildings to accommodate the growing population of students. The library and bookstores were always supplied with what we needed for class. |
| Social Life | 10 | People were friendly and the teachers were very nice and helpful. There was plenty of school spirit, but not so much that it was tacky. There were events held often that were open to all students and there were different types of social groups for just about every interest. |
| Placement Services | 10 | There are plenty of centrally located organizations right in our county that provide internships for those pursuing business degrees. On campus work is also available for students in the bookstore or as teachers assistants. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Internships are offered to students who do well in class, and there are plenty of people willing to offer their help in getting individuals started on the road to career success. Teachers, as well as school counselors, were always at hand for assistance. |
San Joaquin Valley College • Bakersfield, CA
Studying Information Systems Engineering (completion in 2002)
• 5/8/2011
"It got me my degree, which I was happy with. But it was very expensive and overall not worth the money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone wants a quick degree, I recommend this skill. If they want a prestigious degree, I would not. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's more of a technical school. They don't seem to have as good of a reputation as a big college. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I enjoy computer work. I would very much enjoy a job working with computers instead of in retail. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 5 | It wasn't very difficult. I'd say some of my high school classes were actually harder. I noticed more older people in my classes, so I'm assuming they had forgotten everything from high school! Therefore, the school had to make classes easier for these folks. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did a mixture of both. Luckily, we had some lab experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They provided night courses, so I was able to work and go to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It was just an average facility. There was nothing too extravagant. |
| Social Life | 2 | This was a technical school. Students were in and out and there were no extracurricular activities. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They did not help me get a job. They told me where to apply, but most of those place required 4 year degrees. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | They said they would help get me a job. All they did, though, was tell me where to apply. |
Pitzer College • Claremont, CA
Studying Communications/Psychology (completion in 1991)
• 5/7/2011
"Pitzer is recognized as a quality college. It prepared me to immediately begin working in my chosen field and on the career path I had selected--Managerial/Executive Sales."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Pitzer professors helped me select the classes that would lead me to my goals. This is a definite plus, since I have known other students attending colleges who ended up with degrees, but no real job skills. That is not true of Pitzer. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The professors teaching these disciplines were nationally known, published authors in their respective fields. Based on their accomplishments alone, the academic programs I took at Pitzer were ranked very highly, |
| Program Quality | 10 | I have a strong academic background in communications and psychology. These two skill sets are essential for work in the sales field. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 9 | The double major in communications and psychology was rigorous thanks to the program's top flight instructors. They had experience in the business world and had doctorate degrees, so they held their students to very high standards. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Our professors were very strong academically, but also were experienced with hands on work in the real world. They tended to assign projects rather than term papers, so we would have the experience of performing work similar to what we might do in our careers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The class schedule was quite inflexible. Fortunately, the professors were very flexible, since they had also had to work full time while they attended college full time. They knew what it was like for us. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Classes never contained more that 15 students. Class rooms and video and computer equipment were always available when we needed them. Tutors were not an issue for me--I never needed them. The Claremont Colleges Library is one of the finest on the West Coast. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was 45 when I attended Pitzer. I had little to no interest in parties, athletics, or social events. I was working one full-time job and one part-time job AND carrying a full course load. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I had found a position on my own before I graduated. I had no use for Pitzer's job placement services. However, their career center was very helpful in assisting me in identifying exactly what area of specialization to focus on. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have had no interest in nor use for the alumni contacts. I moved to New York immediately after graduation and had no further contact with the alumni associations. |
Pierce College • Woodland Hills, CA
Studying Liberal Arts (completion in 2007)
• 7/8/2011
"The school I attended provided me with a solid foundation from which to spring. It was an enriching environment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend my school based on my personal experience. It gave me a well-rounded education. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The school I attending had a great reputation with regards to its teachers and protocols. Many of the teachers at my community college also taught at USC and UCLA, so I considered myself quite lucky. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I went to school in hopes of getting a film degree. I have yet to complete my BA. |
| Instruction | 8 | I find that I rely heavily on the classes I completed in college, specifically those related to Psychology, Speech, English, and other subjects that required cognitive follow through. |
| How Difficult | 8 | For the most part, I did very, very well in college. I was prepared and motivated by 99% of the classes I took. I found it to be one of the most enlightening times of my life. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school was in a state of flux during my attendance. Some of the teachers used a mix of multimedia teaching devices, while others were old school and used text books only. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school I attended was networked within the Los Angeles community school district, so the opportunities for flexibility were enormous. I took advantage of these opportunities through online, summer, and alternate campus offerings. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | During my time at Pierce college the facility was in the process of a complete remodel. There are far more facilities and resources available for the average student. |
| Social Life | 3 | As this is a community college, the age span is great. Basically, there are some social events, but they are not well attended or available. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Occasionally my school held job fairs, but beyond that there was no real assistance in job placement. The career services within counseling was non-existent as well. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I went to a community college and there is virtual no networking opportunities. There is an alumni association, however it is not active in networking. |
University Of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA
Studying Global Entrepreneurship And Management (completion in 1998)
• 7/13/2011
"I was very pleased to have chosen USF. The university was worth the cost and the school provided me with everything I need to succeed in my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Others that are choosing Ivy League type schools in the Bay Area need to consider USF - especially if a student's objective is to learn rather than breeze through and just pass. USF's 150 years of teaching experience provides future students with a competitive advantage at the academic level. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | USF has educated its community for over 150 years. Education combined with traditional and conservative Jesuit values have contributed to the university's success. My major, Global Entrepreneurship and Management, has a high standard reputation among other similar programs at Stanford and Cal Berkeley. |
| Program Quality | 9 | USF is a private Catholic school. The classes are very small with no more than 30 students each. This, along with the school's many student resources, including academic advising, online research tools, and tutoring service, contributes and ensures a successful academic program. |
| Instruction | 9 | My professors had worked in Ivy League universities before working at USF. Their syllabi were well prepared and of superior quality. I learned everything I needed to prepare for my future. USF's Job placement program found my first internship, which lead me into contact with my current employer. |
| How Difficult | 8 | USF has a vigorous academic program. Although the school makes tutoring resources available, a student could lose a semester if he misses more that 2 lectures. USF also requires a much higher semester GPA standard than most universities. Any student could be placed on academic probation if their GPA drops to 2.25 in any given semester. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Classes are structured for more hands on interactions with professors. This is a result of USF's small classrooms. There is a lot of required reading, but lectures are based on open discussions rather than textbook review. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I believe that USF has an average class flexibility schedule. The professors are strict but I have friends that study at Stanford and they seemed to be on a far less flexible schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | USF provides their students with all the most modern resources available. Each student receives a laptop with a free WiFi internet link on campus. The USF link also connected directly to school services and the library. |
| Social Life | 6 | Students have various sporting events to attend as well as on campus social events. Resident life on campus is well planned and there are also a number of clubs available for students to join. There are no bars in the area, but there are many coffee houses and restaurants. |
| Placement Services | 7 | USF offers a professional development program and executive networking. Many contacts are made in the weekly dinners and outings with VP's and Presidents of Major enterprises. The PDP program provided me the link to my current employment as my internship was acquired from a dinner with my current Executive VP. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | To be honest, I have not used the USF alumni network, nor have I attended their gatherings. I do see that the alumni are active in most promotional and sporting events, and I do receive literature from them from time to time. However, as an option, I have chosen not to participate. |
UC Davis • Davis, CA
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2001)
• 7/19/2011
"I loved my time there, especially from a non-academic standpoint. I graduated with a good degree, even if I didn't do as well as I hoped. I got a decent job and used my education to work my way up. I can't complain about anything."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I don't think the Math degree necessarily helped me in my career any more than business, Spanish or history would have, but the discipline and quality of learning was high and the social experience was good. In my geographical area (Bay Area), a student who graduated from a tough program at UC Davis is fairly well regarded. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is a strong school and a good program, but not what UC Davis is known for, and not a school that springs to mind when considering a math major. However, it is still a fairly strong program in relation to most schools. |
| Program Quality | 7 | A lot of the teachers were not very engaging and I felt as though I "overdosed" on Math. That was maybe my fault for picking Math, however. I found it tedious at times and a little boring. |
| Instruction | 9 | All of the professors seemed very competent, Many had written textbooks and the work was very challenging. I learned a lot, although it hasn't been very relevant in my career. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I went from being a 4.0 student at high school and one of the smartest to struggling at college. Much of the work was very abstract and required a different type of thinking. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As far as Math is concerned, it was probably fairly hands on (projects, computer programs and modeling, etc), but Math is generally a "bookish" subject. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I didn't need much flexibility, but there were some weekend classes and some evening ones as well. I've looked at going back and doing an MBA and I think they offer Executive MBA's that are evenings/weekends and off campus. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Davis has an excellent library and a Math Dept library, as well as excellent computer and software availability. I had a good relationship with a tutor and was always able to get access to my professors when I needed them. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a great time. Students supported the football and basketball programs, I was in the band, and I attended many parties. I played co-ed soccer in the evenings and probably spent too much time socializing... |
| Placement Services | 5 | I thought it was average at best. I had no idea what direction I wanted to take after university and went to the careers office for guidance, and I got no guidance at all. They gave me some leads, advice etc., but not much. I didn't use them in finding my first job. I suppose it is fair, however, that they aren't expected to decide what career I should have taken, but I needed more guidance. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't really used it. I stay in contact with friends and a couple of teachers, but I haven't used the official networks, although I do get emails/invites etc. I can't give a fair rating here. |
San Jose State University • San Jose, CA
Studying Mechanical Engineering (completion in 2004)
• 7/11/2011
"I think SJSU is a very good school. It helped me become a successful sales and marketing manager."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school has a great reputation for academics. And it is in a great place for building up your network. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I believe San Jose state University has a great reputation for mechanical engineering. |
| Instruction | 10 | My engineering background helps me a lot in my career. It is easy to communicate with customers. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It is difficult during the first two years, as I had a lot of business to learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program is pretty good at teaching basic knowledge for future learning. You can also get in touch with some more sophisticated knowledge if you are interested in it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It is very flexible, and you can earn your credits in summer if you want to. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school's academic facilities are very good. We had a lot of resources for accessing information in the library and on the internet. |
| Social Life | 8 | The social life is quite good at SJSU. There are a lot of chances to build your social network through parties and activities. |
| Placement Services | 10 | What I learned help me a lot in communicating with customers, especially in the engineering language. I learned is more than just engineering in school. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | It might just be because I am in a different state, but the alumni does not help me. |
University Of California San Diego • San Diego, CA
Studying Business Management (completion in 2008)
• 7/17/2011
"The school had great academics which were great for learning and for a "building a foundation for the future" perspective. However, the social life and level of school pride could use improvement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | There are schools that have better business backgrounds. However, UCSD was not a bad decision. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | UCSD is a science based school and, as such, is more known for its biology, engineering, and other science based majors. Nonetheless, the business program is not unknown and a degree from there still carries weight |
| Program Quality | 7 | My classes were more oriented towards quantitative skills and analytics. They did not really prepare me for the soft skills associated with sales. However, it is still a good background as I am able to make decisions and explanations based off my numbers. |
| Instruction | 8 | As I stated above, the instruction was very quantitative. The lessons were practical and have relevance in my work, but did not address the soft skills I use everyday. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Coursework was difficult and classes were highly competitive. 10 week quarters with 4-5 classes meant midterms, quizzes, papers, and other assignments were constantly on my to-do list. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Coursework often involved reading textbooks or readers to grasp the material. There was some hands on practical learning, but ultimately most material was sourced from textbooks or other printed material. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Class availability was great and there was usually no problem in getting into a class. Summer classes were also numerous and well structured. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There were plenty of study spaces on campus and all were well equipped with computer and internet connectivity. Libraries were open late during finals week. |
| Social Life | 9 | Most, if not all, of my social events were through my fraternity. School sponsored events, with the exception of one large yearly event, were nonexistent. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The career center did little to help undergrads with business majors. They did a poor job of recruiting top businesses to the school, and the businesses they did bring in had sketchy backgrounds. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | During my undergraduate years, there was no attempt to foster school pride either through academics or events. There is no sense of school pride and there was a general sense among students that the school cared more about the money it received from research than the education of students. |
UC Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying Environmental Science (completion in 1988)
• 7/13/2011
"I grew a lot in college. I met different people with different ideas and thoughts. I participated in a number of social activities. However, I should have spent more time focusing on my academics and utilizing the resources. So, I was pleased with the school experience overall. Perhaps the diversity of students at the school allowed me to be able to talk with multiple types of people, which is a good trait in sales."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | UCB offers other growth opportunities that are not needed specifically for a sales career. So, I would not immediately list UCB as a school that will get you into a career in sales. There was a strong business department, but it turned out a lot of accountants. It was not known for teaching people how to sell. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | UCB does not currently offer the Environmental Science program in the College of Letters and Science anymore. So, I don't know how they rate in terms of reputation. The major, I believe, has moved over to the PNR department. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The Environmental Science program was very interdisciplinary and a great program that incorporated not only environmental science, but geology, social science, etc. The department was small and the teachers and department head were passionate about the subject matter and encouraged you to continually learn beyond what was taught. |
| Instruction | 6 | This is a hard question to answer. The quality of education was excellent - great instructions, I learned a lot about environmental science, and the academics were very diverse. It's just that it is not relevant in my career today. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Because it was interdisciplinary, one class did not lead up to another class. The course load was pulled from a variety of different programs. So, it was difficult and challenging in the sense that theories learned in one class, such as geology, did not overlap with my studies in psychology. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In my science lab classes, the work was, of course, hands on. But the lab classes always were bundled with a lecture class. Most of my classes were lecture based with many chapters of required reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It seemed that all classes were available that I needed to take. Summer was an option. There were no online courses or evening options that I knew of 25 years ago. In other words, the schedule worked for me. However, for students who also worked during the day, it may not have been as flexible. But those are options I did not look into. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are over 24 libraries on campus. The department professors always had office hours and were accessible. Classrooms were spacious. There were probably academic advisors and tutoring services available. I just didn't seek them out. |
| Social Life | 9 | The campus is so big that you find all sorts of different people doing different things. There is a huge array of clubs and organizations to join. There were a lot of social activities around football games and activism. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Well, it depends on what your major was. For business, they had on campus recruiting because UCB's undergrad program was known of for its business program. However, there was no organized recruiting or career services for people who wanted to go into jobs related to Environmental Science. Besides working for the EPA, what could you do with this degree 25 years ago? There were no discussions or help to see how we could apply this degree to real world jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't use it. So, I rated it a 5. However, it is "known" to be useful. Perhaps I need to try and use it more. It's such a big school, and I just don't know how to use the alumni offerings. |
Chaffey College • Upland, CA
Studying Management (completion in 2009)
• 7/25/2011
"I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish during those two years. And Chaffey helped me do it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You need to be motivated in order to make the best use of your time. If you are, Chaffey provides the tools needed. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's only an associate's degree, but it provides a good basis. Better than some other choices I had. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I was given the tools I needed to begin to build my career. I was able to apply practical knowledge in my job. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors were interesting and dedicated to us. I was able to form relationships with several teachers. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It provided the right balance for me. I was able to study and work at the same time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of classroom time was spent on book learning, but then I was able to apply it in my job. Had I not had my job, it would have been very book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Fairly good. I was able to make it work well. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They have a good library, open classrooms, and tutoring facilities. The campus itself is also very nice. |
| Social Life | 4 | I was there to learn, as were many other students. Events were held, but they weren't great. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I hear that it is good. I never used it because I already had a job. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Limited. I never really connected with the alumni network. |
Academy Of Art University • San Francisco, CA
Studying Photography (completion in 2014)
• 7/27/2011
"I love this school and would recommend it to anyone wanting a career in the arts. They help you find your creativity and express yourself."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would strongly recommend the school, but I think it's important that someone considering it is serious. Even though it's art, it's still not easy. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | A lot of people in the photography industry went to this school. The reason I chose this school is because of it's reputation. I have friends who have gone there and are very successful. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I love the Academy of Arts and am still working to finish earning my BFA there. The only thing they need is more camera equipment to borrow. |
| Instruction | 9 | They are very thorough and make sure you get the business and arts side of photography. Everything I have learned there is relevant to what I want to do. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There are a lot of assignments and it is a challenge to take the photos for them and always come up with something original. I like that it's a heavy workload because it is preparing me for the future. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I like that it is a good mix of books and lectures. We follow a book during class but the assignments are more practical. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I wish they had more night classes. Right now they are mostly only before 6pm. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The website is very easy to use and most equipment is easy to borrow. The only thing they don't have enough of is photography studios to use, and some of the lighting equipment is damaged. |
| Social Life | 8 | I don't get too much into the social activities because I work too much. I have attended some of the movie screenings they have and loved them. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They don't help place you in a job, but they do have job postings in several areas around the school. They also prepare you for jobs and offer advice on how to find one. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They keep in touch with students very well and invite us to activities via both email and facebook. I think they treat alumni very well. |
CSU Channel Islands • Camarillo, CA
Studying English (completion in 2006)
• 8/2/2011
"For what I paid, it was a fair education. I wish I was going now since they have made various improvements to the campus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | My career has nothing to do with the major I studied. However, the college I went to now has a business school that I have heard great things about. In a sales management position, that would be a great fit. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They aren't winning any awards. The teachers are great though. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I went to a new school so some of the kinks weren't worked out yet. If I were to go there today I think I would have a different experience. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers knew the subject matter. However, I still think some basics could have been reviewed first. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I didn't find it hard to carry a full work load at school and at work. It could have been more difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It could be that I was an English major, but the teaching method was "very book." Hands on learning and in class discussions could have been better. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There wasn't must flexibility. As a matter of fact, I had to change my work hours just to take classes in my major. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The resources weren't great. However, since I graduated, they have added various schools and a state of the art library. |
| Social Life | 2 | Many students lived off campus so there weren't any activities. The last year I was there they opened the dorms. |
| Placement Services | 1 | When I went there, there wasn't any assistance. If things have changed, good for them. I wish this was in place when I was in school. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't utilize it that often. Since it is a new school, the alumni network isn't very big. |
University Of California Irvine • Irvine, CA
Studying Economics (completion in 2010)
• 8/8/2011
"Excellent school, with an excellent reputation. I have been granted so many opportunities that I would otherwise not have had."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I could not recommend it more. UCI is in the hub of southern CA, which is quickly becoming the business capital of the entire US. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | UCI is world renowned for their business and science programs. The quality of instructors is incomparable. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UCI has an excellent Economics Department. I was able to study and take part in excellent internships. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned so much about all aspects of the economy and a great deal about business. I managed to take part in an excellent internship with a brokerage firm that taught me to handle the extreme stress of day to day work in the sales and management of assets. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Not a particularly difficult subject to begin with, economics is not rather heavy in coursework. Out of class activities, such as interning, are really where the academic challenge comes into play: applying textbook learnings to reality. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Majoring in economics provides excellent opportunities to use what you've learned in a professional setting. I would say that the hands on learning is where college becomes useful. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The class schedule is fairly flexible, but I would not encourage one to attempt working a full-time job while studying. The class schedule is built assuming that nobody has anything else to do during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Beyond excellent, world class libraries and computer resources. We also have some of the most advanced laboratories in the country. |
| Social Life | 5 | As one of the many that must manage work and internships, my social life was lacking certain experiences typically associated with college. However, I have heard there is a great party scene. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Through internships, UCI students are offered a multitude of opportunities. Although there is always the inescapable factor of the bouncing economy that influences the availability of jobs in certain sectors. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | There is not a particularly involved alumni network at UCI. Student support is excellent, but it is really the quality of education that gives the students access to great opportunities. That is not to say that social networking does not play a supportive role in finding opportunities. |
Los Angeles City College • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Business Marketing And Management (completion in 2004)
• 9/24/2011
"I got the education I needed, at an affordable loan rate. I paid off my loan in no time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I love the training I got for both fields. One helps the other. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | A lot of students were majoring in Business then and still are now. I have family members attending now. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Some of my instructors were slow with teaching. I'm a fast learner and like to be taught at a faster rate. |
| Instruction | 8 | The curriculum was good. Especially for marketing, it was broken down into the most important aspects and sections. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I was juggling a full-time job and a family while going to school full-time. That makes everything harder. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was more book learning, but there was some hands on. It was a mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I went to school nights and weekends- after work and on my days off. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | If I ever needed the library for research or any homework or assignments, I went even after my class hours to get it done. It was easy. |
| Social Life | 10 | I met a lot of people in the same major as me. I still have good friends. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I found my own jobs. I wouldn't know much of the career placement dept. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Our school has a lot of community support because it is a community college. We have lots of success stories. |
Santa Monica College • Santa Monica, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2014)
• 9/28/2011
"The best community college around. Helped pave my way to where I am now. I'm grateful for everything that I learned at the school, as it was a great experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. This school has everything that you could ever need, and has the best transfer rate to UCLA which is one of the top schools. Unlike most other Community Colleges, Santa Monica College has the budget to help everyone of their students. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Santa Monica College is one of the best Community Colleges in Los Angeles. They have the number 1 transfer rate to UCLA. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Santa Monica College is a great school that offers many different programs. Business is one of the main majors at the school and I believe they have some of the best professors for that major. |
| Instruction | 8 | Santa Monica College did teach me a lot and prepared me for going out into the world of sales. Actually working for a sales business is what made me comfortable in my position. I tend to learn more when things are hands-on. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Majoring in Business was very easy at times, but it consisted of a lot of reading. It all paid off, though, because I learned a lot that I was able to take with me into my current position. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say that it was indeed a fair mix. It all depended on your major. Since my major was business I learned from a book rather than through hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | This school offered many classes all throughout the year. They offer fall, winter, spring, and summer semester classes, as well as online and evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | This school has very good academic facilities for all fields of study. The business building is actually the biggest building on campus. |
| Social Life | 7 | This school offers many different clubs and organizations for everyone of different genders, ethnicities, and economical backgrounds. Although personally I did not join any at this school, I was still in fact effected by them in a good way. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not get placed at my job through my school, instead I went out and found a job on my own. Santa Monica College does in fact offer job placement and career assistance programs. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Santa Monica College offers many programs to help students with whatever they may need. They offered financial aid, housing, and even tutoring. |
Stanford University • Palo Alto, CA
Studying Business (completion in 2008)
• 9/30/2011
"Overall it was very good. I had a pleasant experience there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I'd definitely recommend Stanford. Its business school is very good. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The program is advanced and up to date. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It's a well renowned school that provided me with what I needed for my career. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors prepared me for my career. I can face challenges at work with ease now. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was challenging, but not too stressful. I still had fun. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A good mix. Hands-on learning was used to gain experience and book learning was used to gain the knowledge required. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very flexible. I could have any class time I wanted and I was able balance academics and my social life. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Facilities are good and very advanced. Professors are experienced and helpful. |
| Social Life | 8 | Very active. There were lots of events and things going on. Sports were very popular among students. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I was able to get a job easily after graduation, and the school provided great letters of recommendation and references. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There's a huge alumni network, and they're all ready to help and support each other. |
Riverside Community College • Riverside, CA
Studying English (completion in 1990)
• 10/10/2011
"The fees were reasonable. The campus was local. The classes easily fit into my schedule."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | RCC has been in business for decades and is highly reputable. Thousands of people attend the campuses annually. The fees are reasonable and the teachers do the best they can given the restrictions applied and the classroom sizes. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | RCC is a community college that most local high school kids go to after they graduate. The only requirement for entrance is being able to pay the fees. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The teachers were overworked and the classrooms were overcrowded. I didn't feel that I received the attention I needed in order to achieve the best grade possible. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were educated and knew the subject matter. Teachers were easily accessible for any further assistance needed. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The classes were easy and the class schedule was adjustable to my own personal schedule. The availability of classes could have been better since only certain classes were offered on certain days. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The media tools used for classroom education resulted in 50/50 mix. The teachers tended to be a bit more liberal in their teachings. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Online classes were offered for certain classes. Telecourses were offered as well (telecourses are classes via cable television and that met in the classroom once a week). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The college has a new library with multimedia. There is more than one additional campus location within the RCC program. |
| Social Life | 5 | The college did offer clubs, teams for various sports, and social events. It was mostly available to the younger students freshly out of high school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There is no placement program offered. It does not matter what your degree is - nothing is offered for placement in the job field after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is NO media networking with my alumni. They do not have a Facebook or a MySpace page. |
American River College • Sacramento, CA
Studying Social Science (completion in 2011)
• 11/2/2011
"I am currently attending a University and I don't think I was well prepared. While I am still achieving A's in my classes, the level of work requires a lot more time. Although I was not prepared I am enjoying the new challenges my education is requiring of me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I know my college has a big Business Administration program, but I only took one economics class and I did not like the teacher. Most of the students in the Business Administration class were transferring to California State University of Sacramento. While I don't think this community college is great in academia, I know the rising cost of education plays a factor in many people's choice of college, so I would recommend ARC based on that factor. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | While I was talking with students, many of them were interested in Social Science. Some of them were interested because they thought it was a fairly easy program, but many were interested in social work and loved their teachers. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I think there were some great teachers at my college and I learned a lot, but there was a lot of biased lectures. Whenever we were challenged to think critically, many teachers end up arguing with you about what you thought. |
| Instruction | 6 | There was good information provided in classes, but you had to take the initiative to put it to use. Many of the teachers have been in their positions for many years and I feel they have lost their enthusiasm. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Your grades consisted mostly of quizzes and tests. Very few teachers challenged me academically and I got straight A's with minimal effort. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of teachers were "by the book." Their lectures came from the books, and many taught their tests from the book. Few classes required any hands on or outside experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Unless you were looking for a specialized class, you could enroll in a class pretty much any time of the day/week. This community of Colleges, called Los Rios, has 4 community colleges in their network and several off site campuses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | American River College has a beautiful new, state of the art library, and their computer lab has the latest computers and software. I took several recording classes and they have the best recording studio in a 75-100 mile radius. Their recording studio included over 1 million dollars in equipment. |
| Social Life | 7 | The school was not very good in the athletics department. School games were not promoted and overall school spirit was not great. There were events at the school but they were not planned well and had very little advertisements. |
| Placement Services | I have never had any trouble finding work. I never used their job placement/career services so I cannot accurately rate them. | |
| Alumni Network | Since I have graduated, I have not heard anything from them. But I recently graduated (in May), so I don't think I can accurately rate them. |
Saddleback • Mission Viejo, CA
Studying Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 11/20/2011
"This school helped me achieve my goals. They helped me get the degree I needed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is a great school. I would recommend this school to anyone pursuing a career. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The school is portrayed very highly when it comes to its psychology program. They have a great reputation for most of their programs. |
| Program Quality | 9 | This school provided me with the tools I need to have a great career. The program had many very beneficial classes. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of the program was great and taught me many things in order to get a good job. All the classes helped prepare me for my career. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some classes were more difficult than others. But overall, as long as you do all the work involved, it is manageable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most classes were mostly only book learning. Some were more hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The class schedules are very flexible. There are so many choices when choosing your class schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The library is a very useful and helpful tool. The labs are a great place to use the computers for homework or to use the Internet. |
| Social Life | 8 | They have many great events to bring the students together to meet. They have many fun events throughout the year. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Their career services are great. They are very helpful in assisting with career choices. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Whenever I needed help with my academics, there were always people available to help. There is a great support system at this school. |
UC Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2000)
• 12/1/2011
"I'm so glad I went there, it made me much smarter."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Go to Berkley and major in Political Science if you're able to. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school is highly ranked and very well known. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I learned from excellent teachers. Standards were very high, so I was greatly challenged. |
| Instruction | 9 | I learned a lot about the history of political thought. It did not prepare me for a viable career. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I was greatly challenged. I had to write a lot. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's all books and theory-driven. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It's a full-time school, there are no weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | We’ve got the 8th largest library in the world and excellent facilities. | |
| Social Life | 10 | Great sports teams and an active campus life. |
| Placement Services | 9 | It could have been more robust but at least I have a job. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Private schools do this very well. I'm luck I live in California. |
San Diego Christian College • El Cajon, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 1997)
• 12/26/2011
"I was somewhat satisfied, in that I completed my degree. I have felt that this unknown school holds me back from getting jobs, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The school is unknown to many and does not build a relational bridge with the business community. Go bigger and more well known. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They do not compete with the larger private schools. At the end of the day, they are held back by the talent of the professors. |
| Program Quality | 7 | At the end of the day, the professors make the program. The professors in the business program were all great people, but it felt like they were outdated in their approach. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors were average. They were more followers of the cutting edge, rather than setting the cutting edge. This resulted in a sometimes fuzzy presentation. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload was pretty easy. I took 16 to 18 units the majority of the degree. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was a strength. There was a lot of learning by doing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The school did an average to above-average job of designing their schedules. It was not geared for the working adult. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Mostly rundown resources and computers at the time of my graduation. Professors were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 6 | The social environment was great if you lived on campus. I was a working adult and lived off campus. |
| Placement Services | 2 | The job placement and career services were very lacking. I think that my high school offered better services. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | This was talked about as a strength when I was recruited to the school. Unfortunately, they were lacking in business contacts, at least at the time. |
University Of Phoenix • Sacramento, CA
Studying MBA (completion in 2000)
• 12/20/2011
"Satisfied with MBA experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Corporations will pay for executive-type MBAs. For the most part, I thought the UOP MBA was a good foundational experience. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Not great, but a good foundation. Most companies will pay for UOP. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Enjoyed the cohort-type program. Wished I had gone to business school right out of undergrad. |
| Instruction | 7 | Quality of instructors at UOPhoenix was good, but not great. Biggest plus was their understanding of the business environment. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Statistics and Regression Analysis was tough. Enjoyed the management courses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Plenty of case studies, which solidify knowledge and get you to apply it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Cohorts always beginning. Online options were available and very flexible as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Study group support was good. Classroom settings were good, as they were like a corporate environment. |
| Social Life | 3 | Not really a lot going on in this area for UOP. |
| Placement Services | Was always employed while in the MBA program. | |
| Alumni Network | Not really involved. Would probably not get involved. |
Saddleback College • Mission Viejo, CA
Studying Business Management (completion in 2012)
• 1/13/2012
"I am grateful to have my degree in the field I want, and I am grateful it was affordable. I learned a lot about the logistics of business, but I feel I would have been much better off at a four-year university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It has its pros and cons. Saddleback is affordable, but not the best education you can get. But it is education! |
| Program Reputation | I have never heard of the school having a reputation for the business majors. It is a community college, where most students are still living at home with their parents. | |
| Program Quality | 4 | I have a two-year degree and the college I attended was a community college. I would have liked to attend a four-year university, but I didn't have the money. |
| Instruction | 6 | I think that my education, specifically the business management classes, helped me understand the numbers side of the business. This was very helpful when I was trying to make the company more efficient, but it did not teach me how to successfully run a business. Experience taught me how to run the business. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I feel that the classes were not challenging. I did not have to put much effort in to get good grades. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had projects, but mostly the information for the projects came out of books. There wasn't much hands on or field experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Saddleback offers classes in the morning, afternoon, and evening, which was very convenient. The only problem is that the classes fill up very fast and it is hard to get into the class that fits your schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The accessibility of the professors was usually very good. Most of the professors had set office hours, when you could go ask them questions. As for the other resources, they were slight. |
| Social Life | 3 | Sometimes the school would have cool things going on in the central quad, and I know they had a baseball team. I was not very involved and I feel like there wasn't much to get involved with. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I got a few emails about job openings, but all in all, there was not much of a network. I got promoted at my work while I was going through school and ended up as a manager. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not involved in my school's alumni network. I do not think they even have one! |
UCSD • San Diego, CA
Studying Music (completion in 2001)
• 2/10/2012
"I was very satisfied. Even though life took me in another direction, I feel it was time well spent, and I got a lot out of it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't feel that any other major would have benefited me more as a sales manager. I just feel that the skills you need as a sales manager are something you acquire over the course of thousands and thousands of sales calls and successful closes. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It has a pretty good reputation. Lots of famous musicians are on the staff. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UCSD has an excellent music program. It is a research school, so it excels at the frontiers of computer music and composition. |
| Instruction | 5 | The instruction was very good, but not necessarily relevant to a sales career. However, that's obviously my own fault. I don't think a business type of degree is necessary for being a successful salesperson; that's the kind of thing you have to learn by doing, such as making thousands of sales calls. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was pretty difficult. The music program demanded hours and hours of studying and practicing. Probably actually a lot more than other majors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The music program is by its nature very hands on. I have heard that other major programs were very hands on as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I could always make my schedule pretty flexible. I liked having all of my classes on two or three days out of the week, so I had a couple days off. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The Geisel Library is fantastic. The volume of music they have at the music library is immense. All of the facilities were great in general. |
| Social Life | 8 | I made a lot of friends in college. And in San Diego, there's always lots to do. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not utilize the school's career services, but I have heard good things from friends. |
| Alumni Network | I don't really take advantage of the alumni network, but I imagine it would be pretty good. |
UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Sociology (completion in 1981)
• 1/21/2012
"I loved my college years. I enjoyed the experience of having personal freedom and being responsible for myself."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | There are less expensive schools to attend if you want a career in sales. It depends on whether you know what you career plans will be. Most college students don't know what they will ultimately be doing. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I am assuming there haven't been major changes since I left. UCLA is a well-known school and has always maintained a good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The Sociology program is good at UCLA. There are other, better-known programs that the school really excels at. |
| Instruction | 6 | I didn't go to school for a sales career. However, the study of people and socialization has probably helped me in my career. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I don't know that any college course is easy at UCLA. I didn't spend hours and hours studying but I certainly put in more time than I ever did in high school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I recall the mix was fairly even. Along with book studies there were also class projects, discussions and forums. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The campus, and the department are large enough to offer multiple selections for classes. The same class would often be offered several different times to accommodate most schedules. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | At the time I attended I loved most of my professors. I think the resources and classrooms were more than adequate, as UCLA is a very fine school. |
| Social Life | 7 | I lived in the dorm the first couple of years and that was very social. I spent a lot of time hanging out with classmates in my Junior and Senior years. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have to say average as I never relied on my school to find me a job. I conducted my own job search after college. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I receive newsletters and emails from UCLA so I know they maintain class lists. I have never participated in an Alumni event. |
Fullerton College • Fullerton, CA
Studying Criminal Justice (completion in 2008)
• 2/6/2012
"It was a great experience. I enjoyed going to school. I catch myself wanting to go back to pursue my Bachelor's degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school is great for future Business majors. It has one of the highest rates of transfers and graduates in the field. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | Although the transfer rates still remain high, there isn't anything too special about my major with this school. It's not a heavily pursued major at this college. |
| Program Quality | 6 | There were better schools out there for my area of study. However, Fullerton College provided what I needed during the time I attended to succeed in getting a degree. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instructors all varied because they came from all sorts of places. On the other hand, the counselors were very mindful of guiding their students where they needed to go. |
| How Difficult | 2 | It was very easy, tedious work. However, practicing consistency and diligence was key. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The style depended heavily on the instructor teaching. Many came from major colleges in the area to teach extra classes at our college. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There are many classes available to choose from. However, the density of students outweigh the classes so much that most of the time students end up petitioning for their desired classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | All facilities are kept clean and sanitary. All the equipment used is up to date and student-friendly. |
| Social Life | 6 | It wasn't a school known for parties or social gatherings. However, I have made some life-long friends through this school. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They're good about getting people on their feet. They provide services to help develop the skills needed for students to find jobs, and potential careers. |
| Alumni Network | I don't remain in contact with the school. I have relocated. |
Chaffey College • Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Studying Marketing (completion in 2008)
• 2/6/2012
"It was very poor. I actually went back to school at another college to get a degree in another field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I go to a new school now and I would not recommend Chaffey. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't really know what Chaffey's known for, but it definitely wasn't Marketing. I guess they're strong in education programs. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was a very overcrowded school with full classes all year round. Not much in the way of teacher/student relationships, which makes things weird. |
| Instruction | 5 | There were very crowded classes and that made it hard to be hands-on. There was more work out of the book than anything |
| How Difficult | 7 | It's hard to learn when you can't always ask questions. It was all book work so if you didn't read on your own time you learned nothing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was mainly book work; I would not do that again. The system made the classes extremely hard. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | There are too many students so it's hard to find classes. You end up taking many filler classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | It's a very small campus and there's not a lot to do between classes. Many people are all over the place outside. |
| Social Life | 1 | I didn't meet anyone; people were not very friendly. |
| Placement Services | They do not offer job placement at Chaffey, another reason I left. | |
| Alumni Network | They don't really know one that I know of. |
University Of California Riverside • Riverside, CA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2009)
• 1/26/2012
"Overall the experience was good and I learned a lot. There are plenty of areas that need improvement such as course availability and catering to students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If it is the only school a student is accepted to I would pick it over a community college. As the program proceeds it improves so it can only go up from here. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | My school is still a non-target school for many recruiters. Although the graduate school is more well known, the undergraduate program is still sub par. |
| Program Quality | 7 | To receive my degree I had to go through many courses in a variety of business related fields. Through these courses I learned a little bit of every field: accounting and marketing allowed me to be a more well-rounded business person. |
| Instruction | 6 | My curriculum prepared me with knowledge of different fields in business rather than just sales tips and techniques. I did not take a course to enhance my sales techniques or make me a better sales person. |
| How Difficult | 6 | There were many different courses I had to study to receive my degree. Accounting and finance proved more difficult for me because they required more calculating. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Almost all of the courses I took are considered book learning. There was very little hands on experience and most of the knowledge was acquired through reading text books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Course availability is limited due to budget cuts. Many students have to take whatever course is available rather than the course best suited for their time or needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The updated libraries and facilities are a plus at our school. New buildings and lecture halls are clean and well built. Maintenance also works hard to keep our campus clean. |
| Social Life | 7 | Many social groups at school are present on campus and school-pride is obvious. Many students show up to support our school during sporting events. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The career center at our school provides a lot of career fairs for students to attend. Most recruiters who attend are from smaller firms. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Our alumni network does not provide much connection between alumni and current students. Students may reach out to alumni but there isn't an extraordinary program at the school. |
California State University, San Bernardino • San Bernardino, CA
Studying Liberal Studies (completion in 2012)
• 1/26/2012
"The financial aid office always seems to mess my funds. I know it can't happen to everyone, but I call every day for two weeks before classes start and two weeks after anticipating something going wrong. Besides that, I love my school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Like I said before, it's a great school. Even if you are unsure of what to do with your life, go here! Our motto is "come here, go anywhere." |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My school is known for its Liberal Studies and nursing programs. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I cannot think of anything I would change about the program itself. There was a lot of support from the staff and school in general. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt like there was a lot of variation between the teachers. Some would want you to read 200 pages a night and write a paper for every class. Other teachers hardly took attendance. I never understood that. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There was a lot expected from us; many 12 hour days at school. Interning and homework, studying. It could also feel more burdensome because I have a part time job and commute and hour and a half each way to school and I am helping take care of my grandmother. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Just about every class I had there was textbook and participation grades. You had to know the material, and you also had to participate in class discussions. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Very flexible! Day and night time classes, weekends. There are three different tracks offered in the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | At my school all you have to do is ask. Our library hold study groups, advisors are always available. Every building has an accessible computer lab. I only had one professor who had ridiculous office hours and he was fired for poor student evaluations. |
| Social Life | 9 | I don't have any other university experience to compare to but I love my school. It's very down home and has a modest charm to it. It's nothing fancy but you feel welcomed from day one. |
| Placement Services | 8 | As far as I know they do not have a career placement. Since I have to donate my time to local school's observations, I feel that this will help me and the staff become familiar with one another and help me to get a foot in the door; so to speak. |
| Alumni Network | I have never really looked into it or asked anything about it, so I am really unsure of how to rate it. |
UC Irvine • Irvine, CA
Studying English (completion in 2011)
• 2/6/2012
"I had a great experience at my school. I loved the campus and the resources available to students."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For my position, all that was necessary was a four year degree of some type. So I would suggest majoring in something that interests you at a school you love, rather than trying to match a major to Sales Management. Most companies are open to whatever field of study you majored in. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Most students attend UCI as Biology majors. The English major is not as popular. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I loved UCI. My major of English was very rewarding. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instructors were very helpful and passionate about the material. I encountered many great texts through this program. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I had a lot of reading and writing to do. Yet it was not as difficult as other programs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As English majors, we were mostly text centered. We did engage in a lot of discussion though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Most classes had varying times. It was easy to schedule classes that worked for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The libraries were very helpful. They were also quite well stocked. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were lots of sports teams and social outlets. The school had a great means of communication for notifying students of social events. |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize this tool myself. However, others I know did use it and found it helpful. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni association was great at reaching out to me. They also were very organized. |
CSULB • Long Beach, CA
Studying Management (completion in 2003)
• 3/4/2012
"The social experience is something that I'll never regret. When I talk to others who attended more prestigious schools, I'm a little jealous and can tell that they received a better education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would say go there for the location, flexibility, and cost. Go to a UC if possible. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I don't believe it has a reputation outside of the CSU system. Within the system, I believe it is good. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The program was not very challenging. I learned more from groups and clubs. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some professors were not fully accessible. One talked about their pets most of the class. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Mostly multiple choice tests that are easy to pass without attending class or reading. There should be more discussion-based learning and writing. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | With my major, I'm not sure how much hands-on instruction there could be. It was mostly reading and class discussion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was always able to find a class to fit in my schedule. I only worked part-time, so it was easier for me. Some of my friends who worked full-time had difficulty. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library and computer lab were excellent. The availability of professors varied greatly. |
| Social Life | 10 | Basketball games were awesome and so were intramural sports. Had a great time with the Greeks and the Student Union. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I wasn't aware of anything to help find a job, and I think that would have been beneficial. I had a difficult time finding work right out of school and did not know what direction to take. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I've received a few emails keeping me updated about the school and asking for money. I've also gotten invites for local events, even though I now live in another state. |
Trident University • Cypress, CA
Studying Finance (completion in 2012)
• 3/6/2012
"The school gave a discount for military, so I paid almost nothing for my MBA."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school is flexible and military-friendly. The staff cares and sends reminders. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | The school was going through the process of accreditation review. It was found that they may not have been following financial aid procedures in the past. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was very flexible. The teachers were very understanding. |
| Instruction | 7 | It was online, so there was minimal interaction with the teacher. It was good for online education, but I prefer to be in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I had a few undergrad courses in finance, so I was familiar with the material, but I had to do a little catching up. Since it included some math, I would have appreciated being able to ask a teacher for help. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Online course deals with books and other written materials. There was literally no hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to work the classes around my daughter and the military. I like that there are 8 sessions in a year. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The online resources are organized well. There are about 4 online libraries to search. |
| Social Life | It was an online university with no big campus. There were no sports teams. | |
| Placement Services | 1 | It was online and in a different state from the one I reside in. No help with careers at all. |
| Alumni Network | I have not joined the alumni network. They did not really talk about alumni. |
University Of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA
Studying International Relations (completion in 2005)
• 3/7/2012
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at USC and look back at those experiences very fondly. I could not have made a better choice, from both a personal and professional point of view. From the location to the athletics to the diversity of the student body, everything about USC was to my liking."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would strongly recommend my school for anyone looking to get into sales. USC is a strongly social campus, and being a student there helps people develop better interpersonal skills that will them in their careers. The strong alumni base is also an advantage in a competitive job market. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The IR program at USC was one of the first in the US, and as a result, it is looked at very favorably. The major is well known throughout campus as being academically rigorous, so the major carries weight. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The international relations program at USC is highly regarded, as it was one of the first schools in the nation to offer this particular major. The faculty was exceptionally well informed and made classes interesting and relevant. |
| Instruction | 9 | The faculty at USC was topnotch. They explained complex subjects in a manner that made them easy to understand and entertaining as well. I learned a tremendous amount and was able to apply my knowledge in different fields. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The academic challenge was difficult for the amount of reading that was required for each class. There was also a substantial amount of research needed to write term papers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Due to the nature of my major, the majority of my learning was from information gathered in books and academic journals. The closest we got to hands-on learning took place in the form of case studies where we tried to apply the concepts we had learned to real-world scenarios. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Even with a full-time job throughout the last three years of my education, I was able to schedule classes to accommodate my schedule and graduate on time. There were different classes available to me throughout the time I was there, and counselors would make it a point to make sure I was comfortable with my classes and course load. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facilities where most of my classes were held were all either brand new or recently renovated. There was a specific library dedicated to my major, with extensive resources available. Professors and TAs both regularly scheduled and held office hours where they were available for one-on-one conversations. |
| Social Life | 10 | Athletics are a substantial part of the allure of USC. Every Saturday during football season, there are parties if the game is on the road and tailgating if the game is at home. Students proudly wear USC attire all the time and speak highly of the social events available to them. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Although I did not obtain my current job through the school, many of my friends did obtain their jobs through the school. I also received numerous e-mails and letters telling me about positions available, as well as career fairs that were being held. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | My school is well known for having an extensive alumni network. This was especially true since I stayed in Los Angeles, where my school is located. I often come across fellow alumni and they are supportive in both a personal and professional manner. |
CSULB • Long Beach, CA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2005)
• 3/18/2012
"I was satisfied with CSULB. I thought that they were very helpful with all of my questions."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend anyone interested in going into the same field as me to go to CSULB. I would tell them to take advantage of all the programs and career services. Also, take the utmost care in choosing a career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | We had a very good Political Science program at CSULB. We were know for our Model United Nations club and we won many competitions. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I am satisfied with the program that CSULB offered and how they taught the students. Yet I wish that there was more of a selection of programs within my field. |
| Instruction | 5 | I thought that the career preparation was average. They do not prepare you for what the job market is going to be like and what careers are out there. |
| How Difficult | 5 | To me, the academic and work load was average. Most of the time it was more reading on my own than homework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had a good mix of these. It always depended on the professor and what they thought was the best course of action for that class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My school was very flexible when it came to the schedule. They offered many different options such as evenings and winter and summer classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had very good facilities for my department and the staff was great. One of the things that helped the most was that all of my professors were always accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | We had a very good athletics department and organized events. Every time I was on campus there was some type of event going on, and it was cool. |
| Placement Services | 3 | First, I did not know my school had job placement or career services. I found out after I had graduated and wish I had talked to them before that. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | First, I really didn't know that my school had an alumni network. Also, I didn't know that they could help you find jobs, but only at a price per year to be a member. |
San Diego City College • San Diego, CA
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2011)
• 4/4/2012
"I was treated like a child who could be persuaded with ten minutes off early. I learned absolutely nothing tangible."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This school will not inspire anyone. They can get an easy A But then won't know how to do long division. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | The transfer rate is 10%. The graduation rate is 10%. Everyone else comes back the next year for their checks. |
| Program Quality | 3 | The city college I attended existed primarily to mail out financial aid check to students who were four timers. The teachers adopted an elementary style guideline for grading because of it. If you attended class, you passed. |
| Instruction | 3 | The teachers cared more about attendance than what a student knew. Teachers would release us hours early and take days off weekly. |
| How Difficult | 2 | Every single test taken at this college did not show knowledge of the subject matter. Instead, basic test taking skills and process of elimination got you an "A" in biology. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | No hands on activities occurred in my experience. The college was in San Diego and we sat in desks all day. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Most classes were available early morning to late at night. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The library was big, and always had textbooks in stock. They had many computers and elevators. |
| Social Life | 3 | The students were obnoxious, the teachers weren't teaching. In addition, the campus was disorganized. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They had services to place students of low income. If you did not qualify that was the end. No department head encouraged internships. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I never heard about an alumni report. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.