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 Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, Broward College, and Tallahassee Community 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 Carlos Albizu, Florida International, City College, and City College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider City College Branch Campus, Angley, and Carlos Albizu.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, Miami Dade College, Florida International, and Johnson & Wales Florida.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Business and Technology-Hialeah Campus, College of Business and Technology-Flagler Campus, Nova Southeastern, and Rasmusssen.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Lynn University, Eckerd, Florida College, and The University of Tampa.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Florida College, Clearwater Christian, Stetson University, and Webber International University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, Rollins College, and Florida State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Edward Waters, Florida International, Florida Memorial University, and University of South Florida-Main Campus.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Stetson University, Florida College, Angley, and University of Miami.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight Florida Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Maitland, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa
- Programs: 10 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: Clearwater, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Maitland, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Plantation, Sarasota, Tampa, Temple Terrace
- Programs: 11 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Miami
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Diploma, Master
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Miami
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Diploma
- Locations: Miami
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
- Locations: Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hollywood, Lakeland, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Port Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, West Palm Beach
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Sarasota, Tampa
- Programs: 6 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Locations: Tampa
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
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Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: 13 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Master
- Programs: 20 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: 13 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Valencia Community College • Orlando, FL
Studying Public Relations/Business (completion in 2009)
• 5/7/2011
"I am very satisfied with my school. The hours were flexible and the classes taught me a lot about my career field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend my school to others. The classes were pretty easy and you learn a lot. Plus, major universities look highly at students transferring from this degree program. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Valencia Community College is one of the largest community colleges in the country. Their programs of study are pretty well known. The PR program has a good reputation, and it is easy to get into a 4 year school with this degree. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Valencia Community College is a good school. It's not great, but its good. I wish they had more major-specific classes to choose from. Most classes are generic and were geared towards General Studies students. I only had 3 public relations classes that actually taught me about my future career field. |
| Instruction | 7 | I did learn enough to get me an entry level position in my field. The work was not as career dedicated as I would have liked, though. The professors did take an interest in their students though and really tried to provide real life examples with their teachings. |
| How Difficult | 5 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My learning was generally a mix. There was hands on learning and then there were times where you were expected to read and grasp the concepts without classroom teachings. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I could literally choose to go to class at any time of the day. They had classes at different days of the week, at different times, at different lengths, online or in school, etc. This flexibility was the selling point for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Valencia had multiple campuses, which meant multiple resources. Professors were easy to get a hold of, there was always a computer available at the library, and the advisors were always available through in-person visits or through email. |
| Social Life | 5 | Parties and social events were fun at this school and were mostly student organized. It is not a 4 year school so it did not have any sports teams. There was pretty much no school spirit, since it was a community college. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Valencia really doesn't focus on job placement for my field because most students go on to pursue a 4 year degree instead of going straight into the work force. I was already working full time and my degree allowed me to be promoted, so I did not feel the need to complete a 4 year degree at that time. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Valencia's alumni network is OK. I get random emails sometimes and invites back to the campus every now and then. Not much more than that. They don't really advertise it. |
University Of Florida (Warrington College Of Business) • Gainesville, FL
Studying Marketing (completion in 1996)
• 5/7/2011
"I was very satisfied to have gone to UF and and I am proud to have graduated from such a fine institution. My only regret is not staying for an advanced degree and for not researching other degree programs when I had the chance."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I always recommend UF to high school students and to anyone wondering where to get a great business education. This is especially the case if they want to live and work in Florida, given the networking opportunities provided by fellow alumni. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I think it is highly rated but is losing ground to newcomers such as USF (University of South Florida in Tampa). It is, of course, not as good as Ivy League business schools. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The University of Florida provided me with an excellent foundation for understanding sales, marketing and general business concepts. I would also add that UF helps instill an aggressive approach to winning which has been invaluable to my career. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 5 | I would say the programs of study were fairly easy to understand and manage, and course completion was almost guaranteed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It really was a mix of both hands-on and book learning. We also had many, many group projects and the assistant professors helped flesh elaborate on things left out by the main professor. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It's extremely flexible, especially since I was involved in sports. The entire school supports athletes in ways other schools don't. They also were getting better about non-traditional (online) offerings near the tail-end of my time at the school. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They were decent, but I didn't use them much while on campus. Also, I found them to be lacking compared to other colleges I had visited in the Northeast, though I've heard they've improved in the last few years. |
| Social Life | 10 | Social experience should be the tag line for UF since there so many parties, athletic events, and other social events. I would say UF had and still has a top 5 rating in these areas, perhaps even #1 in terms of parties and athletic spirit. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I did not find their services to be particularly good and instead relied on personal contacts and friends for job leads. I have never heard anyone praise the school's job placement services, but maybe that's just my experience. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Being a UF graduate (or a Gator) opens many, many doors in this state. I also find that many alumni are in larger cities up north and help when called upon. |
Rollins College • Winter Park, FL
Studying Music (completion in 2004)
• 7/11/2011
"I would highly recommend Rollins to a perspective student. I learned a lot while I was there and think they were some of the best years of my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think that if I had chosen a different major I might have been better prepared for my career. But I also think that a college degree is not necessarily required to pursue catering sales. To become a manager, it really takes dedication to the job, and education is less important. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Aside from a music school, Rollins' music department has one of the best music programs around. If you are looking for a liberal arts college where you can choose music as your major, I highly recommend Rollins. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Rollins College has an excellent music program. I studied opera and preforming arts in addition to music history and theory. I had the opportunity to sing at Epcot and Disney while I was a student. |
| Instruction | 10 | My voice teacher had a doctorate in music from Julliard - one of the most prestigious music schools in the country. The majority of my other teachers were also much better educated than other schools that I toured when looking at colleges. |
| How Difficult | 8 | A music major has a lot of class hours that other students do not have. While professors are understanding about other music classes, they tend to turn a blind eye to the rest of the college curriculum, which made my job as a student extremely difficult at times. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think I had an equal amount of study and classroom time for most of my classes. You had to read your assignments and participate in class in order to get the full experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I don't think flexibility in schedule is really important for a four year college. I know that the Holt school is available for night classes, but I never would have chosen that option. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Rollins spends a lot of money on their facilities and resources - most are state of the art. Also, because it is a smaller school, professors are almost always available outside of class. |
| Social Life | 10 | There was always something to do at Rollins. I joined a sorority my freshman year and I am very glad I did - it opened up my world to a whole lot of new experiences. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I had almost no help finding a placement after graduation. If I wanted to attend a class in resume writing I could, but no one really helped me in how to network. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | My alumni department had a huge binder full of former student resumes, but not really a way to get in touch with them except for email addresses. A lot of times, the addresses were dead ends due to the fact that people tend to change their addresses so frequently. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying English (completion in 2011)
• 7/10/2011
"Tuition was raised every year, yet I don't think anyone saw a difference (save for the campus fraternities and sororities). Every year I was in attendance tuition would skyrocket, while there was frivolous spending to beautify the campus and bolster the football program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on your financial situation. If there is another school offering you more aide and scholarship money, you should seriously consider going there. College is expensive, so go where the money goes. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | This is the best public university in the state of Florida, so I'm assuming that the English program ranks highly. However, I really don't know. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Being an English major provides you with a strong foundation in written and oral communication. I do a lot of communication through email; it is very important to maintain a professional yet personable tone when writing emails. |
| Instruction | 3 | I really didn't receive much formal training to be a sales manager. Most of it IS common sense, and very easy to pick up. However there are some things, such as making deposits, that I would have liked to have further instruction in. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I don't think this is a quantifiable question. Each person has individual strengths and weaknesses. If someone excels at reading and writing, then it shouldn't be exceptionally challenging, yet it still requires moderate effort. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Part of being an English major is attending class to discuss the literature and different view points. So, if you're too busy or too pretentious to attend class on a regular basis, take online classes or be pre-med like everyone else. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are a lot of online classes available year round, two summer terms, and many classes are offered at night. You are allowed a lot of freedom to select any schedule that suits your needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | I think its the same as any public university. There are on campus tutors, but most people pay tutors as they are better at teaching the information. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are sooooo many people and organizations at this school that I have no clue how anyone could struggle to find friends. Game days almost completely shut down the town as everyone is tailgating and watching the Gators play. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Every spring a job fair is hosted. Prospective employers such as Kraft, Target, and many other premier corporations are present to recruit students. What's even better is that this is completely free to ALL students! The Career Resource center is open year round to assist students in resume writing, mock interviews, and everything in between. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The Student Alumni Association does a great job of creating social networks for alumni by region, professional interests, and race. It is very easy to find a fellow Gator Grad! |
University Of West Florida • Pensacola, FL
Studying Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 7/13/2011
"The schooling was not great; it was very politically determined. The social aspects made it all worthwhile, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They have recently become a school of psychology, rather than just the psychology department. It is rated on of the best in northwest Florida. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UWF is a good school but is like any other college that offers a psychology degree. There are no jobs available for a college grad with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and it would have been nice to know this ahead of time. |
| Instruction | 6 | There was no career help. The assumption is that you are going to automatically continue schooling for an advanced degree. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program was challenging at times. Overall, I would say it met the standard curriculum for a college. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They are worried about the grade and that is it. There is not really any applicable knowledge, just what you can memorize and spit out. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They require you to take 3 summer courses, which does not make sense. I asked my advisor why this was, and he told me it was basically so they could pay the A/C bills. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They have a large library. There is a great selection of online journal articles, etc. |
| Social Life | 10 | This was the one great thing about my school. The opportunities to meet a very diverse population are great. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There is no help. It is assumed you will automatically pursue an advanced degree. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They are really only interested in receiving money. There is not too much support unless you are paying out a lot to them. |
University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Business (completion in 2009)
• 7/31/2011
"I loved attending this school. I made a ton of friends and memories that will last a life time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is a very well known and great school. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Lots of people go for this degree, and most graduate and become successful. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It is a great school and many, many people go there. |
| Instruction | 10 | They prepare students very well for their future careers. The professors are well educated. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Homework and class work were about normal. I think they teach you to be a hard worker. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school provides a mix of learning styles. They are about even with hands on learning and book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They provide a wide variety of schedule options. Lots of online, night, day, and weekend courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Every part of the school is open everyday. They are very helpful. |
| Social Life | 10 | UCF has a ton of school spirit. They provide a wide variety of clubs, sports, and activities. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school helps with career services anytime a student needs it. They have a high job placement rate. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network and support are great. This school offers a lot. |
St. John's River Community College • Orange Park, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2010)
• 8/1/2011
"It's a great school and the program gets to the point. The staff has the knowledge to get you out quickly and earning money."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Maybe you could find a better program, I don't know. I never experienced that, but if you want to get to the point and move on to bigger and better, skip the garbage. You are in the right place at SJRCC. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I didn't do much research on the college before entering. After I left and went to university, I noticed many of my classmates attended the same school and they seemed prepared for the tasks at hand. I went to the school based on proximity and the gamble paid off. |
| Program Quality | 10 | SJRCC gave every experience possible, even beyond hands on. I can't say enough about this school, its programs, and its online resources. |
| Instruction | 9 | Teachers are very involved and administrators have set great programs in motion to allow students every opportunity for advancement. Whether it be guidance to furthering education, financing, or explaining necessary tasks to reach your goals, they are very helpful. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The programs are targeted at smart people who want to succeed. You sometimes get more than you can handle, but when its all said and done, the resources are there to help you succeed. If the classes were a cakewalk, what would you learn? In order for a program to be successful it must be challenging. SJRCC succeeds at this. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Even the online program is hands on. Some classes require time at a local facility. Bottom line, some things can only be experienced. You can't mix chemicals at home safely if you don't know what you're doing, for example. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They are almost always open when you need them. If not enrolled in online classes, deadlines are always given with advance notice and end close to midnight. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I rented most of my books from Chegg or bought them from the store on campus. There's very little in the way of cheap books. Chegg it and be done. |
| Social Life | 4 | On campus experiences to me seemed very dull when it came to socializing. It's” get your education and get out;” everyone keeps to themselves. What more do you expect at the college level? |
| Placement Services | 6 | This is the only place I see this school lacking. I was pushed along into an MIT program by my university, but I hear many that finish only a 2 year degree usually are a bit on their own. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Everyone is encouraged to be involved. It is absolutely necessary to comment on others' work, especially in the online environment, and positive feedback is encouraged, or at least sensitive suggestions in some cases. |
Pensacola Junior College • Pensacola, FL
Studying Graphic Design / Multimedia (completion in 2010)
• 9/7/2011
"For the most part, PJC offered a great education and it was a pleasure. They really do take time to help their students!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They will help you get a job afterwards! And they spend their money on your education! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Pensacola State College's current Graphic Design program has the best reputation in the Florida Panhandle. The education is great, and their equipment is very nice. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I didn't plan on going into sales when I was attending school. Graphic Design was my passion at the time. |
| Instruction | 9 | The training I went through was great. It prepared me for what I needed to know in this field. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was something I was very passionate about, so the workload was almost fun! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of our exercises were done with the teacher showing us how to do things. It was a great experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | For a Junior College, they are very flexible. Most classes can be taken online, and the class schedule is a huge help when it comes to working part time and full time shifts. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The equipment used for my degree was outstanding. Its obvious that they spend a good bit of the budget on our education. |
| Social Life | 5 | I didn't spend much time doing anything social. I was too busy with work and school. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most students get a job within 6 months tops. The teachers help out with assisting us. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I haven't attended school since, but their alumni program is very helpful with the job seeking process. They have a very tight network with the surrounding schools and businesses. |
Florida Gulf Coast University • Fort Myers, FL
Studying Psychology (completion in 2011)
• 10/10/2011
"Aside from the sustainability aspect, I loved FGCU. The school is beautiful and student focused."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I love that at FGCU, every student is a person, not a number. I also love the natural landscaping on the campus. The school is great with good professors, so I would recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | FGCU isn't known for it's psychology program. However, the school should be as the professors were great. |
| Program Quality | 6 | FGCU was highly understaffed in the psychology program. The program was larger than most in the CAS but they had the fewest professors. Overall, the professors that they did have were great. |
| Instruction | 9 | The instruction was great. Professors were motivating and innovative. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program's difficulty was average for the college level, in my opinion. It was challenging and rewarding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Psychology is very book-oriented. I did take some coursework which required I do my own research, however. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take all my courses on one day, so I did not need to take a lot of time off from work. This was important to me. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The library is new (within the last five years) and is beautiful. The classrooms in the older academic buildings are lacking. |
| Social Life | 8 | I enjoyed FGCU. I learned a lot from my professors, as well as living on my own in a new area. Unfortunately, the focus of the school is not very good. The sustainability aspect is a joke. They also do not offer a lot of extracurricular activities. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I never used these services so I would not know. I would assume that based on the advertising for career services they are lacking. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There is an alumni association at FGCU. The association, however, holds events that are few and far between, and therefore don't help. |
Brevard Community College • Melbourne, FL
Studying Business Management (completion in 2010)
• 10/17/2011
"Provided me the education I desired and a good learning environment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Timely graduation rates with experienced professors. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | BCC has operated for over 50 years and attendance is at an all time high. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Provided good insight into the business world. |
| Instruction | 5 | Professors provided relevant information in a timely manner. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Work load was manageable and never overwhelming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Good mix of online and book learning tactics. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There is a multitude of classes and times. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything is readily available and is always clean and organized. |
| Social Life | 5 | Students didn't exhibit much school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 8 | District managers do a great job of placing people in positions to succeed. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Graduates provided good advice throughout my education. |
Daytona Beach Community College • Daytona Beach, FL
Studying Marketing (completion in 1985)
• 11/8/2011
"I got out of the school what I put in. If I applied myself more, I would have continued on and received my B.S."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | No, I recommend students today go away to college and get at least a 4-year degree. Even if you have to go to a lesser school, companies want a diploma, regardless of where it's from. |
| Program Reputation | Don't know. Haven't followed the school since the 80's. | |
| Program Quality | 2 | I went to a small community college, where most students wanted to be artists. There was a real disconnect between the course description and the syllabus. |
| Instruction | 5 | When I went to school, it seemed like the class professors had no clue to the corporate or business world. I would have benefited by real-world scenarios and projects, versus term papers and speeches. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Most of the course load was your typical term paper or speech. Occasionally, we did some group projects, but overall, the quality of the challenge did not come close to the real-world experience I've had. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Back then, it was a balanced mix of hands-on and book work. It all depended on the course. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I have looked at going back to obtain my bachelor's. The ability for distant learning, as well as night and weekend classes, is abundant. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school has received considerable endowments from a few local businessmen. This money has trickled down to many departments, including libraries, media centers and computer labs. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were a lot of fun times at school. Most of the student population were locals, so I would see them both on and off campus. Plenty of parties. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They did not offer placement services back then. Even today, most students are progressing to a university versus entering the workforce from a local college. |
Edison College • Naples/Ft. Myers, FL
Studying AA - Business Administration & Certificate For Small Business Mgmt & Entrepreneurship (completion in 2006)
• 11/9/2011
"I feel as though I received a fairly average education. The program was thorough and I learned a lot, however, it was not a well-known school and did not offer a lot of additional assistance to students, other than in obtaining a degree. Overall, though, I am happy with my decision to attend and with my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have found my degree I obtained from the school to be useful in my current career and career goal, so I would definitely recommend my school to others. It may not have been the best school, or the most well known, however, it is what you make it. And I have been very happy with my decision to attend. I also would recommend it because I feel as though I obtained a great education and didn't end up with hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay back for school loans! |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school, Edison College, has developed the business program substantially, since the time I attended and graduated. The only other college for students to attend is a private university called Hodges University. Since it is private, it is very expensive. It is also a very small school, so more people are inclined to attend the program at Edison. It is more affordable and has a much larger school campus, attendance population, and career options and services to assist students. It is a well-known college in the southwest Florida area and is expanding very quickly, as the program is becoming much more reputable. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Edison College expanded from a community college into a four-year college only a few years before I started attending. Since they were still in the initial phases of becoming a four-year school, the degrees that were available to students were very minimal. I actually had to wait a couple semesters before a business degree became available! Because of this, I would rate the program average, as it was still very undeveloped and a new program for the school. It was new ground for both students and teachers, which led me to my "Average" rating. I probably could have gotten a degree at a better school, however, the location was more important to me than the quality of the school. |
| Instruction | 4 | Since the program I attended was brand new to the college, it was very undeveloped and did not provide very much career preparation or "real life" preparation to students in the program. I would rate it as under average, because it was so underdeveloped. I was shocked that they put a program into effect, quite honestly, because I felt as though it was too underdeveloped. Unfortunately, Edison College was the only one in the Naples area, so I did not have a lot of options. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I have always been a diligent student, and felt as though the program I attended was fairly simple, and probably just under the average program at another school that was similar. Some classes did provide more challenging course loads, however, it varied from class to class. I felt that with the classes being somewhat easy and simple, I still received a good education that was fairly average and comparable to other programs across the country that were similar. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My classes were all very, very, very book oriented. Everything came out of the book(s), and we never left the classroom. We also rarely used alternative learning materials, like movies, programs, internet, etc. The only classes I found to be an exception were the science and health-related classes, where we completed lab assignments, which were hands on. I am a much better learner using hands on, so I wish they would have offered additional options, or a choice to students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I would say class schedules were very average, compared to other schools. They offered morning, day and night classes. Generally, there were no classes on the weekends, though. Online classes were excellent. My final semester, I attended and completed 18 semester hours of online classes out of Edison College, in Naples, Fl, while I was living down in Key West, Fl. They offered a huge amount of online courses! Summer classes were somewhat limited; however, it was definitely possible to attend year round full time, without taking classes off in the summer. I personally did not take summers off and continued to attend full time, during the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | School facilities were excellent, with a large library with a huge computer room. Classrooms were not crowded, advisers were available during normal business hours to assist students, and every professor was required to maintain student office hours. I felt as though I always had someone to go to for help if needed, and I loved everything they offered to students. This was one area I would rave about regarding my school and program. |
| Social Life | 1 | Since Edison College had just converted to a university from a community college, the activities available were practically nonexistent. There were no sports, parties or events (other than things like charity blood drives.) The social experience, however, was great, by means of meeting other students, and social networking. I made a lot of friends and contacts that I still keep in touch with. Overall, I rate it extremely poor, as I cannot even remember a single time I attended an event at the school, except for going to my scheduled classes! |
| Placement Services | 3 | The career services department at the time of my attendance was very minimal, and it generally was not a whole lot of help to students. They have since expanded the career placement department and set up an online portal for local business owners and students, to gather and help link the workforce to the student population. This has been a huge help for students looking for career placement, as employers directly sign up. It had led to much improvement in the career placement department. At the time of my attendance, the portal had just been launched and was fairly generic, but it was of some assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have not been made aware, in any way, shape or form, of an alumni network at Edison College. This may be due to the fact that Edison had converted to a university while I was attending. My rating also may reflect that I have no personal interest in the school's alumni network, if there is/was one. I still, after five years, have no interest in an alumni network, if one is available. |
Florida Atlantic University • Boca Raton, FL
Studying International Business (completion in 2004)
• 11/15/2011
"Knowing the base of knowledge I was given and the way it has increase over time, I am satisfied. The most important thing was I learned a sense of discipline and focus at the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would and have recommended the school. In my opinion it is one of the better values for education in FL. Considering the cost of UM and UF, FAU offers the better educational value. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The university as a whole has a great reputation. When I was there the accounting degree was the one of the best, but now the entire business department is highly rated, especially in Florida. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I felt that the degree I sought and got was not specific to the job. The education was broad and thorough enough to allow me to adapt. |
| Instruction | 10 | I can off hand remember at least 5 instructors that stayed with me through the years. I can always remember the rigor with which they taught the classes. it made you get your work done. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I was challenged by the professors but not by the course work. The course work was such that most of the class could pass, but to get an A, your work had to be above par and that was a result of the professors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Much more book and charts and theory. The applications came later in the senior courses and in the internship opportunity. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They had flexible times and durations, meaning there were 35 min, 1 hr, and 3 hr classes. The choice was to go often or just one time each week. It was possible to go to school 4 days a week for three semesters and leave in 3.5 years. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | All they had was the one building at the time. All the classes were there and a computer lab was in the building. They built an additional wing since I left so I imagine it is vastly better. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school is what in FL is called a commuter school. Very few people lived on campus. We all drove to school or took the bus and lived off campus within riding distance. We all went to college night in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I knew that they had a program. It was never well publicized or sought out by anyone I know. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They have made attempts to reach me and have me join after graduation. But I never saw the importance of joining. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Marketing (completion in 2008)
• 12/11/2011
"I am happy with my education and where it has gotten me. I love UF and will send my children there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think any solid school can allow you to get to my position. I think if you're personable and can easily interact with a wide range of people, you can excel in sales. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UF is very highly rated for their business program. Their marketing program is consistently rated in the top 10-15. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I learned a lot about business from my Florida professors. I find myself using knowledge learned from UF every day. |
| Instruction | 9 | I actually keep in touch with a couple professors that really 'spoke' to me over the years. I go along best with graduate student teachers who were in my position just a few years before. Knowing that they'd been there and can answer any questions or concerns that I have really encourages me. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I never thought that I was really under too much pressure for exams and presentations. At some points, I was surprised at the relative ease of exams and time spent to do well during end-of-semester presentations. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of my classes had a lot of learning straight out of the book. Tests consisted of remembering terms and definitions. Later in my education (junior and senior year), I had more hands-on learning with case studies, presentations and simulated experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I rarely had problems with scheduling. A lot of the core classes had their lectures filmed and were available a couple hours after they happened. This allowed me to watch lectures at my leisure, and if I had questions, I could go to office hours or email TAs. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I never had a problem with the facilities. The biggest complaint I think I would have had was that some of the business school building classrooms were a little dated, but not uncomfortable. |
| Social Life | 8 | I loved my school. Being at UF from 2004-2008, I saw 4 National Championships; 2 football and 2 basketball. This really brought attention to the school and pride to the student body. I am and always will be a Gator. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I had some opportunities through UF, but things didn't pan out as I had hoped. The job market in Florida wasn't great in 2008-2009, so I moved to Maryland, where there were more job offers. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I am part of the alumni association. They provide me with news and goings-on through multiple outlets, including mail, email, social media and more. |
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