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 Community College of Philadelphia, PSU Brandywine, Penn State, and Slippery Rock University.
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 Harcum, Manor, Erie Business Center, and Yorktowne Business Institute.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Cedar Crest, Carlow, Consolidated School of Business, and Cambria-Rowe Business College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney, Community College of Philadelphia, and Peirce College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Peirce College, Eastern University, Chestnut Hill, and Waynesburg University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of UPenn, Carnegie Mellon, Bucknell, and Villanova.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Ursinus College, Franklin and Marshall, Lycoming, and Wilson College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UPenn, Carnegie Mellon, Bucknell, and Gettysburg College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at UPenn, Bucknell, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, and Lehigh.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Franklin and Marshall, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, and Gettysburg College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Bradford School Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Business (completion in 2008)
• 5/7/2011
"Although it provided me with a foot in the door at top companies, the education provided is really not worth the money or time spent. I believe I would have been better off going elsewhere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The cost of going to this school for only two years is not worth it. It does offer some advising and education as well as a way to get hired at companies, but it is not worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | I doubt many people know about Bradford School of Pittsburgh. If they do, they probably know about some of the problems that the school has had in the past and its lack of connections in the real world. |
| Program Quality | 4 | To be honest, Bradford became more of just something to write down on my applications as I got older. It got my foot in the door for a lower position at first. Later on I transferred to a different company that moved me up into management. It was mostly my previous work, not my schooling, that brought me to the management level. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some of the educators were extremely personable and their teachings were useful. It seemed like most of them, however, knew their subjects very well but didn't know how to teach it to the students. The educators themselves didn't usually have degrees in teaching, but instead only had degrees in the subjects they taught. |
| How Difficult | 5 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was more hands-on than book learning-based. Some educators taught straight from the book and nothing else, but most assigned hands-on projects toward the end of the term. These projects helped me connect with other students and somewhat with companies in the area. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I was only able to take classes for eight hours at a time during the day. This left me enough time to work evenings and on weekends. There might be other options, but I never checked. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | The school is located literally inside of a mall. The computer lab was actually fairly good. The lab offered Mac computers and a variety of programs. There was not much of a library to speak of. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was no formal social experience at Bradford. No clubs or activities are offered through the school. The school, however, is located in Pittsburgh, which offers many social activities outside of school. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I was told they would place me at a job and that they had a 90% placement record. This only works if you are willing to move to another state and work in unrelated fields that you don't care about. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I never hear from the school or alumni anymore. To be honest, I like it better that way. |
Community College Of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2007)
• 5/8/2011
"I was satisfied with what I learned. Much of it, though, was common sense. The price of the education was very reasonable. Career placement was terrible, but with my associate's degree I was able to get a job in the field without having to work in the store for years before being given a managerial position. That was definitely good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend a program from a more reputable university. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Currently they are no longer offering the exact same program that I took. The current version of the program seems to be geared more toward hospitality and restaurant management. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I did find a lot of the information useful in my classes and in the reading materials associated with my classes, but the education seemed to be geared to corporations not necessarily in the retail field. That did not particularly coincide with what I was planning on doing for a living. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 1 | |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was both hands on (practicums) as well as book learning-oriented. I found, though, that many of my courses employed role playing and I learn much better with that method than I do with the “read-and-understand” methods of other programs. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | One of the best things about my program was that the class schedule was very flexible. There were a lot of ways that you could work around your existing schedule. It was definitely geared toward working adults furthering their education. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | For a community college with limited funding, this school was great in terms of resources provided. There was a solid library, classrooms were in great shape, and the technology department and computer rooms were very well maintained. My professors were very approachable and always willing to stay and help out if needed. The tutoring program, although I never utilized it, was spoken of very highly by many of my friends and fellow classmates. |
| Social Life | 3 | I was not surprised that my school did not have much of a social atmosphere. It is a community college and, as such, attracts mainly working adults. There wasn't really a whole lot of school spirit to speak of, definitely no parties that I was ever aware of, and often the only social gatherings seemed to be groups of friends spending time together in between classes in the school's various lounge areas. There were few organized social events, aside from the occasional fair on the school grounds. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Although career placement services were offered, they did not follow through on helping me find employment, so I found employment on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I actually haven't participated in the alumni network, called Career Advancement Placement and Support, because I have called on several occasions and never received a call back. They don't really help you once you've graduated, but it is a community college and with the amount of students graduating each year, I can understand that. |
Kaplan University • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Sales Management (completion in 2009)
• 5/7/2011
"I got my degree, so I'm very happy. The school was great and overall I was pleased with the way the it operated. Everyone was very nice and helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I recommend this school to all of my friends because I know they would enjoy it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They have an average reputation. Most people I know and work with went to Kaplan University. Other people I work with went to more reputable schools and seemed to have had better experiences. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors were very kind and helpful. The college was close by and easy to get to everyday. |
| Instruction | 9 | I learned a lot more than I thought I would. They offer many learning activities and students are constantly learning new things. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It wasn't too hard and I didn't get that much homework. Most of the work I did was in school with professors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | On some days we would do book work and take notes all day. On other days we would learn on the computer, which was always fun. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They are very flexible as you get to pick your hours. I actually custom made my whole schedule, which was very helpful and convenient. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The classroom space was very nice and comfortable. I really liked the computer labs because they were very quiet and were great places for studying and doing homework. |
| Social Life | 4 | They don't really offer many social events. I never saw any parties going on, and other social events weren't commonplace either. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I would say this was OK, as they did get me my first job. I was happy to be done with school and and have a job right away. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I guess they have average support; I cant really compare it to other schools. |
Grove City College • Grove City, PA
Studying Marketing Management (completion in 2005)
• 7/10/2011
"I wouldn’t be where I am without GCC. It shaped me as a person and as a manager."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You have to be prepared to work hard! Make the best of your four years and get involved and you will succeed. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Only 25% of applicants get in, so your fellow students are sharp! I feel very prepared for my career. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Grove City College is top notch! They provided me with enough knowledge to excel and move up with my company very quickly. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors at GCC are engaged with their students and really believe in what they do. In a thoroughly Christian atmosphere, the relationship between instructor and student is amazing. |
| How Difficult | 10 | GCC could be (and has been offered membership as) an ivy league school. The curriculum and admissions process is very competitive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most programs use real life applications to teach. An internship is required for most degrees. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Courses are only offered in two semesters and two intercessions. When I attended, Saturday classes were mandatory. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All students live on campus, so all facilities are available and up to date. Each student receives a laptop and printer freshman year that is theirs to keep upon graduation. |
| Social Life | 7 | GCC has a very strict honor code which limits boy/girl interactions and drinking. The Greek system is the exception and was a great choice for my four years at GCC. |
| Placement Services | 10 | 98% of students have jobs at graduation (as of 2005). Even after graduation, career services are available to help you find a new job or company. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The alumni network is extensive and a huge part of finding a job after college will have to do with how well you networked within college. Current students and alumni meet and hold events regularly. |
Community College Of Beaver County • Monaca, PA
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2005)
• 7/8/2011
"I was able to get my promotion, and I learned a lot. My school gave me cheap tuition, great recommendations, great teachers, a lab that was open day and night, and more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely, because it has taught me great leadership skills and the ability to speak in public. I'd recommend this school to anyone considering a management job, or to one who cannot just learn from reading on their own. When one works solely on commission, or provides motivational support to people who work solely on commission, they need to learn different techniques; this school teaches them. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Many students know that they can get a bang for their buck by taking this program at this school. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The Community College of Beaver County provided wonderful professors that truly cared about their students. Many of the items that my professors taught were being studied in major universities for a lower price. The college had ample computer labs, and a large library that offered assistance when needed. |
| Instruction | 7 | A degree is preferred for sales management in regards to insurance, but not needed. To increase my salary and knowledge base I assumed Business Administration as my major. It did assist me in career preparation, because I took leadership and public speaking courses. Even though I did not learn much in regards to insurance, I did learn a lot about business. I would highly recommend one to take Business Administration if they desire to be any type of sales manager. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The professors were able to conceptualize that we had other teachers and outside lives, but were able to challenge us in the classroom. The workload was simple and was broken up into tasks, and they took the time to grade and correct assignments. Most universities do not give assignments, but they made sure you were fully prepared for exams. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The professors are very active with the students, and will not just lecture. They involve students in lecture, and do different types of experiments. Book learning was required when you were not in the class room, i.e. homework. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Night classes, summer classes, and online classes are what I took to advance myself and achieve my degree. The professors would meet with me whenever I had an issue. This school was extremely flexible for my needs, and I felt as if I were the only student. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The library was ample and for each sector they had free tutors on staff until closing hours. They also had two librarians on staff. Laboratories and accessibility to professors was wonderful. |
| Social Life | 2 | The school had a basketball team, and they were good. They did not do much in school regarding social events, probably because there is not campus. |
| Placement Services | 2 | My professors provided me with recommendations, if warranted, but career services and placement was not needed. I worked as a insurance sales lady for Western and Southern Life Insurance since 1992. As the growing need for a degree escalated, and my drive to become a manager came, I decided to get my associates degree. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Network and support was excellent at the school, and I was even able to take online classes. The computers were always running when I needed them, and the network staff was very involved with the students. |
Penn State University • University Park, PA
Studying Public Relations (completion in 2000)
• 7/6/2011
"I had an excellent experience at Penn State. My degree led directly to employment in the publishing industry."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would certainly encourage other students interested in the field of marketing and communications. Penn State offers an excellent program run by top-notch people. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The program is highly rated. It has been increasing in prominence. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The College of Communications at Penn State offered outstanding experiences, both in the classroom and through extracurricular learning experiences. I especially enjoyed the internships they helped me to find. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors did a nice job of mixing communications theory with real world scenarios. The program was exactly what I signed up for. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The program certainly wasn't the most difficult major within the university. The work load and courses were manageable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school offered a nice mix between the two. Some classes were very much project-based and team-oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I think the schedule flexibility was average for the time. Today many more classes are offered online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | State of the art facilities were available for students in the College of Communications. Advisors and professors were extremely accessible. |
| Social Life | 9 | There were numerous activities for people with all types of interests. I took part in many student organizations, athletic events, intramural sports, and social events. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school's job placement service was average when I graduated. However, I believe it has improved greatly in the last decade. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The alumni network is top notch, one of the largest in the country. The local chapter where I live is particularly active. |
Penn State • University Park, PA
Studying Marketing (completion in 2000)
• 7/23/2011
"I loved my school and had a great time. It has served me well."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | There is a strong alumni association backing it up. It also looks good on your resume. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It has a strong reputation within the industry. There are lots of prominent Penn State alums. |
| Program Quality | 5 | No schooling can truly prepare you for work in this field. It is really more of a learn as you go type of job. |
| Instruction | 7 | Too many classes were large lecture-style about topics that aren't relevant. The classes that allow participation were very helpful. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Math and statistics courses were difficult. I am basing this against other majors such as engineering or science. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a little too book learning oriented. I would have preferred more of a hands-on approach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to get two degrees. Many courses counted for both degrees. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There was a great library system in place. When I attended, it was state of the art with computers. |
| Social Life | 10 | There were always lots of parties. Everyone bonded around the football team. |
| Placement Services | 10 | When I attended, there were lots of career fairs. Many companies attended from a variety of fields. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | A huge network of alumni exists. There are many opportunities for networking including websites, newsletters, etc. |
Bryn Mawr College • Bryn Mawr, PA
Studying History Of Art (completion in 2007)
• 7/22/2011
"I loved my college. I had great experiences there and learned a lot. However, I do think there are some things that frustrated me that could have been avoided."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I highly recommend my school. However, my field of study didn't directly relate to my current career, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who is looking to get into catering or sales. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school has produced some great Art Historians. However, the current focus of Art History tends to be more toward non-Western art which is a weakness in their department. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school had a great Art History program that I really enjoyed. However, due largely to the small size of the school, class offerings were often limited. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of my professors were amazing to work with and study under. My one complaint about the instructors would have to be the way in which some seminar courses (including my thesis seminar) were handled by instructors who weren't as familiar with students' particular topics. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Bryn Mawr is known for being academically rigorous. Papers were graded on a graduate level, there was always a lot of reading, and tests required a great deal of both rote knowledge and analysis. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This is more a fact of my major. Art History is a very book-based field. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Bryn Mawr is a very small college and, as such, doesn't have extensive course offerings. With the exception of introductory-level classes, most courses were only available for one time/day. A lot of classes conflicted, even within departments, making students choose between which was more important. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | For such a small school, we had a lot of resources. My major was housed in a library dedicated to just four subjects. We had a great library consortium system and professors were usually very helpful. Even researching a very obscure topic, there were only a couple of times I couldn't find a library resource I wanted. |
| Social Life | 8 | Bryn Mawr is a very close-knit college community, sometimes at the expense of having outside experiences. The students there tend to be passionate about the school and its traditions. My biggest complaint during my time there was our school's restrictive party policy. |
| Placement Services | 4 | While career services were offered, they weren't particularly well-advertised on campus. The department and the administration as a whole focused more on current academic achievement and grad school applications than students starting their careers. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The alumni website can often be difficult to access. Additionally, the local "clubs" and events often require dues-paying membership and seem more geared toward older alumnae. |
Grove City College • Grove City, PA
Studying Political Science (completion in 2001)
• 8/12/2011
"Satisfied with the availability to do pretty much whatever extracurricular activities I wanted. But limited on overall freedom and adventure."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would probably have to say no, but it depends on the person. There are much better schools for the degree I graduated with. However, the other perks offered may persuade me to point someone in the direction. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | There are published professors which have given some more renown to the program. However, it is a limited staff that tends to be over worked because of class sizes so they do not have the time to expand the program into what it could be. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Grove City is a fairly small school that has a very good reputation for a private school. However, it is limited in it's access to bigger programs and placement in field related research. |
| Instruction | 7 | Again, the above statement could be used to support my response for this answer. But to expand on that, I would assume that it is more of what you make of it. They have the necessary resources but personally I did not use them. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Political Science involves a lot of writing and current events, therefore following the news and reading the paper pretty much covered the bases of what I needed. There was, of course, some studying that needed to be done. But compared to some majors, I would consider poli sci fairly easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Really there can't be that much hands-on work in my program. It pretty much has to be the published word or debate. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Very flexible, with evening classes and intersession work. This made finding and scheduling very easy and possible. Rarely were classes closed due to size. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Very extensive library with many options for research. Grove City actually provides each incoming freshman with a personal laptop for their use, which is a very nice perk. |
| Social Life | 4 | They had mixers and such, but it was more of a chore to do anything school related. We were more prone to organizing events on our own without school affiliation. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Again, this is what you make of it. The resources and staff are there if you take advantage of them. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They have and do plenty of things with/for the alumni. I would have to state again that this is what you make of it as well. |
West Chester University • West Chester, PA
Studying French (completion in 2008)
• 9/8/2011
"The atmosphere at my school was great. I was very fortunate to be a part of a program that was constantly changing to keep up-to-date. My teachers were always available if I needed help and the coursework was challenging. Overall, it was a great experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | With my degree I had many options upon graduation. Although the school did not help with job placement, I do feel that they offered me more opportunities that other schools might not have. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The program is still known for being up-to-date with curriculum. Students are eager to get into the program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program was very well organized. The teachers were always available to help when needed. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers and professors were readily available. The curriculum was updated to keep up with the most current standards. |
| How Difficult | 5 | A lot was expected from both the students and teachers in the program. Hands on training was required as well was independent work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a nice balance between book and hands-on work. Towards the end of my program, the course became almost entirely hands-on with an internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes were offered at a variety of times to cater to all learners. I personally took classes both online and over the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities at West Chester were great. The libraries were open late and the teachers were always available. Students could post in the student union about any study groups. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was able to make friends in my classes and at some events on campus, however there were not a lot of organized social events. Athletics were supported, but not as much as at some universities. |
| Placement Services | 3 | The school did set students up with hands-on training. There was no job placement, however, at the conclusion of the program. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have no interaction with the alumni network at my university. I receive the newsletters in the mail, but no other contact is made. |
Penn State • State College, PA
Studying Security & Risk Analysis (completion in 2011)
• 9/16/2011
"The school had an above average social scene and academic opportunities. The only drawback was the lack career opportunities despite the great network."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I believe if taken advantage of, Penn state can be very helpful for career opportunities. I just believe that I didn't fully take advantage of such options. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe this is one of the few programs of its kind. It is generally well-regarded and even has received accreditation from the NSA. |
| Program Quality | 6 | My program was very interesting but it did not provide for many job prospects out of college. This was contrary to the impression given by the career center. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of my professors had worked in the public or private sector and had extensive professional and academic experience. Very knowledgeable and helpful. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Work load was average, nothing was truly challenging. Much of the work was done in groups, which simplified things further. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Didn't rely on textbooks often. Many teachers didn't assign books, instead relying on in-class learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Pretty flexible. Some classes were only offered at one time but many were offered on the web. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Amazing resources. The library network and accessibility of individuals and materials was complete. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was part of a fraternity. Penn State has a dubious reputation for a party school and this is definitely accurate. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am voting average because I found it was hit or miss. The individuals within my major that had extensive coding/programming experience found work easily. Those of us who weren't as technically inclined did not. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Penn state has one of the best alumni associations in the country. Although I haven't taken advantage of it, I have full access to an extensive and comprehensive database. |
Penn State • University Park, PA
Studying Biology (completion in 1998)
• 9/19/2011
"I felt that although many of the major courses and access to the professors were lacking, many of the hands on opportunities prepared me for the future. Socially, I was able to join activities I had never heard of and make a strong networking foundation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Many in my career did not choose the sciences to get there. Most come from a business background. Penn State is always ranked near the top for its business college. That, paired with the networking opportunities, make Penn State a great choice. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Penn State is very strong in engineering and business. The Biology program was not as strong. Since officially pairing with the Hershey Medical Center for their medical school, a little more emphasis was placed on this program. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I felt many of the professors that I had were there for their research and teaching was secondary. Until my senior year, many of the major classes were very large and made personalized attention very difficult. |
| Instruction | 5 | When you have a professor addressing 250+ students, it is difficult to do anything but make a generalized, one-sided talk. Office hours were limited, and didn't leave enough time to get enough clarification on important information. |
| How Difficult | 8 | As a Bio major most of my science courses had labs involved with them. Each of these labs was 6 hours per week on top of the normal lectures. This made the work load very large, especially when taking enough credits to graduate in 4 years. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the sciences, there were labs for almost every course. This allowed a hands on approach so we could see the theories in action. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Having so many labs made my scheduling difficult. There weren't enough options added which made it difficult to fit the rest of my classes around them. When I graduated, they were implementing distance learning. Summer classes were always an option. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The facilities were outstanding and new ones were being built all the time. The access to the advisors was lacking because of the volume of students. Many professors seemed like teaching was an afterthought to them. |
| Social Life | 10 | Penn State has an activity fair to make you aware of all the possibilities. They have a booth so you can talk to people from the group and make it easy to enroll. Athletics are a big part and are well publicized. There are definitely many parties to go to if you are interested. |
| Placement Services | 6 | They did have an office available to let you browse openings. Also, support for resumes was available. Networking was an important part of this process. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Penn State does a great job of making alumni available to the students. If a student is interested in a career, they will try to connect them with a mentor to answer questions for the student. |
University Of PIttsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Non-Fiction Writing And Business (Dual Degree) (completion in 2008)
• 10/4/2011
"I have no regrets! The school offers a very well-rounded experience, and the city of Pittsburgh has a lot to offer (I think it's a little underrated). It's not pretentious all, but it still has very high academic standards."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I learned a lot of transferrable skills in both of my majors (writing and communicating well, understanding business/marketing mixes), but I also gained a lot of sales experience while working as the National Advertising Sales Manager at the school's newspaper. There are a lot of opportunities to get involved and work toward your career outside of the classroom as well. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Pitt is primarily known as a science/research school, which is where their reputation tends to be viewed most highly. However, the business and liberal arts schools have many accredited professors, and are certainly respected. |
| Program Quality | 7 | While I didn't major specifically in Sales/Advertising, I learned a lot of qualities and skills that help me in my career today. Being a good writer and communicator, and having an understanding of how my clients' businesses operate, are invaluable skills. |
| Instruction | 7 | As with any college curriculum, there is a focus on being well-rounded - which is highly important, but I don't know how well it prepared me for the business world. I think getting actual work experience was more effective. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I took on a dual major, so I frequently loaded up on credits and worked additional semesters. The classes themselves were quite demanding across both majors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The majority of my education was book learning, but that's probably a result of the majors that I chose. I suppose writing could be considered hands-on, in that I'm actually writing things myself, but for the most part I spent a lot of time reading for my classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I think the university offers relatively flexible class options in terms of timing; however, due to my dual major, I often was forced into a number of time slots that were less than convenient/ideal. I think most people had fewer problems with that than I did, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Pitt has a ton of space - libraries, the Cathedral of Learning (I think is one of the tallest university buildings in the country?), research/laboratory offerings, etc. All of this way way above average. I didn't have much interaction with my academic advisor, and that may be one area that was lacking a little bit in terms on where I might have needed more help. Most of my professors were accessible, and the higher-level classes were usually pretty small and allowed for one-on-one attention. |
| Social Life | 9 | I loved going to school at Pitt - I made amazing friends, sports are a huge deal for students/alumni, and parties are prevalent. I definitely had a great social life, which was a nice balance to the school work aspect. I chose not to be a part of Greek life, so my "organized" social event experience is pretty low; however, the Greek system was not incredibly huge or as important as it is at other universities ( or so I've heard...). |
| Placement Services | 9 | The University of Pittsburgh does an amazing job with their career services, in both job placement and counseling for students who are still trying to figure out what they want to do. I actually found my first sales job after graduation at a school career fair, which they hold quite frequently. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There is a decent alumni network, but I'm probably not as involved in it as I could be. The majority of events seem to revolve around Pitt sports, it seems to me. I subscribe to alumni publications to stay informed, but that's the extent of it. |
Clarion University Of PA • Clarion, PA
Studying Business Management (completion in 1996)
• 10/16/2011
"I am very satisfied with my Clarion experience. I feel as though I received a very well rounded education and, as I stated before, I actually learned something instead of just receiving the degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would most certainly recommend Clarion University to someone. I would do it simply because I believe that without my education I would not be where I am at today! Times are tough and any advantage, I feel, is a must have! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Clarion University had an excellent reputation regrading its business programs. The Graduates that Clarion produces are known to be of the highest caliber. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was/am very satisfied with Clarion. Their business program is second to none! I not only received my degree but I also actually learned something, which I feel a great number of graduates are lacking today! |
| Instruction | 9 | I feel like many people probably do - some of the instructors were better prepared than others. I will say that even with some instructors being better prepared than others I still had an enriching, satisfying time at Clarion. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I don't feel as though my program of study was any more difficult than what others have gone through. I actually found the basics more difficult than the major classes. I have always been somewhat backwards when I comes to Mathematics. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I feel that my program was a nice mix of Book and hands on training. The University worked very closely with local businesses and manufacturing firms to enhance our studies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Clarion has a very flexible schedule. I took many of my courses in the evening hours because I worked a part time job while I was attending class. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The resources at Clarion are outstanding. When I was attending the internet was just coming into vogue and I did not own or have access to a PC. I spent many, many Saturdays in the school's computer lab in order to get my work completed. |
| Social Life | 9 | While I didn't really have that much time to attend athletic events or many social functions, the University does have a deeply ingrained sense of school pride. I now find myself attending football games and going to Alumni functions, which I enjoy very much. |
| Placement Services | 9 | I was fortunate enough to not have to use the job placement service at the campus. However, I know many Alumni that have used it and they are very pleased with it. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I belong to an incredible Alumni network. I have attended several functions produced by the Alumni network and was pleased every time. |
Lehigh University • Bethlehem, PA
Studying Finance And Accounting (Dual Major) (completion in 2004)
• 10/16/2011
"Lehigh provided the best experience that I could ask for in a college. My only regret would be not taking full advantage of some of the resources that were readily available, particularly networking events."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Lehigh offers generous scholarships and work study programs. There is also a direct link to the NYC business and engineering communities. When I couldn't meet the financial requirements to attend, Lehigh stepped up and doubled the aid that NYU offered. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Lehigh's accounting program is consistently ranked in the top tier of programs. This is particularly true with respect to accounting. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Lehigh has a strong business school and small class sizes. Their programs' focus have an entrepreneurial spirit and foster close associations with professors and alumni. |
| Instruction | 9 | Professors at Lehigh are seasoned and come from various backgrounds. Classes are diverse and scheduling encourages a wide array of choices to suit interests. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Lehigh offers dual programs but does not have lax standards for testing. Students can expect a heavy course load and very little curving of tests. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands on and book learning are balanced at about fifty-fifty. Personally, I was more of a book person than a hands on person and I found classes that catered to that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classes are offered during multiple time slots to allow for flexible scheduling. Summer programs also cover much required coursework for graduation. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There are two libraries and ten computer labs. Many of the labs are open 24 hours a day. |
| Social Life | 10 | Lehigh has a very strong work hard - play hard attitude. Fraternities and sororities are a majority of the student body and academic competition is also stressed. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The small class sizes and general population allows for a lot of individual attention to career choices. There is a strong and active alumni network on Wall Street that regularly recruits from the school. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Lehigh is known for its strong alumni network and partnerships. I can attest personally to working with many in the field during my college years and also going back to recruit new hires in the past. |
Kutztown University • Kutztown, PA
Studying Art Education (completion in 2009)
• 10/19/2011
"I am very happy I went to Kutztown. I wish I could have put more time into it, but I did what I could. Ideally, I think to get what I really wanted I should have double majored."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For Art Teaching, yes! For Sales Management, yes! Being a teacher is being a Manager. If your personality is right, you can use any major as a backbone for sales. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I always hear good things about Kutztown. For the amount of money you pay it isn't bad. Plus they are one of the only schools to specialize in Art Education. The program is totally tailored from the moment you begin. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I loved my professors and most of my classes. I just felt they were out of touch with how difficult it is to get an art teaching position (Full time). Also, I know higher ed is a business, but I felt at times as if I was just pushed through for my money. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was very happy with most of the professors I had. Many of them kept in contact with me after school to see how I was doing. In terms of real world prep, there was a lot of field experience, but nothing beats the real thing. |
| How Difficult | 5 | You got out of it what you put into it. None of it was really difficult for me. It was just the amount of work. I also worked a few jobs too, so I was stressed for time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Art and teaching is almost all hands on. There were one or two classes in which the book was the class - the kind where you could have skipped class and just read the chapter yourself. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I did take one online course, which was great. When it came to classes specific for my major, though, it was sometimes nerve racking because I was worried I wouldn't be able to take them when I needed to. Also, there were one or two random "odd" classes that would only be offered every other year. Dang. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | For much of my program I had to supply my own materials. The library was great though, and the professors were always available to help out. |
| Social Life | 7 | I loved being in the Outdoors Club. Some of my closest friends are people I went on trips with. Dorm life was a pain, but fun. I just wish I didn't have to work so much. I could have put more time into friends and school work. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I'm not sure if they can really help it. Art jobs are being cut more and more, plus many states in the Northeast have a surplus of teaching grads. Tough market, I'll stick to retail. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | The only thing I ever used was the job posting site, which almost never had jobs on it. In addition, I've already received donation requests when I still owe thousands in loans. Kind of odd to ask for more money when I already gave them all I have! |
Clarion University • Clarion, PA
Studying Physics (completion in 2009)
• 10/28/2011
"Terrible waste of money. Would have been better off not going to school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would tell potential physics majors to not go to college. They'd be better off starting a small business. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | Clarion University has no reputation to speak of for physics. It's a small liberal arts school with no budget. |
| Program Quality | 3 | My school only has a few teachers in my major, and only one who teaches upper level courses. He doesn't bother with concepts, only math. |
| Instruction | 3 | No career preparation, no relevance to real world. Quality of instruction is poor. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Physics is extremely hard. It is rewarding in terms of what you learn, but your grades/employability suffers forever because of it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | No hands on learning at all. All book learning; and not even focused on the concepts. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Not very flexible for anything above low level classes. But then again, almost no universities are flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Almost no research, old facilities, no budget. The only research they do is occasional small grants for student research, but this is not supported by the school, only by individual professors. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school does have a good 'party atmosphere;' but that's not why I wanted an education. I avoided all such things. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I have never even heard of anyone who got a job through their "Career network;" and I visited their job placement office once but left after half an hour without getting any useful help or advice. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | School has no alumni support. The school only utilizes alumni for donations. |
Gannon University • Erie, PA
Studying English (completion in 2011)
• 11/5/2011
"As a student, I worked for the Office of Admissions because I was so pleased with Gannon. The atmosphere on campus is so welcoming and friendly - professors really try hard to help students succeed. It's hard to not do well here."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You have the opportunity to experience a lot here. it's easy to add minors or create double majors as you find areas you're interested in. It's also easy to become involved in groups you're interested in, even if they're not part of your major (athletics, theatre, clubs, etc.). |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Gannon's English department is not well-known outside the university (health sciences are the university's strong points). However, on campus many people recognize the strength of the departments within the school of humanities. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Gannon is a small university with a lot of personal attention from the professors and staff. It's nice to get to know professors and have small classes that can be based on discussion and participation instead of strictly lectures. The size also allowed for classes to be customized to a degree depending on the interests of the students. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors I had were either stellar or horrible - there were very few in between that. My English professors were passionate and dedicated, but those in liberal arts classes sometimes left a lot to be desired. They knew that not all students took the general education classes seriously so they had low expectations, which made the classes a waste of time (and money). |
| How Difficult | 7 | The classes in my major were challenging, but manageable. It definitely took effort to do well and understand the material. Liberal arts classes tended to base more importance on attendance than on work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some of my classes didn't even have textbooks. Most of my experiences in classes were working in groups on projects or lessons to teach the class. It's always very personalized at Gannon. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Classes in smaller departments are very limited. Most classes are on a three-year rotation, so you only have one chance to take them. They're also only offered in one section, so either you can take that class at the one and only time it is offered or not at all. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library is terribly outdated, but it is constantly (although slowly) undergoing renovations. There aren't enough public computers or printers on campus. Tutoring services has flexible hours and fairly helpful staff. |
| Social Life | 8 | There's something for everyone. Gannon is located downtown, so there's always something going on either on campus or in the city. There are a fair amount of parties, and Gannon has social greek organizations. |
| Placement Services | 8 | It's there if you need or want it. In a few of my classes we did resume/ interview workshops. If you make an appointment with career services on your own, they're amazingly helpful and offer timely, personalized assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I have only been contacted by our alumni network twice. Once I was called in solicitation of a donation, and once I received a letter about homecoming weekend. |
Saint Joseph's University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Food Marketing (completion in 1998)
• 11/20/2011
"I really enjoyed my time there. Learned some things and met some good people."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Been a while since I've been there. Based on what it was like when I went there, I would say yes. Based on today, I'm not sure what it is like. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | When I went there, I would say it was much higher. Since graduating, the school has greatly loosened the acceptance standards and greatly increased the number of students they accept. |
| Program Quality | 6 | It was very specialized and helpful in teaching about the food industry. However, it didn't exactly prepare one for the available jobs. |
| Instruction | 7 | All of the professors had different jobs within the food industry, working for different manufacturers. Was helpful to hear about their experiences and expertise. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was not overwhelming. A fair amount of group projects, but test materials were mostly straightforward and not too difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot was book learning. However, in more of the specialized classes, there were a lot of group projects that didn't involve books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Back when I was there, it was not very flexible, as online was just developing. I would guess today it has improved. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Being a small university, a lot of the resources were below my expectations. It was a fairly expensive school at the time, but things such as computer labs were weak. |
| Social Life | 7 | When I was there, the basketball team was very good. This got the students excited and made for a fun atmosphere. |
| Placement Services | 8 | This was an area where they excelled for my major. Lots of food companies came to campus to recruit. Very high job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | Small school, so the alumni contingent isn't very big. There are probably more opportunities to get involved; I just haven't chosen to do so. |
York College Of Pennsylvania • York, PA
Studying Master Of Business Administration (completion in 2005)
• 12/7/2011
"Satisfied with courses offered. Liked accelerated degree program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | All information is taught. Chance for a wide exposure to different disciplines. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Known for quality. Not particularly challenging. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I was able to complete an advanced degree using an accelerated program. I was able to use lessons from one class in others. |
| Instruction | 8 | Professors were engaging. They gave us challenging coursework, but made it fun. |
| How Difficult | 7 | No major thesis. A lot of reading. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A lot of book learning. Some tours of local factories. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Not a lot of choices. Classes were available at night to accommodate nontraditional students. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Computers were available. Provided library and dial-up internet. |
| Social Life | I was a commuter and did not participate much in on-campus events. | |
| Placement Services | 7 | Did not use career services. Did have some mentoring from professors, which led to a job offer. |
| Alumni Network | I have not used the alumni network. I have met quite a few alumni at my place of employment. |
Robert Morris University • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Accounting (completion in 1981)
• 12/6/2011
"The training I received at Robert Morris University has enabled me to pursue a career in finance. While the learning never stops in one's life, the foundational principles learned early are critical to a successful career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Robert Morris University has expanded its educational programs and is well respected in the business community. While I am engaged as a technical tax and investment advisor, the attendance at a small school is invaluable in the development of the sales skill set. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Robert Morris University has always had a good reputation in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Numerous employers seek interviews from graduating seniors, through job fairs and contact with the school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Robert Morris University is/was a small school setting that had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of personal attention in the education process are obvious, but I think that there are benefits to a larger university. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors in my program of study were generally from industry, either in their current work or from a previous job. The relevance of their experience was invaluable in the education process. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Accounting, investments and business law require a focus on an area of specialty that most people find difficult. I think it is crucial that an individual have the appropriate aptitude for these careers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program of study was very academic oriented. I would have preferred an internship requirement, as I believe that would have been helpful in the initial development of my career. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | In my college program of study, I scheduled and attended evening courses, summer courses and weekend courses. This flexibility provided me with opportunities to be involved with other activities, such as intramural sports, educational fraternity, and business groups on campus. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities of Robert Morris College 30 years ago were not as extensive as they are today, although they were adequate. The main advantage of attending the small school was the accessibility of the professors. |
| Social Life | 10 | I believe that one's social life is somewhat dependent on the same skill set that is necessary for salespeople and entrepreneurs. |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize the job placement services, as I had a job offer upon graduation from a community bank in my hometown. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive one mailing per year from the alumni group. However, I accept some of the blame for lack of contact, as I have not recently been involved or tried to be involved, as my life is quite busy with family and work. |
University Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Business (completion in 2007)
• 12/13/2011
"Very satisfied. I left there and got my dream job!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have been nothing but happy with my career, and the path I took to get here. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it! |
| Program Reputation | 8 | University of Pittsburgh gets great press for both its medical and business programs. Makes me proud to have been a part of it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | University of Pittsburgh has a great program for business. I chose it because it is reputable. |
| Instruction | 10 | Because of the large class sizes, the quality of instruction is key. Professors are willing to work on a one-on-one basis, which, in my opinion, was essential to my success. |
| How Difficult | 8 | At times, I found it very challenging. Looking back, it was the challenging workloads that I learned the most from. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very nice mix of book and hands on. What I liked about my professors was that you HAD to do the book part on your own time, and the discussions in class all pertained to what YOU did at home. It was 50-50 effort. If you did YOUR part, you were able to follow in class. If you fell behind, only YOU were to blame! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Class schedules are much like any other university's. Nothing about the class schedules and availability really set it apart. Typical fight to try to get into a class. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Wonderful facilities available to all students. Very clean and organized. |
| Social Life | 10 | Pitt has topnotch social events on campus. There are great sporting events, and the downtown Pittsburgh area really makes the campus experience one of a kind. |
| Placement Services | I didn't use this program. I have heard that they can match you up with excellent internships. | |
| Alumni Network | I live too far away to attend alumni events. |
Penn State • State College, PA
Studying Accounting (completion in 2003)
• 1/11/2012
"I learned a lot from the school. I would recommend anyone go there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a great experience. I wish I could live it over. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school had a good reputation until this Sandusky issue started. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I had some good experiences there. Most of my classes were in the classroom, but I was able to get a read on certain aspects of the field when dealing with a person's specific needs and wants. |
| Instruction | 7 | At first, I struggled to get a hold of how things are in college. It was very fast-paced for me. I did eventually get a grasp of it when I went for further advice. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It was very tough getting used to the experience of college. One of my professors was from Africa, so it was hard to understand his accent at times. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My classes were all book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to pick an open schedule and was able to take a class online. I needed the online class so I could still take care of my military obligations. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They had several different campuses to chose from and use. I was happy with it. |
| Social Life | 7 | I attended football games almost every home game, and there were always various booster clubs and pep rallies held. |
| Placement Services | 9 | They had a few programs and counselors available; however, I didn't use them. I was still involved in the service and used one of their programs. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | We had several programs available. I took advantage of one called "Reach." To this day, I still try and return the favors they offered me. |
Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studying Video Production (completion in 2003)
• 2/5/2012
"I enjoyed my school experience. I would go there again, but I chose to continue my career in sales management instead of using my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I went to school for videography, not management. Those looking to go into management should go to a business school. |
| Program Reputation | Having not gone into the field of study that I graduated from I can not speak to the validity of their reputation. | |
| Program Quality | 9 | I went to a great school for video production. It has nothing to do with sales management, I learned all my management skills on the job. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction was good. I felt I learned a lot in college. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I enjoyed what I studied at school, therefore I found the courses average to easy. No courses in management were offered at my school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school was based on hands-on learning. Some tests were entirely on class discussions rather than chapters from a book. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | My school provided four hour classes offered once a week in 3 different time slots. 8:00 AM - noon, 12:45 - 4:45 PM, and 6:00 - 9:30 at night. No Saturday or Sunday classes were offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school campus was all in one building, which was convenient. The library had everything you needed, I wish there was more food service than an occasional hot (overpriced) food stand and vending machines. |
| Social Life | 4 | With no athletics of any kind there was no traditional 'school spirit'. That said, students moved through their 'core' classes followed by their 'major specific' classes together. Moving with the same people helped you feel social and part of the group. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I never received any information pertaining to jobs without major research on my end. It was frustrating to reach someone who could help you. |
| Alumni Network | There is no alumni network that I am aware of. |
Pennsylvania State University • State College, PA
Studying Journalism (completion in 2002)
• 3/5/2012
"I had a wonderful social experience at Penn State, but academics ebbed and flowed for me. Academically, there were a lot of things that I wish had been different. I think that I would have been more successful as a student if they were different."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I don't have any knowledge of the current curriculum. With newspaper media as such a dying industry, I don't know that I would recommend this career to anyone to begin with. I think that if the curriculum has been adapted to fit with the change to more online journalism, then I would consider it. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | As far as I know, the reputation of the school is fairly high. However, there are other schools in the country that are held in much higher regard in relation to their communications programs, specifically journalism. |
| Program Quality | 4 | I felt like the only option I had with a print journalism focus was to take the path into writing for a newspaper. I would have liked to have seen more classes with other focuses, i.e., magazine or online writing. I also felt like I had to take a lot of classes that did not interest me at all to fulfill requirements. |
| Instruction | 4 | My schooling is what made me hate my intended career path. I also felt that I wouldn't have been able to find a career in my intended field with the instruction I received. But this could also be negatively influenced by my poor experience with the guidance counselors there. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The classes that were most challenging for me were the ones I needed to meet general education requirements. These classes also took up more of my time, which sometimes made the course load too much. Many of the classes required a lot of reading, but I thought that I went to college to write. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Every class required a large amount of book learning. Hands-on learning was used when it applied or was necessary. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Penn State offered the standard schedule flexibility options, as far as I know. I don't recall any weekend classes, however. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I would say that all of the facilities and resources were good for my major, with the exception of academic advisors and tutoring/study group support. The worst was academic advising; frequently, you would be told that certain classes were needed to fill a requirement/they would fill a requirement, and then you would see a different advisor at a later date, and they would tell you a class didn't count where you thought it would. This resulted in more than one unnecessary class taken for me and delayed my graduation. |
| Social Life | 10 | I think that Penn State is well known for the social activities available. Sports are huge - some would argue more so than the academics. There are so many different organizations that you can be a part of here, that there really is something for everyone in this aspect. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I would say that it is wonderful for certain majors and not great for others. For example, the business school has tons of recruiting that occurs on campus looking for soon-to-be graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I think that in some majors, the alumni support is what gets you your jobs. Penn Staters are everywhere. You do receive a lot of communication after school is over, asking for donations, etc. |
The Pennsylvania University • State College, PA
Studying Film And Video Production (completion in 2009)
• 3/4/2012
"My experience was pretty good. I got a great overall education, but perhaps I could have gotten a better film and video education at another school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it to others, but I would suggest personal work outside of the curriculum. I learned that a film education is not required to work in the industry, but it certainly helps. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | I don't feel that it has changed much, as far as national attention goes. It still is a positive all-around education, but it does not have much more to help students learn the different careers out there. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The film program was getting better while I was enrolled, but it is nowhere near some of the other film schools out there. The amount of equipment and production space was limited. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instruction was pretty good at the university, and the curriculum was appropriate and engaging. The amount of available extra assets to experience working in a film setting was limited. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Film and video is very different than a traditional curriculum. It has less exams and more projects that challenge the individual to be responsible for their creativeness and control over others in a group setting. It teaches you to take control. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a fairly good mix of book material and hands-on learning. I would have liked to have had instructors present on group projects while they were being done, instead of just viewing the projects at the end. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Unfortunately, there are certain required classes that you have to take and they are not offered enough. Certain classes that I really wanted to take were not available because only one session was offered and it was filled up. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | A production facility with more equipment designated for film and video majors would be a huge upgrade for the major. When I attended, all communication majors rented out equipment from the same rental office, which was located off campus and had to be accessed by vehicle transportation. |
| Social Life | 8 | I had a positive social experience while at my school, and I met some great new friends. I attended athletic and social events, and I occasionally attended parties. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The College of Communications did have a very good job placement and career services office. The head of it was very supportive of students seeking employment all over the nation to engage in new experiences. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni support is pretty good. The school had alumni return with their experiences in the field, to answer questions and mentor current students. However, after graduating, the networking is less with the school and more through the people I met when I was there. |
Temple University • Philadelphia, PA
Studying Philosophy (completion in 2009)
• 3/6/2012
"I'm satisfied with Temple as an alum, and it seems well respected by people who ask where my degree is from. They did charge me out-of-state tuition for all four years, even though I leased an apartment for all of those years, when I was hoping to get residency after a year or two. Thus, I have much more student loan debt than I had anticipated, enough that I might as well have gone to a fancy private liberal arts college for the same price tag."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend Temple to students with established Pennsylvania residency who want a decent value on their tuition dollars. If you're out of state, the cost of going to school here is no less than the tuition at a cleaner, smaller, expensive liberal arts school, so you may want to check out more of your options first. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Temple University is known for its world-class philosophy department. As a student, I remember taking at least two classes from bestselling European philosophers who had chosen Temple to complete a visiting professorship. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Temple University has one of the top philosophy departments in the country. Renowned philosophy professors worldwide have served as visiting professors in the department. |
| Instruction | 8 | The curriculum and campus provide good career preparation, at least partially thanks to the sheer size of the university. The large campus provides a wealth of opportunities in nearly every field imaginable. The professors are also very high quality and are generally well known as eminent figures in their respective departments. The philosophy department is no exception to this rule. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Temple University is not known for the grade inflation made infamous by many private colleges and universities. Grades, then, tend to actually indicate the quality and quantity of students' work. That said, some of my philosophy courses were mixed between undergraduate and graduate students, and I wasn't always completely sure what the graduate students had to do above and beyond the regular coursework to gain graduate credit for the same classes I was taking as an undergrad. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As a philosophy major, the curriculum in the majority of my classes was books, books, books. Science and technology majors could probably give better testimony about the hands-on learning experiences in their courses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | As a behemoth of a university, Temple has classes to suit every kind of person and every kind of schedule. These include night classes, weekend classes, online coursework, hybrid classes, and so on. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The libraries, media and computer resources at Temple are unsurpassed. However, although the professors in the department are well respected in the field, many of them are less than accessible to their students and not particularly supportive. This may be because some of them are more focused on writing books and research than they are with teaching classes. |
| Social Life | 5 | Temple spirit always seemed fairly high. Unfortunately, its athletic teams aren't quite as top-ranking as some of its academic departments, so it's no Notre Dame where sports are concerned. There's a healthy team spirit and cohesiveness on the campus, though. |
| Placement Services | My only experience with Temple job placement is from perusing the website. If I were to make an appointment for their services, I would be better able to speak to the quality of its career services assistance. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Temple provides an alumni social network online to link up and look for jobs with Temple grads. However, during my undergraduate years at Temple, I rarely noticed any events or notices on campus pertaining to any kind of alumni networking or benefits. The school would benefit from more of this, considering its wide range of recent and older alumni. |
Kutztown University • Kutztown, PA
Studying Business Management (completion in 1987)
• 3/20/2012
"I had a great experience in college, both academically and socially. I would recommend Kutztown to any student."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Kutztown has a great reputation as a business school. Students can benefit from the business teachers' real world experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Kutztown had a growing reputation as a good Business School when I was there. In the past 15 years, it has gotten a very good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The teachers had business experience. They were able to supplement the text book curriculum with real world examples. |
| Instruction | 8 | Many of the courses (Sales, Marketing) using real world examples helped prepare me for my career. Accounting and statistics, while relevant to my career, were not as helpful. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Business courses that emphasized theory (Law, Management) I enjoyed and they did not seem like work. Courses such as Statistics and Finance were harder in that they dealt with the concrete. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | When I attended it was very book oriented. I'm sure work study and internship programs have grown in recent years. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to schedule my classes with no problem while I was there. I have never used any Evening, Weekend, or On-Line options. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The University had great resources when I attended in the 80's. I recently visited the campus and was amazed at the newer resources available to students. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had no problem finding any activities to do while in school. There were many intramural sports available as well as parties, etc. on the weekends. |
| Placement Services | I really did not utilize any job placement resources at school. I'm sure it is very good, especially in recent years. | |
| Alumni Network | The alumni I keep in touch with are friends and not relevant to my career. I cannot really comment on support since I don't keep in touch with the school. |
Penn State • University Park, PA
Studying Mechanical Engineering (completion in 2003)
• 4/12/2012
"Met my wife there, got a great education and made some amazing friends. Penn State is great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. Between the alumni network and the amount of degree programs available, you can't go wrong. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | An engineering degree from Penn State is highly valuable. It is well received by employers. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school is very well known for engineering. I was able to get a job with the degree. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction was fairly good. Some classes were too big and taught by TA's. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program was very challenging. Lots of studying and homework required to complete it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Engineering is a good mix. Some other majors, like Business, is all book work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There are a lot of class options. The major doesn't offer many open class slots though. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | One of the largest college libraries. Everything is cutting edge technology as well. |
| Social Life | 10 | We are Penn State. Bleed blue and white. That sums it all up. |
| Placement Services | 9 | One of the best in the country. Helps to have the largest alumni group. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Penn state has the largest alumni group in the world. You can find alumni anywhere. |
Westmoreland County Community College • Youngwood, PA
Studying Medical Assisting (completion in 2011)
• 4/7/2012
"I feel that I paid a fair amount of money for the education I received. Students and staff were great!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The program was pretty good. However, the job market isn't the best here. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | WCCC is known in the area for having good medical programs. Many employers like WCCC graduates because they work closely with hospitals during lab times. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program taught me a lot. I wish that the pointless courses would be cut out of the program requirements. |
| Instruction | 9 | Teachers were tough and wanted only the best work. The staff was always there to help when you had questions. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Medical terminology was tough to learn. I received a pretty decent workload. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was both a lot of book work and hands on work. Most of the hands on happened in your last semester. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I could choose between online or in school classes. The in school classes could be done in the morning or evening. |
| Academic Facilities | The school had good classroom space and advisors. I wish the library was a little bigger and had more medical assisting related books. | |
| Social Life | 5 | I was friends with many students. I did not participate in any activities. |
| Placement Services | 8 | WCCC will give you a list of names and numbers of employers that are hiring within your field. They don't do much to prepare you for interviews or anything of that sort. |
| Alumni Network | I did not really associate with an alumni. However, other students I knew did talk to a lot of alumni about their time at school. |
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