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 LSCS, Richland College, San Antonio College, and TCC.
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 Texas A&M Kingsville, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Texas Wesleyan University, and UTEP.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Texas Woman's University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Texas Southern, TAMIU, South Texas College, and Texas College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider University of Houston-Victoria, Northwood University, Texas Woman's University, and University of Houston-Clear Lake.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Central Texas College, University of Dallas, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, and SMU.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Jarvis Christian, Schreiner University, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, and Trinity University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Rice University, Trinity University, SMU, and The University of Texas.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Rice University, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Hardin - Simmons, and Prairie View A & M University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Rice University, Texas A&M Galveston, Texas Wesleyan University, and Trinity University.
Working as a Sales Manager in Texas
Sales managers oversee and direct sales activity in order to meet organizational goals. Some of their responsibilities include assigning and managing sales territories, setting and tracking progress towards goals, working with marketers to identify new products that meet customers' needs, and managing regional and local sales staff. Read a detailed Sales Manager job description and schools overview.
For training and tools related to career advancement, sales managers may become members of The Sales Management Association.
State Requirements
The State of Texas does not regulate the practices of sales managers.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Texas Woman's University • Denton, TX
Studying MBA (completion in 2005)
• 5/7/2011
"Overall, I am happy with my choice. I feel that I learned the skills necessary to preform well at my current job. Also, for the price, I fell that the school met my needs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, the teachers have great backgrounds and are always willing to help. Also, as above, the price of attendance is fair when compared with other institutions. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I would guess my former school is a little above average considering how many schools offer MBA's now. Also, I am not sure if I believe in online MBA's. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program covered many different topics and areas. We preformed individual internships and that is how I got in contact with my current company. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | N/A - I attended more than 5 years ago. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Overall the courses required outside work, research, and group work. Many of the instructors had extensive business, marketing, or management backgrounds. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We used some of both. This varied from teacher to teacher. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Some classes were offered several times during the year, but others were only offered once. I did not like classes that were ONLY offered during the weekends. I lived close enough to take night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Professors were easy to talk to and were quick to reply via email. We have a large research database (newspapers, journals, etc.) and computer resources. |
| Social Life | 5 | TWU is not a large D1 school. It is more of a mid-sized school. TWU has female athletics, a few social events, and the younger students have a great deal of school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Through internships we had opportunities to improve our job skills. Also, our professors had lists of potential employers that met our interests. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I sometimes get emails with school updates. I get annoyed when they only call asking for money. |
Southern Methodist University • Dallas, TX
Studying Advertising (completion in 1996)
• 7/23/2011
"I was satisfied with my school; however, there are always areas that can be improved. Any of those areas I would have encouraged my school to improve on they are already working on; therefore, I have nothing but good things to say on their behalf."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, but I would encourage students to do as many internships that they can in order to get a well rounded experience. It will be the best training you can get outside of the classroom. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school is a solid school. Their focus on preparing you for the outside world is exceptional. My school's reputation is always in good standing except when they got into some trouble back in the 80s for football (ha ha ha). |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school was good at preparing me for entering the workforce. I would say that sales is something that is best learned by hands on experience and by watching others perform. |
| Instruction | 5 | My school did not prepare me too much for sales, but they did establish a good work ethic and foundation for working in the field. Sales can be learned by books, but those books typically are not used in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My program of study was difficult in its demands, but I would by no means compare it to some of the harder programs. I would say that the attention to detail was very important in the educational process. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My school has the resources to provide students with hands-on work in nearly every educational scenario. I know that they have made great efforts to provide both book learning and hands-on work, especially with the new construction and programs abroad. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Class availability was exceptional. Classes were available anytime I needed them including weekends, summer, nights, split days, etc. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school has made great improvements since I left in 1996. I know their programs have only improved. Since landing the Bush library they have increased construction on libraries and classrooms. |
| Social Life | 10 | My school ranked higher in athletics a few decades ago, but it has done a really good job over the past ten years bringing some of that school spirit back. Between the school, fraternities and sororities, there are plenty of social events and parties that students can attend. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The job placement and career services are centralized in their own environment. They do interact with the school when necessary, but remain separate for the most part. This is important when aiding individuals with breaking away from the university level to the real world workplace. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The alumni network for my school is very good; however, since I have not experienced other alumni networks, it is tough to draw knowledgeable comparisons. I have seen my alumni network do things that others do not do and other networks doing things I wish my alumni network would do. My network does strive to improve their methods and contacts so I can only sing their praise. |
University Of Phoenix • Dallas, TX
Studying Health Care (completion in 2012)
• 9/6/2011
"I am very satisfied with my educational experience at the University of Phoenix. I am impressed with the challenge and level of organization."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I gave the University of Phoenix a great rating because it is an awesome university. It is always great to attend a college that will challenge you to be your best and give you great resources in return to exceed expectations. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The University of Phoenix has a great reputation in the general community. They also have a good reputation in the health care industry which is why I chose to attend. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I love what the University of Phoenix offers to its students. The health care program is top notch and I have learned a lot about the industry. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instruction is excellent. The Professors challenge students regularly. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The field of study is not an easy one. The health care industry provides quite a complex field of study, however, the University of Phoenix does a great job of providing resources to assist its students in meeting the challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The University of Phoenix is very hands on. The instructor is available everyday and we are required as students to communicate with each other weekly. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The option to attend class at a flexible time is great online. Students can attend at anytime of day, however, it is usually smart to login everyday as an online student. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The academic facility is awesome and so is the library and resources. One of the reasons I also chose the University of Phoenix is because of their outstanding resources online. |
| Social Life | 3 | Because the University of Phoenix is an online campus, I am not aware of any activities scheduled for students. It would be nice to have additional activities as options for students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am not aware of any placement issues at the University of Phoenix. I have not had to utilize this service. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni is pretty active at the University of Phoenix. The support staff is usually available throughout the day. |
West Texas A&M University • Canyon, TX
Studying General Studies (completion in 2006)
• 9/13/2011
"I am very happy with my school. I always recommend this school to others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I always recommend this school, no matter what career is being pursued. I was extremely satisfied with this school. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I ended my school career with a General Studies Degree. There is never a good reputation behind General Studies Degrees. |
| Program Quality | 9 | WTAMU is a very good school. The smaller classrooms made it much easier to learn. |
| Instruction | 8 | I studied in two different fields before graduating with my BGS. I still feel I could work in those other fields because of the knowledge I gained. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My first three years were in Sports Medicine. It was a very difficult and in depth field of study. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very good balance between the two. Some courses are too hands on and some are too book oriented, but overall, it was very balanced. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There were all kinds of available options. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Very good technology was available. All facilities needed were available and were very nice. |
| Social Life | 9 | Sports are very important at WTAMU. There is always something going on that brings students together. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | I am not participating in the Alumni Association. The school does have a very good Alumni program, though. |
Abilene Christian University • Abilene, TX
Studying Business (completion in 2010)
• 9/14/2011
"I can't give it a 9 because there are a few things I would change, but at the end of the day the structure of the school really freed me. Now when something is hard, it seems so easy because of the way I was taught. They gave us the uphill climb so life could be a downward ride."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school isn't the problem, the economic situation of the country is. If I had used all the tools the school gave me, such as job placement, I wouldn't be a store manager, I would work in a firm in Dallas. From the moment you leave the doors of our college you are truly on your own. So make the most of what you have been given. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Abilene Christian has an amazing business program that almost funds itself. It is amazing to see a small school, mean so much. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school was amazing, it was one of the best business programs in the country. My school even set up a group just for female business majors like myself. Most universities don't give that type of support. |
| Instruction | 10 | I know how to run a business. I came in off the street and turned sales around 100 percent. My school actually prepared me for the real world and I thank them for that. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was easier than medical school, which I am in now, but harder than other programs. When I look back I think that wasn't hard, just time consuming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I could have not purchased books once we became an Apple school. Students all had iPhones, iPads, Macs. Everything became about using Apple products to get the jobs done. We went from occasional use of books to answering quiz questions on your phone. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | While there are a few night classes, ACU is a private school. They have a lot of rules and regulations that make it hard to work and go to school, because more is required of you. They want to make sure you are an all around Christian, and flexibility is one of the things you loose. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The business building was new and breathtaking. It featured elevators, ramps, dining area, it was like a city within a school. You never had to leave, there was even rooms just for prayer. Tutors and groups meet there on a regular basis. It was easy to jump into a study group - just show up and wait. |
| Social Life | 8 | As a private school there were no parties but I must say I didn't miss them. They had all these social events, chapel, Sunday day and night service, games, night bible study, really everything else but with a Godly spin. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I honestly don't know. I am from Alabama and I moved back. There are options to be placed in jobs in Dallas and San Antonio but I felt Alabama is where I needed to be at this time in my life. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I already knew a number of our alumni by the time I graduated. I actually took a break from school for a year, and in that time other alumni had written to me and invited me to reunions. It is amazing to see them all so passionate about our school, though it is easy to see why. |
University Of North Texas • Denton, TX
Studying Applied Arts And Science (completion in 2009)
• 9/27/2011
"They gave me a degree which allowed me to start my career. There is always room for improvement. I just think the whole education system is flawed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | No school really teaches someone how to sell. They also do not teach the qualities of a positive attitude as a management style. You just have to get a degree and get to work to learn. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | People would interview me because I have a degree. When I see a resume with a degree, I do not research the quality, I just make sure there is a degree. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I was in school for seven years with no direction. I just took the first degree I had enough credits to get out of school with. |
| Instruction | 4 | I had to take many classes that do not relate to a sales professional. Very little guidance to help point me in any direction. I do not think college prepares students for work - so what if you know a few key terms, this does not mean anything when you go to work. There are few classes that have role playing as you do with training when you go to work. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I had very little trouble learning the bare minimum, which is all you have to do to get a degree. No professors really challenged me to do more. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I did not have much hands on training. It was primarily book training. A lot of key term memorization. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | There were certain classes I had to take to graduate that were only offered one semester a year. This forced me to take a few random classes while waiting. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | There was a lack of awareness set forth to anything that was out there. I did not know or want to know of any additional help as I maintained good grades. |
| Social Life | 3 | School spirit was very poor. There were too many want-to-be hippies and no good athletic program to get behind. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There were some job fairs on campus and postings to a job board website. Nothing beyond that, and I am just assuming that is average, as I have nothing else to compare it to. It really did not seem that anyone at the university went above and beyond to help. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There are meetings to go to and people to meet. Few people attend, and when they have an event, it is put on by the football booster club, who is trying to sell season tickets. |
University Of North Texas • Denton, TX
Studying Biology/Biochemistry (completion in 1992)
• 10/23/2011
"I loved the whole college experience and felt well prepared. I would have enjoyed staying there for graduate work."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Even though my degree was in a different subject, I felt the education was sound. I have used many of the skill sets and discipline I learned in college in my career. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UNT has always had a good reputation for Biology and the sciences. They normally have joint lab ventures with other major universities. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UNT has a great Science program. I learned a lot about genetic engineering and could have gone on in that career field as well. |
| Instruction | 10 | I worked in the labs and got real experience to use later. If I hadn't gotten married and started a family I would have pursued this career further. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The hard sciences are very difficult and time consuming with all the lab requirements. Few other degree programs are as time consuming or difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As a biology major it had to be hands on with all the lab work we did. Working in the labs made it even more so. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | UNT has always had a large commuter base from Dallas. They accommodate many different types of students. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I never had any problems with the facilities. Of course, I graduated a long time ago. |
| Social Life | 9 | I had a great time in college. On campus activities were varied and a lot of fun. |
| Placement Services | I've never used these services so I don't have any real opinion. I am sure they are adequate. | |
| Alumni Network | I don't know much about them as I am not involved in alumni activities. I live several states away now. |
Sam Houston State University • Huntsville, TX
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2004)
• 11/2/2011
"If I had it to do over again, I would probably still choose to go to SHSU. I can't think of anything that I especially *disliked* about the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I liked SHSU, but it may not be the best place for this particular career field. I would probably recommend the University of Houston instead for business or sales fields. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | As stated previously, this is not one of the major programs the university is known for. They are primarily known for teaching, journalism, and criminal science. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Business is not one of the fields that SHSU is known for. However, my education did adequately prepare me for the field I am working in. |
| Instruction | 5 | I had several professors who seemed more interested in leaving early than actually teaching. Additionally, confusing schedule conflicts forced me to take some courses out of order. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Again, I would say average. It wasn't too hard, but I did have to study for tests and spend time doing homework and reading assignments. I probably averaged about 3 hours of outside work per class per week. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The business classes that I took were very book-oriented. We occasionally did projects that required hands-on teamwork, but for the most part it was reading assignments, research reports, and tests. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | They have a lot of offerings of TIMES available, but few CLASSES that are available during those times. Most degree programs require a series of courses that must be taken in order, one per semester. However, many of these classes are only offered once per YEAR, which makes it extremely difficult to complete the requirements. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I loved the fact that internet was available in the dorms. Classrooms were roomy and generally well-equipped. Several computer labs, a large library, and a study skills center provided additional resources for studying and researching. |
| Social Life | 7 | They call it the suitcase school for a reason - lots of people leave on the weekends. Despite this, however, there is a lot of school spirit. Great pep rallies, lots of social events, and plenty of NON-SORORITY parties make it a fun, sociable atmosphere. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I did not receive any help from the school in finding a job. They did not have an adequate internship program and after graduation they were of no help whatsoever. I found my job through the Texas Workforce Commission. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Their alumni network is nearly non-existent for recently graduated students. They only seem to be interested in those who are well-established in their careers (and have money to send). |
Baylor University • Waco, TX
Studying Business (completion in 2010)
• 11/26/2011
"Very satisfied. I would absolutely recommend it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I would recommend it. Fantastic university. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I believe the program is one of the better ones in the nation. I'm not positive on that, though. |
| Program Quality | 7 | There were great, supportive professors. They had my back. |
| Instruction | 9 | I was entered into a great internship. It has made settling into my current job easy. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I'm a fairly smart individual, so it wasn't too difficult. I did, however, have a hard time with certain things. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was very close to 50/50. It seemed like we alternated between the 2 most days. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It was very flexible. I could do almost anything with my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The libraries weren't always open at the best times. There were, however, great labs and always good study groups to sign up for. |
| Social Life | 9 | The social experience was excellent. Great spirit, great athletics. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was placed in a great internship senior year. This made getting a job the next year very easy. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I wish this would've been better. I didn't see much support. |
West Texas A&M • Amarillo, TX
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2010)
• 11/21/2011
"Not a bad school at all. It did what it needed to do."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it. I'm sure the same education could be granted in other places, but it works. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'm not aware of any reputation they might have when it comes to this degree. They are more known for agriculture. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My degree program gave me a good basis for this career. It's important to understand the mechanics behind business when you're in a position which allows you to build business. |
| Instruction | 6 | I was well equipped for the job I am doing. I feel as if all of the core information was necessary. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I spent quite a lot of time in the industry before taking these courses. A lot of it came naturally, due to experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The only hands-on learning we had was when I put my hands on pens and paper. Everything was research. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I had no problem with scheduling classes. I don't know of any conflicts. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We paid a lot for our education, due to the improvements they made in the facilities and resources. Not bad at all. |
| Social Life | I didn't participate in social events. | |
| Placement Services | 1 | No assistance granted whatsoever. My hard work is how I got my job. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I'm more likely to get requests asking me to donate money than offers to help me out in my career now. No career assistance was granted. |
Wayland Baptist University • Plainview, TX
Studying Business Admin Marketing/Management (completion in 2003)
• 11/20/2011
"I enjoyed my experience and would go back if I could do it all again. I did not choose "extremely satisfied" because areas such as career services could be more developed. The school sets a high bar to be met and it does a great job meeting it, but there are areas of opportunity."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew up and found myself in college, and I learned a lot. The classroom environment is great and built to ensure learning. I would recommend this school to anyone! |
| Program Reputation | 7 | They still maintain a similar staff and faculty at the school today. They have a core set of values and they stick to them. They expect excellence in the classroom, and that will never change. The school has built a strong reputation, and people respect them and their programs. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I enjoyed school and am currently working on my master's through another school. My educational experience helped me to be more successful. I had caring teachers and they made sure we learned the curriculum. |
| Instruction | 8 | They made sure in school that we knew our curriculum. I also have received thorough trainings throughout several jobs that have helped tremendously with my current position. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I have never been one to excel at school, and it was a challenge for me to carry my workload. It took a lot of discipline and hard work, and it finally paid off in the end. It not only made me a better student, but has helped me to be a better employee. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a mix of both, but it was more bookwork. There was a lot of information to learn, and while they included hands-on activities, there was a high expectation to be in your books and know your material. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I never had a problem with scheduling and was always able to set a schedule that was flexible. They offered multiple class times, and the rotation of classes was well laid out to ensure timely graduation. Our degree plan was reviewed constantly to make sure we were on track. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had our own department and separate building with the tools and resources we needed. There was also a large library on campus with adequate information to complete any assignment. Teachers were readily available and online sources were made available to us when needed. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school was huge on social events and sporting events. They wanted campus life to be fun, and they provided plenty of opportunities for everyone. Activities were diverse as to include everyone. I worked in student activities and know that this is part of what makes the school so good. |
| Placement Services | 2 | It is almost nonexistent. There is a career services office, but I was never able to get help. I was given a few brochures and wished the best of luck. Resume writing and other professional skills were left up to me to develop and figure out. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I hardly know anything about it and have had limited contact with the school since graduation. I know others that I have gone to school with feel the same. Upon graduation, it wasn't a priority to them, it seems, to connect us to alumni services. |
The University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Finance (completion in 2010)
• 12/6/2011
"I loved it. I had so much fun and learned so much."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's full of good people. There's lots of fun to be had. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The reputation is extremely good. We are known for our alumni network and ranking. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UT is one of the top public business schools. They gave me a very well-rounded education. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors were topnotch. The career services (finding a job, preparing, etc.) helped me. |
| How Difficult | 5 | College only helped direct my studies. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did many case studies. We had so many real-world examples. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I can take most classes at any time. The summers offer many classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The libraries are dust-free and the lawns are manicured. It's perfect for studying. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had a great social experience at college. |
| Placement Services | 10 | We get very good job placement. They always talk about jobs. They help you find them. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | We're known for our alumni network. However, they always want me to pay money. I don't want to pay money. |
University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Business Admin (completion in 2010)
• 12/22/2011
"If I could go back in time, I would still go to UT. I loved it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you want to succeed in business, you have to find the best business school. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school has a good reputation. Everyone knows about it. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program taught me how to find a job and how to move up in that job. My program was very difficult to get into. |
| Instruction | 10 | My professors were knowledgeable and helpful. I learned everything I needed to know. |
| How Difficult | 10 | It was difficult to get into the program and it was even more difficult to succeed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a perfect mix. Some classes were very book, but others were very hands on, so they evened each other out. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Making my schedule was difficult, but I made it work. I wish they had more night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything was topnotch. I recommend the school just off of its academic facilities alone. |
| Social Life | 10 | Austin students are my favorite. They know how to work and they know how to have fun. It was the perfect mixture. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Austin is booming right now. There are many job opportunities, and my school did a wonderful job at placing me in the right sector. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | I wish they would let me make some money before asking for it, but I don't mind. They utilize social media to stay in touch. |
University Of Houston • Houston, TX
Studying Theatre Arts (MFA) (completion in 1999)
• 1/17/2012
"I was satisfied insofar as I completed my MFA as intended and on time. I was not satisfied with the lack of preparation in terms of vocational guidance and support."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend my school for any young professional seeking the most general education in terms of taking an advanced degree and honing some basic skills. I would not, however, recommend the University of Houston to anyone who believed it would make all the difference in determining their future success. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Triple Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Edward Albee was my mentor. Additionally, two-time Tony Award-winning producer Stuart Ostrow was my teacher and guide. This faculty makes the University of Houston unique. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Since rapport-building is the very first step in my industry, I learned skills that have helped me be a chameleon to mirror many of my clients. That said, my MFA did not prepare me to qualify my tours nor overcome their common objections. |
| Instruction | 4 | I received great training in terms of mastery of the English language, getting along with others, and team building. That said, I didn't learn the specific business skills necessary to facilitate my success in sales. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I was not allowed to make more than two grades of "C" or less. I also had to complete an internship in the ticket office of a local professional theatre while maintaining a full academic course load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Theatre at its core is about doing. The University of Houston was no different. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | In larger cities, there is often more flexibility in terms of course offerings later in the afternoon and even in the early evening. U of H was no different in that regard. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | There were several new facilities recently completed before I started my master's degree. Several of the main buildings were less than 5 years old. |
| Social Life | 5 | Most would consider the University of Houston to be a spirited university. However, my undergraduate degree was completed at LSU, and anyone aware of that campus knows that few universities are more spirited. |
| Placement Services | 3 | Theatre Arts requires self-motivation. My professors didn't facilitate my career advancement beyond my training itself. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | University of Houston is a relatively small university. The reach of UH does not effectively stretch out to Southern California. |
Texas Wesleyan University • Fort Worth, TX
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2009)
• 1/30/2012
"As a commuter student at such a small school, I don't feel that I had the normal college experience. My degree has merely allowed me to get my foot in the door."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The school lacks any reputation that will impress anyone. There are more prestigious schools that cost far less. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | It is non-existent. |
| Program Quality | 4 | The program was very small, only three instructors. Looking at other schools' curriculum, my instruction was not as in-depth. |
| Instruction | 7 | I am still able to speak intelligently about the curriculum. I graduated with a 3.8 in the courses pertaining to my major. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I concurrently took 20 hours of courses and worked 30 hours/week, while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Textbooks and instructors were the only resources that I really required. Both were readily available. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The program was so small that some classes were offered once every three semesters. However, conference courses were offered if students required such classes in order to graduate. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Instructors were the primary resource. They were extremely knowledgeable. |
| Social Life | 2 | The vast majority of students commuted. Social activities were largely limited to the small population that lived on-campus. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Job placement was made available to those who wished to teach. However, very little assistance was provided to those who did not. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I have not received anything from them. I feel no desire to contribute anything to them. |
Rice University • Houston, TX
Studying Mechanical Engineering/Sociology (completion in 2000)
• 1/28/2012
"I loved that my school has a powerful reputation in and around Houston. It has opened doors for me. I wish I had been able to participate more in campus activities socially, rather than having to work. However, it did provide me with the opportunity to support myself and obtain my degrees."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | There is a strong engineering background and that is what first propelled me into my current career. The Sociology was effective in helping me understand people and how they think and feel. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | In the engineering field, Rice is well-respected. I have received favorable reviews from peers because of the good reputation that Rice has. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school has given me credibility among my peers in the industry. My studies prepared me to understand the technical aspect required in my career. |
| Instruction | 8 | The quality of instruction was generally of a high caliber; however, many professors were there because they wanted to do research. Oftentimes, researchers are not great instructors. Consequently, there were some good and some not-so-good instructors. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I took over 15 hours per semester while in college, and worked simultaneously. This made it difficult at times to master concepts that I didn't study in the afternoon due to my work schedule. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was ample mix. In my Thermodynamics course, there was a good deal of bookwork, but we also toured a power plant. We had labs for ELEC courses, Mechanical Engineering courses, chemistry courses. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Because of the size of the campus, there were not many options. I know at other schools, students can choose which teachers they want. Here, there is generally one teacher for a given course subject. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Professors were very open to receiving questions about my coursework. The library material was very applicable to my Sociology curriculum. For my engineering studies, there were a myriad of computer resources and laboratories. |
| Social Life | 9 | Though our sports programs are not very highly-regarded, many students still participate. The band goes to football and basketball games. Students enjoy watching our baseball team, which has done very well nationally. There are many different musicals, social clubs, and intramurals to keep students engaged. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The career services center arranged for my interview on-campus. They also helped me with my resume and provided follow-up for me. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | My matriculating class in 1993 was 550 students. Because we are such a small class, there just weren't many people to socialize with. I matriculated with people with whom I did not graduate because it took me longer to finish my studies due to my work schedule. |
Mays Business School • College Station, TX
Studying MBA (completion in 2008)
• 2/27/2012
"I was very satisfied with my experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend Texas A&M and Mays to anyone asking me. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | TAM is definitely one of the strongest schools in the US. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was good, although there are areas that can be improved (at least when I graduated in 2008). |
| Instruction | 8 | The classes touched upon areas relevant to my degree; however, I had the feeling that the content was somewhat outdated at the time. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I thought it was average, as I was employed part-time at the time. It is probably easier if you are not employed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a 50/50 mix, leaning towards book based. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | There was a lot of flexibility, although at times, I would've preferred more. Also, I would've preferred more online material. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The support staff and the professors were awesome. The only thing that would've made this a 10 would've been more online resource availability. |
| Social Life | 10 | Texas A&M is definitely a 10 when it comes to social activities. Great school spirit and great football team! |
| Placement Services | I was already employed at the time and did not change employers (although I did change jobs). | |
| Alumni Network | I did not join yet. |
Tyler Junior College • Tyler, TX
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2006)
• 3/24/2012
"It wasn't the best college experience. It wasn't the worst college experience either."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It was exciting enough, and I stayed out of trouble enough. |
| Program Reputation | I do not keep up with the general consensus regarding that school any longer. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | Professors were very connected and patient with students to learn what was needed. I felt as though students were not challenged. |
| Instruction | 7 | See previous statement. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I put little to no effort into my degree program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was an even mix. Most mathematics were strictly book work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I saw no variance from their flexibility to other colleges I attended. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Great atmosphere. Great support from staff. Great facilities for extracurricular activities. |
| Social Life | 8 | There were always social groups inviting any student in. If you were inclined to hang out with a particular crowd or two, you could easily slip into a party lifestyle. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Networking opportunities were given through almost all my professors. |
| Alumni Network | I do not take part in the alumni programs. |
University Of Texas At Austin • Austin, TX
Studying Business (completion in 2009)
• 4/1/2012
"I think that the school is great. I would recommend it to others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great school to help you understand the career. It will help you look for a job. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | My school's reputation has mixed opinions. Some say because of the education quality and instructors it is one of the best schools to attend, while others argue that because its the "party school" people don't take it seriously. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel that my education has prepared me well for my current position. It was a challenge but well worth it. |
| Instruction | 8 | My education and instruction quality was great. It prepared me for my career but was not always completely relevant. |
| How Difficult | 8 | While I was in school I also worked a full time job. That added onto the stress of the school work itself. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was not too much hands on work. It was a lot of book learning for me. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | It is some-what flexible. Like I mentioned earlier I worked a full time job while I was in school, and at times it was hard to find a class in the late afternoon or evening to take. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school has some of the best facilities and resources. We have a great gym, student center, and HUGE libraries. |
| Social Life | 5 | My school is known as a "party" school. I was there for four years and not once did I attend a party. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The University is excellent with helping you find a job. The reason I am at Target now is because of my school's help. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I feel that the alumni support is just slightly above average. Other universities around Texas have a much better system. |
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