Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Secondary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Wayne County Community College District, Grand Valley State, Henry Ford Community College, and Michigan State.
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 Wayne State, University of Michigan-Flint, Lake Superior State, and College for Creative Studies.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Wayne County Community College District, Andrews, Lawrence Technological University, and University of Detroit Mercy.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Spring Arbor University, Bay Mills, Andrews, and Kirtland Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Andrews, Calvin, University of Michigan, and Hope College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Adrian College, Albion, Alma, and Hope College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Michigan, Michigan Technological University, Albion, and Calvin.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at College for Creative Studies, University of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University, and Ferris State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Andrews, Calvin, Albion, and Hope College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Wayne State University • Detroit, MI
Studying Sports Administration (completion in 2004)
• 10/29/2011
"It was a satisfying, gratifying degree to earn. It was financially tolerable, and allowed for the career advancement I desired."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For those intending to teach in Michigan, are seeking the additional pay grade, and who also have a background in athletic administration, this is a great program. It provides a challenge, and a credential, without breaking the bank. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | WSU's program is nationally renowned, and highly regarded in the region. There were many from my undergrad program at a different university that moved onto this program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My Master's program at WSU was awesome. It is a highly sought after program in my area, and there were many from my undergrad program who matriculated in the same direction. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors in the MA program were experts in the field, and well connected in the area, as well as nationally. There were amazing opportunities, and a willingness to explore options outside of their areas of specialty. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was not a terribly rigorous program, especially given that my first bachelor's degree was also in this subject. The challenge was greater for those who had less experience and aptitude. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was very hands-on and experiential in nature. There were many group projects and cooperative learning exercises, as well as an internship required for graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Many in my program were working professionals, so coursework was offered with much flexibility. Most of my class work was in the evening, and since my time there, the selection of coursework offered online has expanded greatly. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | WSU is an urban, state-funded public university. Most of the student areas left a bit to be desired, and I did not use them frequently. |
| Social Life | 4 | I did not socialize much at this school, as I was already a working professional. It is a Division I school as far as athletics, and has the usual undergrad social options (Greek life, etc). |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have no experience with the CP&P at WSU. I was employed throughout and after receiving my degree, so did not use that service. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive regular alumni communication from this university, but have not explored many of their options. Instead, I network more through my undergrad alumni groups. |
Wayne State University • Detroit, MI
Studying History English (completion in 2007)
• 11/5/2011
"I feel I was very prepared for the workforce. I think coming out of school, I was already a seasoned teacher."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think anyone entering education should consider Wayne State. It takes a great deal of care in preparing you for teaching in the real world. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is regarded as one of the best teachers' colleges in the Midwest. I often find many people feel my degree from Wayne State is seen as a badge of honor. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I feel that it prepared me very well for teaching. I feel that it was such a large college that I was treated a bit like a number. |
| Instruction | 9 | I think all of my professors were very skilled and taught real world ideas. I think I was very well prepared for teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was very demanding early on, with very tough assignments, and a great deal was expected of me. Later, in the last few months, I did feel I was doing a great deal of busywork. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Much of the learning was considered real world. Teacher program students needed to be involved in the classroom or the tutoring level very early on and very often. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Very rigid and tough to work around. I feel they are very late to join the online class bandwagon. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Huge school with massive resources. Many labs, tutors, and professors on call for help or information. |
| Social Life | 8 | In my first few years, there was little to no sense of community. As my years went on, though, they became better and better about setting up fun networking and community events. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They will help you with job fairs and give you some good contacts and leads. After the first year or so, there is such a high turnover in the school that I find it is tough to keep connections. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I feel most times, it is just about paying money. There is little to no real network; just cash grab phone calls. |
University Of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI
Studying Mathematics Education (completion in 2006)
• 11/28/2011
"Mathematically and intellectually, I grew a lot while at my school, but otherwise, I do not feel like I gained much from the experience. I barely remember what I learned in my education classes, and most of what I do as a teacher, I have learned while on the job. At first, the job was almost overwhelming, and most of what I know today has come from learning from my mistakes. I feel like I learned little about how to function in a real classroom, although I did learn a lot of theory, which also has its place."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This is a difficult question, because I do not have a great sense as to how other schools work. As I talk to other teachers, it seems that most of the work done at university level is so theoretical that it is difficult to apply it to the real classroom. The main reason that I lean towards "no" instead of "maybe" is because I know that other schools send their students to more classrooms and for a longer period of time, and I think that is one of the most valuable aspects of the entire situation. More focus on actually working with students would enhance the educational experience a great deal. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | As far as Mathematics and Economics, the University of Michigan is right with the best of the best. As far as education is concerned, they are likely a notch below that, but still very highly respected. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The best part of my experience was all of the work that we did around literacy. Starting in the field, I was a little uncertain as to how reading and literacy were important within mathematics, but I have learned that even outside of number literacy, literacy is crucial. There were several things that I found lacking, though. First, too much of what I learned seemed to be applicable in a perfect world with perfect students, but that is never the case. We talk so much about inspiring students but forget the fact that most students are not as easily inspired as us teachers were in school, because we most likely just loved school for the sake of learning. I also felt like my university did little to prepare me with classroom management techniques and how to handle the psyche of a teenager. |
| Instruction | 5 | The literacy training was essential, but I felt like so much of the mathematics that I learned will never be applicable to my job. I learned so much beyond what was needed that it feels like it was a waste of time. I wish there were more methods classes and special projects classes. I obtained some career preparation and resume building, but that was more from the teaching frat that I had joined while I was there. I wish that my college would have taught me more applicable information, rather than theoretical information. For example, we learned that you had to connect with students, but they often offered little as to how to accomplish that. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The mathematics and economic courses were insanely difficult. Grades were basically competitive due to the bell curve grading structure, and with so many intelligent students to compete with, it was very difficult. The education courses, on the other hand, were pretty easy. Most of what we learned was very theoretical, yet very obvious. Anyone going into the field has some idea about relationships and getting to know students and such. So much seemed to be just saying and writing what they wanted to hear. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was balanced very well. I wish that we had started visiting classes one semester sooner, though. We spent one semester observing and then one semester student teaching. I think that some more time in classrooms would have helped a great deal. I also wish that I would have had the opportunity to observe many different teachers during the observations, rather than the same one each week. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The majority of the classes at my school were offered at many different times and often different locations. Unfortunately, the education classes were much more limited since we had small cohorts of 15-20 students, so we were set to specific times for those types of classes. The school could have utilized online learning a lot more for the education classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Students who were unable to find resources at the school, such as libraries and tutors, were students who never left their rooms. With libraries all over, media centers in almost every building, and more classroom space than could ever be used, there was little more to be needed. There were almost endless supplies of labs and tutors, and most professors would truly take extra time to assist any students that needed the help. |
| Social Life | 7 | There were so many social events at my school that it was often difficult to keep up with everything that was going on. My biggest complaint with the social atmosphere is that many of the students were from a much more fortunate upbringing than myself, so there seemed to be more snobby students that had a false sense of this world. This was more true with my school in general, but once I started in the School of Education, I found many more students that were on the same level as myself, and I found it to be a much greater experience. |
| Placement Services | 9 | There were many seminars and job fairs to cover just about anything that a student could want in terms of help with getting a job. The portfolio that I created was a crucial part in preparing for interviews, although it did not offer much in itself. The biggest struggle was often finding those resources, as they were not always the best at spreading the word to all of the students within the School of Education. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have done very little with the alumni network from my school. About the only thing I hear from them is that they are looking for donations once or twice every year. Although to be honest, I am not sure what I could expect from them that would be all too helpful to me at this point. |
Central Michigan University • Mt. Pleasant, MI
Studying Music Education (completion in 2009)
• 12/12/2011
"My education has served me extremely well and the relationships I built at CMU still endure today. They prepared me for the education world and gave me a life experience I will never forget."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For the value (in-state at least) I don't think there is a better school you can go to. The faculty are great, the campus is amazing, and the people are just top notch. I haven't met very many people who have said they didn't like their experience at CMU. And those who have said that about CMU have said the same about the other institutions they went afterwards. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Some of the faculty have retired or changed schools. From what I've heard, however, most of the changes have been for the good. Since I do not live in the area I cannot attend concerts and judge for myself, so I gave it the same rating as when I went to school. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The music faculty are great and the ensembles are top notch. Some of the education faculty are not the greatest, but do a decent job. It would be nice if the education department worked a little better with the music department. |
| Instruction | 8 | The music faculty are great. You usually get professors and not G.A.'s as in other degrees. The professors are smart and know how to communicate the concepts in ways that everyone can understand. As far as relevancy, the music courses cover very relevant material, but the education courses are geared more toward general education teachers and even then can be questionable. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The music courses can be a challenge, especially since you are expected to get minimum grades in courses in order for them to count toward an education major. That combined with the performance and ensemble requirements can make for long days, but it's worth it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Music is naturally a hands-on discipline. Others that I knew from other programs though said their classes were a mix too, but I really think that this all comes with the territory of your program. Some are naturally not going to be as hands on as others. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | For general education courses and many other areas there are a lot of different options. Lots of evening courses and summer offerings. Online is available but only through distance learning which requires extra applications beyond the local campus. Usually the only weekend offerings were sports/outdoor courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All of the performance halls, rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, lounges, and music resource center are great. The music resource library alone has an entire library of CD's, LP's, Sheet Music, and Method Books. Computers are usually top notch and have the latest music software installed. |
| Social Life | 9 | School spirit is high, always has been. There are seemingly a large number of organized social events, and their attendance was increasing by the time I left college. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The school does a great job with mock interviews and preparing you to write proper resumes for your job, and for most positions career services is great at helping you find positions. For the music program, however, they are helpful but not as much as with other programs. Part of this is the nature of the degree, though. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I met tons of alumni while in college who would drop in. I'm still in contact with many of them even now that I'm alumnus as well. |
Central Michigan University • Mount Pleasant, MI
Studying English (completion in 2008)
• 12/26/2011
"I liked Central Michigan University. However, I would have really liked some help choosing my major and what path to go on. It felt like I was on my own at times."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you are not an independent person, do not go to CMU. I had to do a lot of tough decision making by myself without the help of advisers. So, I do not think the University is for everyone. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The professors for the English program were phenomenal. They were all different, but taught specific necessary education in order to learn how to teach properly. Also, they were extremely helpful even after I graduated. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I really enjoyed the programs my school had to offer. From my general education courses to my dissertation to my graduate studies, Central Michigan University had a wide variety of classes and many friendly teachers to help. |
| Instruction | 8 | I was not as prepared as I would have liked to be; while I was taught how to instruct a class, I feel as though it lacked in how to teach difficult students. I was not prepared for the social aspect of teaching. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Overall, I thought the work was easy. I put little effort into my studies and passed with flying colors. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my program classes were hands on. They included presentations, correcting actual papers, peer tutoring, and other fun projects to learn. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | For the most part there were a wide variety of classes. Also, I was able to sign up for online classes and summer classes to fill in my schedule without any extra tuition charge. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | With a new stadium for physical exercise and a newer library for studying, CMU had everything a student needed to succeed. Also, they have new computers and available resources for help as needed. |
| Social Life | 5 | There were many social clubs and athletics available, but they were difficult to join it seemed like. If you did not have a friend to get you in, you couldn't join the group. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Career Services offers a variety of programs and career fairs to find jobs. Also, they are very good with correcting resumes and allowing mock interviews in order to prepare students. However, they do not work with graduate students much. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | CMU has a ton of scholarships available through the alumni association as well as several grants and other awards. Also, they provided post-graduate support. |
Western Michigan University • Kalamazoo, MI
Studying Education (completion in 2002)
• 2/13/2012
"I generally enjoyed WMU very much. The strong education that I earned there has served me very well."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think the teachers really care about the students and the learning environment is exceptional. If you invest yourself in it you will really learn everything you need to be successful. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It ranks as one of the best education schools in the country. It produces many teachers every year (flooding the region with too many teachers). |
| Program Quality | 9 | I feel like I received a very well rounded education. I feel like Western has great professors with experience and knowledge. |
| Instruction | 9 | A significant amount of hands on activities were included in the curriculum. Every part of the program was clearly outlined and explained. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some of the classes were very challenging. The internships were very long and because they are not paid they were very intense. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is quite a large amount of hands on experience. Internships are a big part of this, including time spent in the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes tend to be later at night because of the teachers that teach them. Because of the internships it is very difficult to hold a job while attending classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Some of the buildings are very dated but others have top of the line computers and wifi accessibility. |
| Social Life | 6 | There are quite a few social events. The sports teams are very strongly supported and campus activities are common. |
| Placement Services | 4 | There is very little job placement assistance. There are options available, just not very many directly associated with Education. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The alumni group is expensive. The group is very limited in the services that it provides. |
Michigan State University • Lansing, MI
Studying Math (completion in 2006)
• 3/13/2012
"Great degree offered. Excellent reputation to go with it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely go to my school. There are many opportunities. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Ranked #1 in the nation for education. Others consider it a good program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Excellent program. Ranked high in nation. |
| Instruction | 10 | Teachers are well trained. Competition is good. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Challenging assignments. Lots of reading and reflecting. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Book reading. Internet and other projects also. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Online classes available. International programs available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Good online catalogs. Excellent library. |
| Social Life | 10 | Excellent sports program. Lots of activities on campus. |
| Placement Services | I did not use the service and don't know about it. | |
| Alumni Network | I have not been contacted about alumni support. |
Michigan State University • East Lansing, MI
Studying Microbiology And Public Health (completion in 1988)
• 3/25/2012
"I do wish I had had more teaching instruction, instead of just being put into a situation as a teaching assistant and told to help the students. Again, the whole focus seemed to have been on research."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If MSU has instituted some teaching classes for graduate students, I would recommend it. Otherwise, I would recommend a smaller school with connections to school systems to collaborate with. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It is good. The professors are well published. There is not a Nobel Prize winner among them, though. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Some of the faculty were well known in their fields, but even then, they were not the best teachers. Most valued research over teaching us. |
| Instruction | 6 | I was trained to teach by being thrown into lab classes with undergraduate students. I was expected to do more research than teach, but that was not my intended focus and it was stressful. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The upper-level biochemistry classes were very challenging and grades were solely determined by the midterm and final. Also, my major professor was rather nutty and spent more time out of the lab than in it helping us. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was required to take about an equal number of research credits and regular classes. The classes took quite a lot of study time, while the lab work was, of course, hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I thought at the time that it was pretty flexible, since there were weekend and night classes. I'm not aware if they have online classes at this point. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The library was excellent and was run by caring professionals. Computer resources were only adequate at the time; you had to find a free computer and sign up for a time. |
| Social Life | 8 | MSU was geared to the undergraduate. There were people in each department who were in charge of social events, though, and I had a lot of fun playing intramural softball, volleyball, etc. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Most of the job placement services were geared to the undergraduate. Graduate students were pretty much on their own. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There is a good network available if I were to choose to take part in it. Mainly, the alumni group focuses on the people who were undergraduates there. It seems we are always being called up for more money. |
Grand Valley State University • Allendale, MI
Studying English (completion in 2005)
• 4/5/2012
"I really enjoyed attending GVSU and have no regrets about going there for my undergraduate experience. I would strongly recommend it to others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think that the overall student experience at GVSU was very fulfilling. There were so many things offered and I couldn't take advantage of all of them, even if I had the time. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | GVSU's College of Education is nationally accredited and recognized for its high standards of excellence. I believe it is one of the best schools in the state of Michigan for education. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My university provided me with a great foundation for this career. I learned a lot not only about the content area I was teaching, but about methods for teaching which made me successful in the classroom. |
| Instruction | 10 | The quality of instruction at GVSU was very good. Professors were always available to answer questions and to help me learn. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I thought that college was challenging. However, I was able to balance my college workload with an on-campus job and involvement in clubs and activities. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The answer to this question is really going to depend on the field of study and the level of coursework. I think courses become more hands-on at the higher levels of classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I think that, for the most part, GVSU's scheduling is pretty average. There are some online classes and weekend classes which could be seen as more flexible, but there are also classes that are only offered only one time per year, which is less flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I think that the facilities at GVSU are some of the best in the state. GVSU is constantly remodeling, upgrading, and building new classrooms and housing. |
| Social Life | 6 | Although the campus at GVSU is growing, it is still somewhat of a "commuter school" and doesn't have the long tradition or history of some of the older universities. That said, I think that there is a lot to get involved in there, including with fan events for sports teams. The school wants students to be involved in more than just classes. |
| Placement Services | I didn't utilize GVSU's Office of Career Services when looking for a job. However, I know of the resources there that could help me if I needed it. | |
| Alumni Network | I am not very involved with my college's alumni group. I have received calls during fundraisers, but other than that haven't heard anything from them. |
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