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 Lane, Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State, and Tennessee Technological 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 Le Moyne-Owen College, Aquinas, Victory, and Austin Peay State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Aquinas.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Le Moyne-Owen College, Aquinas, Victory, and Tennessee State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Victory, Union University, and Tennessee Technological University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Vanderbilt University, Fisk, Tennessee Temple University, and Southern Adventist University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Hiwassee, Tennessee Temple University, Free Will Baptist Bible, and Fisk.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Vanderbilt University, Aquinas, Belmont, and The University of Tennessee.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Victory, Vanderbilt University, Lane, and Tennessee Temple University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Hiwassee, Vanderbilt University, Fisk, and Free Will Baptist Bible.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studying Education (completion in 2004)
• 10/27/2011
"I learned a lot at UT. I really enjoyed my time there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think if you are from Tennessee or want to live here it is definitely a good choice. It is not too expensive and you learn a lot. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the flagship of the state's school system. In state it has a good reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The University of Tennessee was a great experience. I had a lot of support there. |
| Instruction | 9 | Most of the faculty was very effective. The classes were well organized. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of reading and outside work. This work as all beneficial though. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While there was a lot of book learning we got the opportunity to interact a lot with local children and do hands on activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were a lot of classes and class times to choose from. That was a very good thing. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | We had a large, good library. The classrooms were nice. The facilities were kept up well. |
| Social Life | 10 | Football is an important part of school life. There is a lot of school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use it. I don't really know that much about it, but I heard good things. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I hate getting letters from them asking for money. I interact a lot with people I went to school with. |
East Tennessee State University • Johnson City, TN
Studying Mathematics (completion in 2009)
• 3/5/2012
"I was very satisfied with my experience. I gained great friends and I think the school prepared me to teach."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great school, especially for the nontraditional student. Teachers were very helpful and it is a great community. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I found a job pretty easily. My school is well respected in East Tennessee. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I think there were a few teachers who were truly interested in preparing me for boards, but some teachers didn't take their jobs seriously. My school required many hours shadowing and student teaching, which really prepared me. |
| Instruction | 9 | We were able to student teach in a Blue Ribbon School. The curriculum prepared me as best as it could, even though some of my early classes were pointless. |
| How Difficult | 10 | The fact that I have a math degree made my path very challenging. My math minor wasn't hard at all. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The earlier classes were more book oriented. As I got into my upper-level classes, it was purely hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I didn't work during college, so I was very flexible. My school did offer summer and evening classes at several locations. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Tutors were always available and the library was open most of the time. The classrooms were a perfect size. Academic advisors did a great job outlining expectations. My teachers were always there. |
| Social Life | 10 | I joined a sorority and honor organizations. The school isn't a true party school, so there was no excuse for me not to get my work done. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was offered a job right after student teaching. We also had a career center that was very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I had no support from alumni, but supposedly, they give money to scholarships. I never received any scholarships. |
Tennessee State University • Mt. Pleasant, TN
Studying English (completion in 1984)
• 3/24/2012
"The professors were caring. My major contained a small number of students. As a result, I feel that the students received a more individualized education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The professors are caring and the school is like a community. |
| Program Reputation | I haven't been back since I received my degree, so I do not know about its current reputation. I haven't heard any negative comments about the school, however. | |
| Program Quality | 10 | At TSU, I studied many different authors and eras of literature. I think I obtained a very versatile education. |
| Instruction | 9 | I think the preparation for a career in teaching was adequate. However, I should have been introduced to other options. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Sometimes, professors would require a book to be read in one or two days. I don't think enough consideration was given to those who read slowly. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | When I attended school, professors lectured. Not much emphasis was placed on projects, etc. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I rate it extremely flexible, because there is something for everyone. Many working adults have been able to work and go to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities we needed were available. I can only believe that the facilities are better now than when I attended. |
| Social Life | 9 | When I attended the school, many activities were planned for students. These activities included sororities, clubs, football games, and basketball games. However, social events held off campus were hard to attend if a student did not have transportation. |
| Placement Services | The school has a career center and it sponsors career fairs. However, I am not in position to rate it. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't get very much information from the alumni association. No connections seem to be made to the alumni unless it is homecoming. |
University Of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN
Studying Biochemistry And Cellular And Molecular Biology. Then I Went Back To Get My Teaching Certificate And Began A Master's In Science Education, But Did Not Finish. (completion in 2004)
• 3/24/2012
"Only thing that was not satisfying about UT was the cost of tuition. In-state and out-of-state tuition is quite high at UT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The University of Tennessee has an excellent education program. They do their best to prepare any future teacher for real-world application. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe the education program at UT is one of the top programs in our state. Also, I know they are ranked decently in the national polls. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The BCMB program at UT is excellent. The professors are around to help students when needed. |
| Instruction | 8 | The education program at UT definitely prepares you for teaching in the classroom. They do numerous hands-on activities and give you actual materials that you can apply in the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I believe it was average, as other majors such as electrical engineering would probably be much more difficult than education. However, there are other majors that might not be as difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say it was a very good mix of the two. Several classes taught theory, while others took you into the classroom or into the wilderness to teach you how to teach your subject to the students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I never had any trouble scheduling classes when I was working or when I started teaching. They offer many summer, night, and online options to accommodate most students. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | UT has a relatively new building for education classes. There are numerous computer labs and practice teaching rooms that provide education students with the tools they need to adequately prepare for being in the classroom. |
| Social Life | 10 | UT was ranked as the number one or two party school one year while I was there. UT football rivals nothing in the state! |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize the school's job placement service, as I heard about my job and began my alternative license teaching after starting the education program. | |
| Alumni Network | I have not been a part of my school's alumni network. |
Memphis State University • Memphis, TN
Studying Secondary Counseling And Career Placement Services (completion in 1980)
• 4/4/2012
"The professors in the program "practiced what they preached" as they led us, counseling program candidates, through individual journeys of empathy with unique insight of human nature. Had I not experienced such an experience in the graduate program there, I would not be the person and educator who I am today. Their guidance to enabled me to become what I wanted to as an educator."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely, beyond any doubts I would recommend the counseling program at The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN. The mission of the university is to change and affect lives by enabling the students to succeed in their goals. That is success !!!!! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The M.Ed. counseling program at Memphis St. University, now University of Memphis, was the first in the state of Tennessee to be accredited for the type of counseling program it was. The program's concentration was comprehensive including tenets of counseling using techniques originating as models from Gestalt to Jung and others at their levels of notoriety and success. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Too often school employee decision makers, including on site leaders, are encouraged to act in defense of their jobs. Such an environment diminishes morale not only among the faculty and staff but also parents, guardians, and the surrounding educational community. |
| Instruction | 9 | Immodestly but realistically, I know that I have been well trained, well educated, and experienced in facilitating learning instruction in several content areas in several different learning environments. Since I personally maintain that educators are idealistic realists, I believe that every educator has the responsibility & accountability to rate their abilities and their self-confidence without being so overly confident that they do not see remove for continued growth and improvement. |
| How Difficult | 10 | As my programs of study intensified at higher levels of expectations, challenges increased. Challenges and work loads, especially at the graduate and post-graduate studies levels required much time, intense thought, and a determination to push oneself to the edge and out of the box thinking at higher order level thinking skills toward self-actualization according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school provides all types of activities including hands-on, book learning, and technical instruction. The program of studies that I pursued at the graduate level and post-graduate level did not involve hands-on but people-on-people application of "book learning." | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | University of Memphis offers flexible day and night scheduling. Also, it offers not only on-site but satellite branches instruction. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | University of Memphis made, has made, and continues to exert intense efforts to be a people friendly successful environment. The University has support beyond the expected resources including the support financially of many individual, business, and corporate supporters. |
| Social Life | 7 | My social experience was limited as a student since I was employed full-time as a teacher and was also an expectant mother and mother while attending. The University continues to have school spirit and provides many opportunities for involvement of the students, staff, and community. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Memphis State's mission was and is the success of the students and graduates to affect not only themselves but also their communities. Career Services are comprehensive to place individuals not only locally but also nationally especially since the student population is quite diverse nationally and internationally. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Alumni networks of support were quite readily available if they were contacted. I chose not to rely too heavily on network contacts through any universities unless the contacts were individuals with whom I had taught. |
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