Any Allegheny people agree with Loren Pope?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Allegheny College
21

<p>Allegheny USED to offer an MA program in Education with an affiliation in Cleveland. Students would complete 4 years and a BA/BS at Allegheny and then do a fifth year at an affiliated program in Cleveland where they would do student teaching. At the end of the 5 year program they would have an MA in education and teacher certification. Currently, the MA program in Education is run through the Univ. of Pittsburgh. They also have a program with Columbia University School of Education that gives preference to Allegheny grads for Columbia's MA program in Education. </p>

<p>From the website:</p>

<p>"Through an exclusive agreement with Teachers College, Columbia University, Allegheny College offers selected students the opportunity to secure an interview with an admissions representative from one of the most prestigious teachers colleges in the nation. Allegheny will become the nation's first college to enter into a pioneering teacher preparation partnership with Columbia University Teachers College. Teachers College will give special consideration to Allegheny students who apply for admission guaranteed interviews to any students that Allegheny recommends for Columbia's highly competitive graduate programs in teacher education. "</p>

<p>I am not sure why you believe that programs like this are not "living in the real world", as you put it.</p>

22

<p>Well there you go. I stand corrected. Obviously, the market place determined that program was not such a great deal. The one AC now has is a sort of no brainer, and worth every penny they're probably investing in this. I'd suspect zilch. But nice to have on their books, I'm sure, although I'm not sure what the bennie is. Who in their right mind would shell out $50 or $60K to go to Columbia for an M.Ed.? I'm betting very few Gators. And Pitt's M.Ed. program is virtually all night timer/commuter students, and not many of them. A very small program that is not at all elite. So, I'm not saying these are bad things, they are simply "so what?" Who cares?</p>

<p>Just curious ... do you believe the marketing stuff about Teachers College?</p>

23

<p>"So, I'm not saying these are bad things, they are simply "so what?" Who cares?"</p>

<p>I guess you can make that comment about a lot of programs at a lot of different colleges. LACs try to find ways to make a world a little bigger for their students to offset the criticism that they don't offer a wide enough variety of programs. For students who are interested in teaching, Allegheny offers 2 options - one at a highly prestigious program and the other at one that "is not at all elite". If you want to be a school teacher at a public school in PA, I am sure the Pitt program is just fine. Quite a few master's programs in education are commuter programs because they are offered to teachers who work during the day and go to school at night. Allegheny students who enter this program will likely find themselves in the classroom right away. If you are looking at something more prestigious, you get a crack at Columbia. </p>

<p>"Just curious ... do you believe the marketing stuff about Teachers College?"
Sure, why not? When I was a student there they had a 3-2 program with Duke University in Environmental Management. I know a couple of students who applied and were accepted. I don't think this arrangement with Duke still exists, but I don't have any difficulty believing that Allegheny is trying to forge links with other institutions to create opportunities for students.</p>

24

<p>Graduate here - but way back to the 70's. Not really wanting to get into anything with Whistle Pig or anyone here and admitting up front that I never read Pope's book but have only read a few extracted comments. Basically, I am trying to respond to the OP.</p>

<p>I know that graduates continue to be successful and well regarded in the PA, Ohio, Western NY markets and Allegheny continues to be very strong in a number of departments, especially certain sciences.</p>

<p>One of the things I think Pope has written in his book with regard to Allegheny is the senior capstone requirement known as the Senior Comprehensive Project- significant original research is required of every senior, and this is not common. </p>

<p>Again, I am not sure of Pope's exact objective in writing his book but I have gained the impression that he was trying to identify schools which students might not have otherwise heard of that offer an excellent academic experience and excellent faculty. Whether you find the following information impressive or not, you might find some of it surprising:</p>

<p>-Allegheny has medical school cooperative programs available with two institutions: Drexel University & Jefferson Medical College
-Most popular graduate schools attended by Allegheny chemistry graduates: Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, Dartmouth, Cornell, & Carnegie Mellon
-Allegheny recently received the fifth-largest grant awarded -$900,000- in a national competition supporting the biological and related sciences in outstanding liberal arts colleges. Competitors were chosen for their strength in sending students on to medical schools and graduate schools in biology, chemistry, physics and math.
-Allegheny's Neuroscience program is a joint effort between the Psychology and Biology Departments. There are numerous opportunities for student research in off-campus environments such as the National Institutes of Health.
-Allegheny maintains one of the highest percentages of women graduates of all colleges in the Liberal Arts Computer Science Consortium.
-The Biology Department ranks in the top 5% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s since 1920.
-The Chemistry Department ranks in the top 5% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s since 1920.
-The Economics Department, since 1920, has ranked in the top 12% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s in economics.
-The English department ranks in the top 5% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s since 1920.
-The International Studies department combines courses from the Political Science, History, Economics and Modern Languanges departments.
-Since 1920, the Geology department ranks in the top 2.5% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s in earth sciences.
-Since 1920, the History department has ranked in the top 6.8% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s.
-The Mathematics Department, since 1920, has ranked in the top 8.5% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s in mathematics.
-The Modern & Classical Languages (includes German, French, Chinese & Spanish) Department ranks in the top 4.5% among private undergraduate institutions in production of eventual Ph.D.s since 1920.
-Allegheny has ranked in the top 7% among private, undergraduate institutions in production of students who eventually receive physics Ph.D.s since 1920.
-Allegheny has ranked in the top 3% of all private, undergraduate colleges and universities in students going on to earn Ph.D.s in psychology since 1920.
-Allegheny is one of the few undergraduate liberal arts programs to offer a special emphasis in Managerial Economics: finance, accounting, and much more. (hmm, Shennie this one surprised me too)
-The U.S. News and World Report has recognized Allegheny for its Senior Comprehensive Project, which requires a student to complete a capstone project in his or her major field. The project is usually a significant piece of original research that demonstrates skills most prized by employers and graduate schools.
-Allegheny offers over 900 combinations of majors and minors. Students declare a major and a minor. Students also select a major advisor by the end of the sophomore year.
-In the National Survey of Student Engagement, responses by college seniors placed Allegheny within the top 10% in the U.S. for the close student-faculty interaction.
-Eighty-four percent of Allegheny classes have fewer than 30 students.
About 95 percent of Allegheny faculty members have their Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field.</p>

25

<p>Thanks for posting that Omhadre! A lot there that I was not aware of.</p>