<p>oops not lisa, I meant like Karen's son</p>
<p>I also heard that Rutgers Engineering was excellent but the negatives outweighted the positives. My son is committing to TCNJ today. Hope it's the right choice. Guess if it's not, he can always transfer next year. He's happy with his decision and that's what's important. Good luck to everyone! The decision-making has been very difficult but I'm so glad it's over.</p>
<p>Both Rutgers and TCNJ are very good schools, and offer very different experiences. One is a large, vibrant, semi-urban, research university. The other is a public LAC in a more intimate, suburban setting. It all depends on what your preference is.</p>
<p>The shame of it is that when one promotes either TCNJ or Rutgers, he/she tends to denigrate the other. That doesn't need to be. New Jerseyans should be proud of these two universities.</p>
<p>One shouldn't think that they are "stuck" if they have to attend one of these colleges. Why do so many New Jerseyans suffer from an inferior complex about their state schools? So much so, that one considers SUNY Binghamton an upgrade from these two schools</p>
<p>"Both Rutgers and TCNJ are very good schools, and offer very different experiences. One is a large, vibrant, semi-urban, research university. The other is a public LAC in a more intimate, suburban setting. It all depends on what your preference is."</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more. I think both schools are excellent and it's all a matter of finding "the perfect fit". I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows anything about the engineering program at TCNJ. My son is really looking forward to working closely with his professors in a small-class setting but I'm concerned with the smallness of the program. Only 7% of the students at TCNJ are in the engineering program and it makes me a little uncomfortable. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>ll123: This is an interesting thread since my family and I are in exactly the same boat. My son got admitted to his "dream school" but they gave us no money (and I mean no) so he committed to Rutgers last night. This has not been an easy month for us, lots of soul searching, but realism won out and the state-school is the one for us. I mention this because he also was left with the choice between the big state school, and the small state school (TCNJ). Although he chose Rutgers, I think anyone who prefers the small feel and intimate scale of TCNJ will do very well there. I think there is definetly something to be said for small classes and contact with profs, etc. I am actually somewhat nervous about my son's experiences at such a large school, I really don't know how his first year is going to play out, am keeping my fingers crossed.
Even though TCNJ may not be for him, I must say that all the posters on the various TCNJ forums have impressed me with their intelligence. That school is getting some very good kids.
Good luck to all of us!</p>
<p>I have a pretty unique take on this.</p>
<p>Our son is finishing his second year at TCNJ now. He chose TCNJ primarily to study with a specific instrumental music teacher there.
(He had been rejected from his first choice conservatory out of HS). TCNJ has provided him with ALOT: two years with this amazing teacher/mentor, small classes, high achieving students to hang with, a gorgeous campus, a terrific girlfriend! </p>
<p>Now, he feels he has outgrown the school and is transferring. He has now been accepted to that dream school of two years ago, direct evidence of his growth at TCNJ. But even with the merit $$$ he earned, it is out of our reach.</p>
<p>He's enrolling at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers in the fall. He hopes it will be a bigger pool, more competition and challenge. I agree it's probably what he should do, but I will miss TCNJ! </p>
<p>Sooooo, it depends on the fit for each student. And yes, the specific program the student needs.<br>
Is there a way to actually talk/stay with a current engineering student?
Our son was given that offer two years ago......Best of luck to all!</p>