<p>In the process of my college search, I've come across a school called Widener that I'm thinking I might apply to as a safety. While I've visited their website and read a little about them, I was wondering if anyone had any first-hand experience with the school.
Thanks!</p>
<p>I lived in Philly for several years. Widener is located in Chester, which is not a nice town (high crime rate). The last I seem to remember hearing was that the school was having serious financial problems and that it might close. It is not a competitive school; I suggest you look elsewhere if you are interested in the Philly area, as there are many fine schools.</p>
<p>I applied there as a transfer. Their sports management program is well established and coordinates well with the school's business programs. Quick turn around on admissions letter (appealing for a safety).
It may be the suburbs of Philly, but it's not the best area. Especially closer to downtown Chester.
Not the best reputation in the region, but offers access to its law school (although only third tier).</p>
<p>Widener is great. Good engineering school that gets much support from Boeing as they are neighbors. Many engineers at Boeing are grads of Widener and many have gotten their MBA's at Widener while at Boeing. It edges Chester (low income) but is a nice campus and they are constantly upgrading. It's a great safety.</p>
<p>My first thought upon clicking this thread was "library."</p>
<p>I'm from the Philly area, and Widener doesn't have a good reputation at all. It's mostly for kids who were complete slackers in HS.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! This is the kind of stuff that school websites don't exactly... highlight. I think I'll probably cross this safety school off my list.</p>
<p>Try Philadelphia University--it's more highly rated and is in a neat section of Philly convenient to downtown.
Drexel's not what it used to be either- you may want to check that out</p>
<p>Widener is in a very poor area but so are many competitive colleges and univesities. Academically it is a reasonably competitive school within the Top 500-600 in the country. Depending upon the publication ranking methodology, it metrics will change. Washington Monthly has given Widener its most favorable ranking at 55 in 2011. In its most recent release it was ranked at 218. U.S. News ranks them at 189 in the National University category. This is down from 120 in the previous 2012 release. Widener grads do well in the workforce and are typically very solid leaders. What hurts the university more than anything is the lack of Division I presence in athletic programs which help bring recognition and alumni dollars into the system. Widener has typically struggled in that area. A previous post listed Philadephia U. as being a better option. In reality, Philly U. is a non-competitive school that is not ranked in any of the major publications at the National Level. In terms of campus aesthetics, it is much nicer than Drexel, LaSalle, Temple and Philly U. Their President, Dr. James T. Harris, has garnered a lot of awards for his committment to service learning. Newsweek, for example, ranked Widener as one of the Top 20 service oriented schools in the nation. Greek life is fairly popular but more needs to be done to improve student life as a whole. I would give Widener an overall grade of “B to B-”.</p>
<p>I attended graduate school there back in the 1990’s…I was usually there in the evening and never had any incidents or problems…</p>
<p>It is on the edge of Chester but has an actual campus and is much safer than the actual city of Chester (which is a godawful place, there’s no getting around it.) then again, Temple is in North Philly, the worst part of Phila. I grew up near Widener and it’s not highly rated but it’s okay.</p>
<p>The original thread was from 2008.</p>
<p>Not sure why it was bumped</p>