Ask a Dean at TCNJ

Colleges and Universities A-Z The College of New Jersey
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<p>Hello CC members. Thank you for the warm welcome.</p>

<p>My name is Benjamin Rifkin and I am the Dean of the School of Culture and Society (Humanities and Social Sciences) at The College of New Jersey. If you are interested in learning more about The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), post your questions here and I will check in once or twice a week to answer.</p>

<p>I don't work in admissions, so I can't "rate your chances," but I can tell you about our programs, faculty, students, and campus.</p>

<p>Majors in the School of Culture & Society include: Criminology, English, History, International Studies, Journalism & Professional Writing, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, and Women's & Gender Studies. We also have self-designed majors in Chinese, Classics, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Religious Studies, as well as minors in a broad range of fields including Law-Politics-And-Philosophy, Anthropology, Linguistics, Central Eurasian Studies, and more.</p>

<p>The other schools at TCNJ are:</p>

<p>Arts & Communication
Business
Education
Engineering
Nursing and Health & Exercise Science
Science</p>

<p>I look forward to answering your questions and helping you through the college search process.</p>

<p>BR</p>

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<p>My son is going to apply to TCNJ and is interested in computer science. Although I realize this doesn’t come under the umbrella of Humanities, I thought you might have some knowledge of the program:</p>

<p>1) Does one have to be “accepted” into the major? I know Rutgers requires acceptance after demonstrating proficiency in Intro. to Computer Science and two other courses. Does TCNJ have a similar requirement?</p>

<p>2) Can you speak to the level of difficulty of this program compared to other majors? </p>

<p>3) Any internship or other unique opportunities associated with the CS department?</p>

<p>Thank you and welcome to CC!</p>

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<p>Welcome to CC,
I might apply to TCNJ and just want to ask if the statistic that 85% of TCNJ graduates who apply to medical school who get accepted is true. Is it?</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

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<p>Hi Dean Rifkin,
I am an incoming senior who is planning to apply to TCNJ, but I’m not exactly sure what I want to major in. I saw the “Open Options-Science” choice on the Common App and looked it up on the TCNJ website, but I’m still a little bit confused. Does selecting open options hinder your chance of acceptance? Is it a popular choice for applicants, or is it hardly ever chosen? Is there a chance that it will be difficult to secure a place in whichever major I choose at the end of freshman year? I might just apply as a Bio or Chem major, but I like the idea of having a year to decide while taking some general required classes. I would really appreciate any input you have. I’m also curious about what the most popular majors are at TCNJ, and if students are able to change majors without too much difficulty. Thanks in advance for your help!!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the great questions, everyone.</p>

<p>I will try to answer them all, but forgive me if I canÂ’t give you all the information youÂ’re asking for because some of the questions concern programs in other schools. My school, Culture & Society, is the academic home for humanities and social sciences.</p>

<p>Shamrock and SugarCookie: Yes, you have to apply to a major as you apply for admission, BUT some of the seven schools at TCNJ have an open option program. What we call “open option” at TCNJ is often called “undeclared” at other programs. Not all of the 7 schools offer this, but the School of Science and the School of Culture and Society do offer this program. Open option provides students with guided opportunities to explore a few different majors within the given school in the freshman year, helping freshman to narrow down their interests to declare a major with confidence. If you enroll at TCNJ with a major, you can generally change your major – transferring from one program to another even across school boundaries – without much difficulty at all. I say “generally” because there are some programs, such as Engineering and Nursing, that have a lot of requirements and transfer into these programs may not be very easy. Some majors may require that you present a portfolio or perform before you are accepted. But if you want to change from Biology to History, from History to International Business, or from International Business to Communication Studies (all of these examples are across school boundaries), you shouldn’t find it very difficult as long as you are in good academic standing. There is no disadvantage to applying for open option, but if you think you might want to major in biology, you might want to start there and then transfer out if something else catches your eye. I encourage prospective biology majors to check out the biology department’s website at [Department</a> of Biology :: The College of New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~biology/]Department”>The College of New Jersey | Department of Biology).</p>

<p>Shamrock: If your son is interested in computers, he should check out not only computer science (in the School of Science), but also computer engineering (in the School of Engineering) and interactive multimedia (in the School of the Arts & Communication). When your son applies for admission, he can select any one of these majors as his program. When admitted, he’s admitted to that program: there are no other prerequisites. I can’t speak to whether the computer science program is harder or easier than any other program: that’s a matter of match for each student to the program they’re in. Some students find calculus hard and foreign language easy; others find the reverse pattern reflects their challenges. All our programs have internship opportunities. You can see more about this at the website of our Career Center at <a href=“http://www.tcj.edu/~career[/url]”>http://www.tcj.edu/~career&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Markymark15: Our Medical Careers Advisory Committee boasts an acceptance rate of about 80% for medical school (versus what I think is a 40% rate at colleges nationally). See their website at [Medical</a> Careers Advisory Committee :: Department of Biology :: The College of New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~biology/career/medadvisory.html]Medical”>The College of New Jersey | Department of Biology). This acceptance rate is not just for School of Science students; students going to medical school major in English, too!</p>

<p>And for everyone: check out the information about our admissions open houses – come see our beautiful campus (especially the Science Complex) on September 25, October 10, and November 20. You have to register by going to [Visiting</a> The College of New Jersey](<a href=“Visit TCNJ | Undergraduate Admissions”>Visit TCNJ | Undergraduate Admissions) and click on the link for Lions Day Open House and then on the button “Register”.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much!</p>

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<p>Thanks Dean Rifkin</p>

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<p>Thanks for taking your time and answering our questions Mr.Rifkin! </p>

<p>So while I understand that this may not be your area, I wish to ask a few questions about TCNJ’s combined Undergrad/Medical Program with UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). If I have the corresponding AP credits, would it be possible to graduate early by say, a year? </p>

<p>I am asking this because it would be a great benefit to me to complete Medical School with an MD degree in 6 years so I can begin my specialization training to become a Neurosurgeon. A quicker MD degree due to accelerated work would be great! Of course, if it comes down to it, I will take the longest route if I have to, but in the end, my main objective is to become a Neurosurgeon.</p>

<p>Also, this:

was stated on the website. Does this mean that housing is free?</p>

<p>And my last question:
If you are accepted to this program, are you guaranteed a spot in Medical School?
These are the links where I read about this program:
[7-Year</a> BS/MD Degree with UMDNJ/NJMS](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~biology/7med/med.html]7-Year”>The College of New Jersey | Department of Biology)
[Combined</a> BS/MS 7-Year Program FAQ.Biology.TCNJ](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~biology/7med/medfaq.html]Combined”>The College of New Jersey | Department of Biology)</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

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<p>SchoolIsFun: I see that you’ve looked at the FAQ about this program on our website: that’s great research. I’m sorry to say that I really don’t know enough about this program to answer your questions, so I encourage you to contact the Medical Careers Advisory Committee directly at <a href=“mailto:medcar@tcnj.edu”>medcar@tcnj.edu</a>. Sorry!</p>

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<p>Oh alritey! Thanks for the help, Mr.Rifkin!</p>

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<p>My son may apply to TCNJ. He is an avid skateboarder. Is there any area on campus or nearby where skateboarding is allowed?</p>

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<p>I know I have seen students with skateboards, but I can’t say for sure where they skateboard. If your son wants to write me directly at <a href=“mailto:rifkin@tcnj.edu”>rifkin@tcnj.edu</a>, I can forward the message to a student who skateboards and ask that student to reply directly. I can tell you this: I am definitely too old to skateboard myself!</p>

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<p>Hello,
I was just wondering if you know anything about financial aid requirements. For example, what are the minimums for certain aid? I am mainly focusing on need-based aid, since I’m not the strongest or best student. Does TCNJ offer need-based aid and if so, how much does it offer?</p>

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<p>TCNJ most definitely offers need-based financial aid. I don’t work in the financial aid office, but here’s some information:</p>

<p>General info about financial aid: [Student</a> Financial Assistance](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~sfs/aid/]Student”>The College of New Jersey | Financial Aid)
How to apply for financial aid: [How</a> to Apply for Financial Aid :: The College of New Jersey](<a href=“http://www.tcnj.edu/~sfs/aid/apply.html]How”>The College of New Jersey | Financial Aid)</p>

<p>For 2008-2009 (the most recent year for which data are available), TCNJ students had over $3 million in federal financial aid and over $6 million in state financial aid as well as nearly $6 million in grants and scholarships from The College of New Jersey and another $1.5 million from scholarships from outside The College.</p>

<p>About half of the full-time freshmen in fall 2008 got some kind of financial aid and the average financial aid package that year was about $10,000.</p>

<p>I have no reason to suspect that these very same patterns of financial aid continue to hold for the freshmen who enrolled in fall 2009 and even those enrolling in fall 2010 (despite the economic crisis) because our College has prioritized financial aid.</p>

<p>I hope this is helpful.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>Ben Rifkin</p>

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<p>Hey Mr.Rifkin,
Thanks so much for the answer. I’m just a little worried about money, and I’m not the strongest student, so I was just wondering if I should expect any money at all, ig I even get in that is!
-Thanks</p>

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<p>My son is in the TCNJ Engineering program. Currently has about 115 credits towards 156 needed. Problem is many of the professors speak poor english and seem to be on some sort of a power trip. One class my son received a “D” then 3 days later the professor wrote that she made a mistake and he really got an “F”. No small mistake. This semester he has a class with the head of his major . The whole class was notified by the professor that they would all fail his class because the previous professors didn’t instruct them properly. So many fail that they offer the same class in the summer so students don’t fall behind. I’m sure that will cost a couple thousand extra. This sort of thing has been going on for 3 years and I’ve almost had enough. I’m thinking about having him transfer to Rutgers so maybe he’ll graduate in 6 years. I would never recommend TCNJ’s engineering program to any one. It is too small with only one professor available for each class. If you don’t like them, too bad. Aren’t there any “parent advocates” at these colleges ? After all , we pay the bills and want our monies worth. My next stop is HESSA. But I’m sure they are a waste too. It’s just a big game.</p>

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<p>Dear HarryB:</p>

<p>As both a dean and a dad, I understand your frustration. I know that whenever a student is in academic distress there is almost always a complicated situation. </p>

<p>I’m sure you understand that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, prohibits colleges and universities from talking directly to students’ parents without the students’ consent. So I encourage you to talk with your son about what’s going on for him in college. You might want to ask him to sign you in, with a FERPA release, so you could participate in a conversation with your son and his advisor or assistant dean. I find that these conversations are very helpful for students and parents to understand the big picture in situations when students are in academic distress.</p>

<p>Regardless of what you and your son do, I wish your son success.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>BR</p>

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<p>…thanks</p>

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<p>Dear Dean Rifkin, </p>

<p>I applied to TCNJ for early decision BIO and I was wondering about when the application declines/acceptances would be posted on PAWS; do you have any idea? </p>

<p>Also would it benefit me to retake the SATS and raise my scores? Even if I do get in with my current SATS, would I be able to send the scores in after and have THAT score apply to the merit scholarship consideration?</p>

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<p>Dear Dean Rifkin,</p>

<pre><code>The PAWS site says my account is invalid, when it was clearly working last night. Is there a solution this problem?
</code></pre>