<p>Hey, I remember this site was pretty helpful to me when I was an incoming freshman, and I'm now a freshman at TCNJ. So if you have any questions, feel free to post em and I'll answer as best I can, I know I found it much more helpful to actually talk to someone with experience!</p>
<p>okay…my son really likes TCNJ…was thinking of applying ED, but does not want to lock in. Interested in the business program, but maybe engineering.</p>
<p>5 AP classes/7 honors classes…tons of EC’s!!!</p>
<p>GPA is 3.55 because of 2 C’s in Spanish (freshman and sophomore year).</p>
<p>Currently doing well senior year (4.0)</p>
<p>ACT 28, SAT 1230, awaiting SAT results from October…hoping for 1280 or more. </p>
<p>Works 20 -30 hours per week.</p>
<p>Great teacher recommendations including one in which he was the only junior in an AP class of 20 seniors.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>3.55 GPA might be a little low. Is that top 10%? If so, then it’s fine.</p>
<p>1230 is in the range of admitted students (1220-1360), but try aiming for a 1300+.</p>
<p>AP’s, honors, EC, good recommendations, and work experience will help the app.</p>
<p>If the SAT score goes up, I think your son has a good chance getting in RD.</p>
<p>Lewmin, </p>
<p>Applying ED would possibly help, but then again its your choice. I think your son has a pretty good chance, I would say his GPA and SAT’s are a littttttle bit on the lower end of the spectrum. The average of my class on the SAT was a 1290 and it will probably go slightly up this year.</p>
<p>I think with a good amount of EC’s he’s got a good shot…are you in state?</p>
<p>How difficult is it for out-of-state students to get into TCNJ? My daughter wants to go into nursing, and also has her heart set on a relatively small school. Most smaller schools that offer nursing are religious and tend to allow few or no electives to nursing students.</p>
<p>I know for VA, it’s easier for out-of-state students to get into their public universities, for NC, it’s harder. How is New Jersey? </p>
<p>It seems that TCNJ is equivalent to St. Mary’s in Maryland (where we live) but St. Mary’s doesn’t offer nursing.</p>
<p>Hi. Thanks for offering info about TCNJ. I’ve heard that it has great academics, but I’m curious about if they offer great financial aid (merit or need based) besides loans. Also, are there places to go around campus, for instance, on the weekends?</p>
<p>I’m not sure about need-based, but I’m pretty sure the most merit scholarship they offered to freshmen was $6500/year. Not much, but then again, TCNJ isn’t the most costly school. On weekends, there’s a free bus that can take you to some places like the mall. There are some nearby restaurants if you have a car (freshmen generally aren’t allowed have cars though). But generally, there aren’t too many places to go.</p>
<p>While it’s true there aren’t too many places around campus besides the malls and restaurants, many school organizations run weekend bus trips in addition to the events on campus. This weekend there was a trip to the Ripleys museum in NYC and a few weeks ago there was a day trip to Washington DC. I myself have already been to Philly once. I have even heard of students going apple picking at a nearby orchard. In my opinion TCNJ is an excellent school for someone who may enjoy going to the city once in a while but does not want to live in such an urban environment.</p>
<p>Also a note about the financial aid, Glacius is correct $6500/year was the max merit aid given this year however that is not necessarily the max amount of merit aid given EVERY year. The highest merit award given will vary based on funding and the economy and what not, so it is very possible in the future that it may go up. In terms of this year’s costs, I believe $6500 covered roughly half of the tuition cost. However, there are other awards available and I do believe loans/grants are also offered based on need.</p>
<p>thanks everyone…my son is hoping for a 1300…he thinks he got a 750 in math and 550 in CR. (last time it was 700 and 530). The 28 ACT puts him in the top 12% though.</p>
<p>The 3.55 does not put him the top 10%…but he is coming on strong. Freshman year was 3.3, sophomore year was 3.3, junior year was 4.0 and he is expecting at least a 4.0 this year. </p>
<p>He was thinking of ED, but he can’t make his mind up yet between two schools…so he will probably go early in the regular decision process.</p>
<p>Hey thanks for doing this, i’m considering ED-ing, but I want to know…</p>
<p>Does TCNJ have a good program for broadcasting/film (communications)? I know Montclair is also a good school for it, but the low scores needed to get into that school kind of turn me away from it. Not sure how much you’ll know about this, but any information would be great.</p>
<p>Also if you could chance me for ED and/or regular decision?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.51 Unweighted
3.71 Weighted
(Mostly B’s, some A’s)</p>
<p>SATS
1860/2400 1250/1600
Math: 610
Reading: 640
Writing: 610
(waiting for October results, expecting close to 1900)</p>
<p>ACTS
Composite: 28
English: 28
Math: 30
Reading: 27
Science: 26</p>
<p>Two AP’s, 7 honors courses.</p>
<p>Decent extra-curriculars, not much community service but some.</p>
<p>MiniDJBeirne,</p>
<p>GPA is fine I think, SATs are in the range but as I said, aim for a 1300+ M/CR. Do your extra-curricular show a genuine interest in something rather than being a laundry list of activities? Community service would help. How many hours do you have? I’d say ED if TCNJ is your first pick and money isn’t an issue as it will help. Although you have a decent chance RD too depending on your EC’s.</p>
<p>Not sure about the quality of the broadcasting/film program.</p>
<p>MiniDJBeirne,</p>
<p>If you’re in state, you should try applying to Rutgers. They have a better reputation and the proximity to NYC should be good for broadcasting/film.</p>
<p>ED at TCNJ is binding, so I definitely would not commit to it. The priority application deadline at Rutgers is 12/1 nonbinding.</p>
<p>I found out that Rutgers offers a “Media Studies” program (not too interested), instead of hands on broadcasting stuff which is what TCNJ has, so I think i’m going to ED to TCNJ, unless you know otherwise.</p>
<p>Do I stand any chance at all with my low GPA? I want to go into Biology
My grades went downs when I transferred to a huge new school for junior year. Before that I was doing well, and plan on doing well this year
UW- 2.6
W- 2.8</p>
<p>SAT- 1380/2090</p>
<p>ECs
Key Club - 1yr
Book Club - 1yr
Pre-Professional Club - 1yr
Track Team - 2yrs
French Club - 2yrs
Job - 3yrs</p>
<p>I’ve won Student of the Month in Science a few times, and I’m a Ventures Scholar</p>
<p>Essay, Counselor Rec and Teacher Rec would be very good</p>
<p>In state applicant</p>
<p>MiniDJBeirne,</p>
<p>I’m surprised Rutgers doesn’t have the major but you might want to also look into Ramapo College (in Mahwah, NJ) which might have what you need. I know several people that go there and really like it. You might even be eligible for some merit. (I assume you are in state)</p>
<p>Mamajay,</p>
<p>I’m in state, i’ve pretty much recently decided to send my application to TCNJ ED because it seems like the best choice to me, a fairly solid school, I’m just wondering if there’s any reason why I should be looking at other schools for this field? I’ve heard communications is fairly decent at TCNJ, not it’s forte but no reason not to go there. It’s close to home and is great for my second choice major (education), i’m just trying to finalize this decision.</p>
<p>You didn’t mention before that you also want to major in education. If that’s the case then TCNJ is a great place for that. I’m just hesitant about ED because it’s binding and you have to be 100% sure you want to go there. I hope you’ve visited and are 100% positive about TCNJ. My son’s guidance counselor advises everyone to never apply ED.</p>
<p>cometstarg,</p>
<p>Yeah, the main thing bringing you down is that GPA. And the bio program is pretty competitive. But, if you can somehow bring it up to at least a 3.5 or close to it, then I think you have a good chance if you ED. Just be sure that TCNJ is your absolute first choice if you do this.</p>
<p>How is the merit and financial aid for out of state students? My son is a Junior and likes TCNJ was looking at Villanova and likes both but for price alone… it will save me 15,000 a year.</p>
<p>The most they will give in merit aid is $6500 per year. As recently as 2 years ago they were giving free rides to attract better students - now they have a funding problem. What state do you live in? You would probably make out better by sending him to your state’s public.</p>