Hello! so I’m starting to build my college list but would like to know more about each (stuff that isn’t written on their website and that kind of information). I would like to know if they have a good business program, campus life, any stereotypes (and whether they’re true or not), and just anything that might be useful.
As of right now, my list consists on (in no specific order):
Northeastern
LMU
Bentley
SCU
UW Seattle
U San Diego
U San Francisco
Umass Amherst
Drexel
U Miami
Fordham
Villanova
I know my list is kind of all over the place but things I was looking for were: in or close to a city, medium-ish campus size, greek life, name recognition and ranking. BUT I am aware that some don’t fit or don’t have what I look for, such as Umass being a really large public school. Even though that’s what I look for, doesn’t mean (in my head) that I don’t like one just because one of the things I’m looking for is missing, you know?
Any contribution is highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Have you looked at a Fiske Guide to Colleges? It can help with pretty detailed descriptions of a lot of these, including more “soft” info on the vibe of each. Your GC probably has this book.
I am not knowledgeable enough about most of your colleges to comment, but I will share one “pro” for U Mass Amherst:
For the cost of a public state education, you get to take courses throughout a five-college consortium that includes the unique and quirky Hampshire College as well as three of the nation’s very finest, most prestigious small liberal arts colleges: Amherst College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College. An amazing opportunity to attend classes in these tippy-top colleges without paying private tuition! And their students will contribute to class discussions at U Mass as well, because U Mass offers a greater breadth of course options and specialities.
I echo the recommendation to read up on your colleges of interest in Fiske, as well as these college guides: Ultimate Guide, Princeton Review, and Insider’s Guide.
Okay, I am somewhat familiar with almost all of the schools on your list.
Bentley has a solid reputation & is very welcoming of foreign students. LMU is much better than its ranking suggests.
SCU has done well recently in this hot job market. Great internship opportunities due to location. Drexel has many specialized programs (almost a technical school).
U San Francisco–I wouldn’t attend unless on a substantial scholarship. Housing is expensive. Univ. of Washington–Seattle is an outstanding school. Villanova was ranked as the #1 business school by one rating & ranking service. Lots of practical courses. Nice location. Fordham & Miami are respected schools. As is Northeastern. U San Diego is nice. UMass–Amherst is good, not great.
Other than the University of Washington, I would not attend any of these business schools unless on a substantial scholarship. Or unless finances are not an issue.
UW Foster is a top business school but will be very expensive with little aid/scholarships offered. If cost is not an issue, it is outstanding though a very large school (campus size wise) and very competitive for admissions. Other than that it checks all the boxes on your list.
Northeastern is a co-op school. After your first year you typically alternate a semester of school and a semester of working. It takes 5 years to graduate. I think they also require you to live on campus for several years- not always a bad thing considering rent in Boston is expensive. Greek life is not dominant, Sororities are not allowed to have houses- that’s a Boston rule and I think I heard that most Fraternities do not have houses. They don’t have a football team. Small, compact campus that is easy to get around- and an underground tunnel under some of the campus- great when it rains or snows! Boston is a college town- great transportation system, Northeastern is in a great location that you can walk to many museums, symphony, Red Sox games. Lots of international students.
You have a lot of catholic schools on your list. Most are beautiful. Most have a commitment to service and make service opportunities available to students on campus and through travel. The size of most of the schools fall between 5-8k, which IMO is perfect.
UMass is your only school that isn’t real close to a city. There are a ton of students in the Amherst area, but it’s not the same as being in a city. Airport is farther, state/city government is not as available.
Miami is a very good school that is seriously overpriced ($48,000 a year for tuition alone, which is actually a bit higher than tuition for Ivy’s). In Florida, they are known for business and marine science but it is also known that there are public options with comparable or better programs in pretty much all areas for far cheaper (UF, FSU, UCF, and USF are the major ones). A lot of people see it as a “rich-kid” school and a party school which is a generalization but one that isn’t far off. A good thing about it is that financial aid is available, I believe to out of state students too. It is also fairly well-known which helps if you want to work outside Florida or want to go to a top grad school.
I think your list makes sense for an international student who will have to travel to get to the US anyway.
UW is a great campus a few light rail stops from downtown Seattle. Great school. Yes, expensive, and competitive. Great choice if affordable, and stats are high.
SCU is an excellent school right in Silicon Valley. Best weather you will find. Great choice.
Fordham and Villanova also great choices. Nice campuses near major cities. Villanova does have a highly rated business program. It is a “hot” school and has gotten much more competitive in recent years.
Miami has a very good business school. It is an affluent student body and seems to me like it would be an expensive place to be a student, school costs aside–big club scene, if that’s a plus or minus.
I’m a fan of U Mass Amherst. It’s a very good school in a very nice town and nice area of MA. I’d think it a good one to keep on your list if affordable, especially because it will be less competitive than some of the others, but still good.
Given your criteria, what about the University of Richmond? Terrific business school (Robins), very beautiful campus in a nice suburban area, just a couple of miles from downtown Richmond (a “hot” city increasingly popular with college students and young professionals), 1.5-2 hours from Washington DC by train/car (no traffic), Greek life. It does have a southern, preppy vibe, if that’s a plus or minus. Richmond is often referred to as RVA (Richmond, VA). It’s the state capital.
When I’m trying to temper my kid’s infatuation with a given school, I like to go on Niche and read the one star reviews. Every school will have someone who hates it there, or something about it that everyone hates. Don’t just read the first page, read a bunch of one and two stars. You’ll see patterns emerge.
Often what people hate about a given school is something you don’t mind at all. Parking? If you won’t have a car that won’t matter.
Also, look at the dates on negative reviews. Sometimes whatever it is has been addressed in recent years and you could get an inaccurate impression (bad food reviews could be fixed by a new dining hall, etc)
University of Massachusetts Amherst. Is great. Not good in certain subject areas. Engineering. Isenberg school of business are two of note.
Overall It’s usnwr number 75 in us. Top 30 is public uni. That’s a really impressive group of schools. If you are not from Massachusetts it is very selective.
You have a hotel management focus or sports management focus that’s really really good.
UMass was also the alma matter of jack Welch, considered one of the great CEO’s of all time while at GE. There is also one of the great agriculture and forestry schools in Stockbridge.
Liberal arts is sting across the board as well. The nature of pioneer valley and Amherst itself is very academics oriented. UMass is a big school by northeast standards so you do have some partying as well. The campus I think is nice enough. The old portion is very traditional but they do have some buildings with that unfortunate 1970s feel. But new buildings are being erected every year.
And the student food options are number one in the country. So you won’t go hungry.
All in all for the costs it’s a really excellent public research uni.
Yeah UMass has the best dining hall out there bar none…my older S went there for CS, pretty solid program. Pretty good Greek life there too.
Santa Clara U (where I went to school) and Northeastern where D goes to school - both schools have come a long way in the last few years. Northeastern seems to be a lot better with merit aid though. Northeastern is also a lot better with public transportation. Santa Clara you more or less need a car to get around IMO unless you are going to watch the Giants play. My D lived off campus at NEU for her sophomore year and pays around $1100 a month including utilities.
University of San Diego is a gorgeous, happy campus, with the best climate in the US. My daughter is starting in the fall, so I don’t know any negatives so far, except there are A LOT of liberal arts course distribution requirements. Business might have fewer. She chose San Diego out of the twelve schools she was accepted at. Once she visited she couldn’t resist. The ocean is in view from one end of campus, and the chance to take surfing as an elective PE course sealed the deal.
There are so many good schools, including others on your list, but for quality of life, can’t beat USD!
I live around 15 minutes from Villanova, it’s a great school but the night life isn’t the best. Due to its location Villanova doesn’t have very much to do close by besides house and frat parties. But you always have the city which is only around a 20 minute ride
If you haven’t done so yet, try to get your hands on some of the good college guide books (ex. Fiske, Princeton Review, Insiders Guide) and read up on each school. The books can often be found in a guidance office or library.
FWIW my S visited two schools on your list. He attended Fordham and loved it. We also visited Bentley and liked it as well but in the end he decided he didn’t want a school that was 100% business oriented.