<p>I recently got my early action acceptance letters from both Seton Hall and HPU. They're both top choices for me, but I'm hoping to hear personal, critical feedback from each school to make my decision (along with other factors- location, financial, etc.)
They both offer the major I want to take, International Relations. Both campuses are beautiful (High Point is obviously stunning), the academics are great, good locations, both suburban but in opposite directions from home for me.</p>
<p>If anyone can possibly answer any questions I have or have firsthand experience, could you please respond? Thank you!</p>
<p>-They're both private, religious universities, does the religious role play a big factor in each school?
-Do they both have a strong sense of school spirit?
-I know HPU is more renown and has a pretty good reputation, does Seton Hall have an overall generally good reception?
-How do the IR programs at each school hold up?
*** -Is Seton Hall a backpack school (students generally leave campus on the weekends and it's basically empty) this is a pretty big factor for me because although they are close to NYC and it's understandable that students would be out during their free time, I'd like to be in a college with a strong sense of community.
-I understand that these are pretty different colleges, HPU promises an untraditional college experience, I'm not too sure how I feel about that. Their school sort of gives off a country club/resort vibe and that's great and luxurious and all, but I don't know how I'll feel about that after a while. But also for Seton Hall, I've come across many negative comments about Seton Hall on different online forums, it seems like a great school but is it really all that great?
-Also, I know the demographic at HPU is HIGHLY Caucasian, as a minority, would I feel out of place at all? </p>
<p>It may seem like I have cold feet about both schools. Although it's ultimately my decision and I really do like them individually so much, I'm just trying to weigh out the positives and negatives, if you could help me out I'd be really thankful! Any other information about either one is very much appreciated!!!</p>
<p>Hi! I don’t attend High Point, but I’m a senior who was just accepted to High Point and I’ve also toured. </p>
<p>-I can’t speak to the religious aspect of Seton Hall, but, I didn’t realize that High Point had religious affiliation. I toured Fordham, a Jesuit school, and I did not like it and felt it was way too religious. So with that being said, the fact that I haven’t even noticed High Point’s religious aspect, probably means that it’s not very large, but there if you want it. </p>
<p>-I briefly looked at Seton Hall online, and I have a friend who was accepted there. I have a lot of family in the area, but I hadn’t heard of Seton Hall before, but my mom knew of it. So I don’t know if it’s as well known as High Point, but that certainly doesn’t mean that you’re education won’t be as valuable.</p>
<p>-I don’t know if Seton Hall is a back pack school, but I’m pretty positive that HPU is not. </p>
<p>These are the only things that you mentioned that I can really talk about. As I said, I don’t go there, so this is just my understanding. So don’t take me too seriously! I know people who go to High Point and absolutely love it. I don’t know anyone who goes to Seton Hall, but that does not mean its a bad school! I would make sure you post this in a Seton Hall Forum to get better answers.</p>
<p>Thank you for your feedback, Emily918, I didn’t exactly get my answers but we’re kind of in the same boat! Also I did post this same message in the Seton Hall forum. Congratulations on HPU! I was so excited to get my acceptance letter! Who knows we might even be classmates one day! Good luck to you on your decisions, and thanks again for replying!</p>
<p>this is a really hard comparrision… Not sure how much the religion thing plays into SHU… they are both about the same as far as reputation… Seton Hall was once a very highly respected school specifically for law and nursing. It still has a good rep for that but is so easy to get into these days. Many of the kids that are getting rejected from Rutgers are headed there around me. HPU is the opposite, it is improving it’s reputation and they meet about in the middle. As far as campuses there is no comparison, HPU is far superior. I used to live near SHU and it’s certainly not a campus I would want my children living on. I do know many who have lived home and gone to school there and gotten very good high paying jobs at their chosen location. (dental hygiene, nursing and law) My daughter has several friends who are there now and they seem to have a good time on campus but the area is sketchy around the school. It seems to me the kids that live there stay about 50% of the time on the weekends… (mind you I live about 20mins from campus so this is just the kids I know and they live close by) It all goes down to what you want and of course cost. My advice is if you have that “cold feet” feeling about both schools I would keep searching for the right school. My D was like you… she had many options but nothing felt 100% right. She applied to 10 schools and actually made her final decision about April 28th to a school she had really not considered until the end… She finally got that “this is it” feeling. good luck to you!</p>
<p>when I work I come across several patients that work in high level jobs in recruiting, HR, etc… being I have kids in college the subject of which schools are best to meet the needs of kids always comes up. After reading this I posed this questing to two execs that have done the bulk of hiring/firing for high profile companies in our area. (the area adjacent to SHU) The short story of what they told me was… SHU has a very good local reputation- If you live in NJ and want to work here or in NYC then SHU is good for you… If you live down there go to HPU. SHU will get your more recognition as most of them had not heard much of HPU as it’s quasi regional like SHU is up here. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Lefty, that’s a great point. Regional recognition can often come into play in local job markets. Especially for smaller schools. A big reason I was hired before graduation is because Dr. Qubein had recently spoke to a huge audience in the city I was hired. The owners of the company were in attendance and loved his message. Made my resume stand out, which helped alot because was competing with 35-40 year olds!! Here in NC, where HPU is buzzing, a degree from the school will really stand out, but in NJ, a degree from Seton Hall might be more beneficial, depending on the job of course.</p>
<p>To the original poster:</p>
<p>HPU is affiliated with the Methodist church, but I would not say religion “defines” the culture at HPU by any means. Its there if you want it, but not in your face at all. </p>
<p>School spirit from a sporting standpoint at HPU is growing and improving each year. When I was a freshman, it was not strong, but when I graduated last May our basketball gym was considered the loudest in the Big South.</p>
<p>As a minority, you will not feel out of place. HPU is a very welcoming and tight knit community. And like many colleges today, the student body is very open minded in my experience. </p>
<p>As far as the country club feel goes, I can honestly say as a May graduate, I am SO glad I went to a school with high standards on surroundings. After living at a place like HPU for 4 years, I want to work hard to make sure I can “get back” to an environment like that. I think going to school on a campus like HPU helps you avoid becoming complacent in life. If you go to HPU, you’ll start to see your mindset towards life is really different than most college students. It’s OK to have high expectations for yourself!</p>
<p>High Point and SHU are an apples and oranges comparison: SHU is ranked #128 as a national university by USN&WR, whereas HPU is ranked #1 in the south as a regional school. Now #1 is a great thing and HPU is a very, very good school with a growing reputation, but keep in mind that ranking is among local regional schools and cannot be directly compared to national universities. SHU ranking may not seem strong, but it is being compared to the best academic schools in the nation: big state schools like Michigan, Georgia, UNC, CalTech, the 4 big SUNY schools and private schools like the Ivies, Chicago, Northwestern, MIT, Stanford, Notre Dame, Georgetown etc. so that 128 is pretty decent as it is among the best in the entire country.</p>
<p>You will get a fine education at either school.</p>
<p>Both are in different locations: do you like a bucolic, country setting? HPU is lovely. Like a bustling suburb near a big city? that’s Seton Hall.</p>
<p>Visit both. The final decision may be based on financial aid. Can’t go wrong with either.</p>
<p>Just an FYI: Both Seton Hall and Fordham have Catholic origins but Fordham is no longer affiliated with the Catholic church and has a high number of non-Catholic students. If you felt Fordham was too religious, Seton Hall would feel more so to you.</p>
<p>Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university based in New York City, United States. It was founded by the Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St. John’s College, placed in the care of the Society of Jesus shortly thereafter, and has since become an independent institution under a lay board of trustees, which describes the University as “in the Jesuit tradition”.</p>
<p>Like I said, no longer affiliated with the Catholic Church whereas Seton Hall is.</p>
<p>From the Fordham site: 3) OK. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN TERMS OF RELIGION? ITS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, RIGHT?
Fordham is a Catholic school, but it is very diverse. Fordham welcomes students of all faiths and traditions: all Christian denominations, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists No one tries to convert students to Christianity here. I dont mean just that it isnt school policyIve never seen anyone working for the University proselytize. There are no crucifixes or other religious symbols in the classrooms. There is no required chapel of any kind. In fact, Campus Ministries has offered to find space and help provide funding for Jewish students on campus to start a Jewish prayer group. We havent, but only because of lack of interest from the students, not from any lack of institutional support.</p>