<p>I'm currently a senior in highschool and am stressing over college! I am planning to major in hospitality management, but I'm not sure which college to pick. If you know anything about any of the hospitality programs listed, please fill me in! -- I've only applied to these four because they were the only ones that have interested me, but I have been admitted to all four and now I cannot choose. Please help me!</p>
<p>UNLV: I'm interested in this school, because it's in the heart of all the hotel business. Located in Las Vegas, it almost seems ideal. It seems like a perfect school to gain good work experience and to learn more about the business. Also, I've been hearing that their program is #2? </p>
<p>Penn State University: This school has been ranked quite positively in many areas. Apart from just the hospitality program, the school as a whole seems promising with its reputation. Also, I hear that they have a very tight and large alum. </p>
<p>Conrad Hilton College, University of Houston: What lures me into this school is the name Hilton. Because it's Hilton, I was wondering if you're promised/guaranteed a job in the Hilton Corps after graduation? Because if so, this school would be ideal if I were to think for the future.</p>
<p>Kendall College (in Chicago): This school is the USA campus for the #1 international hospitality school, Les Roches in Switzerland. The only thing that lures me into this school is that they're linked with Les Roches. I'm not particularly all for going abroad to Switzerland, but the school looks very nice and the programs they provide seem very promising and nice as well.</p>
<p>I applied to all four schools for different reasons but I'm not sure which would give me better benefits for the future, upon graduation. Do you know of any people who have undergone hospitality majors in one of these 4 schools? If so, did they enjoy the program?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>First, I don’t know about all these programs – but I know of a couple. And, hotel/restaurant/institutional management types of programs are sometimes seen as less than “professional” so it’s good that you would look to a top program. Second, you will do well to have at least some grunt-level experience in this industry – whether in housekeeping, the “back of the house” in the kitchen, banquets, and so on. That will give you an idea both of what you are getting into and whether you will like it. After all the “management” of these types of businesses probably will start in one of these aspects of the business. Third, you might consider a top local university program for two years in business, management, or even finance or other similar “business” program. That, after all, is what “hotel management” is – managing the human, fiscal and similar resources to provide services to guests. Then, you might transfer into one of the top programs – UNLV, Cornell and several others are good. Houston doesn’t guarantee a job at Hilton (I don’t think any school would) but many schools have partnerships within the hospitality industry. But some real-world experience plus business basics – which you can probably get near where ever you are now – can set you up for the top programs for your last two (and the most important) years in an undergraduate program. Since you are already admitted to all you mention, from what I know, UNLV is pretty tops and as you know, has lots of partnerships with local hotels/casinos, but the others are excellent as well and likely have similar opportunities for direct experience. </p>
<p>I hope that helps. Good luck!
(added: I don’t know if you “search” the CC site – good stuff in the past. Check out this thread – the vegas person is right on target with his/her observations. See <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/546738-help-choosing-school-hospitality-tourism-management.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/546738-help-choosing-school-hospitality-tourism-management.html</a> )</p>