<p>I've narrowed my choice for an engineering school down to Rutgers, TCNJ, and UDel. I will probably do civil engineering. All along, I thought I would like UDel because I've been there a lot because my brother goes there and I've heard good things. I also like TCNJ because its an excellent school with a great campus, but the school is not well known outside of New Jersey. Rutgers has the most name recognition outside of New Jersey, but inside New Jersey, its viewed as a safety for most students. Plus Rutgers has huge classes and no central campus to speak of. I could see myself at any of these schools, which is why I can't decide where to go. I have my group of friends, but I'm really not in to the partying scene. I just can't seem to come up with an answer. Any input on any of these schools and deciding between them will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Is any of them cheaper? What are you going to have to pay after the grants/scholarships you have been awarded? Did the college cost of attendance include an accurate estimate for books and transportation?</p>
<p>What is the reputation of the school with your future potential employers? For example, kids might see Rutgers as a "safety" but the employers may really, really like graduates of that program.</p>
<p>What do you do for fun? Can you continue that activity at each school?</p>
<p>Can you find two friends and pay scissors-paper-stones for the final decision? That is unless you have a three sided coin handy!</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>Sounds like YOU don't like Rutgers, so I'd cross that one off my list whatever its reputation is. US News ranks engineering slightly higher (admittedly a grad school ranking) at Delaware than Rutgers as well. A second reason to cross it off. How much engineering does TCNJ have? I've heard good things about Delaware too.</p>
<p>I agree with mathmom. Say no to Rutgers, because you just are not crazy about the place. My son had a roommate at camp a year ago who had a brother at Rutgers. The roommate had to desire to go there -- way too big.</p>
<p>We went to tour TCNJ. My son has no desire to be an engineer, but he admits that the sciences are excellent. He keeps the school on his list, because he likes it. And we're out of state. BTW, there were so many things to do at TCNJ, and he really liked that.</p>
<p>As for UDel, I have a former student attending the school. She loves it. She is not an engineering major, but I remember when she told me about visiting the school. She had spent days going to schools in PA, and still, she was not happy. The moment she got out of the car at UDel, she felt at home.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Where do you plan to work after you graduate? If you're planning to stay in the Northeast/Mid-atlantic area, any of the three will have enough "name recognition" to get you a job, assuming, of course, you've done your end of the job and done well in school.</p>
<p>That said, I'd go with the school where you would most like to spend the next four years of your life. Doesn't sound like that is Rutgers, so focus on the differences between UDel and TCNJ and go with where your heart says you want to be. :)</p>
<p>Since you already seem to be leaning away from Rutgers, I won't offer any comments about the school.</p>
<p>I know students who are currently attending both schools (TCNJ & U Del) and love where they are. If you qualified for a merit scholarship (<a href="http://www.tcnj.edu/%7Eadmiss/freshmen/merit-in.html)%5B/url%5D">http://www.tcnj.edu/~admiss/freshmen/merit-in.html)</a>, you might take that into consideration as well.</p>
<p>TCNJ may not be well known, but most of the employers I know in different fields use the internet to look up schools when they get a resume. TCNJ has a rapidly growing reputation & list of employers who recruit its students. Also, when you graduate (and if you apply for internships as an undergrad), your first employer may be more interested in your transcript (both courses and grades) than whether you attended TCNJ or U Del.</p>
<p>I had hoped my oldest daughter would attend TCNJ , but she preferred to go out of state. That's another consideration for you.</p>
<p>Though I can't comment on the food at U. Del, I can tell you I've sampled the food at TCNJ and don't care for it (that's an understatement). Regardless, my youngest (now a H.S. Junior) is considering it among some lofty alternatives. </p>
<p>Finally, the TCNJ student body is less than 1/2 the size of U Del. Also, due primarily to their merit scholarship programs, TCNJ tends to have students who performed better on standardized tests and are ranked higher in their H.S. graduating classes. Brighter students often result in classes that are both more interesting & challenging.</p>
<p>Regardless of the choice you make, you'll probably enjoy either school. And if you do choose TCNJ, remember, it's less than an hour straight down Route 138 to the beaches in Belmar, NJ.</p>
<p>I agree, rule out Rutgers - it sounds like it is not your cup of tea.</p>
<p>Here's one point to consider in the TCNJ/Delaware decision:
TCNJ is smaller than U Del and at TCNJ a lot of the kids go home on the weekend. Will you often be staying on campus during the weekend? This would be a point in favor of UDel. (Even if someone says that the same proportion of kids go home for the weekend at both, there are more kids at UDel to start with, so this means more kids in the dorms on the weekends at Delaware.)</p>
<p>Hey Tom.</p>
<p>Congrats on the acceptances!</p>
<p>First, if money is a factor, think in terms of the college that will not bankrupt your future. Would you have to take out huge loans to attend any of these schools?</p>
<p>Second, one other thing that hasn't come up yet...If you're going away to college it might be better to go someplace where your brother isn't. Having him there might initially make things easier; but you and he both have to figure out who you are independent of family dynamics. Ditto best friend(s) from HS.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I still have no idea. I went to Rutgers again yesterday to tour the campus (it's only 20 minutes from home). It was a little better than I thought. I guess the thing that keeps bothering me is that I think there is more name recognition with Rutgers and perhaps more research opportunities. </p>
<p>I know other people who are going to all three schools. I do know that I want to be somewhat closer to home (which is why I'm not considering my other options of Syracuse or Virginia Tech). </p>
<p>All the schools are about the same price since UDel and RU gave me a small amount of merit aid. The rest my parents will be paying outright. Does anyone have experience with any of these schools that can offer some information? Thanks again.</p>
<p>My daughter has been accepted at Fordham LC and Skidmore; wait listed at Emory and Tufts. Deciding between Fordham LC and Skidmore presents these contrasts...Skidmore affirming community and she could major in the theatre program...Fordham...not accepted in the performance tract...can minor in theatre and reaudition in the spring of her freshman year or choose to wait and do it in the spring of her sophomore year...competition will be stiff...usually take 1 or 2 students.....if selects Fordham would major in English and minor in theatre, flipping this if she is able to get in performance tract, at Skidmore she would major in theatre and minor or double major in English...loves New York City...not wild about Saratoga Springs or the amount of snow she would have to deal with....loves Skidmore's programing as well as Fordham's...</p>
<p>anyone know how theatre minors are treated at Fordham...are they valued and included...she loved the warmth and respect between the theatre professors and their students...is this true in other disciplines? </p>
<p>community seemed easier to happen at Skidmore...anyone have any thoughts about Fordham...</p>
<p>Tom,
My son is a current freshman at UDel. He loves it. He runs for the cross country team and both track teams as well. Even though he is not a big eater, the food is just ok for him. Several people do stay on campus for the weekends, but if a three day holiday comes up, everyone leaves. Most of the kids live under 2 hours away from his experience. It has taken him a bit to adjust to the climate in Delaware. The end of the summer - early fall was hot, hot hot. We live in Upstate NY. He does not have air conditioning as you may have guessed. </p>
<p>He has had several medical issues this year and the campus medical facilities have been very helpful. Some of his classes are big, while others are not. Most of his professors are approachable. He changed his major from engineering to business after one semester. He did not enjoy what he was learning at all and could not see his future in this field. He found the professors in the engineering dept. were non american and very hard to understand. Unfortunately you will find this pretty much across the board from what I have heard. </p>
<p>I must say that my husband and I were very concerned over the "diversity training" issue that came up this year. We were devastated that this could go on at Delaware and we lost some faith in the school after this happened. My son was pretty ****ed off that he was subjected to all this, but that didn't deter him from staying there.</p>
<p>Overall I think he made a good decision in attending Delaware. I hope this helps you and all the best with your decision.</p>
<p>what did people decide?</p>
<p>Hopefully you'll be attending TCNJ. I'm going there as an electrical engineering major.</p>