<p>I got accepted into the Ernest Mario School and they also gave me the Carr Scholarship. I'm very close to clicking that ENROLL button but what really worries me is all this talk about crime rates in other campuses, huge class sizes (which is OK, I come from a school of more than 3000), the "cheap" buildings and the many budget cuts, or so I've heard...</p>
<p>I'll probably visit the campus in March (I'm out-of-state) but I'd like to hear first-hand experiences first. Also, are there any Ernest Mario students who can point out the pros?</p>
<p>I'm not very familiar with the Carr Scholarship, how much does it award you each year? Either way I'm sure you had to have outstanding credentials, especially since you were accepted into the school of Pharmacy! Congratulations!!!</p>
<p>Okay, I'm a high school senior looking into attending RU as well, but I figured I'd reply anyways. To be honest, I don't think you have to be too worried about crime rates - I know alot of people who go to RU (Being that I am from NJ after all) and they've never had a complaint about that. Not to say that there isn't crime at all, but I would imagine that the NB campus would be one of the safest. </p>
<p>Intro class sizes definitely tend to be huge during your freshman year - there are many classes held in lecture halls, which doesn't exactly allow for one on one interaction with teachers. But on the bright side, as you move along into your field the classes get smaller and smaller as people head down their own path. I guess that really depends on how you learn best, but personally, I don't really mind it much.</p>
<p>There have been budget cuts recently by the state but I don't know that it has resulted in any major impacts other than increases in tuition by a decent percentage. I don't know much about the buildings so I'll leave that to someone who knows more.</p>
<p>All in all, if I were you, I would definitely attend RU, especially since you got into what is arguably, the top, if not one of the top pharmacy schools in the Northeast. To top it off, I am sure you have been offered a decent/generous sum of scholarship money. Granted the school is nowhere near perfect (I personally wish admission standards would tighten up) I don't personally know anyone who attends the school that doesn't love going there. Best of luck nonetheless with your decision making process!</p>
<p>the new brunswick campus just had a lot of new construction so some buildings are gorgeous but other buildings are on there way to becoming just as nice. for instance, looking at cook college compared to livingston.. ud notice that livingston looks better. but eventually cook will be just as nice. its not to the point where id assume you wouldnt want to attend.</p>
<p>as for crime rates. theres crime of course but its not as common at new brunswick than it is outside of the camden adn newark campuses. it happens though. but rutgers is a great school. id strongly say you should enroll. but of course i also think u should come and look for yourself.</p>
<p>if you're instate go to ernest mario, great price (especially with a scholarship) and you can come out with a 6 digit salary...NJ is rich with good pharmacy jobs and they love RU degrees</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies, I really appreciate the insight into Rutgers!</p>
<p>I'm not nearly as worried about class sizes as I am about crime rates and campus environment, but I guess New Brunswick is pretty safe from what I've heard, or at least more so than Newark or Camden--correct me if I'm wrong.</p>
<p>It's just I hear people repeating how "cheap and dreary" the campuses are compared to the Ivy Leagues and the supposedly "less-than-stimulating student body." All these negative posts about Rutgers is a little depressing, I guess.</p>
<p>Anyhow, thanks again for the replies! At least now I know a bit more about the pros of Rutgers.</p>
<p>New Brunswick is completely safe, at least in my opinion. Not sure about where the campus at Camden is located, but the city is dangerous, one of the highest crime rates in American actually</p>
<p>People have mixed reactions on Newark, my opinion is it has its good parts and bad parts. I would never be caught there at night but for me, it's fine at daylight, depending where you are of course</p>
<p>Because a couple of people asked for my stats in private messages...</p>
<p>Asian Female</p>
<p>ACT: 33 (2 times the charm -.- I got 31 the other time)
Rank: Top 10% (School of 3000 people, so they don't give out specific numbers)
GPA: Something above 4 (school doesn't show UW)
Classes: Mix of Honor and AP classes, and unique classes, like Cultural Anthropology
EC Activities: I think this is what got me in PharmD, because I'm in Human Rights Club, volunteered in Guatemala, did a lot of "different" things--plus it helps to be in a school rated to be in the top 3% of all US schools by US News.
Rutgers definitely likes a diverse student--if you have time try volunteering abroad.
I'm also out-of-state--Chicago.</p>
<p>I'll probably go to Rutgers...i'm 90% sure.</p>
<p>P.S. How is the commute around Rutgers? I heard it's pretty bad.</p>
<p>I think saying that any student body is "less than stimulating" is kind of unrealistic. I currently go to a small LAC that's nowhere close to the top fifty, and some people probably do say that about kids that go here. </p>
<p>It all depends on who you meet. I'm sure that at Rutgers- like where I am- you're going to have the kids that are drunk thursday through monday, the girls just going to college to sleep with guys, and the kids that just don't care about academics. But there are also really studious people, plenty of people that you can discuss roman architecture or latin or whatever with over lunch. </p>
<p>I suppose visiting would give you a better idea of if you really want to go or not. :) I'd recommend eating in a dining hall or sitting around in a common area for a while- that may give you a better idea of what the student body is like.</p>
<p>(Just in case you want to know, I'm currently applying as a transfer for this fall.)</p>