I’m transferring to either Lesley or Elizabethtown. I’d probably want to study social work but I’m also kind of considering early childhood education. I much prefer Lesley, but it’s overall not nearly as good academically as Elizabethtown College I think. Also, I know Elizabethtown College has strong education and social work programs, whereas Lesley’s social work program is brand new, and still in the accreditation process as of now. Fall of 2019 is going to be their first year having a BSW program.
My parents can afford to pay for both, but Lesley is about $8K a more per year. However, I’d probably get a car if I go to Elizabethtown College, so going their probably wouldn’t save any money.
Also, I think Lesley is very disability friendly, which is really important to me, since I need housing and testing accomodations. Part of why I’m leaving my current college is because of how bad disability services is.
Another thing is I really haven’t made any friends at where I’m at, and I think the Elizabethtown kids are probably pretty similar to the ones at my college, and the Lesley kids are weirdos, which is a good thing.
These are just some website rankings:
-College Factual ranks Lesley at #909/1779, and Elizabethtown College is #232/1779
-U.S. News ranks Lesley at #183 in National Universities and Elizabethtown College at #113 in National Liberal Arts Colleges.
-Times Higher Education ranks Lesley at #601-800, and Elizabethtown College at #257.
I have to decide as soon as possible, and would really appreciate some help.
Actually I just found out I’d bring one of my parent’s cars with me, so there would be a cost difference.
Simple scorecard approach based on the facts presented only.
You’re not happy in your current social environment. You state Lesley is less like current school.
-Point for Lesley.
Costs are equal with car costs etc.
-1/2 point each. Neutral rating.
If no car.
-Two Points for Elizabethtown. (32k for grad school)
Lesley has a disability friendly environment which is important to you.
-Point for Lesley.
Lesley is in Cambridge MA. The area is a hotbed of social work opportunities.
You need a Masters degree in your field. BU and others have great full and part time schools of social work right over the bridge.
-Point for Lesley.
-Point for Elizabethtown (costs)
Elizabethtown is more highly regarded in come circles.
-Point for Elizabethtown.
Score for your unique situation only.
Lesley 4.0 to 4.5
Elizabethtown 2.5 to 4.0
Rankings and Cost.
-Elizabethtown
Fit, accommodations, location and post grad opportunities.
I know zilch about Lesley, but I know some about Etown because one of my older kid went there and I have recently looked at their BSW program with my next kid in mind.
Etown academics are challenging and they prepare students well in learning about theory and practice. But Etown puts a tremendous emphasis on real life learning and they are hard to beat when it comes to providing clinical experiences.
I recently did some comparison on that front with the different schools my daughter is thinking of applying to. The difference was striking and Etown goes well beyond the requirements of their accreditation.
I also know that my order daughter, who did MT and not SW, had clinical experiences every semester with increasing levels of responsibility. She had an amazing resume when she graduated which was very helpful in getting an internship and job after graduation.
There are plenty of opportunities around the town, but I’m sure they have programs that students are involved in in Lancaster. Who knows? I would not be surprised if they had students doing things in Hershey and/or Harrisburg.
One reason why I was happy that my older D chose Etown was because of their disability office. I was a helicopter mom and called disability services at all the colleges where she was considering, and I was most impressed by Etown’s disability office staff’s professionalism and their willingness to go the extra mile. When my D suddenly developed medical problems, it was the disability office staff that was her advocate in ways they did not have to be. I just can’t say enough about how incredibly helpful they were, not by doing what was required but going beyond that.
Lesley might offer just as much but I was very happy with my D’s experience at Etown.