<p>MY friend from Jersey was raving about how prestitigious of a public school it was but its not like a big research place like UMich or UVA Berklkey, etc.</p>
<p>how good is tcnj comparativly?</p>
<p>I live in NJ and no one here really thinks that TCNJ is that great of a school. Most think its a decent school.</p>
<p>Agree with plasma, but I think that many feel that TCNJ is a better school than Rutgers.</p>
<p>TCNJ has about 6000 students. It has a reputation for attracting some of the states brightest students. (less than 10% are from out of state.) It is without a doubt a good choice for bright students on a budget. However it suffers from an identity crisis. Not a lot of people seems to know TCNJ. They think you are talking about Rutgers.</p>
<p>Based on the statistics at collegeboard, TCNJ appears to be the most selective public school in New Jersey. Compared to Rutgers, TCNJ has a lower admission rate; has students with higher SAT scores; and has more students from the top 10% and top 25% of their high school classes. TCNJ probably also offers smaller classes, fewer teaching assistants, and more overall emphasis on undergraduate instruction than Rutgers.</p>
<p>However, “prestige” does not necessarily reflect selectivity or academic quality. Rutgers is much older, much larger, and is much better known to the general public than TCNJ – especially outside of New Jersey. </p>
<p>If you want name recognition and prestige, then Rutgers is clearly the bigger name. If you are more concerned with a quality undergraduate education, then TCNJ is worth a serious look.</p>
<p>Based on this information, my son loved TCNJ on his visit and looks to apply EA or ED. Can he get in?
GPA is 3.5 (weighted), split between A’s and B’s…but he got a C in 9th grade Spanish and C in 10th grade Spanish(ouch!). On the positive side, by the time he graduates next June, he will have 4 AP and 6 honor classes. He scored a 4 in AP computers and 3 in AP Calculus. Also took the SAT’s once thus far…math 700, verbal 530, writing 560. Took an additional 18 courses over 3 years at a Jewish weekend high school. EC’s at school okay, not great, the most notable is he competes on the math team against other high schools (10 competitions). He has been gainfully employed by one employer (restaurant)for the past 2 1/2 years - 15 - 20 hours a week during school, full time in the summer.
Can get excellent recommendations, especially from his AP Calculus teacher, where he was the only junior in a class of seniors.
So, I guess this should be in the “chances” thread. Is it a big reach, small reach, or match? Thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t have any particular insight into TCNJ specifically, but in general your son may be tough to “chance” accurately, because his qualifications appear to be relatively focused in one particular area. He apparently has a strong math SAT, solid math ECs, and math teacher recs; but his scores and qualifications in other respects appear significantly weaker. Obviously he would be a stronger candidate if he could get the verbal and writing scores up.</p>
<p>For TCNJ, his math SAT is clearly above average – but his verbal and writing scores are just as clearly below. So it depends on how TCNJ wants to look at it. </p>
<p>If they are strictly numbers-driven (and state schools often are), then the total of all three SAT scores might not be particularly competitive. If, on the other hand, they value diversity (whcih smaller schools and LACs often do), then they may be prepared to overlook the weaker verbal/writing scores to get a stong math student. The current TCNJ Common Data Set indicates that they have very few math (2%) or computer science (1%) majors. They would probably like to have more students with strengths in these areas.</p>
<p>I believe your son will get in. ED boys have a little bit of an edge. My nephew (out of state) got in with lesser stats, but some very compelling and unusual service work on his resume.</p>
<p>I always thought it was a kind of dental procedure. ;)</p>
<p>It is considered around here to be the “best” state school. But I have a friend from town whose son is still trying to find a job after graduating TCNJ in 2008. He was a CJ major and is looking to perhaps go back to school (not there) for an accounting degree.</p>
<p>from a 98 TCNJ College Grad. I think I sum it up nicely, however in short I will tell you you are better served going to any state school without the words “New Jersey” in them. It is a decent school, but unfortunately we live in an image-oriented world.</p>