<p>Anyone know wether Temple has a straight Pharmacy Program? Please let me know.. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Marny! Thank you for your replies MichaelNkat, Marny, and brainsprain.</p>
<p>For an OOS student who will be paying a higher tuition, could someone tell me why they would choose to go to Temple over Drexel, assuming that their major is undecided?</p>
<p>I was unaware of the small freshman class sizes. I was surprised to learn that nearly 40% of classes have under 20students. The freshman retention rate is not bad, at 85%. So why is the 4 year graduation rate only 29%, and 5 year at 54%? I find this very disturbing. It makes me think about what falls apart between small classes freshman year, and the end of senior year. Is it lack of sections, lack of student funds to pay tuition, poor advising, students lost in a huge system, poor instruction causing too many students to fail, or all of the above plus other problems?</p>
<p>northeastmom - I'm not sure what the answer is, could be a combination of things. Based on my son's experience and that of kids of friends of ours, I don't think it's a lack of sections (Main Campus has loads of sections for courses that have large enrollments), I don't think it's poor instruction (just not consistent with my son's experience and that of students we know), or getting lost in a big system (is it really any different than any large university). I do know that a lot of students at Temple also work, many with full or close to full time jobs; some students intentionally go part time so they can work. And Temple also draws older students who are already in the work force, but they certainly are not the majority of the students. I don't think it's endemic to the school but more a reflection of the composition of the student body. It also seems that students in general are taking longer to complete college; many schools now post graduation statistics in terms of 5 years and not 4. Interesting question though.</p>
<p>Hmmmm... I just checked and it is true that the average age of student at Temple is 2 years older than at most Us (22y/o). I wonder if this is bc they are taking so long to graduate bc of something lacking at the school, bc they were working already and began college after a gap year or two, or bc as you say, they have gone part time and are taking longer to graduate. The large public U that my older son attends has a 5 year grad rate of 80%. Part of the reason for the high grad rate there, IMO, is bc they accept many dual enrollment credits and students are entering college with sophomore or junior status to begin with. Grad rates don't tell you about that.</p>
<p>For an OOS student who will be paying a higher tuition, could someone tell me why they would choose to go to Temple over Drexel, assuming that their major is undecided?</p>
<p>northeastmom - I don't think it's because of something lacking in the school. My wife, sister-in-law and many others that I know, both my peers and young adults, graduated in 4 years. My son will have graduated in 4 1/2 years but that's because he had a couple of semesters with only 3 courses because he was also working. He also is a bit older because he took a gap year. I really think the stats you cited are reflective of the demographics of the student body as a whole and not because of a deficiency with Temple. </p>
<p>As to Drexel v. Temple, Drexel has its roots as a technology sciences, computer sciences, electronic media focused school. Over the years the programs have been broadened to include liberal arts, but students go to Drexel because of the nexus between their area of interest and technology. My daughter's boyfriend graduated from Drexel last year with a degree in business and computers. The son of a friend is a freshman this year majoring in computer graphics and video. Temple, on the other hand, has its roots as a liberal arts university. If a student doesn't know what they want to major in, I would think twice about Drexel because of its particular focus unless the student knows they want some area related to or joined with technology but just isn't sure what specific major.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I would not say it is prestigious by any standards, but in comparison with almost all other 3rd tier undergrads, it is one of the best known in the US.
I mean i live in california, and ive heard of it.</p>
<p>But I think there are a handful of schools you could get into if you can get into temple, but that are much better</p>
<p>"Prestigious", "3rd tier" - if what you mean is "airs of exclusivity" and "pretentiousness", then I would agree. But don't discount the quality of the education based on some vague notion of "better" or the "ratings" of USNWR. Temple is not an Ivy or exclusive LAC nor does it aspire to be one. But if you are looking for a large state supported urban university on the east coast, it has much to offer, including very well regarded educational opportunities in a broad variety of majors. It also is a university that has nationally very well regarded and competitive professional schools (law, medicine, etc) and graduate programs. As an employer in a professional area in Philadelphia, I come in contact with graduates from Penn, Drexel, Villanova, Rutgers, University of Delaware, and Penn State. I do not view graduates from Temple as having a competitive disadvantage nor do my friends and colleagues. As a parent who attended a small exclusive, "prestigious" LAC, I have no qualms about the quality of the education my son is receiving.</p>
<p>Well it is not a 1st rate education, but it is better than most state schools.</p>
<p>How do you define a "first rate education"? Is it what happens in the classroom, the interaction between professors and students, the resources and facilities that are available, the opportunities to have internships in one's area of interest out in the real world? Or is it something else. I spent my freshman year at the main campus of a large state supported school in PA. I then transfered to a small, highly regarded, highly competitive LAC in New England. I then went to law school. My conclusion is that I would have gotten as good an education had I remained at my first school as I did at the second. The major difference, other than size and location, was that the scope of the student body at school 1 was much broader in terms of academic ability and commitment than at school 2. However, that those at the top of the heap at school 1 received as good an education as I did at school 2. What's really important is what characteristics make one school a better fit than another for your personal needs and desires and the level of commitment you bring to the process. I happen to think that those students who are committed can get a "first rate" education at Temple. My experience as an area employer, as a student and my observations of many students who attend or who have graduated lead me to this conclusion. Is it as "prestigious" - nope, but the value of that is a whole other discussion.</p>