<p>Anyone want to chime in on Montclair, while we’re at it? How does it fit into this constellation?</p>
<p>I agree with tom, that Rider does have a well respected accounting program. </p>
<p>Montclair, is supposed to be a solid school too. I don’t see it as superior to Rider or Monmouth, personally. I know that you are looking at the theatre program, and I am not familiar with it. Montclair is a larger school, and a state school. I cannot speak to theatre, but if my children “had to go” to NJ public, I would choose TCNJ or Ramapo. I will send a PM to you, Emmybet.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the theater and music programs at Montclair are outstanding (many of the kids at our hs go there; it’s still cheaper for them than OOS choices. We are near enough to commute.) Our val from last year is going there for music/sciences. The school has really expanded its facilities and resources. The best publics in NJ would be Rutgers and TCNJ, with Ramapo and, I would add, Stockton, also solid. But for music and theater, I’d tip toward looking at Montclair.</p>
<p>Rowan is a solid choice too, especially for education or engineering majors, or if TCNJ is a reach.</p>
<p>My DH & I are Montclair alums (from back in the day when it was MSC not MSU.) We were broadcasting majors, which falls under the Speech & Theatre dept. umbrella. We had great faculty, who had great connections in NYC which led to great internships 
</p>
<p>When D started her college search, I looked up MSCs stats just for giggles and was surprised by how low the 25-75% stats were. Of course, that wasn’t something we took into consideration back in my day. I would say it’s a decent directional state u with an outstanding theatre department and a good education program.</p>
<p>My comments about Drew, Rider & Monmouth were based on 4 decades as a NJ resident but we moved 7 years ago. I think Drew’s profile went up when former NJ Gov. Thomas Kean became Drew’s President. It’s a beautiful campus; I just never heard anything wonderful about the academics beyond the seminary. And I stand on my comment about Monmouth; the in-state perception was that it was someplace where mediocre students whose parents had cash would attend. I worked with a number of Monmouth grads and none of them did anything to dispell that perception. At all.</p>
<p>This is disturbing to me. My daughter was seriously considering applying to Rider. She wants to major in accounting. She took Drew off the list because they don’t have accounting, they have “business studies”. She has about a 3.4 GPA and 1810 on her SATs. TCNJ is a reach, so she was looking at Monmouth and Rider. What are good business schools for the B student?</p>
<p>Rider is considered to be good for business/accounting. She is right to take Drew off her list for business majors. How about Hofstra, or Marist? Is she willing to go out of the tristate area for college?</p>
<p>dkitty - As has been mentioned, the accounting and business programs at Rider are supposed to be pretty good. Just do your research and ask questions.</p>
<p>Here is a good site, which shows all of the aacsb accredited business schools. I would start here. As you can see, Monmouth and Rider are on this list.</p>
<p>[AACSB</a> Accreditation](<a href=“http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/AccreditedMembers.asp]AACSB”>Search Accredited Schools | AACSB)</p>
<p>Rider has yet another accreditation for their accounting program. Rider should be a very solid choice if one looks at the accreditation of their program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link. I’ll have her look at some of the schools listed.</p>
<p>Your welcome, and good luck to her!</p>
<p>DKitty: I would say don’t be disturbed but just do your homework. Every school is a good “fit” for someone. </p>
<p>As for TCNJ, you can see their admitted student stats at: <a href=“http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/factbook/FreshPrep09.pdf[/url]”>http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/factbook/FreshPrep09.pdf</a> and info on freshman admissions at: <a href=“http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/factbook/FreshAdmissions09.pdf[/url]”>http://ir.intrasun.tcnj.edu/factbook/FreshAdmissions09.pdf</a></p>
<p>My cousin went to Rider and she is a controller in a NY bank. Her DD is going to NYU and they got no FA from it. There is nothing wrong with Rider and it is just an average B school. If you make good in that, you can be a functional person in the society.</p>
<p>RobD-</p>
<p>Your (mostly accurate, IMHO) comments about Monmouth U really stung!</p>
<p>I attended MU (then Monmouth College) way back in the dark ages, 1974-78.
As the first in my family to attend any college, I had been set to enroll at Rutgers. That would be because perhaps my family could afford to help with the then very inexpensive tuition. Monmouth called my guidance counselor asking if I was interested in a full tuition scholarship. Mmmmm, beautiful campus by the shore, free tuition. They had my major- Medical Technology/Biology.</p>
<p>Had a wonderful time at Monmouth. I especially enjoyed my science labs (small and personalized) and the gorgeous old building where many classes were held.
The students I encountered were mostly from wealthy families and were not too terribly interested in their studies. I was. And my profs knew it. And I learned a bunch, graduating summa cum laude, with no debt since parents paid for R&B. </p>
<p>Just saying, a student can usually find what they need at a school…
My employers have never found my background lacking academically. And it has never stood in my way of anything I pursued.</p>
<p>That said, our DS attended TCNJ and Rutgers for undergrad, Monmouth wouldn’t have been a match for his music requirements.</p>
<p>Sorry MusicMom! No slight intended: as I said above I think any college can be a good “fit” for a particular student if they know what they’re looking for. You were able to make the best of a fantastic financial opportunity. I think a motivated student can get a good education at the majority of institutions if they are willing to take the initiative with professors. </p>
<p>I was also a 1st gen college student just a little bit after you (1982-1986.) I started off at Seton Hall but transferred after my sophomore year mainly because of the apathy of my fellow students. If I’d only known then what I know now ;)</p>
<p>Nice to ‘meet’ another first gen college grad, RobD!<br>
No offense taken, just thought it might be interesting for some CCers to hear my version of attending a less rigorous college, even 30 yrs out of date!</p>
<p>Now, here’s my real topic:
Any attractive towns to investigate in Tennessee for retiring baby boomers?
As you well know, NJ property taxes are so out of control!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As well as instate tuition at public colleges and universities in our state.</p>
<p>Agreed, northeastmom.</p>
<p>Our son was intent on staying in NYC area.
Turned out that our NJ publics, while quite expensive compared to OOS publics, were less than 1/2 the cost of the privates he had on his short list.
So, NJ publics were still a ‘bargain’ for his specific requirements. He graduated with Stafford loans only and is completing a masters OOS on merit aid.</p>
<p>The RATE of tuition increase at NJ publics is MUCH steeper now than before.
We had calculated long ago to save 4 yrs of instate for DS. We were on track to have that saved until the increases skyrocketed around 2000 on.
We ended up with about 1/2 the total needed saved. </p>
<p>I can imagine that some NJ students cannot afford their own flagship state U.
Quite sad.</p>
<p>We have a friend whose D went to Rider. She lasted one semester/or one year, don’t remember. Hated it, mainly from what I’ve heard because the school closes up on weekends and there was no campus life…mostly commuters.</p>
<p>musicmom- Come to the Nashville area. Franklin or Leiper’s Fork are very popular for northeast escapees.</p>