<p>What do you guys think of Rutgers Reputation?</p>
<p>I'm from NJ, and I think Rutgers is about as good as Penn State. It has some quality programs like pharmacy, and its engineering program is not too bad. It's a good school (no matter what others from NJ may say)</p>
<p>im from nj too, i think tcnj is better academically, but more people outside the state know rutgers</p>
<p>I'll be honest... I live in NJ, and I go to a competitive private high school, and the feeling at my school is that unless it's really the only thing you can afford (and most people at my high school can afford more), you'd be an idiot to stay in state. My school does kind of have an elitist attitude (with regard to both other high schools, and colleges). The only college in NJ that the majority of my school would even seriously consider attending is Princeton.</p>
<p>However, I, personally don't think Rutgers is that bad. It's not great. It's okay. I've already been accepted at Rutgers (parents made me apply); I just don't want to go because I don't want to stay in NJ (not even Princeton).</p>
<p>For an undergraduate education, TCNJ is by far better than Rutgers. If you want to do research and graduate work on the other hand, Rutgers is better.</p>
<p>I'm from NJ too and attend a relatively competitive school. Pretty much everybody who's qualified enough applies to Rutgers for one reason or another, regardless of academic ability. For competitive students, it's a decent, cheap, and very safe safety.</p>
<p>I always thought Rutgers was a very decent school, but because a lot of us live in NJ, we see it as a last resort.</p>
<p>It'd be interesting to have some people not from NJ answer.</p>
<p>Rutgers:</p>
<p>Academics</p>
<p>"Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick, “is the kind of university [at which], if you make the effort to create your niche and find opportunities to succeed, you will have one of the best experiences of your life.” With “a great study abroad program, solid academic departments and professors, the vast resources of a large research . . . and lots of scholarship money for honors students,” Rutgers “offers boundless opportunity, both educational and professional, but you have to be willing to go out and seek it.” Rutgers’ immenseness is made more manageable by its subdivision into 13 colleges, “each with its own unique community and environment, all unified under one entity that can afford all the opportunities of a large university.” Even so, the university’s bureaucracy is legendary; one student writes, “The school seems to take pride in its web of red tape. The famous ‘RU Screw’ has become so notorious that the university president had to publicly denounce it.” It’s a good sign that Rutgers “is progressively changing its administrative policies under the administration of its relatively new president. There is a renewed focus on student service, and the changes are evident.” As at many state schools, “Good things will not happen at Rutgers by sitting in the corner and waiting for opportunity to knock. It is a big school, so the more you put yourself out and make yourself known, the more likely you’ll be able to find help in academics and administration.” For self-starters, the rewards can be great; one writes, “I’ve had the opportunity to [conduct] my own research in the Rutgers facilities.” Indeed, “There is a lot of research going on at Rutgers. The topics are numerous, and there are plenty of spots to fill if you look around well enough.”"</p>
<p>Student Body</p>
<p>"Rutgers “is huge, so there is just about every type of person you could think of here.” One undergrad observes, “With so many students, it’s hard not to find others with whom you fit in. But the drawback to such a large student body is that you need to go out and make friends; you can’t expect them to come to you.” Another student adds, “To be fair, sometimes it feels a bit like high school (there are ‘skaters’ and ‘preps’ and ‘thugs’ and all that), but once you’re an upperclassmen you kind of learn to ignore it.”</p>
<p>Campus Life</p>
<p>"“Weekdays are busy, and you can find places crowded at any time of the day” on the Rutgers campus, as “There’s always something going on: concerts, free movies, talks. It’s all about diversity and going out to find what you want to do.” Student government “is huge, as is Rock the Vote. . . . There’s always voter registration drives, and we even have Tent State University in the spring, during which a bunch of political student groups set up tents on the main courtyard and camp out for a week handing out literature, having fun stuff (concerts, etc.), and talking to people about what they do and how they can get involved.” For some, “drinking is a big thing.” One student writes, “If there was no such thing as getting inebriated, there would be nothing to do here.” Many refute that position, noting that “there are other things you can do as well besides. There are lots of places to eat and drink coffee, . . . stuff like Jazz ‘n’ Java put on by the Douglass Black Students Caucus, . . . or going to a small discussion group with Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer,” to name a few. While weekdays are lively, weekends are another story. One student comments, “Life at Rutgers would feel more college-y if people didn’t leave on weekends and it [didn’t feel] so deserted.”"</p>
<p>We are from NJ. Rutgers has a national reputation, and a good one. It is not all that cheap, as instate COA is still 21k, unless one gets a scholarship or financial aid. Since it has a national reputation for many it is the best university that parents can still pay for, even at 21k. </p>
<p>I would not recommend that one attends if one cannot deal with some large classes, and negotiate a large university. Also, there have been budget cuts, so keep that in mind.</p>
<p>northeastmom- I wonder why Rutgers is so expensive for a public college. Also, I don't think Rutgers is very generous with merit-based scholarships, though I don't know about need-based. Any student for whom cost is a major factor should apply to some of the Ivies, because I know Harvard (and some others I believe) has generous need-based aid for admitted students. Of course, applying to Harvard (and other Ivy league schools) is kind of a crapshoot, even for the best students.</p>
<p>haha, if you can get in, princeton will make sure you can attend. my mom end up paying 300 dollars for her education.</p>
<p>molliegym, I know people who have some merit aid and attend. To be honest, I have not looked into their merit aid or financial aid because my sons are not interested in attending. They are not attending because Rutgers is just not a good fit, not because there is anything wrong with it.</p>
<p>I agree about the Ivies, if one has the stats for them, and yes, Ivies are a reach for everyone.</p>
<p>I'm from NJ, and the general feeling of my high school is that it's a last resort. It's a decent school, and you can get great scholarships, but no one really WANTS to go to Rutgers. It really isn't considered to be a "cool" state university.</p>
<p>are there any cool state universities in nj?</p>
<p>haha I mean I don't think Rutgers or NJIT are considered "cool"</p>