<p>My D was accepted at Rutgers Honors Program (New Brunswick) and will receive a mostly academic and partly athletic scholarship which will cover most of the costs. She has also been accepted early at Williams (we live fairly close to Williams so are very aware of its excellent reputation for an amazing faculty.) She has yet to hear from several other similar schools and ivies, all reach schools, probably with little aid. Although Rutgers is much bigger than all the other schools she is interested in, she did enjoy the Honors day for accepted students and a visitation we did in January to meet the coach. However, we feel like we really do not know much about Rutgers. She would not be choosing Rutgers for some of its assets like having a good football team. She loves Williams - it was her dream school - and we are so unsure what to advise her to do. Any information would be so appreciated, especially about the honors college and regarding experiences for females in the physics department.</p>
<p>As you may have guessed, there are not many females majoring in physics. Honors has the advantages of having smaller class sizes, but you will likely not receive the quality of education you would at Williams. However, you’ll be paying through your nose at Williams. There is no doubt that you can get a good education at Rutgers though. If money is a large issue, I would suggest that she come to Rutgers.</p>
<p>However, if you are willing to pay, Williams would be the right choice. It is your daughter’s dream school, and if she likes a liberal arts college, Rutgers may or may not be the best place for her. Rutgers is about as opposite as you can get from a liberal arts college like Williams.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! Can you tell me in what ways it would be very different from an LAC? Are you a physics major by any chance?</p>
<p>I am not a physics major, but I have taken physics classes and I am good friends with a physics major.</p>
<p>Differences from a LAC:
- Large Student Body (30,000+ people)
- Large Campus (Largest university bus system in the country I believe, four campuses spread over ~5-10 miles)
- Large Class Sizes (something you won’t be able to avoid at Rutgers)
- Urban/Suburban Campus Environment
- Every man for himself - Rutgers does not have the resources to take care of you, you have to seek help out yourself. This is something I feel like would NOT happen at a LAC - I have heard stories of my friends regularly getting dinner with their professors and discussing their classwork. That doesn’t really happen here at Rutgers.</p>
<p>If given the chance between Williams and Rutgers, I would definitely choose Williams. I feel that Williams provides a better quality of education, a better opportunity to interact with professors, better career and graduate school placement, and a stronger sense of community and school spirit. However, I am a bit biased - I think my learning style leans more towards the way the LACs teach. I love classroom discussions, debates, and participation and this is something that I rarely have a chance to engage in here at Rutgers. I have only had three classes where my class size has been less than 30 people. (this is out of the 20+ classes I have taken).</p>
<p>The Daily Targum, our school newspaper, ran a great article on how pervasive the “RU SCREW” culture is here at Rutgers. As you know, many state schools have been going through budget crises, and Rutgers is no exception. In fact, New Jersey ranks in the bottom of higher education funding. In order to combat rising costs and decreasing state aid, Rutgers has over enrolled in the past few years to make up for the lost revenue.</p>
<p>This has had a negative impact on the quality of education. It is difficult to get classes that you want to take because they fill up too fast, you have people sitting on the floor in lectures, Rutgers is forced to stick people in hotels 20 minutes away from campus because there is a housing shortage, the buses are always crowded during peak hours, etc. The vast majority of my classes have been 100+ people, and I have yet to go to an organic chemistry office hour that has a place for me to sit. </p>
<p>In the words of the article: people feel like they have succeeded despite of Rutgers, not because of it. I only need to look at my pharmacy class - we admitted 200+ people, and by the end of our second year around 30-50 will have dropped out. Granted, this is not all of Rutgers’s fault, but Rutgers definitely does not reach out and help you, you have to be very proactive and seek help yourself. </p>
<p>With all that negative said, I feel that Rutgers is great preparation for the “real world.” There is no doubt that you’re getting a great deal for your money, and that the quality of education is good. Rutgers trains you for the real world because no one is going to coddle you or check up on you, your success is solely in your hands. If you are struggling in a class, a TA or a professor will never approach you. You must approach them and be proactive in your education. </p>
<p>You know your daughter better than anonymous forum members - what type of learner is she? Is she an independent person? Does she know how to ask for help? Is she mature enough to know when to ask for help? etc. If she is an independent learner, and you answered yes to the rest of the questions, I have no doubt that she will succeed here at Rutgers and love it. Your wallet will love it too.</p>
<p>edit: By the way, your daughter will not have to deal with living in a hotel or having her classes filled up (most of the time). These are the perks of being an honors student</p>
<p>Question for OP, did your D receive an app. for the honors program when she was initially accepted?
What were her scores, etc. like? I thought I would receive one, and was disappointed I didn’t, since I heard back from the school many, many months ago. Is it possible I will still find out? Did she officially declare she is attending? I didn’t decide yet… Is that why?</p>
<p>Thanks, mucho appreciated ;)</p>
<p>In answer to your question - she applied for a non-binding early acceptance back in Dec. I believe, and was accepted to the Honors Program soon after. Her SAT was 2210, ACT was 34, AP Physics 5, AP Statistics 5, Other AP’s 4’s and 5’s. Very strong EC’s - president of a major club, All-State musician, All-State athlete. Excellent recommendations - she was able to see copies of all three. Hope you hear soon!</p>
<p>She is still deciding on a school - it’s a very hard decision - that’s why I am so thankful for everyone’s responses. Thank you!</p>