rutgers vs. tcnj for safety

<p>I was going to apply to both for safety, but I don't know if I want to fill out all those damn apps. Can someone assess the strengths and weaknesses for each. If I don't get into my top schools, I plan on just studying physics, math, or even engineering at one of these schools, along with something more liberal-arts oriented like economics, history, or english. I want to pursue an MBA eventually, but I don't know how my chances are if I go to either one of these. I may actually even be considering pharmacy at Rutgers (basically, I really don't want to be stuck with either one of them in the end). By the way, I'd be getting a free ride to either one, so tuition doesn't really matter.</p>

<p>I think RU ist still a more dynamic college experience than CONJ. Better science and engineering facilities and faculty.</p>

<p>I also think that Rutgers is a better safety for physics,math,pharmacy.
Large, research university. Faculty? We know quite a few kids unhappy with the large number of classes taught by assistants rather than the 'name' professor.</p>

<p>TCNJ is a medium sized school with much smaller classes and just a different feel than Rutgers. But for the majors you want, it may not be the place for you.</p>

<p>Um. If you don't want to be "stuck" with them later on, then please don't apply at all.</p>

<p>I have seen too many kids get "stuck". And they whine. And whine.</p>

<p>well, everyone has safeties, so I don't know what you're talkin bout. That's the point; they're your last options, the schools u consider if you don't get in anywhere else, of course I'm not too enthusiastic about them.</p>

<p>No no no. A safety should never be an "oh, well I GUESS I'll go there if no one else takes me"...that's just pointless and a waste of money. </p>

<p>A safety should be something you like equally as much, and wouldn't mind going to. WHY would you apply somewhere you wouldn't like to go? A safety should be somewhere a BIT below your standing, but somewhere you'd LIKE TO attend. Period. Not some last resort. Why would it be on your list if you DIDNT like it?</p>

<p>Not somewhere you'll **** and moan while attending. LOVE thy safety. Because you have a chance you might be attending one of them.</p>

<p>I don't know what YOU ARE talking about. But if you insist on thinking that way, I hope everything works out for you.</p>

<p>The choice is between a large research university and all that has to offer and a smaller LAC which more intimate classes presumably. RU is a great place to learn if you want to major in the sciences. But sweetsaz79 actually makes a very valid point. You need to find at least one safety that you would actually LIKE to go to if it came down to it. Sounds like neither RU or TCNJ is the right choice for you. You have to step away from the prestige factor and look at what the learning experience and campus life would be for you. If you go to ANY respected university or LAC and do very well you will able to have many choices for grad school such as MBA. Find another safety that you like. A safety is a school that you would enjoy attending where you will be highly likely to be accepted. It is not a school you dread going to if there are no other options. If the main reason you would not be happy going there is because it doesn't have the prestige of your higher choices you need to readjust your thinking or you may well be doomed to be one of those whiners.</p>

<p>I don't have a safety that I really want to go to. The colleges that I really want to attend are all reaches. I have rutgers and tcnj because i get full rides plus like $3000 a yr stipends. So I'm not wasting money. It's not like I will hate goin to either one, just that I wouldnt be ecstatic like if I get into Wharton or Stanford.</p>

<p>njchino371</p>

<p>It would indeed be great if you got into one of your reaches, but I really would encourage you to do more research to find a school that would be fun to go to that just isn't as "elite" or selective. They really are out there. Unless of course money is an important factor for you and your family; then a state school may be a practical reality (it was for me; I went to RU ED because it was the only thing my family could afford and I knew I wanted to go to med school beyond). In that case you make the best of it. But if you have a choice financially, then spend the time to find schools that are a good match in location (is that important to you?), size, culture and acdemics. Really, there is school out there that would be fun for you that isn't as selective as your reaches.</p>

<p>yeh, money is a factor for me. Although all the financial aid calculators say that my parents can afford full tuition at all the schools, they really can't. I'm probably gonna take out loans and work in college if I do get into one of my reaches to pay for half the expenses. And I definitely don't want my parents to pay anything more than $10k a yr for a mediocre or even "good" school that's marginally better than rutgers or tcnj. I think I will do fine at either school, just that I would love to go to any of my reaches much much more. That is why I only have those two safeties.</p>

<p>i debated applying to tcnj as well but i feel like the college is too small and the campus is pretty boring. i think you have more options at rutgers esp considering your potential majors.</p>

<p>if you don't get into your top choices, you can try to transfer after spending a year at rutgers if you don't particularly like rutgers or tcnj. it's definitely hard to find a school in between rutgers and wharton that will let you pay 10k or less esp if the aid formulas suggest otherwise.</p>

<p>I understand now entirely. If I was your parent, I'd probably feel the same way. You have a good plan and I wish you good luck in your reaches.</p>

<p>Delaware, or Maryland?</p>

<p>Do Delaware or Maryland give full scholarships? And how are they in the majors that I have mentioned compared to Rutgers?</p>

<p>Delaware definitely offers a full-scholarship and it is known as the DuPont Scholarship. They are VERY competitive. I'm not sure about Maryland - I know they have a GemStone program - but I know it's about 8,000 ** more ** students than Delaware.</p>

<p>point very well said.</p>

<p>Rutgers and TCNJ are both great schools. TCNJ clearly has a more intimate feel; Rutgers has a LOT going on. TCNJ is actually a LITTLE more competitive to get into... Rutgers has more prestige outside of the New Jersey area because no one's heard of TCNJ. "No one" refers to the common person; employers will know it's a great school and a quality education. Their atmospheres are very different, and it really depends what you're looking for. I actually was applying to both as safetys, because the applications really weren't that bad.</p>

<p>If you decide to do Pharmacy, you will not get a full ride. You probably will have to pay for the last 2 years, unless your parents are part of the faculty.</p>

<p>Interestingly enough, my dad does work for Rutgers. Now on a very different topic, do you guys know the practacaliity of a student with a PharmD degree going for another professional degree such as mba, law, or phD? Would that just completely nullify your pharmD degree or would it actually make you a strong candidate in the job market.</p>

<p>buuuummmmmp</p>