So much conflicting information about Drew!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Drew University
1

<p>I keep hearing contradictory things about Drew: that it's very good academically, but that they take about 75% of applicants (and when I look at the SAT scores of the freshman class, well, they're horrendous -- and this is an SAT-optional college!).</p>

<p>That they're the safe school of many good students (resulting in a "yield" of about 10%), but that nobody really <em>wants</em> to go there (except theatre students).</p>

<p>That they're the #1 theatre school in the country and that they have a fantastic neuroscience major -- but that many students who are there are trying to transfer out.</p>

<p>That they <em>used</em> to be excellent and fairly selective but that something happened and now they're -- not. </p>

<p>That they're building all sorts of new structures but not maintaining the old ones.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any more information about these apparent contradictions? How can a school be really good academically when they will take students who didn't do well in high school and who score in the 20th percentile on SATs? How can those students do the work?</p>

2

<p>I haven’t followed admissions since my son went in 2006. Then they just started the SAT optional I think, and they had some very bright students and some they felt weren’t good test takers but would excel once admitted. Many did and a few didn’t, but that happens. They give very good aid for their size and that is attractive to many competitive students.
He felt his 4 years were fine, Psych/Econ major and liked the small classes and close interactions with professors. They were very dedicated and he kept up communication with them. Grad school is going well and overall he felt prepared but would have made certain courses stronger, stats I think was one.
Theatre is strong and I think Bio was also. Political Science was also very strong and they have good programs for that major. They were building new dorms, his were always fine, I can’t speak for others. There wasn’t a lot going on sometimes, he wished for a more “bustling” atmosphere sometimes, but they did have their share of dances, trips, many speakers, etc.
Again, I can’t talk about the classes now, but overall, it was a quiet, very good, but not excellent school, that many professionals I know heard about, others not as much. I know every interview he had, they knew of Drew and he didn’t have to explain as he did with neighbors.
If you can visit for a day (that helped him a lot vs overnight) and ask about majors/programs you are interested in, talk to students, it might help you.
Drew gave my son one of his best packages, beat Conn College, Fordham, etc. by quite a bit and he said if he had to do it over again, wouldn’t have wanted to spend more to go anywhere else.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for that response. My son and I are going to Drew on Friday, so we’ll see what we’ll see. I’d like to hear from anybody with more recent experience of the college too. </p>

<p>Sounds as if your son had a good experience overall and I like the fact that potential grad schools had heard of the school.</p>

4

<p>Drew is a very good school academically which happens to have a high admissions rate due in part to an expanding first year class. I am a junior at Drew, and love it. I am an English major, and found the academics here to be top notch. I also considered Bard and Ursinus College. I had an internship with Sony Music this summer, was able to introduce and have dinner with a National Book Award winner, went to Paris and London for less than $3,000 dollars, and was able to read my poetry in a NYC venue because of a professor. I made Drew work for me, and many people who go to Drew, can. It has so many opportunities in which you can seize upon. </p>

<p>The student body is diverse in the sense of personality. At typical liberal art schools, there is definitely one type of student who goes there. However, at Drew, you definitely have a variety of people - jocks, Cape Cod kids, rich kids, hipsters, Magic card playing kids, the theatre kids, etc. It is an interesting fusion of kids at Drew, and something that makes it special. </p>

<p>I think a lot of complaints about how the campus is boring comes from the student not looking or taking advantage of things. We are 45 minutes away from NYC - I take advantage of it, but it’s very expensive. There are parties on campus at the “suites” and at theme houses. Events do happen. At small schools like Drew, you need to find your niche. </p>

<p>In terms of kids being academic superstars, a lot of my friends turned down higher rank schools because of scholarships they received, fit, etc. However, there are other kids here who you wonder how they even got into college. These kids get weeded out by the end of freshmen year. </p>

<p>A lot of top students use Drew as a safety because it’s an academically rich school and beautiful. </p>

<p>Drew is definitely finding itself and cultivating who it is. Admission/SAT scores do not always translate quality. I hope you had a good tour. If you need anything, feel free to message me.</p>

5

<p>OP, I hope your visit was helpful. I will agree with others on this thread. Our S is a senior and has been very happy with Drew. Having met several of his friends, I think they have similar impressions.</p>

<p>Yes, there are some classes that could be more rigorous but I think you will hear that at most schools. Yes, as a smaller campus you need to look a little harder for fun. But on the whole, we have seen a good group of students flourish. Internship and classroom opportunities have lead to a legitimate career vision. And the cost has been been excellent.</p>

6

<p>Thank you! we went and my son was interviewed. They were basically recruiting him because he has very good SAT scores and GPA. I thought it was FABULOUS in the sense of (1) 50-minute train ride from NYC, and (2) seeing a DEER outside in “the forest” as we toured.</p>

<p>One concern I have is: there was some talk about the heavy security on campus. The admissions person said this as a positive, but then we read the school newspaper on the way home about the sort of “police state mentality” that some think is the current state of affairs – is there anything to this? I got the feeling that, rather than the usual laisse-faire security on most liberal college campuses, there was more of a Rudy Giuliani type of law and order situation at Drew that is at odds with the majority of students.
Is this something that the majority of kids is concerned with, or more of a kvetching* on the part of the students?</p>

<p>(*Yiddish - complaining; whining)</p>

<p>thanks</p>

7

<p>and I do know it’s “laissez” but it was too late to edit!</p>

8

<p>dmelanogaster, i am really happy that you enjoyed the forest and the deer. it was an incredible experience to wake up in the morning my first year, and look out my window, and see deer outside.</p>

<p>in terms of security, i feel very safe on campus, and do not feel dominated by public safety or feel like there is a “police state mentality.” </p>

<p>anyway, i hoped this helped!</p>

9

<p>I’m relieved to hear that, about campus security (in both directions). Have fun at Drew!</p>

10

<p>DMelanogaster: I can say that our S has never had a significant complaint about campus safety either way - no problems with his personal safety and no problems with campus security. I know that some of the officers are less friendly than others, but you get that anywhere.</p>

<p>One of the things I made a habit of doing during college tours for both of our kids is grabbing the college paper. Also, since we visit Drew for the theater programs and for Shakespeare, I see The Acorn pretty often. My sense is that college papers often contain articles or editorials that are critical of some aspect of the administration. I wouldn’t give it much thought.</p>

11

<p>My son found that with the paper, it’s like a regular one, without controversy, the paper would be dull!
I remember 2 instances where patrols got heavier, an attempted assault near the outskirts of campus and once when someone who didn’t belong there came and they thought he was selling drugs.
I for one, would rather have too much security than not enough. As my son said, if you aren’t doing anything wrong, you don’t even notice it.</p>