TCNJ or Rowan?

Hi, I’m a senior who’s trying to make her choice between these two colleges! Rowan’s allowed me a 10,000 scholarship per year along with admission into their 5-year program for Secondary Education. As for TCNJ, I’ve been accepted as a Secondary Education-English major although with no scholarship. Despite that, I was really happy, since TCNJ’s known for being competitive when it comes to education! While my family can pay for both, the main problem lies in how going to each school may impact my future career (I want to be a teacher, preferably one for middle schoolers!). Does anybody have any advice to help make the selection process a little easier? Thanks!

Both are great schools, but TCNJ is known as pretty much thought of as the best education school. But Rowan has a good program too.
Rowan’s education program requires a double major- so you would graduate with a degree in education and English. Not sure if TCNJ does this? I like that in case you decide not to teach- you can drop the education and still graduate on time (which is what my son is doing).

Both were founded as “Normal Schools” (teachers colleges) and have 100 years’ track record in producing educators. But what does that mean for 1667Kimchi today? I don’t know. Many schools offer teaching programs now. In New Jersey, most of the hirers went to one or the other or both at some point. So, I don’t see either offering a competitive edge.

I’d say it comes down to at which place you can envision yourself succeeding and getting involved outside of the 15-18 hours/week in the classroom. Two different flavors. TCNJ is smaller, lush greenery, brick facades. Rowan has old buildings such as Bunce, but the Education Building is modern.

Rowan has become more of a residential college than a commuter school that TCNJ still mainly is (they’re trying to change that). Rowan is more diverse - not just demographically, but academically. I could be wrong, but my impression of Rowan overall is more A students and more B- students and TCNJ overall having almost exclusively B or B+ students. Thing is about college: you have many normal, average HS students come-of-age and find their purpose and passion, and some star students go in the tank.

So, when you visit both, meet the professors/instructors you’re likely to have or check out Rate My Professors. The instructor makes a big difference in a lot of subjects, but even more in subjects such as English. Look for cubbyholes where you can do your reading and work (besides a dormitory, which as the name says, is “a place to sleep”). I personally love the Rowan Library building. It’s a hub of activity, but there are also many solitude pockets. What activities/clubs can you do for fun? Are there people to do them with? What are weekends like - deserted or active? Which feels right? Those are the things that make the difference between success, enjoyment, and transfers (which cost $$).

It’s great that you have a sense of direction, but you’re allowed to adjust your path once you’re on the road. It’s hard to walk away from that $$, but it’s also contingent on you keeping your grades up and staying out of trouble. That’s tougher to do if you don’t like your professor, don’t make friends, or feel abandoned or trapped or miserable.

You’ll get a good education at either if you don’t get in your own way. Good luck!

@Spaceman Ed
I have to disagree with you on Rowan having more A students than TCNJ. My son’s friends that didn’t get into TCNJ were accepted to Rowan. They all had lower GPA & SAT scores than my son.

Also, I don’t believe that TCNJ is a “commuter school” most student stay on campus and don’t go home on weekends.

In the end, it important to pick the school that feels right, which is not an easy task.

TCNJ is definitely regarded as a better school and the education department is top notch at TCNJ. I don’t know much about Rowan, but TCNJ is a great option. It’s also not a commuter school. Some students go home on the weekends, but there is plenty to do on campus on weekends as most students don’t leave campus.