I have narrowed down my college choices to three schools: TCNJ, Rowan University, and University of Delaware. I am having a tough time choosing between them and I want to be able to pick where I’m going by next weekend! I made a pros and cons list, which I am going to summarize below. Hopefully someone who has attended one of the schools or who has been in the same situation as me can give me some insight!!!
I have a 4.0 weighted GPA and received a 31 on my ACT, so I was accepted into both the TCNJ and the UD honors program, but not the Rowan one for some reason.
The total cost of each college (tuition and room and board, with my scholarships included) are $28,000 for UD; $18,000 for TCNJ; and $6,000 for Rowan. I live in New Jersey so the instate tuition really helped lower the prices for Rowan and TCNJ.
I am really into sports, which school has more spirit? I am interested in playing club lacrosse and/or field hockey, so I am also interested in knowing how competitive these teams are.
I have no clue what I am going to major in. I applied undecided to both UD and Rowan, but I applied open option for TCNJ’s School of Arts and Communication. If I went to UD, I would be very interested learning more about the Sports Management major, and if I went to TCNJ the Interactive Multimedia major sounds cool too.
If you have any knowledge about anything listed above or have anything that would help me make up my mind, please post a comment! Thank you!
For sports & spirit & spectating, Delaware. Especially football. Tubby Raymond was a longtime legendary coach, with his Wing-T formation. Delaware had Rich Gannon and now Joe Flacco, All-Pro NFL QBs. Still, Tubby was probably more famous for being the Dad of Dave Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic. Delaware also more of a frat school.
TCNJ and Rowan are D-3 powerhouses in most sports. There’s spectators, maybe in the hundreds. Not exactly the Ann Arbor Big House. But if you want to participate rather than spectate, both have competitive intercollegiate club programs. While the varsities play against other D-3s, TCNJ & Rowan clubs will often play against D-1 school clubs (as well as each other). As the larger school with more residents, Rowan’s clubs are more active. Don’t know about TCNJ’s intramurals (I see it more as a commuter school), but Rowan is boppin’ on Thursday nights with intramurals inside & out, well into the night. Was just there on biz - they’ve gone turf on the intramural field.
What they all have in common: A predominantly NJ student body.
@collegecrazy0311 we are sending the check into Rowan today! We just went this past Saturday and got a lot of information of the club teams- they seem really competitive! My son was looking to wrestle D3, but some injuries had him rethinking that, so Rowan offers the great option of a club team to keep him in the sport. I was able to find some good information - look on the Rowan site by the Rec center - the clubs are run out of the Rec center. The intramurals field is now turf, as mentioned above, and it’s right outside the older dorms by the student center. It was field day Saturday a lot of kids were out there.
For the price you are getting at Rowan (we’re pretty much paying full price!!) I would say it’s a great deal for you!
In my opinion, Delaware. But, don’t take any of our opinions to heart because only your opinion counts. Delaware is a large state university, with programs galore. My recommendation is to check team rosters, websites, ask students, get on campus, and read daily newspapers. http://www.bluehens.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29100&SPID=110423&SPSID=861311 (Women’s Lacrosse)
The honors program is a great benefit, and there are a broad range of sports management/PT/etc programs at UD. Call the schools and ask questions.
I do not believe that TCNJ has a Sports Management major and I’m not sure about Rowan. Did you check? I know that you are very unsure of your major—another reason to choose a school that has everything you might be interested in studying. You should not tailor your major to the university or put yourself in a position to need to transfer.
If money is a factor, then you might need to choose accordingly.
sports management for undergrad ? seriously, pursue a law degree and specialize , no one cares about some undergrad sports management classes. Secondly, if sports management is of interest know the current 49ers President is an TCNJ alum
@stones3 Former KC Chiefs personnel director & Jets GM was a Rowan grad. I worked in the sports biz (writer, broadcaster, PR) in the '80s. Went to Rowan. I agree that sports management is a wasted major. Heck, study pre-law or business administration and work at a car lot. That’ll teach you the same stuff you need to know for sports management. Even better: The cars don’t have agents, talk back, or get arrested at 3 AM.
Please consider the “total cost” as being 4 years worth of money (plus 4% increase per year). That assumes you are able to graduate in just 4 years, which many students do not do.
UD 118901
TCNJ 76436
Rowan 25749
That is a $93,000 difference between UD and Rowan.
It is a $50,000 difference between TCNJ and Rowan.
For an undergrad degree, I’m really not seeing why on earth you’d pay 50 or 93K more for either of the schools you are talking about. Please please talk hard numbers with your parents. You could go to Rowan and probably graduate with little to no debt. You are young, but take it from an old person, having no debt equal FREEDOM.
Good luck!
UD
Cost “Cost of Attendance
+4% increase per year”
Year 1 28000
2 29120
3 30285
4 31496
Total Cost 118901
TCNJ
Cost “Cost of Attendance
+4% increase per year”
Year 1 18000
2 18720
3 19469
4 20248
Total Cost 76436
Rowan
Cost “Cost of Attendance
+4% increase per year”
Year 1 6000
2 6240
3 6490
4 6749
Total Cost 25479
@collegecrazy0311 If money is an issue, I would go to Rowan. However, If money is not a problem, I would personally choose to attend TCNJ. TCNJ is one of NJ’s finest public institutions (some will argue its better than Rutgers). It is a small, tight knit community that will help you thrive. It is not a large school like others. It is medium sized. The only negative is the surrounding area is a little gray.
UD is a GIANT SCHOOL, and is known for football and parties. I believe you would receive a top notch education at TCNJ especially in the honors program.
TCNJ is my pick.