<p>I agree TCNJ does not have the national recognition of UVA, W&M, or UNC-CH, but if you're shopping for fit, and academic experience, TCNJ deserves a closer look, especially if finances are a concern. It used to be this was a school for average college-bound students. I did a little research, the average SAT is now 1263 (Princeton Review), only a little lower than UNC-CH. UVA and W&M both are at 1330. The average at Rutgers is about 1200. My point is that one is likely to find bright students who take their education seriously at this school. Obviously scores are just one window into a school, but TCNJ has changed tremendously, not just in name, in the past 15 years. Plenty of good students do not get in. </p>
<p>I wouldn't characterize the area around TCNJ as industrial either. The college itself is located in a residential suburb, and the surrounding area is home to Merrill Lynch, Bristol-Meyers, ETS, etc., but they're in mega-office complexes, not factories and such. Much nicer than Rutgers and Middlesex County.</p>
<p>I think the fact that 95% of the kids are from Jersey is the root of its problems. NJ is small geographically and TCNJ is in the middle of the state, so 95% of the kids can be home easily within 2 hours, most in less time. NJ is a diverse state but I think geographic diversity means more. For many, there's a lot you'll have in common no matter where you live in NJ, namely nice similar suburbs, good malls, and what beach you go to.</p>
<p>That said I think it's a little unfair to compare tcnj to UVa or UNC, which are major research schools with well-known law, medical, MBA and other grad programs. If you can't get much aid at a private school TCNJ is really a bargain, and your classmates will be smart. To its credit the school has risen dramatically in the last 10 years or so.</p>
<p>I have met 2 people who go to Drew. Big party school, academics are meh, and both are looking to transfer out a.s.a.p.
You could get more for your money elsewhere.</p>
<p>Drew is a decent school, but TCNJ is more selective and I think better known with smarter students, for half the price. Unless you get huge aid at Drew I'd go with TCNJ.</p>
<p>NJ is kind of unusual in the northeast, because aside from Princeton, a lot of the private colleges are for kids who have money but not the qualifications to get in elsewhere, including TCNJ or Rutgers. The top students with money or good aid tend to go out of state. That leaves TCNJ with the smartest kids whose families prefer not to pay $40K a year for undergrad. Aside from Princeton, I can't think of a private college which is better regarded than TCNJ in the state.</p>
<p>NJ just does not have any colleges of high repute other than Princeton. Yeah, NJ is unusual, because for such a populated state there is very little worthwhile offered, unlike PA, MA, CT, NY, etc.</p>
<p>I agree, within NJ, TCNJ looks pretty good for the simple reason that there is nothing else that's great, so no competition. Also, if you bring cost into the equation, then a lot of schools start to look better than they really are.</p>
<p>As for all the private schools in NJ, other than Princeton, the rest are mediocre at best.</p>
<p>Alice, how in the world can you say that TCNJ does not compare to William and Mary? I believe in USNews TCNJ gets a higher academic rep. or about the same than W&M</p>
<p>Can students get housing on campus for all four years at TCNJ? And if you are going back and forth regularly by bus to the Trenton Amtrak station--- is that reasonably "safe"--or are you traversing "bad neighborhoods"?</p>
<p>That was a positive feature at Drew--Madison seemed safe and an easy walk to NJ transit rail station.</p>
<p>Thanks, but what I meant was: can you get back and forth to the Amtrak station in Tretnon safely by public transport-or is the station area a place better not to hang around (for young college girls alone)?</p>
<p>The Trenton train station is very safe. There are many state offices and workers in the area surrounding the building. There are tons of business people and students at the station, as it is used by Amtrak and NJ tranist passengers traveling to New York, Philadelphia, and other East Coast destinations from the surrounding suburban areas. There are always a police/security personnel around. It is not a very big station. I wouldn't worry at all about the Trenton station.</p>