<p>Hrm, SUNY Geneseo has a student-faculty ratio of 19:1--before any possible budget cuts. That doesn't sound very good, compared to TCNJ's 13:1.</p>
<p>I'm from Smyrna- I go to University of DE and I'm in the honors program for International Relations. It was my ultimate last choice and the only reason I went was because of the affordability (although I still have to take out loans, so it's not really affordable).</p>
<p>Honors program makes you look good, but in the area I am in it is not the least bit challenging. It's a big party school and [due to its size]it's really hard to get involved in anything on campus. </p>
<p>The plus about the honors program is you meet some really cool people in your dorm and, well it makes you sound smart. Haha.. I'd be happy to answer any other questions</p>
<p>KA, pay no attention to student-faculty ratio. It tells you almost nothing about what the classroom situation is going to be like. </p>
<p>Take a look at <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/574003-usnwr-2009-looking-data-x-student-faculty-ratio.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/574003-usnwr-2009-looking-data-x-student-faculty-ratio.html</a> Then ask, for example, any Cal or UCLA student (ratios of 15/1 and 16/1) if their classes are usually of that size.</p>
<p>^^ Hmm. What do you consider the best aspects of UD, amcd?</p>
<p>mikemac, I do understand the flaws in s-f ratio; however, the difference between 13 and 19 is more significant than, say, the difference between 8 and 11 (many private LACs). It would be interesting to compare TCNJ and Geneseo's average/median class size and % of terminal-degree faculty, as well.</p>
<p>I find even my 30-some HS classes too big for intimate discussion, so perhaps-minute distinctions in class sizes are important. How else would you measure such?</p>
<p>short answer: you can't. A LAC makes a deliberate attempt to have small class sizes where (depending on the instructor and the culture of the college) discussions will take place. As you may have seen from reading this board, prospective students are sometimes disappointed when they visit LACs and find that some of them aren't the vibrant centers of discussion they had envisioned. It's a prof giving a lecture, just in a smaller classroom.</p>
<p>As for U's, it impossible for a number or set of numbers such as average/median class size to capture anything real about the school. I mean, go ahead and play the game if it makes you feel better. Some U's make a committment to keep classes small from the start insofar as possible (generally expensive privates); others are content to have many intro classes in the hundreds. And your major has a huge impact. For example, UCLA reports these stats like any other U. But if you're an Econ major, one of the most popular on campus, even your upper-division courses are likely to have 75-100 students or more. If you choose a less popular major, you may have classes of 15-25. Yet the same U-wide number is supposed to capture both experiences, let along enable you to compare it to other schools?</p>
<p>Again, it comes down to visiting or talking to current students in order to get the truth about what the college experience is going to be like at various places.</p>
<p>^ And unfortunately, I may well end up--or at least take many classes--in English, usually one of the more popular majors at any given school.</p>
<p>Also, while I love visiting, talking to students is scary. XD And your responses aren't necessarily much more accurate--if this particular student happens to be an econ major, vs. a linguistics major, their experiences will be very different.</p>
<p>Best aspects: Main Street, honors= smaller classes, it's easy to get to philly, nyc, or DC</p>
<p>Thanks, amcd08. Any other positives?</p>
<p>Well, I'm a freshman... and I'm actually thinking about transferring next year. I want to double in poli sci and theater and it turns out UDel doesnt have a theater major, so I heard something like if your state school doesn't have your major you can go to another public university for in-state price. So i was thinking william and mary. Do you know if this is true though?</p>
<p>To the OP: You have posted the same question with some variation on other threads. Clearly you are seeking some positive feedback on a school choice that is NOT your choice but may in fact be reality. Since you are junior you have ample time to actually go to Delaware and see and feel for yourself. You are instate, correct? If you are a qualified honors/DuPont scholar candidate then I would contact the honors college. Set up a visit that would include classes/ meetings with departments in your intended major etc. You might get more attention after this round of applications is complete but if you are showing interest then UDEL probably will. Schools like students who show initiiative and enthusiasm. For every school/program you will get conflicting opinions. I shared on another thread some notes about 2 DuPont Scholars who ended up with multiple med school acceptances and NO debt and felt significantly challenged. The previous poster did not share the same. To that poster: I'm assuming you decided on the theater major AFTER you enrolled at Delaware? If not, then this is an example of NOT doing all of your homework and research ahead of time. Keilandra (sp?) you have enough time to find out all you can about Delaware. Take advantage of that</p>
<p>
Clearly you are seeking some positive feedback on a school choice that is NOT your choice but may in fact be reality.
Exactly. Thank you for the advice, as well, bluejay. If you don't mind, could you repost your anecdote regarding the DuPont Scholars?</p>
<p>amcd, does DSU offer a theatre major? If not, you would qualify for the Academic Common Market (I think--double-check re: double majors) and I believe that includes W&M.</p>
<p>hey thanks bluejay. I decided AFTER of course!</p>
<p>And I just checked on all of that and it turns out that DSU doesn't have a theater major so I'm good to go.</p>