Took my D24 on a tour last week and thought the school looked pretty great. It checks a lot of boxes for us (size, program offerings, price, distance from home) and the overall feeling we got while there was of a pretty happy campus. It feels like a perfect safety for my daughter (a place she could easily be admitted and thrive there and we can definitely afford). I’ve since mentioned to a few people that we saw it and liked it and the response I get makes me think many people don’t have a great opinion of it.
I know a bunch of kids who are at and have graduated from Rowan in the last few years. They’ve all had a terrific experience.
I’d ignore “people” for now. Do your own research (which you are doing). If it’s affordable and checks your D’s boxes, I’d say you’re in great shape!!!
I think so, while most are okay with schools like Stevens, NJIT, Rutgers and TCNJ if they have to stay in state, I think Rowan is becoming more competitive and students are starting to rank it higher than other colleges here. None of my kids applied even though I thought they should’ve. I’ve heard very good things, including merit which other in state publics don’t really offer.
I think Rowan is like any school not named Rutgers.
This is the same in most any state.
There’s nothing wrong with a Millersville, Western Michigan, Southern Illinois, Toledo or a Cal State Hayward, but you don’t see most people not attending getting giddy about them like they do the national brands.
Rowan is - for lack of a better word - a regional public state school - and a large one at that but largely unknown. It’s also D3 sports - so that limits its name recognition - vs. say a James Madison, etc.
If your student likes it and it’s a fit for her academically, socially and vibe wise - then it’s a great school.
It’s just not a big name - and for most that aren’t largely known or considered elite - most don’t get giddy about them. I imagine, even in NJ, not everyone has heard of the school has it’s in the “other” part of the state - near Philly.
That was interesting, thanks for sharing. Although my biggest takeaway was really less about Henry Rowan (or Rowan University) and more just disgust at the Stanford president
Friends, family… I’m usually an outlier on matters such as these among my peers, just want to make sure I’m not missing something really big and important and terrible about Rowan that everyone else seems to know about.
at an HYP for grad school
Top 5 law school
Top 5 B-school
Great job in a fun city
And that’s just kids from MY town (I do not live in NJ). Why not ask Career Services at Rowan for their “what do our grads do when they leave us” data to reassure yourself?
Like any school, Rowan has drugs and its party college is sometimes a bit much. It’s really close to me, so a lot of students in my school go. It does have a great area and small businesses such as Cookie Munchers. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons substantially and I think your daughter would love the school.
As for negative opinion, Rowan is rapidly becoming a more prominent school as they’re upgrading many of their programs and facilities. I’m not really sure why people have a negative opinion, as I’ve never heard of one before.
I’m in south Jersey and Rowan is well represented for students at my D25 hs. I know lots of people who either have gone there or their kids went there. My D has played in orchestras in the music center. I love that we have such an outstanding university so close to us. It’s definitely up and coming with them expanding their health sciences programs and a potential veterinary program starting in the future. I know of a few students who chose Rowan over Rutgers for engineering due to just plainly liking the facilities at Rowan much more. It’s a more accessible campus. Are the people disparaging Rowan in a position to have real information about outcomes? I do know one person who’s daughter isn’t happy with her experience in the school of education but it sounded more like a bureaucratic problem with transferring credits costing her more time and money vs a problem with the education received.
Hubby and I are Rowan grads (really Glassboro State College grads), and our son is a class of ‘21 grad. Our daughter is at JMU but Rowan made the final list.
It’s a great school! The downtown area is fantastic. Small class sizes, they are trying to get to D1 status. For engineering and pre-med fields, it can’t be beat. My son was a history major and is teaching now. I think Rowan gets the typical “suitcase college” rap but my son never came home and was never lonely!
I wouldn’t call NJ state schools cheap, but Rowan is a good deal. The housing is second to none (upperclass apartments downtown are nicer than my first house!). But my son moved off campus junior year and it was super cheap.
Thanks to all for reinforcing the gut impression that I got - that there are some really great programs, the class size is excellent, the grads are well-prepared and employable and the students are happy. We really liked the Rowan Blvd area and just the overall vibe of the place. I have been on a bazillion tours (looked everywhere with my D20), so I feel like my instincts are pretty good on this, was just second-guessing myself by the reactions I got from others. But, as someone rightly pointed out upthread, I don’t believe the impression people in my orbit have is actually based on actual current student experiences and outcomes.
It’s definitely going on the list of schools to which D24 will apply.
Rowan has become an excellent school, especially for Engineering, CS, and Media/IT/Journalism, in the last 10 years. As a result, people who aren’t in HR or don’t have 16-25yo kids may not know how much it’s improved in terms of applicant pool, facilities, outcomes, etc. and may be using, was you say, outdated perceptions.
(If they’re 45-55, you can shock them by explaining that back when we were in HS, UChicago had a 45% acceptance rate. So, things have changed A LOT for many colleges!)
- near Philly.
I’m usually an outlier on matters such as these among my peers, just want to make sure I’m not missing something really big and important and terrible about Rowan that everyone else seems to know about.