<p>Hi, just wondering why many of you chose TCNJ over Lehigh based on strength of programs, reputation, campus feel, etc where it didn't come down to money? My son is out of state (VA) and the two schools look attractive and similar in many ways.</p>
<p>IMO, (no vested interest), TCNJ is a great, up and coming school but doesn’t have the alumni base for jobs and internships that Lehigh does…</p>
<p>I guess it depends on what your son is interested in majoring in though…if GPA is paramount for med/law school, TCNJ may be the better bet</p>
<p>Depends on the program. I was looking at Lehigh but found out from various friends that it is a huge party school, and it is expensive. TCNJ is great for the sciences, especially Bio, which is what I’m interested. If he’s interested in engineering, I’d choose lehigh.</p>
<p>Its interesting that you’re comparing these two schools as they are my 1-2 choices. I think Rodney’s analysis is right on. Lehigh prides itself on networking with its extensive contacts. If I were looking at business that might be very important. Since I want to go to dental school, TCNJ will do just as good a job at half the price, at getting me in if I keep the grades up and score well on the dental school test. Anyone disagree?</p>
<p>Agreed. If you’re going to go for something like business or engineering (with little intention of going to grad school) then I’d say go for Lehigh. However, if you are majoring in the sciences and have a strong intent on going to med/grad school then I’d say TCNJ. I know someone from New York who is an engineering major and plans on attending med school. Their reasoning for choosing TCNJ over Lehigh? Half the price. Personally, I preferred TCNJ for many reasons but mainly because the high cost and party atmosphere of Lehigh was a turn off.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the inputs. I’ve read about Lehigh’s party atmosphere and was hoping that had decreased somewhat over the past several years; I guess not. My son wants to major in English and go into publishing. His first choice is Cornell, but he is also looking for good medium-sized schools slightly below that. He is not a party kid and looks to stay in a substance-free dorm or floor.</p>
<p>Like a few years ago (from what I’ve read on old posts), it seems like TCNJ is still better for getting the good grades to go to grad school and Lehigh is better for networking for jobs after graduation. He wants to work right after graduation and save grad school for later, if ever. He is also looking at University of Rochester. We’re trying to get him interested in Northeastern for their great co-op program, but his sister goes there (and loves it) and he’s determined to find his own school and not to follow her. </p>
<p>We hope to tour Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, TCNJ, Cornell, Rochester, and Syracuse in the fall. Tufts and William and Mary are his other interests but might be out of his reach. He’ll only be a sophomore this fall so it’s too early to tell. He has time to grow.</p>
<p>Lehigh and TCNJ are roughly comparable. Lehigh probably has a better alumni network for business and also probably a better engineering program. For liberal arts or science, I’d probably go TCNJ. If you’re looking at med school, law school or grad school, I’d go TCNJ.</p>
<p>If he can get into Cornell, that will open up tons more doors than TCNJ. For his goals (publishing), I’d tell him to make sure he gets straight A’s so he can go to somewhere like Cornell (if he’s academically capable). He has plenty of time to build a great high school record if he’s just a sophomore in high school now. Put him in AP classes, get him some impressive ECs, get him an SAT tutor and tell him to get straight A’s and he can get into some top schools.</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s great advice.</p>