Help w/NJ colleges??

[TZMOM]

Hi all -- my son is starting his college search (currently a Junior). Does anyone have any thoughts/comments re: the following colleges? I'm looking for ANYTHING - easy classes, campus living sucks/great, food stinks/great, great parties, etc. I didn't grow up here & have no knowledge of any NJ schools - so here goes:

Rowan
William Patterson
Fairleigh Dickinson
Richard Stockton
Rutgers, Newark or New Brunswick campus

He's not sure what his major will be yet - but he is a very talented writer & photographer. We've been to FDU and really loved it.

Thanks for any help you can lend. I think I'm stressing more about this than he is - especially the cost

Thanks peeps

 

[Tess'smom]

I was an administrator at RU New Brunswick. I firmly believe this school offers a great education. Outside the state of NJ, people think it is a public Ivy. FDU is a very good school too. It does cost alot more. I would make campus visits throughout this year and also look into financial aid opportunities now. I would also discuss with my child whether a large university or smaller college setting is what you are looking for. RU New Brunswick is huge, but Rutgers College offers smaller college activities. If your child does choose RU in New Brunswick - I love Rutgers College if he is a liberal arts student and Cook for animal or food science. Good Luck with your search.

 

[TZMOM]

Thanks!! We've been to FDU and are planning to hit Rutgers in the next few months. I'm glad you mentioned the small vs. bigger school. I think he's looking for something small - he used to want to go to Penn State, but a visit there while at Woodward for skateboarding (we go there at least once a year) totally changed his mind. It's just too huge for him.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Jason71]

For a small but excellent school, have him look into Drew, in Madison (down the street from FDU). Very good arts programs, beautiful wooded campus.

(I'm an alum so I'm biased, but it really does sound like what your son might be looking for).

 

[amylevan]

I graduated from Rowan, and I'm working on my masters at Rutgers right now, so I have first hand knowledge of both schools. (Engineering)

Quite honestly, I don't like Rutgers. It's too big and impersonal. But when talking to employers and clients, they recongnize the Rutgers name. I usually just get a blank stare when I say Rowan. I felt the education was better at Rowan, but that's based on the engineering classes and comparing undergrad to grad, so take that as you will. The class sizes were definitely MUCH nicer at Rowan and I knew the professors in my major very well.

As for the location, I'm not fond of New Brunswick, but Rowan really wasn't much better. Neither campuses are really what I would term "pretty". Be mindful that Rutgers will require bus transportation to get to/from classes, whereas Rowan is a walkable size. Remember, Rutgers is a HUGE school, and at New Brunswick you can/will have classes on different campuses.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I am a senior at Rowan University in the early childhood education program. I only live 35 minutes away from campus, so i commute 3x a week or so. I love having small class sizes! For the fall semester, there were two classes that i had 10 people in--the classes got smaller every semester it seemed, espeically for my major/minor classes. For the majority, i liked all of my professors--most would do anything they could to help--

If you have any other questions on Rowan, let me know!

 

[Jeannie]

I have a daughter at Rowan and another at FDU Madison. Both are very happy with their choices. FDU is expensive, but there are great scholarships available - DD got $19,000 her first year making FDU cheaper than Rowan that year!

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

 

[pklein09]

For a small but excellent school, have him look into Drew, in Madison (down the street from FDU). Very good arts programs, beautiful wooded campus.

(I'm an alum so I'm biased, but it really does sound like what your son might be looking for).

DH and I are both Drew grads. I liked the small size of classes and the school in general. The other nice thing was that you got to know people in the years above and below you. As for photography, they have a gallery that will showcase student photography and artwork. One of our classmates got his start that way. He's now doing shows in NYC.

I did not find Drew to be a "party" school, but there were people who really enjoyed the weekends!!! They banned kegs our freshman year. This was replaced by people buying 100 suitcases of Meister Brau.

The downside is the expense. You're going to find that with any private college in New Jersey. Start looking now for financial aid and scholarships. Are you locked into NJ schools? My sister ended up in NC at Elon because of price. It's a beautiful campus that reminded us a lot of Drew and FDU.

Best of luck!

 

[TZMOM]

Thanks so much for all of your replies!! My son isn't totally ready to 'pick' a major yet - I can't blame him - I still don't know what I want to do. He is a very talented writer (his English teacher is actually looking into trying to get some of his poems/short stories published which came out of left field for me) as well as a photographer. His Dad is a professional camera man, but doesn't live nearby - maybe that's where it comes from?

I have PM'd a few of you - thanks again for your help. I appreciate the honesty and time spent to reply!!

 

[Lindsay22]

I also went to Rutgers New Brunswick. I am a person who loved being in a "big school" atmosphere. I also learned how to go thru channels of people in several different departments to get what I needed. I learned life skills there because I was not hand held my entire 4 years. (I met my advisor twice, once in my Junior year because I needed a form signed to attend WDW College Program and once Senior year so that I could get my graduation form signed.) Wherever he picks, I'm sure he'll do great!!!

 

[Uuaww]

wow, learn something new every day= new jersey has more than one college (rutgers)

 

[java]

Are you tied to NJ? I went to school in Boston so can't help there. But I will mention Morovian College in PA(smaller college- very nice area) My friend's son is going there and I had never heard of it- I was very impressed when we saw the campus.(it is in Bethlehem PA) Also my step brother went to Seton Hall. He was not the greatest student- but when he transfered to USC all his credits transferred. Good luck. Why NJ? 529?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hi all -- my son is starting his college search (currently a Junior). Does anyone have any thoughts/comments re: the following colleges? I'm looking for ANYTHING - easy classes, campus living sucks/great, food stinks/great, great parties, etc. I didn't grow up here & have no knowledge of any NJ schools - so here goes:

Rowan
William Patterson
Fairleigh Dickinson
Richard Stockton
Rutgers, Newark or New Brunswick campus

He's not sure what his major will be yet - but he is a very talented writer & photographer. We've been to FDU and really loved it.

Thanks for any help you can lend. I think I'm stressing more about this than he is - especially the cost

Thanks peeps

I know it's not on your list but I graduated from The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) and it is well known as an excellent school. On most of my interviews people were very impressed by my college's reputation. I loved it and I certainly think it warrants consideration. It is a beautiful school with excellent faculty and classes. The professors are there to teach, not primarily research so they devote a great deal of time and talent to the campus community both in and out of their classes. Why not check it out?

Good luck!

 

[TZMOM]

Thanks for all the tips!! I asked by son to check out TCNJ - that's on his list and one we will be visiting as well. Think we'll pass on Rutgers - checked that out recently and it's just not for him - waaaay too big.

Thanks again!!

 

[DisneyGirl421]

Alot of my friends go to TCNJ and they love it. I've never been there, so I couldn't help you with that.
But on NJ school you haven't mentioned yet is Ramapo. My best friend goes there, and I've visited her a few times, and I really liked the campus. The rooms were also a pretty decent size (much larger than my room at Gettysburg!), and they are suite-type rooms, with two double rooms connected by a bathroom. The only downer was the food, which wasn't too good for college food, but oh well. My best friend loves it!

 

[oOcarribeandreamsOo]

Here are some other schools your son can look into
1. Montclair State University
2. Monmouth University
3. Richard Stockton College(the school is near Rowan)
4. Centenary College