Hi!
My Fiancee and I both attended Salve Regina. I graduated in 2004 and my fiancee graduated in 2006. The school has a lot pros and cons, so it depends somewhat on what your priorities are. I'll try to sum them up a little:
Academics - Pros
- Small class sizes
- good faculty support
- good environment for studying (most of the time)
Academics - Cons
- Curriculum is not that adventurous (or dynamic) - very traditional structure
(with exception to their VIA and Pell programs - my fiancee LOVED VIA)
- Faculty is often a bit restricted by the administration (hence the above)
- Small school that is not very well know outside of New Englad... and sometimes not even there. Their most reputable programs are definatelt Nursing and Special Ed/Elementary Ed (as for other nearby schools in that field, I'm not too sure - I was a business major)
Social - Pros
- small campus - you get to know faces
- lots of beaches, shopping and restaurants
- great nightlife... but only after you are 21 (the community and the bars are very strict on this)
- Close to Providence, Boston, Cape Cod, etc - but it helps to know someone with a car freshmen year.
Social - Cons
- extremely clicky. It definately helps to be involved in a sport where most of the social groups develop. But for some reason, after the first few months, if you reach out to someone socially they look at you like you have eight heads. There's a lot of "we should hang out sometime" suggestions made that never seem to pan out (with a few exceptions, of course)
- Many of the students (especially the guys) are on the immature side. The school tends to treat students like they are kids who need to be watched, so therefore students act like kids who need to be watched. There is a lot of senseless vandalism of the buildings and just plain acting out - because of this, the faculty and staff also tend not to give students the benefit of the doubt. I've attended and been to many other schools, and Salve students definately have maturity issues. Expect most to act like high school students until they graduate. There are, of course, some very big exceptions to this, but I am speaking generally.
- Not much to do before you are 21. Many students live in New England and go home on the weekends (I am from Michigan). It can become a bit boring, especially during the winter. This is another reason for the acting out mentioned above.
Overall Considerations
- The biggest pro is definately the location and the campus. Nothing quite beats looking out your classroom window at the ocean and the Cliff Walk. The biggest con is the tight grip of the administration, and the tendancy therefore, that kids act out. The students really don't have a voice on campus.
- All-in-all I recommend the school. It has a certain serenity about it that I think you will really like. But I mention the above issues so that you would know going in, and perhaps save youself some frustration. Being in the know and having a good attitude will certainly allow you to overcome the schools drawbacks and have a very nice and successful college experience.
Especially if you are going there for elementary ed/special ed, I think you will be very happy wth the school. Students in those areas seem quite satisfied with the school and the curriculum.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!
Mike
