Like Tufts, Only Easier
April 22, 2011 8:41 PM Subscribe
What are some colleges close to major cities in the Northeast (NYC, Boston, etc.) that are challenging but not at the top level?
I have a daughter who is a Junior in High School and she is flummoxed with her college search. Her older brother is at Tufts and she loves everything about it, especially the traditional college quad and the proximity to Boston. The problem is that she is a) not quite capable of Tufts academically, and b) might want to focus on Marketing, which is not available at Tufts.
So hive mind I'm asking you to help her find her the following: A school with a solid academic reputation (but not top tier), a "traditional" campus that is "pretty", close to a major Northeast city, has a business school (this isn't an absolute), and is on the smaller side (say up to 5,000 undergrads). A lively theater department that welcomes non-theater majors would be a big bonus.
As the person paying for this I'd like to find a school with great financial aid and a 50-50 male-female mix. My fear is a lot of the schools she might be thinking of are predominately female, and I don't want a bunch of creepy guys taking advantage of my little girl (tongue-sort-of-in-cheek).
Thank you.
I have a daughter who is a Junior in High School and she is flummoxed with her college search. Her older brother is at Tufts and she loves everything about it, especially the traditional college quad and the proximity to Boston. The problem is that she is a) not quite capable of Tufts academically, and b) might want to focus on Marketing, which is not available at Tufts.
So hive mind I'm asking you to help her find her the following: A school with a solid academic reputation (but not top tier), a "traditional" campus that is "pretty", close to a major Northeast city, has a business school (this isn't an absolute), and is on the smaller side (say up to 5,000 undergrads). A lively theater department that welcomes non-theater majors would be a big bonus.
As the person paying for this I'd like to find a school with great financial aid and a 50-50 male-female mix. My fear is a lot of the schools she might be thinking of are predominately female, and I don't want a bunch of creepy guys taking advantage of my little girl (tongue-sort-of-in-cheek).
Thank you.
Yes, how close? Will she have a car?
How does she feel about a school having a religious affiliation?
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:53 PM on April 22, 2011
How does she feel about a school having a religious affiliation?
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:53 PM on April 22, 2011
I went to The College of New Jersey and highly recommend it. It's a short drive (35ish minutes?) to Philadelphia and about 90 minutes to NYC. if she's not at least a B/B+ student, it may be too selective, though.
TCNJ seems to meet all your needs. It's on a very pretty campus, has a solid academic reputation, and is on the smaller side - somewhere around 5000 undergrads.
I believe freshman are still required to live on campus in their first year and can't have a car on campus, so she shouldn't expect to be jetting off to either city in her first year. That is, unless she makes friends with someone with a car or doesn't mind riding public transportation.
Good luck!
posted by plasticbugs at 8:58 PM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
TCNJ seems to meet all your needs. It's on a very pretty campus, has a solid academic reputation, and is on the smaller side - somewhere around 5000 undergrads.
I believe freshman are still required to live on campus in their first year and can't have a car on campus, so she shouldn't expect to be jetting off to either city in her first year. That is, unless she makes friends with someone with a car or doesn't mind riding public transportation.
Good luck!
posted by plasticbugs at 8:58 PM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rutgers? Drexel?
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 9:01 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 9:01 PM on April 22, 2011
I should add, I graduated from TCNJ's business school with a degree in Marketing. It was a very good program, but not easy - especially in light of the fact that, if things haven't changed since the 90s, she'll need to take Calculus I and II.
I work in television production now, but really you can do anything with a business degree once you graduate.
posted by plasticbugs at 9:02 PM on April 22, 2011
I work in television production now, but really you can do anything with a business degree once you graduate.
posted by plasticbugs at 9:02 PM on April 22, 2011
Bentley University is a business school near Boston. I took some classes there in the mid 90s and it was a gorgeous campus. It's a bit pricey. It's ranked pretty highly.
60/40 men/women, only 10 miles outside of Boston (IIRC, there are shuttles/buses into town). I have no idea how competitive admissions are, however.
posted by clone boulevard at 9:05 PM on April 22, 2011
60/40 men/women, only 10 miles outside of Boston (IIRC, there are shuttles/buses into town). I have no idea how competitive admissions are, however.
posted by clone boulevard at 9:05 PM on April 22, 2011
What about Syracuse? Not exactly right outside a major city, but plenty of opportunities for weekend jaunts down to NY or Boston if she wants. They have one of the best public relations/marketing programs in the country and a strong business school as well. Pretty good mix of genders, nice campus, and, while competitive, not nearly as difficult to get into as a school like Tufts.
posted by orangeseed at 9:09 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by orangeseed at 9:09 PM on April 22, 2011
Response by poster: Just to clarify- She'll need public transportation. Religious affiliation isn't an issue as long is it's not Liberty "University" type religion. She's a solid B+ student, a great writer, weaker in math. (yes, fulfilling a stereotype.)
posted by JohntheContrarian at 9:09 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by JohntheContrarian at 9:09 PM on April 22, 2011
I don't know what state you live in, but I'd look at a state university. NJ, NY have great schools, if you're a resident you could save a lot of cash, particularly when the interests of most undergrad students change once they've been to college for a while.
posted by Marky at 9:10 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by Marky at 9:10 PM on April 22, 2011
UMass Amherst has got to be the absolute best option for her (provided she can get in). The Pioneer Valley is the ultimate "pretty college area", it has great public transportation (PVTA buses running all around Amherst, Northampton, Holyoke, Hadley, etc), and reasonable accessibility to Boston and NYC via bus and train. UMass is bigger than what she's looking for but the benefits of a) paying an in-state public school tuition, and b) having the opportunity to take classes at the other four colleges in the Five College Consortium (Amherst College, Smith College, Mt Holyoke College, and Hampshire College) are priceless.
I cannot stress enough how absurd it would be for you to send her to a private university or college, if your profile is accurate and she qualifies for in-state tuition at a UMass campus.
posted by telegraph at 9:14 PM on April 22, 2011 [12 favorites]
I cannot stress enough how absurd it would be for you to send her to a private university or college, if your profile is accurate and she qualifies for in-state tuition at a UMass campus.
posted by telegraph at 9:14 PM on April 22, 2011 [12 favorites]
Offhand, the better-known places that I think of in those categories (you'll need to check if I am thinking correctly, some of these might be at the same level as Tufts):
Boston:
Emerson
Clark
Endicott
Providence:
Johnson and Wales
Roger Williams
Providence College
You're fortunate, though, because the northeast is absolutely crawling with colleges and masters-granting universities. Here are two lists that should be helpful ("regional" here means "they mainly draw their students from their own region, and may not have much of a national reputation", as opposed to "national" colleges and universities) of regional colleges and universities. They give number of students on the list page, so you can quickly scan through and find ones that are about the right size.
Best ranked regional universities, northeast
Best ranked regional colleges, northeast
I would also look at the campuses of UMass and see if any of them would work for her.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:16 PM on April 22, 2011
Boston:
Emerson
Clark
Endicott
Providence:
Johnson and Wales
Roger Williams
Providence College
You're fortunate, though, because the northeast is absolutely crawling with colleges and masters-granting universities. Here are two lists that should be helpful ("regional" here means "they mainly draw their students from their own region, and may not have much of a national reputation", as opposed to "national" colleges and universities) of regional colleges and universities. They give number of students on the list page, so you can quickly scan through and find ones that are about the right size.
Best ranked regional universities, northeast
Best ranked regional colleges, northeast
I would also look at the campuses of UMass and see if any of them would work for her.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:16 PM on April 22, 2011
Seconding that it's worth a visit to UMass-Amherst, it's a great area and she could take classes at the nearby small private colleges for the in-state tuition pricetag.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:17 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:17 PM on April 22, 2011
Rutgers? Drexel?
Just want to point out, the pretty part of Rutgers' main campus is a rather small portion and it's smack in the middle of a rather ugly city, and Rutgers is a massive university. Also, the last time I was on Drexel's campus (about 10 years ago), it was rather hideous.
posted by Ashley801 at 9:23 PM on April 22, 2011
Just want to point out, the pretty part of Rutgers' main campus is a rather small portion and it's smack in the middle of a rather ugly city, and Rutgers is a massive university. Also, the last time I was on Drexel's campus (about 10 years ago), it was rather hideous.
posted by Ashley801 at 9:23 PM on April 22, 2011
An ugly city (New Brunswick) that two people were actually shot at following the annual Rutgersfest LAST WEEK. The other two cities with Rutgers campuses are even less safe (Camden is the most dangerous city in the US).
Considering you'd pay out of state tuition, well, that's just insane.
posted by tremspeed at 9:29 PM on April 22, 2011
Considering you'd pay out of state tuition, well, that's just insane.
posted by tremspeed at 9:29 PM on April 22, 2011
Response by poster: Keep the ideas coming folks. Her HS send 50+ kids to UMass each year and she'll be applying but it isn't her first choice. And as a UMass Boston alum, I know how poorly this state treats its public universities. It's frustrating that UMass isn't at the same level as UNC or UVA. And it should be.
posted by JohntheContrarian at 9:43 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by JohntheContrarian at 9:43 PM on April 22, 2011
First, if you are paying for Tufts, bless you as it is one of the most expensive schools in the country. I also have a junior in high school (applying to UVa and UNC btw) and we have found that family connection by Naviance is a great resource for looking for these sort of things. Your daughter's high school should have access to it and likely will give you a login and password. We have one for our family from our high school.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:55 PM on April 22, 2011
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:55 PM on April 22, 2011
Agree with the above about Rutgers. In fact, I'd say to avoid state schools in New Jersey as you'll be paying as much as you would at any of those as an out-of-state student as you would for a lot of small liberal arts colleges.
Drexel is also fairly expensive, and while Philly is cool, it's not exactly pretty.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:56 PM on April 22, 2011
Drexel is also fairly expensive, and while Philly is cool, it's not exactly pretty.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 9:56 PM on April 22, 2011
A school with a solid academic reputation (but not top tier), a "traditional" campus that is "pretty", close to a major Northeast city, has a business school
Babson and Bentley seem to fit the profile of what you're looking for.
posted by deanc at 10:07 PM on April 22, 2011
Babson and Bentley seem to fit the profile of what you're looking for.
posted by deanc at 10:07 PM on April 22, 2011
A+ Schools for B Students, regional universities in the northeast region
A+ Schools for B Students, regional colleges in the northeast
Another couple of rankings:
Parade Magazine interviews guidance counselors to compile a list of "great schools that fly under the radar" -
For business, the ones they recommend in New England are: Babson, Bentley, Bryant, Fairfield, Providence, Stonehill, Trinity.
Colleges That Change Lives
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:16 PM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
A+ Schools for B Students, regional colleges in the northeast
Another couple of rankings:
Parade Magazine interviews guidance counselors to compile a list of "great schools that fly under the radar" -
For business, the ones they recommend in New England are: Babson, Bentley, Bryant, Fairfield, Providence, Stonehill, Trinity.
Colleges That Change Lives
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:16 PM on April 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
There are, literally, around 50 in schools in the immediate Boston are and within a thirty minute commuter rail ride into Boston. And they are all very, very, very different. They provide different academic programs, different levels of student support, and have extremely different types of campuses. You have campus colleges. You have metropolitan colleges. You have commuter colleges. You have dorm colleges.
There are a lot of considerations. What's your daughter's idea of small? My college had a population of 1500 --- but most people consider 2500 to be small. What does she consider a lively theater program? An academic program, or a school with a really awesome student run theater company but maybe not an academic program?
But, anyway, in regards to Boston, take a look at this list from academic360.com. The links will take you to the HR pages of the schools (it's how I job searched for my job at a university in Boston), but you can go from there and read up on all the schools in Boston.
posted by zizzle at 4:11 AM on April 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
There are a lot of considerations. What's your daughter's idea of small? My college had a population of 1500 --- but most people consider 2500 to be small. What does she consider a lively theater program? An academic program, or a school with a really awesome student run theater company but maybe not an academic program?
But, anyway, in regards to Boston, take a look at this list from academic360.com. The links will take you to the HR pages of the schools (it's how I job searched for my job at a university in Boston), but you can go from there and read up on all the schools in Boston.
posted by zizzle at 4:11 AM on April 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't have an opinion about Drexel's academics or student life, but I'm popping in to say that their campus actually is MUCH nicer than it was ten years ago. They've put a lot of money into improving the campus and it really shows.
Perhaps one of the SUNY or CUNY campuses would work for her. The cost of CUNY is definitely something in its favor and if she's a decent student, she can do well for herself at any of them.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:23 AM on April 23, 2011
Perhaps one of the SUNY or CUNY campuses would work for her. The cost of CUNY is definitely something in its favor and if she's a decent student, she can do well for herself at any of them.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:23 AM on April 23, 2011
(Disclosure: I went here.) Fordham! The Rose Hill campus, to be specific. Fordham is in the Bronx, and it is about 20-30 minute trip to get into Manhattan via shuttle, train, or subway. It is gated, and the campus is lovely.
There is a pretty decent marketing program in their pretty decent business school. There is also a few different theatre groups on campus, all of which welcome non-theatre majors, and at least one of which is only non-theatre majors.
Fordham also has a number of worthwhile connections, both through the name and through its professors (at least at the business school) - for example, I consulted at the UN while I was there. (And I know most colleges have things like this, but, in my 2 1/2 years there, we also had 2 movies shot on campus and U2 gave a free concert for Fordham students only. Way cool!)
Highly recommended! Only thing it doesn't fit is your number of students. There's around 8,000 undergrads and 7,000 grads at Fordham, though that is spread between 3 different campuses. Also to be noted is that it is a Jesuit school, so even if you are a business major there is a pretty large liberal arts core that needs to be taken. Just something to think about!
posted by firei at 4:36 AM on April 23, 2011
There is a pretty decent marketing program in their pretty decent business school. There is also a few different theatre groups on campus, all of which welcome non-theatre majors, and at least one of which is only non-theatre majors.
Fordham also has a number of worthwhile connections, both through the name and through its professors (at least at the business school) - for example, I consulted at the UN while I was there. (And I know most colleges have things like this, but, in my 2 1/2 years there, we also had 2 movies shot on campus and U2 gave a free concert for Fordham students only. Way cool!)
Highly recommended! Only thing it doesn't fit is your number of students. There's around 8,000 undergrads and 7,000 grads at Fordham, though that is spread between 3 different campuses. Also to be noted is that it is a Jesuit school, so even if you are a business major there is a pretty large liberal arts core that needs to be taken. Just something to think about!
posted by firei at 4:36 AM on April 23, 2011
What about one of the other UMass campuses? UMass Boston is certainly close to the city. UMass Dartmouth is much smaller than UMass Amherst, and appears to have a business program. And it's not that far from Boston and Providence (although I'm not sure about public transit). Not sure how pretty she'd find the campus, though.
I've heard good things about Holy Cross being affordable, and Worcester is pretty close to Boston. Not sure how strong the religious identity is. (Similarly, Gordon College has a great theater department and a gorgeous campus, and isn't that far from Boston, but it's very much a Christian college and I can't imagine going there if going to a Christian college wasn't a priority. Eastern Nazarene is just south of Boston on the Red Line but is another school with a very strong Christian identity.)
Lesley isn't far from Tufts (right between Harvard and Tufts, in fact), has a smaller campus in an architecturally adorable neighborhood, and has a business program -- and it's no longer all girls. No quad, though, that I'm aware of.
posted by pie ninja at 4:55 AM on April 23, 2011
I've heard good things about Holy Cross being affordable, and Worcester is pretty close to Boston. Not sure how strong the religious identity is. (Similarly, Gordon College has a great theater department and a gorgeous campus, and isn't that far from Boston, but it's very much a Christian college and I can't imagine going there if going to a Christian college wasn't a priority. Eastern Nazarene is just south of Boston on the Red Line but is another school with a very strong Christian identity.)
Lesley isn't far from Tufts (right between Harvard and Tufts, in fact), has a smaller campus in an architecturally adorable neighborhood, and has a business program -- and it's no longer all girls. No quad, though, that I'm aware of.
posted by pie ninja at 4:55 AM on April 23, 2011
I'm a Bentley grad (BS in Management, class of 2002), and the current Senior Vice President of the Alumni Board. I can not recommend Bentley strongly enough, and it fits exactly what you're looking for:
[She] might want to focus on Marketing, which is not available at Tufts.
Bentley has a great Marketing department. All undergrad (UG) students take Marketing courses as part of their General Education and Business Core classes (the courses you take during your first two years). Students who major in MKT also take six additional courses; those who want a minor take three.
In addition to traditional classrooms, there is also a fantastic Center for Marketing Technology (CMT), and there's a Bentley Marketing Association (BMA) student group.
A school with a solid academic reputation (but not top tier)
We have really solid rankings. The 2011 US News and Work Report rankings gave us:
#4 - Best Regional Universities - North
#57 - Best Business Programs in the Country
#3 - Highest Graduation Rate
#3 - Average Freshman Retention Rate
#4 - "Great Schools, Great Prices"
#8 - Most International Students
BusinessWeek's Best Undergraduate Business Schools issue gave us:
#32 - Top Undergraduate Business Programs in the Nation
#18 - Overall Student Satisfaction
A+ in teaching quality
A+ in facilities and services
A+ in job placement
Princeton Review's Best Colleges and Universities 2011:
#6 in the nation for Best Career Services
#14 for Best College Library
#1 for Dorms Like Palaces
a "traditional" campus that is "pretty"
It is an amazingly beautiful campus. About 163 acres, two main quads on the academic part of campus, and several more spread out among the residential areas.
close to a major Northeast city
Bentley is in Waltham, MA, about 10 miles from downtown Boston. There is a shuttle service that runs constantly between campus and the Harvard Square T Stop in Cambridge. There's also a shuttle that runs a constant route through Waltham for kids who need to run errands, but don't have a car.
has a business school (this isn't an absolute)
Bentley is a comprehensive business university - offers BS, MS, MBA, and PhD in business fields. All undergraduate students must major in a business discipline, but can also minor or double major in a traditional liberal arts. That liberal studies double major is relatively new, and really popular.
There is also a 5-year program for students who want to do their BS and MS/MBA in one shot, and an Honors program for students who want a little extra challenge.
and is on the smaller side (say up to 5,000 undergrads)
Undergraduate population is about 4,200 with an incoming freshman class typically around 1000 students. Small classes - 24 students on average. About 80% of undergrads live on campus; on-campus housing is required your first year, and guaranteed for all four years.
Smaller graduate population - about 1400 students. Most are evening students.
A lively theater department that welcomes non-theater majors would be a big bonus.
No formal theater department, but there is a huge arts program, a performing arts series, about a dozen arts-related student organizations, and a student-run drama organization (Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater organization) that puts on several shows every year.
As the person paying for this I'd like to find a school with great financial aid and a 50-50 male-female mix. My fear is a lot of the schools she might be thinking of are predominately female....
70% of students receive scholarships and other forms of financial aid. There's a wonderful student employment office on campus that helps everyone out, even those who don't get formal work study grants.
I don't know the exact Male/Female mix, but it's about even. They try and keep it that way - the balance is really important to a good student dynamic, which I think you've picked up on already!
Like I've said, I think Bentley is exactly what you're looking for, but I'm also clearly biased! My email is in my profile; if you have any questions or want more info, drop me a line. I live in Cambridge, and I'm back on campus frequently for events, so if you want someone to walk you around and give you the informal/frank tour, I'm happy to do so.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:57 AM on April 23, 2011
[She] might want to focus on Marketing, which is not available at Tufts.
Bentley has a great Marketing department. All undergrad (UG) students take Marketing courses as part of their General Education and Business Core classes (the courses you take during your first two years). Students who major in MKT also take six additional courses; those who want a minor take three.
In addition to traditional classrooms, there is also a fantastic Center for Marketing Technology (CMT), and there's a Bentley Marketing Association (BMA) student group.
A school with a solid academic reputation (but not top tier)
We have really solid rankings. The 2011 US News and Work Report rankings gave us:
#4 - Best Regional Universities - North
#57 - Best Business Programs in the Country
#3 - Highest Graduation Rate
#3 - Average Freshman Retention Rate
#4 - "Great Schools, Great Prices"
#8 - Most International Students
BusinessWeek's Best Undergraduate Business Schools issue gave us:
#32 - Top Undergraduate Business Programs in the Nation
#18 - Overall Student Satisfaction
A+ in teaching quality
A+ in facilities and services
A+ in job placement
Princeton Review's Best Colleges and Universities 2011:
#6 in the nation for Best Career Services
#14 for Best College Library
#1 for Dorms Like Palaces
a "traditional" campus that is "pretty"
It is an amazingly beautiful campus. About 163 acres, two main quads on the academic part of campus, and several more spread out among the residential areas.
close to a major Northeast city
Bentley is in Waltham, MA, about 10 miles from downtown Boston. There is a shuttle service that runs constantly between campus and the Harvard Square T Stop in Cambridge. There's also a shuttle that runs a constant route through Waltham for kids who need to run errands, but don't have a car.
has a business school (this isn't an absolute)
Bentley is a comprehensive business university - offers BS, MS, MBA, and PhD in business fields. All undergraduate students must major in a business discipline, but can also minor or double major in a traditional liberal arts. That liberal studies double major is relatively new, and really popular.
There is also a 5-year program for students who want to do their BS and MS/MBA in one shot, and an Honors program for students who want a little extra challenge.
and is on the smaller side (say up to 5,000 undergrads)
Undergraduate population is about 4,200 with an incoming freshman class typically around 1000 students. Small classes - 24 students on average. About 80% of undergrads live on campus; on-campus housing is required your first year, and guaranteed for all four years.
Smaller graduate population - about 1400 students. Most are evening students.
A lively theater department that welcomes non-theater majors would be a big bonus.
No formal theater department, but there is a huge arts program, a performing arts series, about a dozen arts-related student organizations, and a student-run drama organization (Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater organization) that puts on several shows every year.
As the person paying for this I'd like to find a school with great financial aid and a 50-50 male-female mix. My fear is a lot of the schools she might be thinking of are predominately female....
70% of students receive scholarships and other forms of financial aid. There's a wonderful student employment office on campus that helps everyone out, even those who don't get formal work study grants.
I don't know the exact Male/Female mix, but it's about even. They try and keep it that way - the balance is really important to a good student dynamic, which I think you've picked up on already!
Like I've said, I think Bentley is exactly what you're looking for, but I'm also clearly biased! My email is in my profile; if you have any questions or want more info, drop me a line. I live in Cambridge, and I'm back on campus frequently for events, so if you want someone to walk you around and give you the informal/frank tour, I'm happy to do so.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 5:57 AM on April 23, 2011
What about Brooklyn College?
It has a beautiful, traditional college square. It is a good school, with tons of resources (since it is part of the CUNY system). It is also not an terribly over-priced school.
And, it is located IN New York City.
posted by Flood at 6:14 AM on April 23, 2011
It has a beautiful, traditional college square. It is a good school, with tons of resources (since it is part of the CUNY system). It is also not an terribly over-priced school.
And, it is located IN New York City.
posted by Flood at 6:14 AM on April 23, 2011
Now, now, don't hate on New Jersey schools.
TCNJ is a fine choice, Rutgers is like any large state school. NYU's a good choice, though also larger than you're looking for.
I actually did look at Bentley years ago, and applied as my 'safe' school. I really did like it (though went to CMU in the end - which, by the way, would be an excellent choice for you as well).
There is a ton of good info above, especially the ranking links. Reading through everything, I'd give a nod towards Bentley, though.
posted by rich at 6:26 AM on April 23, 2011
TCNJ is a fine choice, Rutgers is like any large state school. NYU's a good choice, though also larger than you're looking for.
I actually did look at Bentley years ago, and applied as my 'safe' school. I really did like it (though went to CMU in the end - which, by the way, would be an excellent choice for you as well).
There is a ton of good info above, especially the ranking links. Reading through everything, I'd give a nod towards Bentley, though.
posted by rich at 6:26 AM on April 23, 2011
The economics of out of state public schools are always a bit weird, but if they work, consider University of Maryland at College Park. Seems to punch way above its weight especially in folks it sends into business, and offers all the big city, pretty campus stuff you're looking for.
posted by MattD at 7:03 AM on April 23, 2011
posted by MattD at 7:03 AM on April 23, 2011
Do your kid a favor and look into Emmanuel, Wheelock or Simmons. They're all located in Boston's academic area and from what I understand, they're not that rigorous and she'll still be able to take advantage of all of what Boston offers, and if she finds out later on that a larger school is more to her liking, she can always transfer nearby. At least she'll get the exposure and be able to compare adequately.
Between my siblings, myself and my mom, we've all attended or have a degree from BU, NEU, Harvard, Simmons, Leslie, Bates, Clark and Endicott, which I would pass on unless you have money and need to shutter your kid away to school for appearances sake. I could not recommend UMass at any of its locations or Emerson for that matter. Suffolk University is another choice, but again, lots of money for what I'm not sure.
I'm not saying anything derogatory about Babson, Bentley, Brandeis or Wellesley, but they're out in the boonies.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:10 AM on April 23, 2011
Between my siblings, myself and my mom, we've all attended or have a degree from BU, NEU, Harvard, Simmons, Leslie, Bates, Clark and Endicott, which I would pass on unless you have money and need to shutter your kid away to school for appearances sake. I could not recommend UMass at any of its locations or Emerson for that matter. Suffolk University is another choice, but again, lots of money for what I'm not sure.
I'm not saying anything derogatory about Babson, Bentley, Brandeis or Wellesley, but they're out in the boonies.
posted by jsavimbi at 7:10 AM on April 23, 2011
Now, now, don't hate on New Jersey schools.
For what it's worth, I'm not hating on state schools. I went to one with a much prettier campus than Rutgers (William Paterson), but for out of state students, they really are surprisingly expensive.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:23 AM on April 23, 2011
For what it's worth, I'm not hating on state schools. I went to one with a much prettier campus than Rutgers (William Paterson), but for out of state students, they really are surprisingly expensive.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:23 AM on April 23, 2011
This previous post about how a poster's kid didn't want to go to UMass might have some relevant answers.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:25 AM on April 23, 2011
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 8:25 AM on April 23, 2011
How would she feel about Concordia University in Montreal? It's got a very good business school, a good theatre program -- I have no idea how open it is to non-majors -- is in a big city, is less expensive than a lot of US schools, and one of its two campuses is very pretty (the other is not unattractive, it's just in the middle of downtown). It's a bit bigger than she might like, though, and it's not that full of international students, so it might not have the traditional atmosphere she wants.
posted by jeather at 1:21 PM on April 23, 2011
posted by jeather at 1:21 PM on April 23, 2011
Someone mentioned Fordham, so I will mention that I teach at neighboring Manhattan College, which meets all of your criteria - and the Business school is one of the largest schools on campus. The college is at the very end of the #1 subway line in NYC, and the campus is gorgeous in the classic style.
posted by pmb at 7:55 PM on April 23, 2011
posted by pmb at 7:55 PM on April 23, 2011
As someone who lives right next to the campus of Manhattan College, I'll not recommend sending your child there. There may be a cohort of good students, but the reputation, earned repeatedly by the students who live in my apartment building, is of a drinking/partying school. I'm comparing it to the college I grew up next to and they don't do well in the comparison.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:07 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by sciencegeek at 4:07 AM on April 24, 2011
Also, Tufts really isn't that hard to get into.
If she really, really, really, really, really, really wants to go to Tufts, then she should be encouraged to do everything she can to make her Tufts application as kick-ass as possible. She should do a campus tour, a campus interview, maybe even an alumni interview in your area. She should see if she could sit in on classes, and she should ask if there are any students and/or faculty she could meet with when setting up the visit.
Tufts is a solid school, and it has a wide variety of programs. But as with many schools, it only has a few claims to fame compared to what it actually offers.
posted by zizzle at 4:39 AM on April 24, 2011
If she really, really, really, really, really, really wants to go to Tufts, then she should be encouraged to do everything she can to make her Tufts application as kick-ass as possible. She should do a campus tour, a campus interview, maybe even an alumni interview in your area. She should see if she could sit in on classes, and she should ask if there are any students and/or faculty she could meet with when setting up the visit.
Tufts is a solid school, and it has a wide variety of programs. But as with many schools, it only has a few claims to fame compared to what it actually offers.
posted by zizzle at 4:39 AM on April 24, 2011
Supporting zizzle's comment, she might also want to plan on participating in Tufts summer program (for student btw junior and senior year in college).. It's pricey but it'll also improve one's application to college. I had a friend who did this and really enjoyed it, and actually ended up not even attending Tufts in the end (although she was accepted).....
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:57 AM on April 24, 2011
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:57 AM on April 24, 2011
What's campus life at Bentley like for commuters, though?
I went to Tufts for a year and a half, then to Boston College. That said, I bet Babson would be good, or Providence College. I work at JWU in Providence now, and our business program is pretty good -- but P.C.'s campus is nicer.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:03 AM on April 25, 2011
I went to Tufts for a year and a half, then to Boston College. That said, I bet Babson would be good, or Providence College. I work at JWU in Providence now, and our business program is pretty good -- but P.C.'s campus is nicer.
posted by wenestvedt at 10:03 AM on April 25, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by victoriab at 8:50 PM on April 22, 2011