Georgia State University vs. Kennesaw State University (crimes, dorms)

[Lizzieschaef]

Hi - I'm having a difficult time choosing between Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University. I'm a female and pretty small so looking for somewhere safe. I'd be staying on campus and hopefully get a job without bringing a car to school. Any pros and cons of either school? Thanks!

[society619]

If you're looking for somewhere safe, you should scratch Georgia State University all together.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlan...niversity.html

[brent6969]

They are both great institutions, and the growth at both has been nothing short of amazing, the nod probably goes to GA State for having a NCAA team in Football and Basketball, and a brand new law school.

[cwkimbro]

well the safest possible environment would have to be KSU... I mean it is it's own well-defined campus without alot within walking distance around it and GSU is more incorporated into a more mixed cosmopolitan city environment. It is a part of the city, which brings its own pros and cons. There are many things that you can walk to. Many places to eat and explore, but many other people also walk in, around, and through the area.

If it helps you visualize:
KSU's campus: Kennesaw, GA - Google Maps
GSU's campus: Kennesaw, GA - Google Maps

However, I would urge you to look further at any other trade offs you might be making. GSU isn't necessarily that unsafe, especially if you stay with groups of people after dark. I'm willing to bet their residential programs have personal safety recommendations/courses to help you out. During the day the area is really busy and there are lots of people around everywhere. While to some that might admittedly be intimidating, it makes the area very safe as everyone's actions are very visible to maaany people.
GSU as of 1995 is a full research university and KSU is just a 4-year state university.
For undergrads this doesn't necessarily mean all that much, but what it will mean especially in particular fields... you will see more professors that are heavily invested in peer-reviewed research. You will also see the state provide more financial support to the university per student... as their goal isn't just to provide a comprehensive core education, but also to provide a wider array of intellectual resources, research opportunities, and research faculty.

In short you can get good comprehensive undergrad education at either place, but if you want to get more intellectually involved and look for extra opportunity and find more faculty that are more involved with intellectual research... you are best off at GSU.

But that may or may not be important to you. I would consider exactly what all you are looking for in a college exactly and then comparing the pros and cons of each carefully. I would also pick... not 1, but 5 or 6 different fields/majors+related majors you think you would gravitate towards. If several of those fields/majors happen to be a top-notch program as GSU, then they should be considered heavily in your decision. If they aren't, then KSU might provide a much more equitable alternative to GSU anyways.

[Febtober]

I went to GSU from 2002 - 2006 and got a BS in Urban Policy Studies and Aviation. I strongly recommend GSU. It's one of four real international research universities in the state (along with Emory, Georgia Tech, and UGA), whereas KSU is just sort of a regional school.

Also, GSU being in downtown was a big plus for me. I lived in our dorms, which were the Olympic village at the time, for two years. Now they've got new dorms off Piedmont a lot closer to campus that look really nice. I'd recommend staying in the dorms for at least a year to see how you like it and get the "college experience."

I thought it was an excellent school with good faculty and a great student body. There were always events going on and meeting people was very easy. And if I had a break between classes, I could go get lost between the skyscrapers of downtown.

Of course with 30,000 students, you're bound to have incidents and crimes, but I was never concerned with my safety and I never knew anyone (not even a friend-of-a-friend) that ever had a problem. If you've got night classes, the police will walk you to your car or MARTA if you like. The dorms were always crawling with campus police, actually to an annoying level.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the school in general.

[MathmanMathman]

For safety, KSU is much safer.

But life in Cobb County is tough without a car. If you want to work, other than getting a job on campus, you would probably need a car to get to work. For access to public transportation GSU is much better as it is at the crossing of the East/West and North/South rail lines. But GSU is in the heart of the city and has more crime.

But you didn't mention a major. You probably should go to the school with the better program.

[gumboula]

Originally Posted by brent6969

a brand new law school.

Just FYI, the law school has been around for about thirty years. It was recently named the top value for law schools in the nation and its bar passage rate is typically the top in the state. It will have a new building in the next few years though, the land has been purchased and planning is underway.

[RandyWatson13]

GSU...true college, KSU is a newbie

[Febtober]

Oh also, you should be able to get by fine without a car at GSU. I didn't have one my first year in the dorms and it wasn't a problem. We could either take marta or a shuttle bus to class (this was back when the dorms were far away, I think you could probably walk from the current ones) and they had a shuttle that went to Kroger a couple times a day. Also, at least one of your roommates is bound to have a car.

GSU also had a ton of on campus jobs. Lots of clerical and administrative assistant type positions and I'm sure other stuff as well.

[BobKovacs]

I'd say it also depends on what your majoring in, and what you want to get out of your education. People are mentioning things like "top-rated research institution" "NCAA football team" and "best value law school"- if you're just looking to go to school for a degree in education or liberal arts, none of that may be even remotely relevant.