Governors State University (Chicago, Urbana, Harvard: schools, pharmacy, living in)

[urza216]

If anything the question should be: Is Chicago State's reputation undeserved? But this is the first I have ever heard of GSU having anything but a good reputation. Maybe people up north have heard of the name and pulled some ideas about it out of nowhere.

[urza216]

So I guess even the equally successful people down here are looked down on by people up north. A lot of successful people went to GSU..

[urza216]

Unless it's in Hyde Park, it MUST be terrible if it's south of Rossevelt, huh?

The average age of a student at GSU is like 29 or something (I don't remember but it's something like that). There are no dorms. The majority of the students have jobs that they are serious about. Unlike the "good schools" filled with 19 year olds who pop pills in thier dorm rooms after class and are No call, No show at thier job at McDonald's.

[plates]

Originally Posted by emathias

I think the reputation is similar among the general population. Whether Governors deserves a better reputation is a different question, one I'm not qualified to answer.

That's how I feel.

Originally Posted by urza216

If anything the question should be: Is Chicago State's reputation undeserved? But this is the first I have ever heard of GSU having anything but a good reputation. Maybe people up north have heard of the name and pulled some ideas about it out of nowhere.

All I think of when I hear Chicago State University and Governors State University is that they are kind of sub-par. I think a good comparison is Northeastern Illinois University which has a better reputation.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by plates

That's how I feel.



All I think of when I hear Chicago State University and Governors State University is that they are kind of sub-par. I think a good comparison is Northeastern Illinois University which has a better reputation.

I think there is a divide between people who live within a 45 minute drive of Governor's State and people who are less likely to really know anything about it - but have sweeping perceptions about anything "south side" nonetheless.

Someone very close to me has own private practice in Olympia Fields. She went to GSU. About a year ago I had to hire a lawyer. He has his GSU diploma proudly displayed in his office. A top administrater (but recently retired) at Will County Forest preserves is also GSU alumni. GSU is the place to be for success. As far as reputation is concerned, it's just flat out ignorant to say it in the same breath as Chicago State. Although I do understand how they are both colleges that someone way up north has actually heard of before. That's like speaking of Harvard in the same breath as Illinois University. I plan on going back to school soon and the only reason why I'd go to Chicago State is if I had the ulterior motive of meeting a black girl.

Since when is GSU sub par? This is news to me. It's news because it's "nonsense" that isn't based in reality. Where are you guys from? Why haven't I ever seen either of you in threads about the south suburbs?

[sunnyandcloudydays]

At least anyone who goes to GSU has the initiative to move ahead with a goal.

Most of the folks who live in the South Suburbs at one time or another has had a friend , co-worker who went there.

GSU may not be on the top of lists but it speaks volumes when someone is enriching their life.

If anyone is not familiar with the place take a drive down there sometime its a nice campus and it may change your outlook on the place.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

They've moved Governors State out to the suburbs, approximately in the middle of nowhere. It's a fifth rate state university, barely able to hang on to it's accreditation from year to year. I got my B.S. as a "non-traditional" student about 6 years ago from GSU. The instructors were fine, and it's really cheap, but the facilities and administration left a lot be to be desired. Trying to deal with, say, the registrars office or the financial aid office you will encounter some of the stupidest people you will ever have the misfortune to meet.

I think your description is accurate.

[tjake]

Originally Posted by Anthera

I think your description is accurate.

Governors State University is primarily a career advancement University and offers coursework all they way up to the doctorate level in various fields. Lots of area teachers and school administrators attend GSU when they go back for there masters degrees or doctorates. The campus caters to adult students with previous real world work experience in a wide range of fields of study. When more education is required for career advancement or a promotion. It isn't a young campus, mostly older students who already have some workplace experience. And now want to further there education or change career paths. There programs and schedules are excellent for the non traditional college student not looking to be surrounded by teenagers on a college campus and really caters to them. It offers a much more approachable college campus than the traditional one with dorm rooms and teenagers. Especially now when you have such a large number of adults with prior careers who have been laid off. And are now looking to change careers or further there education.

[Diws]

any school with noncompetitive admissions is going to suffer in reputation, period.

[Idon'tdateyou]

This will be a bit different but I received my masters there. Unlike the bachelor's programs you have to maintain a 3.0GPA and all coursework in your field has to be at least a B. I know someone who didn't graduate because they had a C in a core class. The tests for my classes were hard but like I said I am talking graduate level classes.

Has it paid off? yes and no. I did get my last job because the head of HR also got her degree in the same field as I did. However I think having a masters in general has hurt me. I don't really recommend the alumni board though because that is all who you know. I ran for it a few years ago and the board (you have to be interviewed to run)believed I wasn't qualified though they allowed someone else to run (who incidentally worked with the head of the board in another job). Also, the hiring is corrupt as well and they have a tendency to offer tax payer funed work study programs to foreign students while denying this to American students. Many of these foreign students are then hired in other jobs once they receive their degree. Many of these people are strongly antiAmerican and I reported a professor because he kept saying how stupid Americans are.

I'm not sure if I would have gone there but doubt I would have gotten the degree I did.