What can you tell me about ETSU? (Knoxville, Johnson City: loans, job market)

[Drift Away]

We are moving to east TN next year and my daughter is looking at transferring schools. We've looked at UT, but are also interested in learning more about ETSU. It appears to be a well respected university. Can any of you share information or experiences with us to help us get a feel for the school and the area in general for a 21 year old female.

[Serious Conversation]

I graduated from ETSU's business school six years ago.

ETSU seems to be primarily focused on health care related fields and education. They have a medical school and college of pharmacy. They also produce a lot of education graduates. The area's strongest base of professional is in health care and education. ETSU has good connections to the local health care employers and school systems, but beyond it, it's tough sledding for graduates in other fields.

This is more of a limitation of the local economy than ETSU, but let's say you major in "something decent" like computer science or accounting, it's going to be hard to get that initial internship/professional experience that is so critical because there are practically no employers in those fields in the area. The graduate then likely has to move off, and employers are going to have plenty of candidates local to whatever area where they are (many of whom likely have an experience or internship) and not need to hire new graduates from out of the area. I tried getting jobs in Charlotte and Nashville at graduation with no luck.

Also, prepare to pay out of states rates until a certain length of time passes.

I would really look into UT-Knoxville if she is wanting to relocate to TN, or simply going to school in a major metro area anywhere with a healthy job market.

[Drift Away]

She's looking into an allied health field, specifically radiography. Seemed ETSU has a good program that might not be as intimidating due to the sheer size of UTK. Appreciate the feedback.

[jchometeam]

I am an alum and faculty member at ETSU and I love the university.

It is true that a lot of the funding goes toward its health sciences. I am in the social sciences so do not have any direct knowledge of radiology, but I know that any of the health sciences at the university are very highly regarded.

ETSU is not for everyone, nor is UT or a smaller liberal arts college. A small liberal arts college gives you more of a family atmosphere. UT is a beast to itself, a much more urban feel. Some students would excel at either of these settings better than at ETSU and vice versa. For me, however, ETSU provided a great medium- it was big enough to have a wonderful experience but small enough to be able to get to know faculty, etc. It really just depends on the setting that she wants.

[Starman71]

I would beg that you take Serious Conversation's opinion with a grain of salt. Every post he makes in this forum indicates a serious bias against this area. From which this bias occurs, I have no idea, but be assured it is not a shared opinion by the majority.

I majored - undergrad - in Biology & Chemistry with a Health Sciences minor at ETSU. I couldn't have asked for a better system of education. I have since added a Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T) from ETSU and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree from LMU.

If you want an undergrad degree in Education, Health Sciences (undergrad Nursing, Sports Medicine, etc.), Business or grad school degree in Medicine, Physical Therapy, etc., you couldn't ask for a better local university.

I've taught school for over 2 decades in this area and I have received advanced degrees from various universities. What a student does while they attend whatever school in which they are enrolled is much, much more important than where they actually go. I am a firm believer of this. And I can give tons of very specific evidence to support this, if one asks.

[Serious Conversation]

If it's a healthcare field, I'd definitely consider it. She should be able to get experience at some of the local healthcare providers if she wants to stay or even if she wants to move elsewhere, she should be able to get some experience before leaving school.

The problem isn't that ETSU's quality of education is low - I was satisfied with my education, but that opportunity outside of education and health can be limited. None of this is the fault of the university.

[Starman71]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

If it's a healthcare field, I'd definitely consider it. She should be able to get experience at some of the local healthcare providers if she wants to stay or even if she wants to move elsewhere, she should be able to get some experience before leaving school.

The problem isn't that ETSU's quality of education is low - I was satisfied with my education, but that opportunity outside of education and health can be limited. None of this is the fault of the university.

The bolded is exactly right. The university isn't at fault.

Your education is what you make of it.

Where you go to school isn't nowhere near as important as what you do when you are there.

If you wanted all of the connections, networking, etc., that come from a Harvard-style education, then go there. Or Duke. Or Vandy. Or any of the elite, Ivy Leagues (or Ivy-lites).

If you want a damn good education, where you can develop the skills necessary to function in the real-world occupations that require a good college education, then it doesn't matter a damn where you go to school. Why? Because you can get those skills anywhere if you the student apply yourself. Your only hindrance in developing said skills is you.

Not the college. YOU.

Which makes ETSU just as good as any around.

It (where you went to school) might make a difference when you get your first job. But how you did your first job is 90% of the determinating factor of getting your second one. And that comes from nothing but YOU!

[Drift Away]

What about Johnson City, does it feel like a college town? Alis it a vibrant feeling town with a variety of things for young people to do? We plan to visit within the next several months, but just want to get a feel for it from folks who live or went to school there.

I understand what Serious Conversation is saying to a degree, since we currently live in Mississippi and our family attended the one non SEC school out of the 3 major universities in the state. While you'll definitely still get a good education and find a job, you won't have the business or political connections compared to graduates of the two SEC schools. I'm honestly more concerned about the overall feel of the school and area. We're actually moving close to Knoxville, but UT is just so huge and pretty costly, so have begun looking into ETSU and some others. Any info is appreciated.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by Drift Away

What about Johnson City, does it feel like a college town? Alis it a vibrant feeling town with a variety of things for young people to do? We plan to visit within the next several months, but just want to get a feel for it from folks who live or went to school there.

I understand what Serious Conversation is saying to a degree, since we currently live in Mississippi and our family attended the one non SEC school out of the 3 major universities in the state. While you'll definitely still get a good education and find a job, you won't have the business or political connections compared to graduates of the two SEC schools. I'm honestly more concerned about the overall feel of the school and area. We're actually moving close to Knoxville, but UT is just so huge and pretty costly, so have begun looking into ETSU and some others. Any info is appreciated.

It does feel like a college town, to the tune that a town of 60,000 can be vibrant. There has been a huge reinvestment in downtown with new breweries, restaurants, Etc., over the last couple of years. Ten years ago, downtown JC was a mess. Today, it's hopping. There is more dining, culture, shopping, than you may expect. If you can make a living, it's a fine place to live.

If you're from rural MS, you'll have an idea of what it's like here, much better than a Yankee. It's still small town USA.

However, if you are closer to Knoxville and she is not planning on working in the Tri-Cities, I would wholeheartedly recommend UT-Knoxville if she wants to remain in TN. Otherwise, she needs to look into colleges in the state she intends to work in with the resources she needs to make connections wherever that is.

I'd basically exclude this in your relocation. DD needs to figure out where she wants to live post graduation and tailor studies and loans accordingly, no matter where you end up.

[Rangerred]

I am an ETSU graduate as well and I can vouch for it being a good school. It does focus heavily on the health disciplines as well as education but I spent my time in the College of Arts and Sciences and felt like I received a good education. I graduated over five years ago and since that time, the school has moved more towards being a full-on residential university versus a strictly regional school. More students from outside the region, as well as the re-introduction of football, has given the school, and Johnson City, more of a traditional college vibe.

Speaking of Johnson City, it is a wonderful city and does feel like a college town but is large enough to have nearly all the amenities one would find in a much larger city. The downtown is in the midst of a resurgence and the ~1 mile corridor between ETSU and downtown is rapidly developing. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless and the people are friendly. The biggest downside would have to be the job market as opportunities for well-paying, professional jobs tend to be few. I know many people who would have loved to remain in Johnson City after graduation but were unable to find jobs. I was one of the lucky ones who managed to find something and stick around.