college suggestions (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chester: apartment, loans, transferring to)

[TheyreWinning]

Hi,

I'm originally from the Philadelphia area but went away for college in Pittsburgh. Long story short, things didn't pan out where I was and I'm looking at transferring to a school in or around Philly.

Basically, I'm a business major (probably marketing) and I'd like to go somewhere in or around the city. I don't want to pay an extreme amount of money, but I'd be willing to get loans if thats what it will take. I love the city, but i'd also be comfortable going to school somewhere with a nice campus like villanova. I'd like to get an apartment, so I'd be commuting anyway (so campus probably isn't a huge deal).

The biggest thing is that while I consider myself smart and motivated, I feel I get lost in huge anonymous classroom situations. I've always done better when I've been able to develop ties and friendships with people I go to school with. I suppose wherever I go, I get out what I make of it.. but maybe smaller is better. Also, I suppose prestige of the college is an issue to some degree, but the quality of the education (and its value) is a bigger deal for me personally.

Beyond that, I like working and plan on doing so in addition to class (plus I'd need to anyway). I like to keep busy. I like making friends, having a social life, seeing live music, partying here and there. A good balance.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking going to Temple and commuting in from another neighborhood?

[JHG722]

For business, there is perhaps no bigger bargain in education than the Fox School of Business at Temple. VSB is fantastic, but unless your goal is Wall Street, it's not worth taking out tremendous loans for.

Drexel, St. Joe's, La Salle dont compare to either. Obviously Wharton trumps all, but I'd assume that's not an option.

If diversity matters to you at all, Temple is among the five most diverse schools in the country.
SJU has a slightly lower student/teacher ratio, but not by enough to warrant going there. You might find smaller classes there, I'm not too sure. Temple has plenty of smaller classes in business, but I believe most intro classes are larger. Still, I've found that even in larger classes (my biggest so far has been slightly larger than 100 I believe), the professors are extremely accessable, have office hours, and are more than willing to help you in any way.

[lititzman2003]

JHG is right on with Temple's Business School. However, another option is Widener University in Chester. They have an excellent business school.

[BPP1999]

Check out this list of local colleges:

Campus Philly-Local Colleges

[Pilot1]

If you're a PA resident, Temple is your best bang for your buck, but I prefer Villanova for its business program and campus setting. Class size is probably smaller than Temple also. I had no classes with over 30 students when I went to Villanova B school.

[MoorestownResident]

In NJ check Rutgers or Rider, two of the best in the region.

[TheyreWinning]

Yeah, I think Temple is my best option right now. For a while I was big on going to Drexel, but now I really don't see how I could justify the difference in cost between there and Temple. Drexel has some nice facilities, but Temple has/is about to open some brand new state-of-the-art facilities of its own.
I get the impression the education at Temple is at least as good as Drexel, plus they seem more flexible with class offerings.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by TheyreWinning

Yeah, I think Temple is my best option right now. For a while I was big on going to Drexel, but now I really don't see how I could justify the difference in cost between there and Temple. Drexel has some nice facilities, but Temple has/is about to open some brand new state-of-the-art facilities of its own.
I get the impression the education at Temple is at least as good as Drexel, plus they seem more flexible with class offerings.

Drexel is where kids I went to high school with went, because they had money, and felt that paying top dollar for an overpriced private school made them somehow better.

Our brand new, state of the art $80,000,000 business school will be opening very soon.

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by JHG722

Drexel is where kids I went to high school with went, because they had money, and felt that paying top dollar for an overpriced private school made them somehow better.

Our brand new, state of the art $80,000,000 business school will be opening very soon.

OK, I have to say this. Like it or not, above the technical aspect of the education is the network you obtain from going to a highly rated private school. Not only that, names of schools open doors. Maybe its not right, but its reality. Unfortunately in today's competitive society, the ability to get into a Villanova, Penn or Drexel gives you an advantage. However, this can be overcome with some persistance and hard work IMHO.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

OK, I have to say this. Like it or not, above the technical aspect of the education is the network you obtain from going to a highly rated private school. Not only that, names of schools open doors. Maybe its not right, but its reality. Unfortunately in today's competitive society, the ability to get into a Villanova, Penn or Drexel gives you an advantage. However, this can be overcome with some persistance and hard work IMHO.

You're certainly right, especially with Nova and Penn, but Drexel has absolutely NO advantage over Temple. None. Oh, and private school has nothing to do with it. I went to an overpriced private school.