Can I please get your opinions on these colleges? (Boston: dorms, transfer)

[DarkEyes19]

I live in Vermont and had applied to colleges I'm interested in throughout New England. I have got a acceptance letter from all these colleges and need your opinion in order to choose a college which is right for me. I did not pay a application fee when applying to these colleges because as a community college "special transfer" graduate the fee is waived so I can apply to as many colleges as I want. I will probably choose the college which gives me the best scholarships and grants but I wanted to know what you think about these colleges and their rankings. I'm majoring in Business. I would appreciate if everyone who comments on my question can give me their top 5 picks from the colleges below. Thanks for your opinions.


Roger Williams University
Salve Regina University
Springfield College
Endicott College
University of Hartford
Western New England University
Johnson and Wales University
Merrimack College
Assumption College
Quinnipiac University
Suffolk University
University of New England

[mwbms28]

Quinnipiac is a very good school and is probably the best college on that list.

[xo_kizzy_xo]

I think there's a college ranking website somewhere where actual students rate their school. I don't remember what it's called. I think that'd help you more than here, as a good many of us (but not all) are way past college age. Just a thought.

[ladyalicemore]

If you know your upper-division major, research the actual department in the different schools--the requirements and the teacher's qualifications and accomplishments.

Some programs will probably fit your interests more than others.

Some of these are reputed to be party schools and some have the reputation of being more study focused.

Some have "quiet dorms" and some have single-language dorms for language majors.

Research the special features of each of the schools and choose by the features you like. Location shouldn't be paramount--it's only for two years. You can party anytime--choose a quiet dorm if in other ways you like a party school.

It's a good problem to have--I hope you are happy with your choice. Go to the schools' internet sites and to the department(s) you are thinking of majoring in.

The Princeton Review used to publish ratings by the students themselves--it's probably on-line now. Time for a little research!

Edited to add: I see that Merrimac College made the "Best Regional Colleges" List on US News and World Reports. Princeton Review I guess still publishes a book, but the site solicits a lot of personal info before offering a preview, so it may be a scam. It has nothing to do with Princeton Uni--it is a testing prep business but also does publish student derived reviews.

[CaseyB]

US News & World Report has an annual ranking of schools. Merrimack College, Assumption, Quinnipiac and Suffolk are the best on your list. Keep in mind that if you choose Suffolk, it will be much more expensive to live in Boston.

[Dm84]

Honestly once you have your degree no one really cares where it came from. The exception being if it came from Harvard, MIT etc. If you plan to go to graduate school then it matters even less.

[ladyalicemore]

The best schools offer the best preparation in the fields chosen. It's a matter that has nothing to do with prestige, but with educational quality.

To find a quality program is worth researching, as college should offer a strong foundation for a lifetime of futher learning.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by ladyalicemore

The best schools offer the best preparation in the fields chosen. It's a matter that has nothing to do with prestige, but with educational quality.

To find a quality program is worth researching, as college should offer a strong foundation for a lifetime of futher learning.

College gives very little in the way of job preparation in many cases. Internships and work experience while in college matter more to future employers than where you went to college unless you went to a very very prestigious school. OP should honestly just go to the school with the best aid package because there's no point in drowning yourself in extra debt for a degree that probably won't be worth any more than a cheaper degree from a school with better financial aid.

The ranking system in general is a horrible thing that props up high priced schools that offer little added value for the money spent.

[rethcir]

Ten years out of private liberal arts college (one of the ones on your list), I kinda wish I'd just gone to Umass Lowell or UNH. I really did a lot of learning on the job after work, and though I dodged the worst of the gigantic tuition increases of the past ten years, it's hard to justify owing $800 a month in debt for your whole twenties. You won't be making six figures right out of school, unless you're a pro athlete or a doctor.

[Whatsnext75]

I think a really good school gets a resume attention but if you dont have the job experience or a good personality to back it up youre not getting the job. My dept recently hired someone who went to american international college over someone who went to harvard based on job experience. Personally i preferred the harvard grad but i was outnumbered. And i think the AIC guy has not been good, but i dont think where he went to college has anything to do with it. He just isnt a good fit.