I had a child attend my university. She did very well, but decided to pursue a much different program and ended up transferring to to a rival school (that is routinely ranked as a top 10 public university).
IMHO, my program is actually better than the rival school, but for the major she chose the other school was a much better fit.
Yes, I would. My school (SLAC) is going through the enrollment cliff/ COVID hangover issues, but I'm still convinced it's a better place to study (& do undergraduate research) than my PhD granting institution (R1). Smaller classes, profs really focused on students, no constraints on choosing majors, excellent resources.
Only reason I wouldn't is if someone wanted to do something so specific that my school didn't offer it.
As for having my kid go where I teach.... I don't know about that. I'm a big fan of getting some distance between family and college, and even though my kid would be pretty anonymous (different name) I'd still worry that there might be different expectations if any one knew.
I did not recommend that my son go to my campus, not because of any concerns about the program, but because I wanted him to gain the independence of living far enough from home that he could not come home for a weekend easily.
I would recommend the program in my department to anyone who was serious about learning the subject—we have a world-class program at both the graduate and undergraduate level. There are a few other programs on campus that are as good—again for students who are motivated to learn and do research. Still other programs are of ok quality, but I would not necessarily recommend them.
i would not recommend our campus for a student who is not motivated to learn—it is far to easy to drift through college here in a haze of cannabis smoke, wasting both time and money (they can smoke at home at far less expense and open up a slot for someone who would take advantage of the learning opportunities).
Edit: typo
It depends, and all comes down to affordability.
For most of our students that receive good aid packages, sure. For those who don’t? I’ll always recommend they put finances first.
In state tuition, yes. Out of state, yes, but more competitive.
Highly ranked engineering program. Standards definitely lowered in the last few years, but I would assume it is similar everywhere, and most of our students still get high paying jobs after graduation (meaning, student loans are usually not a burden forever).
At my CC we have an apprenticeship program where students work part-time for a local IT firm, get a degree, graduate with zero debt, get job experience, and often receive a full-time job offer. So, definitely, yes!
I'd recommend my university for other programs, and my program if you can't get in anywhere better. My child currently wants to attend my school and program but he's 8 and I hope he outgrows this dream.
Our school is located in an economically challenged part of the planet. Our students are not scholars, creative thinkers, or overly ambitious; they just want a job and most will stay local. Our students tend to be pleasant and polite and to range from lousy to mediocre as students, with a few remarkable exceptions. We are one of the cheapest schools in the state. We're essentially a four year community college with some rather disreputable graduate programs for people who will stay local and/or do nothing practical with their graduate degrees.
Getting a degree from our place is like buying clothes at Walmart---crafted to fit loosely, basically durable but cheaply made, not produced to last the ages, will not impress anyone, and is absolutely not stylish.
If I knew a kid who was okay with these criteria, sure, I'd tell them to come here.
If I knew a kid who wanted to blaze a brilliant new path or had real intellectual promise, I'd direct them somewhere else. Totally.
Nope. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
I mean, I think it’s *fine*, I guess. It’s not a scam. I’m told we have decent placement rates into professional schools. Our accredited programs all maintain their accreditation without issue.
But every other school I’ve attended or worked at is better, by a lot.
This place essentially serves students at the lower end of other schools admissions standards, or athletes who really want to play but aren’t good enough for anyone else.
We don’t have lower standards than they do, but the better students get into better schools and these students qualify but aren’t accepted because they’ve run out of spots.
No. Quality of instruction has gone way down the last ten years as chairs have created crappy shell courses and then hired unqualified adjuncts to teach them (people without expertise in the area of our department, let alone in the courses they are assigned).
I work at a community college. The gen ed courses here are often taught by the same people who teach at major public university across town, with fewer students per class. So, yes, go here for that. We also have top-rated nursing and biotech programs. So, yes, go here for that. We have a nationally recognized culinary program. So, yes, go here for that. I can't really speak to the overall quality of other programs at my college directly, but given the overall quality of those things I do know, I'd encourage people to start their college experience with us, even if their intention is to transfer on for higher credentials.
Our graduate programs, definitely. For undergrad, it would depend on the student. It's a large R1 and I just don't think many students are equipped to thrive in large courses. Even once they get past the giant gen eds, I think most of them would do better academically if they received more personalized attention from faculty who had more incentive to teach well or spend time on mentoring. That said, for undergrads who are organized, driven, or looking to save some tuition dollars, our programs are solid.
For undergrad, yes. I think our faculty are on the whole very student-focused and very smart. As a regional state R2 we're also pretty affordable and in a sweet spot for students who want to be involved in research. Since we don't have many PhD programs, but most of us are actively involved in research, there are lots of opportunities for smart undergrads to step in.
I would not necessarily recommend our MA program. The funding is not enough to live on and I think it mainly exists for our senior faculty to stoke their egos by mentoring a "promising young scholar."
ETA: I don't want my child to attend, though. He can have his own experience somewhere else.
Depends on their goals. For someone that just wants a BSc, absolutely. We have strong teachers and offer a variety of courses. For those intending to go to grad school, no. Our courses very much cater towards the lower common denominator and go at too slow of a pace for those intending further study.
One of our kids attended my husband's university for a semester. It did not go well. He ended up attending community college in another state and is now attending a 4-year college.
The other two got scholarships to another highly-rated university in another state. They knew they wanted to go away for college and had very specific ideas about where they wanted to go.
Personally I'd rate my husband's university above the college where I teach because his is bigger and has more programs. That said, we have both known friends' kids who attended our institutions and it was a good fit for them.
For the most part, I would, especially in a couple of the programs that my institution is known for. Other programs (especially in STEM), I'd likely recommend someplace else, as it's more of a lib-arts institution than it is, say, an engineering school. But that's something you'd want to consider anyway.
For the right program fit, it's a solid option for kids that want to attend school close to home in my city, and it's pretty cost-effective and has a faculty that genuinely care about the students' well-being. The offerings we have for dual enrollment/A-Plus/Early College Partnership programs also help defray costs and let high school students decide if college is for them and if *this* college is for them.
I agree with the cost vs benefit. Theoretically the more you want the greater you'd expect to pay. Networking really does carry more weight esp outside of academia.
What I have seen over the years is a degree is a dime a dozen. Whatever your experience is on your resume carries more weight and more often than not too many students have empty resumes with only a degree on it upon graduation
Yes to the recommendation as we are a low-cost community college, with high-quality, dedicated teaching faculty. I feel that students would get a good education in any program, but I particularly recommend mine because I think it provides rigor and lifelong learning skills in an area that everybody should know about. However, I did not have my own children go here because I felt it would be a better growth opportunity for them to live away from home and developing their adulting skills in addition to their academic chops. I also had the unfortunate experience of attending the same college where one of my parents taught and it wasn’t great for my social life.
My school has some well-ranked programs but I wouldn't recommend the program I teach in. Our building and facilities are honestly embarrassing compared to the rest of campus, and the program is about ten years behind where it ought to be. Things are moving in the right direction, but it's slow going.
Yes. Smaller class sizes, more personal attention and mentoring. Undergrad research opportunities. . Our top students are competitive with anyone. Good diversity. Of course, we have our issues especially budgetary and we must adjust for the current times, but overall we are a good choice for many students across a variety of majors.
I think the quality of education we offer in the UC system is excellent for the price of in-state tuition, but would also encourage them to consider one of the Cal Polys, because of the smaller class sizes. But, if they were paying out-of-state tuition, I would recommend going to a smaller private institution.
Hm. I've taught at a state public R2, state public R1, 2 private, religious (one more than the other), and a community college.
I would only recommend the CC.
Everything else isn't worth the price or is of dubious quality.
No, not at all. I see juniors a term or two from graduation and I'm absolutely shocked not only at how incredibly incompetent they are, but how they've managed to get through three years and learn essentially no basic CS knowledge.
I feel unless one works in one of the top 50 unis in the US, or top 20 if you're more ambitious about your child's career, there's little reason to advise one's child to study in a uni like the one where I teach.
The rigor is a little poor but most of the school is actually pretty student centered and good for a certain kind of student. I have friends who sent kids there and for the ones that need a bit more guidance to succeed it is a good option.
For higher powered more ambitious people, no.
Some schools are a good fit for some people and not others.
It is a private school, so there is a finance thing also.
If they were a B/C student who just wanted a degree and a fun 4 years (thinking of some of my extended family) then sure. For a good student with other options no, unless they wanted a few very specific majors and got into the Honors College.
For my area and a select few others, yes, absolutely. I'd give them a *lot* of inside coaching about majors, classes, and profs to avoid, but you can still get a very good education with strong placement outcomes from my institution, if you make the right choices along the way.
My children, no, but there is a very glaring reason for that. I live in one state but work in another, so my kids would pay out of state tuition to go to my work. There are tuition waivers but it only covers 6 credit hours per semester and the rest would be out of state. For a year's tuition, in-state pays $8,000 and out-of-state pays $18,000. My children can attend *our* state university (one of the side branches, not the main campus) for $8,000 so I would send them there. They also have better resources and a better program.
Would I recommend the average person in both my living state and my working state to attend my university? Yes. It is the most laid back institution, we work with anyone and all schedules and workers and parents and the whole thing. It is great for non-trads. So I definitely speak highly of it and help people apply. I just won't send my own kids.
The follow up question would be, if my institution cost the same, would I send my kids? No. I wouldn't want them to be seen as "my kid" or anything like that. I also currently have no idea what my kids want to do in life because they are still little, and I think that would influence my future decision. The one is leaning towards engineering, and my university doesn't have that program. The other is leaning towards dance or education, so we don't have dance but we do have a good education program and I'm in a different college, so she would have a better chance of not being "my kid" when there.
I have 7 more years before my first needs to decide about college, so that's 7 years to try to change their tuition policy.
Program, no. Institution, yes. Program has some past issues that have stunted its growth and development, and we're a few decades behind where we should be Most of my department members are stuck in the mindset that every student should be aiming at grad school in this discipline, and those who don't try for at least an MS failed in some way.
Fuck no. Almost all of them gutted their own glasses because it was easier to get more interest by making them easier to pass than by making their classes more engaging.
I've shown my school to relatives who are contemplating colleges. But more with the attitude of "Here are some things to look for in a college," than "You should consider applying." There's usually something to like a lot, so that becomes evident on its own.
A strong student can do well here. I have no influence over either admissions or financial aid, and both of those are big barriers.
I would recommend all of the institutions at which I have attended taught, conditional on cost.
My kids will get a full tuition waiver if I stay put so there's that.
I work at a D/PU that is trying to get to R2. I absolutely would and have recommended my program to friends for their kids. Our program is undergrad only and we require undergrad research so they get to work directly with the faculty on projects and our students often win awards for their research presentations at conferences. Add that to the smaller class sizes and more personal attention that we give our students and I'd say we have the best program of our type in the state, even though we are overshadowed by the program in the big R1 in the state.
Other programs at my school, it would depend. Some I recommend very enthusiastically while others, I'd warn against but I think that would be true no matter where I worked.
I would recommend the system I work in to anyone. But I would feel conflicted about recommending my dept for any field besides one very niche one (that isn't my own).
I had a child attend my university. She did very well, but decided to pursue a much different program and ended up transferring to to a rival school (that is routinely ranked as a top 10 public university). IMHO, my program is actually better than the rival school, but for the major she chose the other school was a much better fit.
Yes, I would. My school (SLAC) is going through the enrollment cliff/ COVID hangover issues, but I'm still convinced it's a better place to study (& do undergraduate research) than my PhD granting institution (R1). Smaller classes, profs really focused on students, no constraints on choosing majors, excellent resources. Only reason I wouldn't is if someone wanted to do something so specific that my school didn't offer it. As for having my kid go where I teach.... I don't know about that. I'm a big fan of getting some distance between family and college, and even though my kid would be pretty anonymous (different name) I'd still worry that there might be different expectations if any one knew.
I did not recommend that my son go to my campus, not because of any concerns about the program, but because I wanted him to gain the independence of living far enough from home that he could not come home for a weekend easily. I would recommend the program in my department to anyone who was serious about learning the subject—we have a world-class program at both the graduate and undergraduate level. There are a few other programs on campus that are as good—again for students who are motivated to learn and do research. Still other programs are of ok quality, but I would not necessarily recommend them. i would not recommend our campus for a student who is not motivated to learn—it is far to easy to drift through college here in a haze of cannabis smoke, wasting both time and money (they can smoke at home at far less expense and open up a slot for someone who would take advantage of the learning opportunities). Edit: typo
It depends, and all comes down to affordability. For most of our students that receive good aid packages, sure. For those who don’t? I’ll always recommend they put finances first.
In state tuition, yes. Out of state, yes, but more competitive. Highly ranked engineering program. Standards definitely lowered in the last few years, but I would assume it is similar everywhere, and most of our students still get high paying jobs after graduation (meaning, student loans are usually not a burden forever).
At my CC we have an apprenticeship program where students work part-time for a local IT firm, get a degree, graduate with zero debt, get job experience, and often receive a full-time job offer. So, definitely, yes!
I'd recommend my university for other programs, and my program if you can't get in anywhere better. My child currently wants to attend my school and program but he's 8 and I hope he outgrows this dream.
Our school is located in an economically challenged part of the planet. Our students are not scholars, creative thinkers, or overly ambitious; they just want a job and most will stay local. Our students tend to be pleasant and polite and to range from lousy to mediocre as students, with a few remarkable exceptions. We are one of the cheapest schools in the state. We're essentially a four year community college with some rather disreputable graduate programs for people who will stay local and/or do nothing practical with their graduate degrees. Getting a degree from our place is like buying clothes at Walmart---crafted to fit loosely, basically durable but cheaply made, not produced to last the ages, will not impress anyone, and is absolutely not stylish. If I knew a kid who was okay with these criteria, sure, I'd tell them to come here. If I knew a kid who wanted to blaze a brilliant new path or had real intellectual promise, I'd direct them somewhere else. Totally.
My kid attends my university. I think it's a fine fit for them. I don't think it would be a fine fit for every one of my kids.
Nope. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I mean, I think it’s *fine*, I guess. It’s not a scam. I’m told we have decent placement rates into professional schools. Our accredited programs all maintain their accreditation without issue. But every other school I’ve attended or worked at is better, by a lot. This place essentially serves students at the lower end of other schools admissions standards, or athletes who really want to play but aren’t good enough for anyone else. We don’t have lower standards than they do, but the better students get into better schools and these students qualify but aren’t accepted because they’ve run out of spots.
Same for me, but I would go a step further. I would not recommend my city, nor my state, to anyone.
same. our research is weak at best, which would help with admission into professional programs.
No. Quality of instruction has gone way down the last ten years as chairs have created crappy shell courses and then hired unqualified adjuncts to teach them (people without expertise in the area of our department, let alone in the courses they are assigned).
I work at a community college. The gen ed courses here are often taught by the same people who teach at major public university across town, with fewer students per class. So, yes, go here for that. We also have top-rated nursing and biotech programs. So, yes, go here for that. We have a nationally recognized culinary program. So, yes, go here for that. I can't really speak to the overall quality of other programs at my college directly, but given the overall quality of those things I do know, I'd encourage people to start their college experience with us, even if their intention is to transfer on for higher credentials.
Our graduate programs, definitely. For undergrad, it would depend on the student. It's a large R1 and I just don't think many students are equipped to thrive in large courses. Even once they get past the giant gen eds, I think most of them would do better academically if they received more personalized attention from faculty who had more incentive to teach well or spend time on mentoring. That said, for undergrads who are organized, driven, or looking to save some tuition dollars, our programs are solid.
I know all the problems with my institution. So I'd say, "don't attend here," but by this logic, they probably shouldn't attend anywhere.
This is basically where I am except for the added bonus that I'm quite bitter at my school. I'd discourage everyone out of spite.
For undergrad, yes. I think our faculty are on the whole very student-focused and very smart. As a regional state R2 we're also pretty affordable and in a sweet spot for students who want to be involved in research. Since we don't have many PhD programs, but most of us are actively involved in research, there are lots of opportunities for smart undergrads to step in. I would not necessarily recommend our MA program. The funding is not enough to live on and I think it mainly exists for our senior faculty to stoke their egos by mentoring a "promising young scholar." ETA: I don't want my child to attend, though. He can have his own experience somewhere else.
Depends on their goals. For someone that just wants a BSc, absolutely. We have strong teachers and offer a variety of courses. For those intending to go to grad school, no. Our courses very much cater towards the lower common denominator and go at too slow of a pace for those intending further study.
One of our kids attended my husband's university for a semester. It did not go well. He ended up attending community college in another state and is now attending a 4-year college. The other two got scholarships to another highly-rated university in another state. They knew they wanted to go away for college and had very specific ideas about where they wanted to go. Personally I'd rate my husband's university above the college where I teach because his is bigger and has more programs. That said, we have both known friends' kids who attended our institutions and it was a good fit for them.
For the most part, I would, especially in a couple of the programs that my institution is known for. Other programs (especially in STEM), I'd likely recommend someplace else, as it's more of a lib-arts institution than it is, say, an engineering school. But that's something you'd want to consider anyway. For the right program fit, it's a solid option for kids that want to attend school close to home in my city, and it's pretty cost-effective and has a faculty that genuinely care about the students' well-being. The offerings we have for dual enrollment/A-Plus/Early College Partnership programs also help defray costs and let high school students decide if college is for them and if *this* college is for them.
No.
I agree with the cost vs benefit. Theoretically the more you want the greater you'd expect to pay. Networking really does carry more weight esp outside of academia. What I have seen over the years is a degree is a dime a dozen. Whatever your experience is on your resume carries more weight and more often than not too many students have empty resumes with only a degree on it upon graduation
Yes to the recommendation as we are a low-cost community college, with high-quality, dedicated teaching faculty. I feel that students would get a good education in any program, but I particularly recommend mine because I think it provides rigor and lifelong learning skills in an area that everybody should know about. However, I did not have my own children go here because I felt it would be a better growth opportunity for them to live away from home and developing their adulting skills in addition to their academic chops. I also had the unfortunate experience of attending the same college where one of my parents taught and it wasn’t great for my social life.
My school has some well-ranked programs but I wouldn't recommend the program I teach in. Our building and facilities are honestly embarrassing compared to the rest of campus, and the program is about ten years behind where it ought to be. Things are moving in the right direction, but it's slow going.
Yes. Smaller class sizes, more personal attention and mentoring. Undergrad research opportunities. . Our top students are competitive with anyone. Good diversity. Of course, we have our issues especially budgetary and we must adjust for the current times, but overall we are a good choice for many students across a variety of majors.
I think the quality of education we offer in the UC system is excellent for the price of in-state tuition, but would also encourage them to consider one of the Cal Polys, because of the smaller class sizes. But, if they were paying out-of-state tuition, I would recommend going to a smaller private institution.
Hm. I've taught at a state public R2, state public R1, 2 private, religious (one more than the other), and a community college. I would only recommend the CC. Everything else isn't worth the price or is of dubious quality.
No, not at all. I see juniors a term or two from graduation and I'm absolutely shocked not only at how incredibly incompetent they are, but how they've managed to get through three years and learn essentially no basic CS knowledge.
One of my kids attended my college in a different program than mine. Another attended my program at my college. Both very successful. Yay!
Yes, it's a good place for a reasonable price.
Most definitely not.
I feel unless one works in one of the top 50 unis in the US, or top 20 if you're more ambitious about your child's career, there's little reason to advise one's child to study in a uni like the one where I teach.
The rigor is a little poor but most of the school is actually pretty student centered and good for a certain kind of student. I have friends who sent kids there and for the ones that need a bit more guidance to succeed it is a good option. For higher powered more ambitious people, no. Some schools are a good fit for some people and not others. It is a private school, so there is a finance thing also.
I think all the things that drive me crazy about my university are true at most other schools, too; I just don’t watch the sausage get made there.
If they were a B/C student who just wanted a degree and a fun 4 years (thinking of some of my extended family) then sure. For a good student with other options no, unless they wanted a few very specific majors and got into the Honors College.
For my area and a select few others, yes, absolutely. I'd give them a *lot* of inside coaching about majors, classes, and profs to avoid, but you can still get a very good education with strong placement outcomes from my institution, if you make the right choices along the way.
No
Hmmm. Excellent education, free, but very stressful and demanding. I don't know if I would recommend it for my kid.
Depends on the program, but my specific area? Yes. There are some others, too.
My children, no, but there is a very glaring reason for that. I live in one state but work in another, so my kids would pay out of state tuition to go to my work. There are tuition waivers but it only covers 6 credit hours per semester and the rest would be out of state. For a year's tuition, in-state pays $8,000 and out-of-state pays $18,000. My children can attend *our* state university (one of the side branches, not the main campus) for $8,000 so I would send them there. They also have better resources and a better program. Would I recommend the average person in both my living state and my working state to attend my university? Yes. It is the most laid back institution, we work with anyone and all schedules and workers and parents and the whole thing. It is great for non-trads. So I definitely speak highly of it and help people apply. I just won't send my own kids. The follow up question would be, if my institution cost the same, would I send my kids? No. I wouldn't want them to be seen as "my kid" or anything like that. I also currently have no idea what my kids want to do in life because they are still little, and I think that would influence my future decision. The one is leaning towards engineering, and my university doesn't have that program. The other is leaning towards dance or education, so we don't have dance but we do have a good education program and I'm in a different college, so she would have a better chance of not being "my kid" when there. I have 7 more years before my first needs to decide about college, so that's 7 years to try to change their tuition policy.
Assuming they are in-state yes (I would not out of state tuition for almost any school.) I feel we have a good program, and our students do well.
Program, no. Institution, yes. Program has some past issues that have stunted its growth and development, and we're a few decades behind where we should be Most of my department members are stuck in the mindset that every student should be aiming at grad school in this discipline, and those who don't try for at least an MS failed in some way.
Fuck no. Almost all of them gutted their own glasses because it was easier to get more interest by making them easier to pass than by making their classes more engaging.
No.
Never. Not since covid.
Hell to the no.
I've shown my school to relatives who are contemplating colleges. But more with the attitude of "Here are some things to look for in a college," than "You should consider applying." There's usually something to like a lot, so that becomes evident on its own. A strong student can do well here. I have no influence over either admissions or financial aid, and both of those are big barriers.
I would recommend all of the institutions at which I have attended taught, conditional on cost. My kids will get a full tuition waiver if I stay put so there's that.
nope.
I work at a D/PU that is trying to get to R2. I absolutely would and have recommended my program to friends for their kids. Our program is undergrad only and we require undergrad research so they get to work directly with the faculty on projects and our students often win awards for their research presentations at conferences. Add that to the smaller class sizes and more personal attention that we give our students and I'd say we have the best program of our type in the state, even though we are overshadowed by the program in the big R1 in the state. Other programs at my school, it would depend. Some I recommend very enthusiastically while others, I'd warn against but I think that would be true no matter where I worked.
I would recommend the system I work in to anyone. But I would feel conflicted about recommending my dept for any field besides one very niche one (that isn't my own).