How to know how reputable a school is?

[archcommus]

I have a friend considering Slippery Rock in western PA but they just can't decide if it's a reputable enough school or not. Kind of thinking it may be slightly "subpar" compared to a big state school like Penn State.

I honestly don't know much about the school or its reputation, any websites that can give some more insight into how good a particular school is?

 

[beer]

spend ten bucks and buy the US News and World Report rankings at any bookstore? There's always a bit of contention over their methods for ranking but generally it's a good baseline.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

Originally posted by: beer
spend ten bucks and buy the US News and World Report rankings at any bookstore? There's always a bit of contention over their methods for ranking but generally it's a good baseline.

^pretty accurate...go to a school that people have heard of at least

 

[FoBoT]

"reputable" , what does that mean?

it is going to mean different things to different people

do you mean "accredited" ?

or do you mean, will rich snobs CEO's hire me because i went to the "right" school?

 

[Hammer]

lol beer, i love your sig

 

[akubi]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I have a friend considering Slippery Rock in western PA but they just can't decide if it's a reputable enough school or not. Kind of thinking it may be slightly "subpar" compared to a big state school like Penn State.

I honestly don't know much about the school or its reputation, any websites that can give some more insight into how good a particular school is?

hmm... 'slippery rock' is the name of the university? can't say I've heard of that one

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
"reputable" , what does that mean?

it is going to mean different things to different people

do you mean "accredited" ?

or do you mean, will rich snobs CEO's hire me because i went to the "right" school?

Both, I guess. But not quite to the same extreme as you imply.

Accredited? Definitely. Getting hired just because he went to a rich person's school? Well, not quite, but definitely doesn't want his degree to be thought of as subpar due to where he got it from.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: akubi

Originally posted by: archcommus
I have a friend considering Slippery Rock in western PA but they just can't decide if it's a reputable enough school or not. Kind of thinking it may be slightly "subpar" compared to a big state school like Penn State.

I honestly don't know much about the school or its reputation, any websites that can give some more insight into how good a particular school is?

hmm... 'slippery rock' is the name of the university? can't say I've heard of that one

Slippery Rock University.

 

[dmw16]

I think you know the answer to this one...Slippery Rock University??? Seriously. It is obviously not as good as Penn State. It doesnt have anything to do w/ going to a "rich snob" school but if there is something you want to major in you should find a school with a good reputation in that field. If you just wanna party and waste the parents money than a school like Slippery Rock U is probably great.

 

[archcommus]

I don't know, is Penn State really all that awesome, either? It's a state school, certainly not bad but much better than Slippery?

 

[Deeko]

Its a state school. Therefore, its ok, not bad, but not great.

Penn State is not a state school. Penn State is state assisted. The satellite campuses blow and are for idiots. Main campus on the other hand, if you start there from freshman year, isn't bad. Its not GREAT, but its a step up from a state school.

 

[Deeko]

Tell your friend to consider Pitt. Another state asisted school like Penn State, but personally I found it much better. I was actually enrolled and ready to go there before Drexel shoved a scholarship at me, Spring of my senior year.

 

[archcommus]

Yes, main campus is very good. Many of my friends went to the Behrend campus in Erie, PA.

I had a hard time myself deciding if Grove City was really any better than Penn State main or not, as far as the education, reputation, and accreditation is concerned.

 

[DragonMasterAlex]

Originally posted by: archcommus
I have a friend considering Slippery Rock in western PA but they just can't decide if it's a reputable enough school or not. Kind of thinking it may be slightly "subpar" compared to a big state school like Penn State.

I honestly don't know much about the school or its reputation, any websites that can give some more insight into how good a particular school is?

Go to the school and talk to students who have been there at LEAST one year. You can't trust the BBB ratings, that much is for sure.

A prime example is Westwood College of Technology. They show a AA rating on the BBB website, but they're a crap school. Their animation/game design program teaches almost none of either (ONE game design class in 4 years and ONE animation class in the same time. Pathetic!), Discreet calls their program "a complete joke" and the IGDA doesn't recognize them.

Talk to students who've been there a year or more. They can tell you what you need to know.

Jason

 

[Deeko]

Grove City is a good school. A lot of people get wrapped up in the name of these big schools...they are huge, they have big parties, they are good at sports, I must go there. They're decent schools but not spectacular.

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Tell your friend to consider Pitt. Another state asisted school like Penn State, but personally I found it much better. I was actually enrolled and ready to go there before Drexel shoved a scholarship at me, Spring of my senior year.

Penn State is ranked a bit higher than Pitt, and a lot higher than Drexel. I'm not saying that matters as far as the quality of education, but it certainly does when considering reputation.

I went to Penn State (UP) for a year, and have friends at Pitt and Drexel. Don't know anyone at Slippery Rock though. If you have any more questions about the big PA schools I'm sure we could help.

 

[archcommus]

The decision was difficult for myself a year ago at this time. I liked Duquesne but they have no engineering programs (I'm studying EE). I then was considering Penn State Behrend or main, Gannon University in Erie, or Grove City. Considering Grove City is the cheapest, closest, and at the same time seems to be the most reputable out of those listed, that became my top choice, which I got into.

I'll advise my friend to look at Penn State more than Slippery Rock. I'm not sure if Slippery Rock is really cheaper or not.

 

[aswedc]

US News Rankings

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: akubi

Originally posted by: archcommus
I have a friend considering Slippery Rock in western PA but they just can't decide if it's a reputable enough school or not. Kind of thinking it may be slightly "subpar" compared to a big state school like Penn State.

I honestly don't know much about the school or its reputation, any websites that can give some more insight into how good a particular school is?

hmm... 'slippery rock' is the name of the university? can't say I've heard of that one

Slippery Rock University.

Slippery Rock, hehe. I've heard of it, but haven't heard anything else about it.

 

[Kipper]

http://www.studentsreview.com/PA/Slippery_Rock_University_of_Pennsylvania.html
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/...p?listing=1023998&LTID=1&intBucketID=0
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/AC/ACslipperyrock.htm

If you're in-state it is VERY cheap but if you have the $ Penn State College Park is an infinitely better school as far as PA state schools go.

Edit: like most PA state schools it is in the middle of nowhere.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: aswedc
US News Rankings

Pitt is there, and Penn State. No Grove City!

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: aswedc

Originally posted by: Deeko
Tell your friend to consider Pitt. Another state asisted school like Penn State, but personally I found it much better. I was actually enrolled and ready to go there before Drexel shoved a scholarship at me, Spring of my senior year.

Penn State is ranked a bit higher than Pitt, and a lot higher than Drexel. I'm not saying that matters as far as the quality of education, but it certainly does when considering reputation.

I went to Penn State (UP) for a year, and have friends at Pitt and Drexel. Don't know anyone at Slippery Rock though. If you have any more questions about the big PA schools I'm sure we could help.

For what? Overall ranking? Drexel is horrible at some majors, so of course they don't have a high overall ranking. Pitt's business school, as far as I know, is ranked pretty high. Drexel's IST program is #1 in the nation, as well as having a very well ranked engineering program, and one of the best co-op systems in the country. You can't just look at numbers, you have to get more specific than that.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: aswedc
US News Rankings

Pitt is there, and Penn State. No Grove City!

Penn State is ranked #50. Grove City College would not rank very high up there. I have heard good things about the school but from what I hear it doesn't compare to many other places.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: aswedc
US News Rankings

Pitt is there, and Penn State. No Grove City!

It's not exactly going to rank up there on the top ~100, but it's still a good school.

 

[eLiu]

Another thing to consider is that PSU is HUGE, freaking HUGE...and the surrounding is a 'college town'.

Some people like that environment, others don't.

I"ve been there several times for math contests, and I thought it was a cool place. I'm not sure I could put up with the size though (my current school has <1/10 the population), but I talked to some faculty/honors program students and I definitely liked the place.

btw if your friend likes football (or really any kind of sport), PSU's facilities are amazing.