College area Question

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Dunno where this is supposed to go since it covers North and CEntral Jersey.

As a senior in HS I plan on going to college next year. I applied to Lafayette, Seton HAll, Monmouth University, and TCNJ. I was curious as to if anybody was near one of those.
(BTW Accpeted to SHU (10k/yr scholarship) and Monmouth (13k/yr scholarship) WOOOT.

[Tru2Chevy]

I live about 2 minutes from Trenton State (TCNJ).

What do you wanna know about the area?

- Justin

[BonzoHansen]

I got my MBA at Monmouth and was an adjunct prof at TCNJ. I have also gotten drunk at the Hall. So go to Lafayette.

I grew up in Belmar, near Monmouth. What do you want to know.

[DieselKickYoAss4Sure]

i live down the street from tcnj!

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

It was sort of a 2 part question that i didn't explain very well..

1) What do you think of the surrounding areas/the school campuses (i.e. nice, prosperous area etc)

2) Any members nearby?

[NJSPEEDER]

TCNJ is surrounded by members. both admins, a mod, and at least a dozen members within 15mins ro so of the school. there are also several memberswho graduated from there.

[Tru2Chevy]

There are plenty of members within 10 minutes of TCNJ, and Ewing is a nice place. Plenty of opportunity for part time jobs in the area, and the campus is smack dab in the center of town.

- Justin

[BonzoHansen]

It was sort of a 2 part question that i didn't explain very well..

1) What do you think of the surrounding areas/the school campuses (i.e. nice, prosperous area etc)

2) Any members nearby?
Not including Lafaytte, which I don't even know where it is :), Monmouth, Trenton State (oops, TCNJ) and the Hall all have good & bad areas around them. And we have members all over the state.

The Hall is in north jersey, close to NYC. All sorts of fun can be found. Also has a bigger alumni base. Don't underestimate the value of that.

TCNJ is near a lot of nice places near it, lots of members.

Monmouth has the beach, and is still close enough to NYC & north jersey for some fun. The beach is there too.

The bigger deal is this: What do you want to get out of school, what are you going for?

What is SHU?

[WildBillyT]

Not including Lafaytte, which I don't even know where it is :), Monmouth, Trenton State (oops, TCNJ) and the Hall all have good & bad areas around them. And we have members all over the state.

The Hall is in north jersey, close to NYC. All sorts of fun can be found. Also has a bigger alumni base. Don't underestimate the value of that.

TCNJ is near a lot of nice places near it, lots of members.

Monmouth has the beach, and is still close enough to NYC & north jersey for some fun. The beach is there too.

The bigger deal is this: What do you want to get out of school, what are you going for?

What is SHU?

Lafayette is in Easton PA.

[Mike]

i went to monmouth and live near tcnj

[Rich189]

im 15-20 mins from tcnj a good buddy of mine goes to monmouth and have no clue bout the other one

[HardcoreZ28]

I went to TCNJ and can tell you education wise it's a great school, especially for the money. If you get involved in any sports or fraternities there is plenty to do. If not it's a suitcase school and there won't be much going on for the weekends. What are you going to be majoring in?

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

SHU = seton hall university in south orange.

Obviously want to get a fairly good education. Party a little but not every night.

I'm want to go for business administration or management

[firehawk1120]

If Business Admin is your goal then Monmouth University is a great school. That is where I graduated from and they became an Accredited university my junior year there. I went on to get a job in one of the top 5 accounting firms and had offers from 2 of the 5 so I got to play the salary game.

My only problem with Monmouth was the fact that on the weekends it's a ghost town. Everyone pretty much goes home to do laundry, hang with old friends, etc. Also, they took away the public beach that I used to go to and put up condos, and the club that was there I think is shut down. So you have to drive a little bit to get to some of the fun places now.

Still a pretty good school but it's private so MUCHO EXPENSIVE. I don't regret going there, but it wasn't like I had the best time of my life there either. Go to all of them and visit with current students and ask around. It's a big decision, but luckily if you don't like it after your first year you can transfer and probably not lose any credits.

[BonzoHansen]

Ryder has a good business school rep, no?

"business administration" - at least minor in finance. If I were to start over, I'd major in finance. Every company needs finance.

[WildBillyT]

Ryder has a good business school rep, no?

"business administration" - at least minor in finance. If I were to start over, I'd major in finance. Every company needs finance.

Rider is decent, my cousin graduated from there.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

If Business Admin is your goal then Monmouth University is a great school. That is where I graduated from and they became an Accredited university my junior year there. I went on to get a job in one of the top 5 accounting firms and had offers from 2 of the 5 so I got to play the salary game.

My only problem with Monmouth was the fact that on the weekends it's a ghost town. Everyone pretty much goes home to do laundry, hang with old friends, etc. Also, they took away the public beach that I used to go to and put up condos, and the club that was there I think is shut down. So you have to drive a little bit to get to some of the fun places now.

Still a pretty good school but it's private so MUCHO EXPENSIVE. I don't regret going there, but it wasn't like I had the best time of my life there either. Go to all of them and visit with current students and ask around. It's a big decision, but luckily if you don't like it after your first year you can transfer and probably not lose any credits.

They gave me a sizeable (13k/yr) scholarship so it won't be all THAT bad. I had no idea that it was dead on the weekends...

I have no idea what I'm going to minor in but finance definitely sounds like a good idea.

[Squirrel]

They gave me a sizeable (13k/yr) scholarship so it won't be all THAT bad. I had no idea that it was dead on the weekends...

I have no idea what I'm going to minor in but finance definitely sounds like a good idea.
13k is a nice chunk of change, but the other 20k/year still sucks

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

13k is a nice chunk of change, but the other 20k/year still sucks

Yeah. Though the fact that he got right into the workforce after college with several options mean it might be worth it.

[HardcoreZ28]

TCNJ has one of the best small business schools in the country...I had a number of offers right out of school. Did you qualify for any scholarship money there?

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

13k is a nice chunk of change, but the other 20k/year still sucks

+1...and then on top of that they kill you with the books....that they always find the need to change EVERY semester so u can barely get them used :( I think if they could...they'd change them mid-way through the semester just to get some more money out of us. lol.
Good luck with you decision. :)

[Tru2Chevy]

TCNJ has one of the best small business schools in the country...I had a number of offers right out of school. Did you qualify for any scholarship money there?

Even if he didn't he could prolly pay tuition and live there cheaper than he could at Monmouth with that scholarship.

- Justin

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

TCNJ and Lafayette have not replied yet.

[NJSPEEDER]

if you are doing well enough to get offered a bunch of loot from monmouth you will prolly get a similar offer from TCNJ.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

That's what I was thinking. I wouldn't think it would be too far off, since I got 10-13k from the other schools.

[Squirrel]

eh...tcnj isnt as liberal with money as other schools at all

[damon_Z]

+1...and then on top of that they kill you with the books....that they always find the need to change EVERY semester so u can barely get them used :( I think if they could...they'd change them mid-way through the semester just to get some more money out of us. lol.
Good luck with you decision. :)

Therefore, it's a really good idea to just commute. If you can, base your decision on the distance the college or university is from your house and pick the closest one. Unless you're getting a huge scholarship or your parents are rich and are willing to spoil you by paying for your entire education, it's not worth paying for the room and board just to get the college experience. I lived in a college campus for 2 semesters and ended up commuting during the rest of my college years. Just stay focused on what should be the only goal:

GETING THAT STUPID PIECE OF PAPER.

And for the most part, the name of the school will hardly matter. It's the fact that you'll have a degree and some related work experience that will land you the decent-paying job.

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

Therefore, it's a really good idea to just commute. If you can, base your decision on the distance the college or university is from your house and pick the closest one. Unless you're getting a huge scholarship or your parents are rich and are willing to spoil you by paying for your entire education, it's not worth paying for the room and board just to get the college experience. I lived in a college campus for 2 semesters and ended up commuting during the rest of my college years. Just stay focused on what should be the only goal:

GETING THAT STUPID PIECE OF PAPER.

And for the most part, the name of the school will hardly matter. It's the fact that you'll have a degree and some related work experience that will land you the decent-paying job.

:stupid:

[damon_Z]

:stupid:

Okay...

I was directing my post to the thread starter. I already know that you commute to Stockton.

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

Okay...

I was directing my post to the thread starter. I already know that you commute to Stockton.

Um so yeah....Just an FYI for u.....I was agreeing with everything you posted 8-)

[PBodyGT87]

Phil and I live about 3 blocks down from TCNJ. Great school, just dont end up in a dumpster...

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I never really thought about commuting. What kind of schedule would you get if you do? Would all of my classes be in 1 or 2 days then?

[BonzoHansen]

I never really thought about commuting. What kind of schedule would you get if you do? Would all of my classes be in 1 or 2 days then?If money is not an object (say parents are helping, scholarships, etc.) I'm gonna disagree and say moving out of the house and living at school can be a very good experience - it is what you make of it. Meet new friends, experience new things. Many people move off campus in later semesters with some of the friends they have met.

But it is a luxury. I understand commuting if you have to. The 'piece of paper' is the primary objective.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I got another letter saying that I was accepted into the Honors School at Monmouth. Anybody been there?

[Mike]

its the same thing, but different level classes and cirulclum (sp)...i was in their "slower" program due to my lazyness in highschool that they didnt understand with my 12xx sat.

my classes were smaller and the funny thing was i was with all the schools athletes lol... but my dorms and everything else were the same as the rest of the school.

[jimmyboy8301]

i live a few minutes from tcnj and monmouth, and used to live right next to lafayette

[Tru2Chevy]

i live a few minutes from tcnj and monmouth

Considering that they are at opposite sides of the state, I don't think it's possible that you live 'a few minutes' from either of them. And since I know where you live, I can say for sure that you don't live that close to either of them. :razz:

- Justin

[jimmyboy8301]

i can make it to TCNJ in 20 minutes and monmouth in about 30 minutes. I made it back to bordentown from center city philly in less than 20 minutes.

[Untamed]

There are two things you need to consider when looking at schools.

1. Does the eduction program you plan to enter, meet the requirements you are aware of, for the type of career you want?

2. Is the career councelling / recruiting / placement services well-known enough to attract good companies to look at you among the hundreds or thousands of others vying for their attention?

Don't just think about your education (though very important) and your commute as the major deciding factors - look beyond it, and determine if the school will help prep you for graduating with some kind of education / collection of skills, but is also willing and able to help its students find a job right after graduation. The end goal isn't getting your diploma; the end goal is getting the right education for the career you want WITH a good opportunity for finding a job right out of school. The college you go to must.. do... both. College diploma's can be had online - they don't really help you. Your resume' has to show the kinds of experiences, skills and education that is in demand by employers.

So... take your time evaluating each university that appears to offer what you need: education and career opportunities / exposure. If you can get both and get a scholarship, you're golden.

Oh, and as Scott mentioned, try to live on campus if you can. Regardless of whether the place is dead on the weekends or not, you MUST learn how to live on your own. Meet new people, do your own laundry and grocery shopping, ballance the %$#@! checkbook, and don't end up like all these kids nowadays who move back home until they are 30 something. I don't care what the financial reasons are for living at home - if you are mature enough to finish school and get a job, you dont NEED to move back home.

Ok, sorry, rant over. Take the advice for what its worth.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Yea I need to just sit down and think it out now. Thanks for all the advice so far guys.