Regional universities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what you are looking for and where you want to go after college.

I went to a regional college -- Cal Poly SLO -- but it's the top ranked "regional" college in the West, has a very strong reputation in California. I had a great experience there and got strong practical experience that directly led to my first job. However, in retrospect, I knew in the longer term I wanted to move to the East coast (most of our relatives are here, applied to Eastern colleges that my parents decided were too expensive) so it might have been better for me to choose a school with greater name recognition. I know CPSLO is better known now but wasn't back then.

OTOH, my reasons for choosing CPSLO over better-known UCs made sense -- I wanted a smaller, more undergrad focused experience. I liked the "learn by doing" approach which gave me the experience that helped start my career. I was a really timid 17 yr old going off to college and still think I'd likely have floundered at the huge U.

In the end I got the job I wanted out of school (in LA) and through that built contacts that helped me make the jump East and ultimately went to grad school here.

One of my kids goes to a regional college, in the mid-Atlantic, basically for the same reasons I did and I think it's a good fit. She also feels strongly that she wants to stay in the region so a regional school is just fine.

Cal Poly schools, especially SLO are no longer considered regional schools. SLO has 21,000 undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on what you are looking for and where you want to go after college.

I went to a regional college -- Cal Poly SLO -- but it's the top ranked "regional" college in the West, has a very strong reputation in California. I had a great experience there and got strong practical experience that directly led to my first job. However, in retrospect, I knew in the longer term I wanted to move to the East coast (most of our relatives are here, applied to Eastern colleges that my parents decided were too expensive) so it might have been better for me to choose a school with greater name recognition. I know CPSLO is better known now but wasn't back then.

OTOH, my reasons for choosing CPSLO over better-known UCs made sense -- I wanted a smaller, more undergrad focused experience. I liked the "learn by doing" approach which gave me the experience that helped start my career. I was a really timid 17 yr old going off to college and still think I'd likely have floundered at the huge U.

In the end I got the job I wanted out of school (in LA) and through that built contacts that helped me make the jump East and ultimately went to grad school here.

One of my kids goes to a regional college, in the mid-Atlantic, basically for the same reasons I did and I think it's a good fit. She also feels strongly that she wants to stay in the region so a regional school is just fine.

Cal Poly schools, especially SLO are no longer considered regional schools. SLO has 21,000 undergrads.

USNWR still ranks Cal Poly schools as "regional" and it was smaller when I went. It definitely now would not fit my kid's "smaller" preference but it is still more undergraduate and practical-education focused than UCs. The CPSLO of 30 years ago is, to me, pretty similar to the regional schools my kids have looked at recently. I got a lot of crap from classmates criticizing my choice to turn down UCs to just go to a Cal State.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

Seems like it may be in this case.

[Anonymous]

I can’t even tell you how many regional schools I investigated for my child while we were researching options.

She even applied to Northern Michigan, but the distance is just too much, I’m afraid. Maybe if she does community college first then transfers?

I still wish Fredonia in NY or Plymouth state in NH were good fits.

Even gave serious thought to SEMO, Co Mesa and wis-Stevens Point.

Radford is under serious consideration right now

[Anonymous]

It really varies. College of Charleston is considered a Regional University but I feel like it’s got a bit more recognition beyond the southern region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

Seems like it may be in this case.

That thread was about a school ranked 135 out of 178 regional colleges in the North. But there are some great regional schools in the North higher on the list, like RISD, Providence College, Loyola Maryland, St. Joe's, Marist, Ithaca, some of the SUNYs, etc.

[Anonymous]

As usual, the DCUM higher ed bubble is so out of touch…

Over 40% of bachelor degrees are awarded from regional 4 year publics. They do a fine job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is at a regional university in VA which they chose over bigger schools and private schools. Overall we like it, but it doesn't have the name recognition of UVA or VA Tech, and the career counseling has been average. There have also been cost cuttings over the past two years, which might be in seen at other schools too, but which are noticeable for students. Overall, we have been pleased but there are negatives compared to private schools and larger state schools. I am not sure other schools would have the same issues, they might have other issues too.

May I ask, which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

Seems like it may be in this case.

That thread was about a school ranked 135 out of 178 regional colleges in the North. But there are some great regional schools in the North higher on the list, like RISD, Providence College, Loyola Maryland, St. Joe's, Marist, Ithaca, some of the SUNYs, etc.

Those schools aren’t really regional schools. And have very different profiles.

[Anonymous]

Usnwr uses the National vs regional metric which is based on very specific criteria that most people don’t pay any attention to.

For example, Radford is in the “National” category, but by most people’s perception, it is regional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS attends a regional college and he really likes it so far - is a freshman. He is a good student but not good enough for UMD. He didn't like Towson. He applied and was accepted to UMBC but he likes the regional college better and we do too (and he got merit aid). It has other things he wanted (location, small classes, an intermural sport) and he just liked the feel of it. Still too early to have a sense of impact on his career, but he is happy, engaged and doing well and that's the first step in a successful road to adulthood. He has made like minded friends and he likes his classes - he has found the STEM classes challenging.

Would you please share the name of the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

Seems like it may be in this case.

That thread was about a school ranked 135 out of 178 regional colleges in the North. But there are some great regional schools in the North higher on the list, like RISD, Providence College, Loyola Maryland, St. Joe's, Marist, Ithaca, some of the SUNYs, etc.

Those schools aren’t really regional schools. And have very different profiles.

Excuse me, but yes they are regional. Some are also Jesuit and / or Catholic, and all of those listed here are private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS attends a regional college and he really likes it so far - is a freshman. He is a good student but not good enough for UMD. He didn't like Towson. He applied and was accepted to UMBC but he likes the regional college better and we do too (and he got merit aid). It has other things he wanted (location, small classes, an intermural sport) and he just liked the feel of it. Still too early to have a sense of impact on his career, but he is happy, engaged and doing well and that's the first step in a successful road to adulthood. He has made like minded friends and he likes his classes - he has found the STEM classes challenging.

Congrats to your DS, it sounds like he's thriving and that's great!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After that post bashing the PA one, is it how people feel, that regional colleges are bad and sort of loser-ish?

Of course not. Really depends on the school. Also, DCUM is not representative at ALL of how "people" feel.

Seems like it may be in this case.

That thread was about a school ranked 135 out of 178 regional colleges in the North. But there are some great regional schools in the North higher on the list, like RISD, Providence College, Loyola Maryland, St. Joe's, Marist, Ithaca, some of the SUNYs, etc.

Those schools aren’t really regional schools. And have very different profiles.

Actually, they are considered regional in USNWR. Is this thread about non-flagship state schools, or truly regional colleges? Those are two very different things.