Tennessee State University

This is a small school. What I enjoyed most about my experience here is that I was able to excel and learn. Most of the faculty is nice and generally knowledgeable of the subject they are teaching. Among the students here, there can be a lazy attitude. Many of the teachers pass the students along in the classes even if the student doesn't understand the subject very well at all. Overall, this school is small and you can really get out what you put in. The engineering college, while stretched pretty thin, is full of professors that are good at what they do. The mechanical department head is an ASME fellow and holds some pretty important positions within ASME. I was able to do interesting research as an undergraduate, where that would rarely happen in a bigger school. I don't know much about the other colleges in TSU, but I would encourage students to attend TSU for engineering, as long as you are willing to put in the time and work. I have learned a lot while in school here and I am planning to do graduate work at GA Tech, Univ. of Maryland, Texas A&M, or Univ. of Michigan. With my background from TSU and the professors that I have worked under, I shouldn't have a problem getting into a great grad program.

That said, the administration here has performed poorly in my eyes. It takes forever to get anything done as far as admissions, stipend refunds, transfer credits, financial aid, etc. I cannot count the number of days that I have run all over campus to get some stupid transfer credit approved, or to get my research stipend put into my student account. I work at the research center and the financial aid office and the office of the provost can never understand why the research center puts money into my account for anything other than scholarships, at which point they deny my transfer request because I can't use scholarship money for personal needs. Months and months of running between offices and getting papers signed... I still dread the first week of every month when my stipend gets posted, because I never know if I am going to have to beg someone to please put the money that I earned doing research for this school into my student account so that I can put it in the back. Very aggravating.Don't let that discourage anyone from attending here (at least for engineering), because you can really learn a lot and make personal connections with the professors.

3rd Year Male -- Class 2012

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Campus Maintenance: D+

I have just completed 2 years here at tsu, and honestly i wished i could have went somewhere better, The band which i'am apart of, is the only reason i like being here. i do have to say that a good majority of the buildings needs remodeling and new furniture. Only some departments take pride into their buildings, for instance the education and music buildings. I would love to see the biology and the graduate (Crouch Hall) buildings have improvements. They try to keep the campus safe but what can you expect from their location, they are located right by a low income neighborhood. There are students and faculty who try to improve the school, but then there are students who attend that waste thousands of dollars by being there and not participating in activities and not going to class, but that's everywhere you go. The main thing that needs to get better is the financial aid, they need to have that more organized and also that food, now that's a shame what they serve us and all that money that the students pay the quality can be better seems like we're in high school again. Only in the beginning of the school year and when college tour groups come, they want to serve better tasting food. Watson, Boyd and Hale halls need a HUGE remodeling not just Wilson, and get those elevators fixed asap!! But anyways i have enjoyed these first 2 years and i can't wait to see what the next 2 or 2 1/2 years brings for me. I have made numerous friends here though since we all are experiencing this and hopefully we all give back so that future students will have a better facilities to use. So that TSU can have that good reputation it used to have!!

2nd Year Female -- Class 2013

Surrounding City: A+, Innovation: F

Tennessee State University is a wonderful institution. I transferred here from the University of Memphis and its a whole new ball game. Faculty here actually know what they're doing and instead of not helping they go out of their way to ensure that you have everything that you need. The social life is the most attractive thing. TSU is Great! Go Big Blue!

1st Year Female -- Class 2008

Education Quality: A+, Campus Maintenance: B