Sacred Heart University

Date: Oct 22 2008
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
I guess my story is not unlike many others…

I was accepted to all my schools and Sacred Heart was my 3rd choice… sounds funny, eh? Well my first choice was a school to study music education at, but I decided that following a more stable career would be for the best… so I ended up at Sacred Heart University, due to pressure from my parents and a hefty sum of financial aid. I have to get financial aid from many various areas, honors, academics, and music… of course this barely reaches what athletes get. However, I essentially get enough money to pay for a full ride to UCONN, however that's not even half the tuition of SHU.

So, I was mainly attracted here by the money and the music program. The band program at SHU is very disappointing. The band director is very self important and likes to just lie and say how great we are and that we have more musicality and skill than schools like CCSU and UCONN. Of course I've yet to hear and musicality from the band… not even a real decent crescendo or anything. I was hoping concert band would be better, but its really just a bunch of people who think they are good, the band fraternity members, playing as loud as possible on high school level pieces.

Not only was the music program disappointing but classes and academics were even more disappointing. SHU always brags about small class sizes, but they fail to mention that in core and 101 classes not everyone will be able to sit in a chair. My classes are boring and pose little challenge. I end up not studying for quizzes and mid-terms and end up with a B or higher. Sure, if I studied I might get a higher grade but why put in the effort on a math classes were you do more coloring than math?

All the help and advisers aren't really helpful. They're only helpful because they say they are helpful and enjoy having a job, now matter how meaningless it is. In all honestly mentors could be helpful if there is a huge issue, but other than that they are pointless and of no use. My academic adviser is no use and I am glad I can handle myself and don't really need her.

The living situation is sometimes surreal. In Seton and Merton vomit and human waste wafts through the air. Of course there is only what… two functional bathrooms and 1, I really mean this, working washer and dryer in one whole building. Roncalli is decent, my bathroom and and laundry room are decent. I would have expected a bit more cleaning in the bathroom but mine is very well kept compared to others. However, Roncalli is a 5ish minute walk from the academic building and as it gets colder that really beings to mean something. There is a dining hall on the first floor but the food is unhealthy and not really an actually meal… mmm french fries and chicken tenders… The grill, the dinging hall, seems to cater more to partiers and drunks who stumble there for a snack and not someone looking for a meal. This is seen easily by the fact on weekends they don't serve breakfast but it remains open to 3 am… nothing like a cold 5 minute walk for some crappy eggs or cold pancakes at the main cafeteria… There is always a guard on duty at Roncalli but he'll let anyone into the building and mostly not question them.

I'm not a big social person but most people dislike the social activities here. I just have to deal with all the people in taxis arriving at Roncalli at 3 in the morning unloading almost unconscious people who are screaming at the top of their lungs, its terrible fun! People all go out starting on Thursdays and are essentially drunk from then to Monday. I am not a partier or drinker so it kinda bothers me because everyone is drunk and yelling outside it seems, but public safety doesn't do anything. They do offer Shuttles but they tend to run off schedule… I've been picked up a half hour late before.

The people at SHU are usually rich and mostly from Long Island like areas. They tend to walk down the middle of the halls or parking lot because they are god in their minds. The arrogant attitudes kinda got to me after awhile and its really beginning to bug me. I find that many people few SHU as a crappy expensive vacation rather than as a crappy expensive education.

The school feels like another high school. There are large rich long island cliques. Walking down the crowded hallways is reminiscent of high school. The crappy music program is somewhat reminiscent of high school. The boring busy work is reminiscent of high school…

Again, as many people on here have said this school seems to be run as a business. They care about you and want you to come until they have your money and then who cares if both of your blinds are broken and one of your toilets won't flush? I essentially find that people are terribly discontented with the school, but are stuck in programs that they find they will find success in.

I haven't transferred but every day I look at schools… I doubt I will transfer, but I just wish I could find a place where I am happy and others are happy…

If you loved high school, don't really care about your education, and just want to go get drunk in Bridgeport… than apparently this is the school for you…