When I joined FDU-Teaneck's program in the early 2000's I met other students who had the same goal as I did and little did we know we would be in for a series of trickery.  In the Comp Sci program, we were registered to a course such as Biology and Orientation 1.  Those courses that had nothing to do with the core curriculum were not helpful and the “guidance counselor” practically monitored our academic life despite that a year later upper classmen would tell us that these counselors would not dare to tell us.  Some of us failed English Comp 1, Biology and other courses.  Some of the professors were controversial and it would take a while to realize that we could have changed the course schedule and avoid “bad professors” as older peers advised us.  Among peers we would come to realize mandatory syllabus courses such as the University’s CORE courses were a waste of time and money.  As the years went on, some students would get discouraged and transfer out and for those who had their GPA’s damaged by some of the unfair trickery’s of some programs.

A critical flaw from the Comp Sci program would have to be the professors.  On orientation day professors would act all friendly but savvy, and on first day of classes some would act as if they hated their job and would throw us surprise quizzes that were off the books.  For the database courses there was only ONE professor teaching in the classroom as well as online.  After been advised to avoid the professor in person I took one of his online courses and as I would have expected: Sarcasm, Rudeness and aggressiveness were on the online posts…surprisingly he would delete the comments before the semester was done.  There’s another website called ratemyprofessor.com and other negative comments surfaced there… I think the best way to avoid a bad experience is by communicating with peers and have control of your registration process otherwise you will regret the choices some of your counselors get you.  As minority, there may be hostility between Professor and Student, and some deans would not even help you at all if you summon a grade appeal if you question the instructor’s evaluation.  Practically appeals and complaints will go down the drain and things tend to move faster if you take legal action if you’re stuck in a loop that will get you nowhere.  As for passing, there’s the typical ‘negotiation’ with instructors.  If the instructor is tenure and has a bad reputation AVOID HIM/HER , even if you argue with the director the only gibberish reply you’ll get “but he is qualified and eager to help you learn” type of response.  When a class is at the point of failing, a professor would try to negotiate the matter so they won’t be reported nor be badly evaluated on the paper (peer rumor is that the director will shred the negative feedback forms).  Most of the courses you will “learn” will not help you on the real world corporate training.  If your GPA was damaged at some point by an instructor who is a relative of the director or a professor who seldom says that if he had not left that company he could have owned all of NJ, then try to repair your GPA in another course and another instructor.  The dean, director and other ‘honorable members’ are a team and even if you send a complaint letter it won’t get anywhere, take other measures and make sure the letter gets to the presidents hand with enough proof of what’s going on.  Then have the state board evaluate the instructors.  Of course none of those things were done by anyone since at any given point a particular student may have fixed her/his situation and left for good. 

Another of their plan to meet up the Board of education is by having their students produce “homeworks” and “lab work”.  If the board looks closely, they will notice that the answers and outputs are the same answers and the only difference is the handwriting this emphasis is solely on the Comp Sci Teaneck program.  Sure, you will make friends on the way but they will either transfer out or stay… The social scene is very silent and not all fraternities may suit your needs.  The atmosphere is discouraging and the campus is indeed far from New York City.  The Engineering faculty is possibly the worst lot of outdated education when compared to my summer classes in other Universities (which requires you a permission to study outside the university if you want them recognized by the University, which of course is not acceptable most of the time…and if you do study outside the University without their consent you may get suspended for not “consulting” ).  Posting messages anonymously is quite an advantage in this case since knowing the faculty they will try to track you down if you post any criticism against them.  There are a small lot of good professors but unfortunately they’re either adjunct or “gone” by next semester.  If you see a professor unqualified, hostile, and possibly tenured, it is likely you will see them next semester.  Suggested tactics include: Be a YES MAN and agree/praise whatever the professor will say and you will get a sympathy grade and go to the tutoring service to help you doctor your papers since they know what to expect from faculty. 

From a personal point of view, Madison campus was a lot nicer and friendlier experience…True, Florham campus may be quiet and possibly the classmates are shy if you look “different” but at least the quality in education is better and not see the typical “Corporate reject” teaching in your classroom with remorse.  There are good people in the University, the sad fact is that the good people are not in administrative to make the University grow positively and that is why students complain why the campus on Teaneck is quiet and nothing happens.  If you go to this university, you will end up caring of just graduating and moving on because the Teaneck campus is a depressing place that seems a lot of monitoring and making sure censorship is maintained.  Just have a look at the face of the administration and you will see who REALLY wants to help and who’s racist on the inside.  I’m not giving any names but just follow your instincts if you do attend this university if you have been rejected from other universities for submitting your admission forms late.  It makes you think why among peers they call it “Fairleigh Ridiculous” or “Fairly Ridiculous”.  If the President reads this: “please investigate the computer science faculty, have the evaluation forms be sent to another department NOT affiliated with Engineering.  The math department is defunct because of their administrative ways.  And post the announcement on the equinox so others can see fair… wonder why there is more quality satisfaction on the Florham campus than the Teaneck.”

Prospective students, go to myspace or facebook and post your questions on those forums to get another point of view.