Kean University

Date: Dec 06 2008
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
Kean is a good school with some major drawbacks, especially if you're a resident. While the dorms are nicer than most, they're plagued with frequent complications due to construction.

The University is well maintained, but when there's a problem it doesn't always get fixed right away. The office of residence life is particularly slow and unresponsive- not because of the staff, but because of the cumbersome work order process used.

I can't complain about my department. Some professors suck, and there are a lot of adjuncts at the entry level. But as you move up, you meet some genuinely unique and caring individual. Coursework is generally easy- if you want to get anything out of going to Kean, you have to do a lot of independent studying.

As far as the sciences go, there's a lot of opportunity. The University basically gives free rides to science majors if they promise to teach at a local high school for a couple of years after graduation.

Social life can be a drag. Most people commute, so it's boring but easy to get involved in a leadership position. Getting other people involved is the hard part.

I don't regret going to Kean over TCNJ or Rutgers. I do regret that the improvements made to Kean in recent years are something that I will probably not get to fully experience.

Perhaps this is a good thing, since the vision of the current President is controversial at best. While President Farahi does seem committed to having strong and unique educational programs, he treats the university like it's a hotel or cruise ship.

World Class Education

is the new motto. It's just pro Kean University propaganda and, honestly, an unfortunate misuse of funds.

All in all, Kean's alright. The best I could do, anyway. Just stay away from infiltrating the ugly bureaucracy beneath the surface, though. It's souring, but I expect most universities are no different.

If you want a school that's going to provide you with a GREAT social life with TONS of things to do ALL OF THE TIME, you should go somewhere else. If you want a decent place to study (and have a little bit of fun) on your way to grad school or a career, Kean is better than a lot of places you could be. I suspect that, to get much better, you'd need to have tremendous grades in high school or be in a good financial situation.