Rider University

Date: Nov 01 2011
Major: Design Arts - Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
Rider University is like a high school- size-wise and the students who go there are extremely immature. I went to Rider only because I received free tuition. Rider absolutely did nothing to prepare me for a job after school, even after graduating a year early and graduating with honors. The graphic design program is terrible- if you major in graphic design, definitely consider going to an art school.

Over my three years at Rider, I've had problems with nearly everything I did. Registering for classes to graduate on time (my graduating early was a miracle) is nearly impossible because the classes fill up so quickly. The classes are easy and the academics are below a high school level. I've had problems with quite a few professors including one who retracted my letter of recommendation for grad school because I was unable to register for her class the following semester (they need a certain amount of students to get paid in full) and verbally assaulted me on a number of occasions. Needless to say, Rider has allowed her to continue teaching there, even after numerous complaints from students.

The dorms are AWFUL and TINY. My freshman dorm had a wasps nest in the wall and my sophomore/junior year, I lived with two other girls in a room meant for two. You also HAVE to buy the most expensive meal plan (NOBODY eats 99 meals a week) if you live on campus without a kitchen. Moving off campus for my final year was the best decision I could have made.

When it comes to a social life at Rider, Rider is indeed a "backpack" school. Students go to the local club, Katmandu (if you're 21+) on Thursdays and go home on the weekends. Rider is extremely "clique-y" and there is no diversity. An average Rider girl can be seen wearing sweats, Uggs and a Northface jacket with a Vera Bradley bag.

If you go to Rider, be prepared for a high school atmosphere both in the classroom (put your cell phone away!) and outside, where wealthy, stupid students go to Rider because it accepts nearly everyone.