The University of Redlands

Date: Jan 25 2012
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
The University of Redlands has both its pros and cons.(It really depends on what you are looking for in a school)

PROS:

You will personally be known by your professors who are very accessible (in the Government department at least).

Small class sizes around 15 students (although the lower division courses are beginning to get bigger - up to 30 students in a class).

AWESOME study abroad program. (You can go anywhere you want and if there isn't a program that doesn't fit what you are looking for, they will help you create one).

Beautiful campus.

Government department is great. It provides you with more resources and opportunities for jobs anywhere in Government.

Offers lots of financial aid.

Lots of clubs.

CONS:

The Johnston program is what brings the school down more than anything. It's a bunch of pot smoking shoe-less hippie freaks that proclaim they are so open minded when in reality they are some of the most closed-minded individuals I have ever seen. They are a separate school withing the College of Arts and Science where students create their own degrees only to do absolutely nothing with them.

Social scene is not great. Greek or bust.

Lots of lazy students who are just there to party and wear their pj's to class.

"Deadlands" in the sense that there is absolutely nothing to do here (I come from a large city).

Course work mediocre in most classes.

For the school being so environmentally friendly, it sure waste more water than anything.

Just keeps getting more and more expensive!!!! (Thank goodness I'm graduating this May).

OVERALL:
If I was to give the University an overall review, I would say you may or may not like it depending on who you are. If you want to actually get a job when you graduate you need to be careful what you major in. Honestly, there are very few degrees on campus that will actually help you to obtain a job and prepare you for graduate school. The Government is awesome, and I hear that the business, economics, and communicative disorders majors are good too. Maybe the physical sciences too but I don't know too much about the actual department. Otherwise, don't bother. The academics within these departments are the only ones worth spending money to get a degree on. The rest are a bunch of mediocre classes that just consist of busy work, and idealist professors. Also, the students in most majors are pretty lazy. As I previously stated the only worth it majors above, there will you find the students who are actually there to learn.

I originally was considering to transfer my freshman year, but looking back the Government Department gave me the best education I could for my field. From the department, I have had the opportunity to spend a term in Washington, D.C., followed by a semester where I interned with my Congressman. Additionally, (since this is one of the few majors who has hard working people in it) I was able to make some great connections getting me big political internships. The professors were able to help put me in contact with influential and powerful alumni who are willing and wanting to help you get ahead in life. As a result, after graduation in May, I will not be one the thousands of students who are left unemployed. Instead, I have several opportunities that I would not have received without this education. So it was worth it in the end (I'm not happy about having to repay thousands in loans though).Although, the student body sucks so be ready for that…