The College of Wooster

Date: Apr 17 2013
Major: Education (This Major's Salary over time)
When I got into Wooster, I was congratulated in admissions with a train of high fives, cheering, and even a free t-shirt. I got sent on a tour of campus with our own individual tour guide, and I got to learn a lot about the campus and my opportunities here. I stayed the night with a student and got to learn about the social life on campus as well. As an admitted student, Wooster seemed perfect; tons of academic opportunities, amazing professors and experiences to boot. When I got here, I learned a very different side of Wooster - one that they slyly avoid telling any prospective student about.

Wooster has a very close relationship with the police force. Even though Wooster is legally capable of handing situations (non-felony) internally, they almost always call the police for drug infractions - even small ones. Students are punished by the school (social probation, drug courses) AND by the law. Students could very well end up with a drug infraction on their PERMANENT record if caught by Wooster security. I thought this school prided itself on high post-graduation employment rates? Why hinder a student's future opportunities for a mistake many college students make? Wooster does not care about the students.

Wooster's residential life is a mess and a half. Because of "accidental" over-admission, students find themselves with no housing - when we applied, we were told "guaranteed four year housing." Now, the administration is asking that students move off campus on their own budget. Students are forced to live in a building built in 1966 with rooms the size of singles housing two students. The res life department and admissions have a known history of poor communication. The provost has also been known to go over these departments' heads to make certain adjustments (knocking down all Resident Assistants' pay from full-room and board to two-thirds). Students who medically require singles are still forced to pay the $1,000 single fee (that is increasing for the year 2013-14) regardless of their condition.

The president is rarely seen and isn't well connected with the student body. His unbelievably high pay (one of the highest in Ohio) doesn't seem to go to constructive things that benefit the school - unlike some liberal arts colleges' presidents I am aware of. The deans at this school treat students like a number. The entirety of the administration is a business-like run bureaucracy that seriously need to re-evaluate their tactics and practices if they would like to keep Wooster at the high (academic) esteem it is today.