Drew University

Date: Apr 05 2014
Major: Chemistry (This Major's Salary over time)
Drew University has its ups and downs, specifically in that order - meaning first impressions are great. Then the surface fades.

Let's talk about the good parts…

Drew's a very close-knit campus that fosters a sense of individual attention. Professors are generally masters in their subjects and its impossible to walk down the path without running into someone you know. The school also gives out a lot of financial aid - which unfortunately helps me transition into the cons of attending Drew.

Onto the bad…

Drew University has a very corrupt administration that is out to get your money in any way it can. There's been shady financial issues in the past few years and the school is struggling to save itself from bankruptcy. Freshmen are given very large financial age packages that are then vastly deducted once they become upperclassmen. If you try to appeal to the administration, good luck. You'll be thrown onto the back burner with the other hundred suckers in your position.

A lot of the people in the business and financial aid offices also don't seem to know how to use computers. In fact, if you ask members of administration for help in dealing with financial issues, you're met with a disconnect from reality that's startling. Seriously, for all the money that Drew works out of you, its also bizarre that its not being put to good use. The relatively new performing arts building suffered damage from snow this year because of "unstable walls" and money is continually being spent on strange things like expensive nutrition billboards in the Commons.

The food here is bad. It might not be as horrendous as people have made it out to be, but its been ranked continually as some of the worst in America. There's tales from the Commons that would disturb you to no end - and just for the sake of being civil, I'm not going to disclose them. But I'd like to point out that there's been ignored cases of cross-contamination that no one seems too care about.

The academics at Drew are generally very good. The small class sizes are awesome and you're really able to get the most out of the material. But at the same time, some professors have been known to be condescending in a way that encourages a conformist atmosphere. The school's liberal arts philosophy encourages students to "explore new options," but a lot of professors are quick to dismiss opinions they disagree with. They might mean well, but they unintentionally encourage students to think in the same "hive-mentality" where they're scared of being shot down.

I'm not writing this to viciously bash Drew University. I spent a lot of money to come here and I just want to paint an honest depiction for anyone else who's considering applying. While I may have been harsh, I'll reinforce that isn't a bad school. Its a well-intentioned institution with caring professors, but its been corrupted by its administration.