Dean College

Date: Jan 15 2017
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I want to preface this review with the following: I intend to write a non-bias review by putting my negative experience in perspective. I also want to note that I am not writing this to take out any anger or frustration, but rather inform people looking at the school of the dangers when choosing Dean College. I hope that this review is insightful and helpful. At the time of writing the review, I have already begun the transfer process to attend another school(s). Also, at the time of writing the review and throughout my first year I am taking theatre at Dean; (BA) no (BFA's) are offered.

NEGATIVES: Dean is a place full of illusions. From their semi-professional video packages that create a sense of professionalism and quality that doesn't exist to the selectively good food only when prospective students visit, Dean is full of proUniversity propaganda and lies.

The campus is something like no other. The school puts more money into landscaping than they spend on food for the students. A week before mothers day in 2016, a team of more than fifty landscapers invaded the Dean College campus. In the back of their trucks sat hundreds of mums, palm plants, hostas, and decorative cabbages. They were also planting news trees and reseeding, aerating, and fertilizing the lawn. Great, they care about their campus and how it looks, however; they clearly invest too much into their brand image rather than actually creating a nice brand. They put too much money into aesthetics and image, rather than their students and funding for classes or other programs. The landscaping was completed for the following week when there was a "Discover Dean Day" planned. This is when prospective students tour the school. The food also shows this same pattern. On important days when outsiders are expected, the quality and variety of food will be increased greatly! On a side note, the Dean wears the student's tuition; you will see the dean sporting many real fur coats in the winter seasons.

The student body consists of the most immature people I have ever met. Aside from a handful of individuals, the students attending Dean are childish, immature, and juvenile. Did I mention sensitive? No! I didn't, but they are. Paired with a campus boasting a student body size of a whopping 1,200 students the gossip and drama are out of control. Students believe that it is okay to threaten other students, create fights from hearsay, and behave like baboons. Now, that seems pretty generic and not specific at all, however; maybe cramming 1,200 people into a campus the size of a half square mile can shed some light on the problem. No, because there are campuses that are even smaller and have a larger student body by ten times and are tame and friendly. Honestly, I have never personally experienced gossip like I have at Dean in my life. My high school had less drama and gossip than Dean Coll… high school, I should say. It seems as if everyone has digressed into a more primitive state at Dean. Maybe it has more to do with their non-GPA application policy that allows uneducated immature brats into the system. That's correct, no minimum GPA is required to apply to Dean, basically, your high school experience doesn't matter! Here is a direct quote in regards to their application process, "Dean College uses a holistic review process, therefore we do not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission." To explain this quote, I have few words; "holistic review process," whatever that is supposed to mean, I have no idea. Secondly, the school has a Freshman retention rate of 61%. 34% of its student's transfer and 4% dropout (College Factual). Also, on top of poor transfer and dropout rates, Dean boasts a 43% graduation rate of all it's four-year students (College Factual).

Being a theatre major, I want to speak directly to those who are interested in theatre or performing at Dean College in this paragraph. If you are not interested in theatre or the performance realm, you can skip this paragraph. Firstly, the program lacks any production value or standards. Attending their production of "Hair" in early 2016 was the worst theatrical experience I have had yet. Upon entry of the theatre, I noticed a makeshift stage with curtains and mirrors running all along the walls. This was paired with stadium seating (fully collapsible seating). I realized later on, that this is because dance comes first along with sports at this school. The space needs to easily be transformed for dance classes; this is supposed to be their "mainstage" performance space. Secondly, the programs were printed on standard printer paper, not professional at all; this was not a student production either. Moving past all the smaller stuff, and there's a lot of it, the stage is extremely small and has no hallway behind it. Meaning, you have to run behind the cyc during performances and scene changes. There are about three feet between the back wall and the cyc. Having to run behind the cyc is 1, unprofessional and 2, creates giant rippling movement during performances that are highly distracting for audience members. This is truly disturbing as it is a professional no-no in real world theatre, "never touch the cyc". Also, the people in the program think they are truly "hot shit." I have never met people like this before, these people get nowhere in the industry, especially if they are coupled with the basic immaturity that comes along with most of the children that attend Dean. Your first year as an actor, you will take zero (0) acting or performance classes. You will take two classes; theatre history, and tech I. You are also allowed to audition for shows your first two years since this is not a BFA program. I am suspect to believe it will always remain this way. Overall, there are many other affordable acting schools that are better and cheaper. This is a mistake for anyone to go to this school for theatre.

Lastly, above all, the community is riddled with gossip and hearsay. People love to create drama and gossip since there is literally nothing to do on campus. Most kids either drink, smoke, or hang out in the campus center chilling and being bored. Yeah, they party! But, no, the parties are truly pitiful and cringy. Not a part school in the slightest bit.

POSITIVES: Now, a lot of negatives have been mentioned, however; there are some positives. Class sizes are small and are more individualized. However, maybe it is the school district I have come from, but the classes are the easiest thing I have ever experienced. I can write a paper two days before it is due and receive a 93%. Not the smartest idea, however; the workload may seem overwhelming to some, but it is truly easy busy work.

They have great accommodations for kids with special needs because of their arch program. I am not apart of it, so I cannot speak much for it. However, I know that it helps the high percentage of special needs kids that attend this school.

Lastly, as juniors or seniors you are allowed to apply for housing in the "condos", these are apartment style flats that were recently constructed a little off campus. Hey, if you can make it through two years or gross living in small cinderblock rooms that are outdated, go for it! the condos are calling your name!

SUMMARY: Do not think of Dean college unless you need to boost your GPA to transfer, better yet, save your money and use a local community college to boost GPA. It is full of smoke, mirrors, and politicized administration.

TLDR: Dean has too many negatives to spend around $50k a year on, do not attend unless you need a GPA booster. Even then, that's primarily what community college is for now. The environment is toxic and the campus is a huge magic act. All Dean is are smoke, mirrors, and the pretty assistant that draws your focus from what's really going on.