StudentsReview :: Southern Connecticut State University - Extra Detail about the Comment
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Southern Connecticut State University

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA+ Faculty AccessibilityA+
Useful SchoolworkB+ Excess CompetitionA
Academic SuccessA Creativity/ InnovationB
Individual ValueB University Resource UseA
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyB FriendlinessA+
Campus MaintenanceA+ Social LifeB+
Surrounding CityA+ Extra CurricularsA+
SafetyA-
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Approachable

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful

Female
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Creativity/ Innovation
B
Highest Rating
Educational Quality
A+
She rated most things higher than other students did.
Date: Feb 18 2010
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
I transferred from an out-of-state, small private liberal arts and hard sciences university. I had gotten accepted to a few other very good schools and did a summer session at Yale.

I came to SCSU due to lack of finances in my family as well as other unfortunate personal events (such as death of a parent, etc). However, I had also learned about Southern's different kinds of major concentrations in Psychology - something that my previous institution lacked (it only had a general Psychology bacherlor's with no concentrations). The concentrations are Mental Health (which is what I am doing) and Research in Psychology.

Southern has honestly really surprised me. It is much better than I had expected. I am the kind of person who would attend Yale or Harvard if I could, yet I have honestly really enjoyed my time here at Southern.

I think that what makes the big difference as a student here, is the general versus the departmental level. For an example, my first year here, I was only taking night and saturday morning classes, and did not do any social or club/organizational involvement on campus. However, ever since I became an officer of the Psychology Club and joined PSI CHI, as well as became a research assistant with my advisor, I have LOVED it here. My advisor is a brilliant clinical forensic psychologist and researcher. He has worked with the FBI, and other countries' institutions are interested in his research. It is a privilege working with him.

What is awesome is that other professors in the Psychology department are like him: educated and well-published, yet are not arrogant nor conceited about it! All of the psychology faculty I have come to know and meet so far has been very friendly, helpful, but challenging as well. They genuinely care about your success and about your dreams in life. They help you reach your personal goals. I would not have known about internship and fellowship opportunities, great research opportunities, and other networking contacts had it not been for the faculty in my department.

My point is that if you're going to this institution, or any other for that matter, it is important for you to get involved; at least at the departmental level. This is crucial if you are planning to go to graduate school; that way you can do research, network with professors and other academic figures out of your college, and get good recommendations. Also, you will have a great time doing so, at least at this college. I have had a great learning experience, as well as a lot of fun.

The classes here are usually small enough (surprisingly) that you can have class discussions with your professor and each other. The only times I've had to be in big lecture halls were for two, general-education requirement courses (you know, the ones where half of all the freshman are in!).

I can see what people mean by saying that Southern is a second-grade school, commuter and all, but I wouldn't generalize and say that it means all students are not smart. I have met brilliant students, and most of the faculty are knowledgeable as well. Also, this place is incredibly diverse, and liberal in a good way. This is a great place to be in if you are a foreigner, disabled person, single-parent, full-time employed, senior citizen, soldier, have a family; and it is an accepting and affirming environment whether you are gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Muslim, or Atheist.

Something else I really love about this college is the fact that there are a great number of student-run organizations and clubs who do human rights and activism: from environmentalism to gay-rights, inter-faith, helping to build housing for the poor, and lots of other human, animal, and environmental activism. Among these are Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, the Men's Initiative, etc.

I know that this is a very positive review, but at this time I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about this institution. The bad things are just petty things that don't matter. I do, however, hope that they stay more selective like they have been lately, and that there can be more full-time professors. (Although, the adjunct professors I've had so far were just as good as the non-adjunct).

Finally, I am aware that as a Psychology major, I do not know what other departments are really like. I have heard that a couple of departments/majors aren't so good here. However, the majors/departments that are great are Psychology, Nursing, and, obviously, Education. Southern also has an MFA in Creative Writing, and is the first institution in Connecticut to have this degree (it is the farthest you can go in creative writing, and equivalent to a PhD, as far as creative writing goes.)

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