Drew University

Date: Mar 26 2011
Major: Chemistry (This Major's Salary over time)
I believe that there is a lot good about Drew, but I have become increasingly disappointed with the college because of changes in the last decade.

The Good—The college provides a good education, many of the professors are excellent, and the campus is very safe and beautiful. Because of the college's small size, it's very easy to get leadership roles in extracurricular activities. The Political Science and Theater Departments are truly outstanding.

The Bad—There is a lot of red tape for small school. Housing is guaranteed for four years, but room selection, and get repairs done is a royal pain. Health Services is quite unprofessional, and I recommend going to an off-campus physician or clinic.

The Ugly(e.g.,things that have deteriorated in recent years)

(1) Computer Initiative—Drew was well-known for giving every student a laptop as part of the Tuition. Program was ended, and now college will sell a laptop if an incoming student wants one.

(2)Social Life & Policies—Drew was never a party school, but treated its students like adults. In the late 1990s, the alcohol policy was lenient, and so the college had some social life. Now, Drew has one of the strictest alcohol policies in the state (hundred of students issued citations each year), and most students leave campus on the weekends or just watch TV.

(3) Class Sizes & Professor Accessibility—Classes sizes have gone up in the last decade, and the school now uses a decent amount of adjunct (part-time) professors. An incoming students should expect to have some larger classes (>50) during their first two years.

(4) Costs and Financial Aid—Drew is the most expensive college in New Jersey (even most expensive than Princeton!). A year at Drew costs $52,500 not including books and personal expenses. The school used to give out a lot of scholarships and financial aid, but that has been reduced in recent years.

Advice—If your family has a lot of money or you are able to get a lot of financial aid, Drew may be the right choice particularly if you like theater or want to go into politics/public service. If you really can't afford Drew, I very strongly advise against going into debt to come here. It's really not worth it.