Reviews

All of my classes at Salem State teach me the basics of the subject, as well as things I will use in my every day life. This past semester in my Child Growth class, my professor gave us everyday examples of how we will use what we have learned. We talked about everything in life, starting from the early stages of pregnancy to adolescence. We talked about the APGAR test once you have a child, and the psychology of children with Autism. We talked about birth order and how it effects the personality and cognitive/physical development of children, as well as the pros and cons of being or having an over-scheduled child. In my Math for Elementary Teachers class, I learned the basics of mathematics, as well as made some great friends. In this class, the teacher taught us how to teach our students the easiest and most effective techniques for learning addition, subtraction, fractions, decimals, percentages, and everything in between. Salem State makes sure that you are learning what you want and need to be.

At Salem State College, so far I have made a lot of friends. Although I miss being home and being away from my family, the people I meet here help me forget about it. There is always something to do on the weekends, even though it is a commuter school. The college sets up different shows, and hires different comedians, magicians and entertainers to help make your time spent at Salem State college memorable, as well as enjoyable. When I was applying for school, I heard the same things from everyone - make new friends, branch out, try new things, and most importantly... get involved! I have done just that; I tried out for Salem State's intramural Hockey Cheerleading team (I made it!) and have met some amazing girls. Getting involved and going to different activities that the school has set up is a great way to enjoy your time in college.

Just because Salem State College is a state school, doesn't mean that you aren't going to learn anything. Although the tuition is cheaper than other colleges, it is not cheap. Salem State makes sure that you get more than your money's worth. It allows students to be themselves and take different classes that may interest them, until they find out what major they want to pursue. Salem State offers many different types of majors, including education, nursing, business, and criminal justice. There is something for everyone. At Salem State College, you get your money's worth for your education.

When applying to different colleges, make sure you actually go visit them. What you see on the internet may be completely different than how you see the school. It may take longer to get there, or may be closer than you thought. It is important to know what the class size is like, how far (or close) each campus is to one another, and the rules and regulations in the dorm rooms (curfews, security in the dorms, etc.) When you find a school that you like, it's O.K. to visit it more than once. If you known someone that you're close with that goes to that school, ask to stay over so you can get a feel for what the dorms are like, as well as the meal plans and living situation. Before you commit yourself to a school, make sure it is what you want.

Salem State has to be one of the best state schools. Every single one of my professors were willing and able to help me if I didn't understand a particular subject, or if I needed help on exactly what we were assigned to be doing. The courses are taught at a steady pace and the professors are willing to answer any and all questions about the material they are covering. Anything that you might think is too difficult can actually be made very understandable because most if not all of the staff from my own experience will be able to help you. They propose very thought-provoking questions (at least in my experience with certain professors in the Sociology/Philosophy/Psychology departments) that give you a deeper insight on the material being covered so you walk out of class with more thoughts that you had when you went into class, for sure. A few of the history professors aren't too top notch and while they know what they are talking about, in my experience they haven't been able to capture the attention of the class and project what they are saying throughout the entire class very well. The class sizes are also considerably small compared to larger schools like U Mass, which helps a lot when the professor knows you by name since there's only 20 or so people in your class as compared to over 100. Salem State College also offers many computer labs where you can go to print your papers for free if you don't have money for printing at the library. The school also offers a Writing Center if you want to get your paper edited and revised before you turn it in so if it's a big part of your grade and you're not confident about it, the people who work at the Writing Center are a HUGE help.

I come from a very busy, crowded city where there's always something to do whether it's clubs, parties, malls, and other acclaimed hang-out spots so having fun was something I was concerned about when coming to Salem. Salem is known for it's historic content, and you'll see that as soon as you wander outside of campus (which is very easy to do). The school provides shuttle services on the weekends for those of you planning to live on campus which will bring you to either the North Shore Mall or the Liberty Tree Mall, Vinnen Square (which is in Swampscott but still has plenty of places to shop), Downtown, and the Train Station (if you want to head out to Boston or a more populated city for the weekend). These shuttles run until 1am on the weekends so you'll always have something to do. As for during the week days, down town is only a 20 or so minute walk away from campus. You can catch movies down town, and there are several places to eat including a pizza place and a few Chinese food places; these are all places that will take your clipper card so you don't even have to fork up cash or your debit card. Your clipper card is your student ID where you have a set number of what are called flex dollars that you can use both on and off campus. There are also many places to visit including museums (which we get into a few of them for free, being students), stores that sell pretty interesting witchery-related merchandise, and in general a few very nice 'commons' areas where you can sit and relax if the weather's nice and just talk with your friends. If you don't want to leave campus, there are always a lot of events going on at night on campus whether it's art shows/movie productions/dance recitals/speeches.

One of the biggest things that drew me to Salem State was it's price and very richly awarding financial aid. The school is fairly cheap for a state school and isn't going to run you into the ground with hundreds of thousands dollars in debt when you graduate. The financial aid packages are very large as long as you apply for them on time, and I personally only have had to pay a maximum of 600 a semester from my own pocket. Considering that the staff is very helpful and the atmosphere of the campus is so nice and friendly, I find that this school is really a bang for the buck. They also have the 'Rent-A-Text' program with their school books, so a majority of your books you can rent so you're not paying $1000 and up every semester for books alone. The only complaint I have is that, at least in Peabody Hall (a freshmen dormitory), some of the Resident Assistants are very unhelpful when you need help with a problem you're having and it's very difficult to get to the right people if you're having a situation with your room mate that needs to be handled by one of the authorities of the building. Also, there has been constant construction going on right outside of Peabody Hall so if you're in Peabody, you're usually woken up at seven in the morning by loud, headache-inducing jack hammering outside of your window.

The only other problem is that the campuses are far away from each other. If you're a freshman, you will be on North Campus in either Peabody or Bowditch hall, and if you get classes on South Campus - that's a good 15 to 20 minute walk away which seems even longer in the freezing cold/rain. Salem State offers shuttle services to get between North, Central, and South campuses but they are not anywhere near 100% reliable and sometimes you'll be out waiting for a shuttle for over a half hour and end up late to your class because the shuttle took forever to show up.

- Study! I cannot stress this enough. Many of the professors won't overload you with paper after project after paper, but will give you many reading assignments. If you don't do the reading assignments because you're used to being able to slide by them in high school, that would be your biggest mistake. Much of the material that is covered in the reading assignments/books is seen on your mid terms and finals as well as in classroom tests and discussions, and discussions are often times a big part of your grade.

- Get involved! Salem State offers so many opportunities for scholarships and being involved in big projects for those students who step up and get involved in any of our student leadership programs/honor societies/Gay-Straight-Alliance/etc.

- Make sure you have an alarm, and make sure you wake up to it. I can not stress how big of a grade attendance is at least 60% of the time in classes. I know in all of my classes attendance was at least 25% of my grade, so if you're one of the people who ignores your alarm clock most of the time, I'd invest in two or three alarm clocks and make sure they're all set up extremely high so you don't sleep through your classes all of the time. You'll regret it in the long run if you do.

- Get your application in as soon as possible. While Salem State is based on a rolling admission, some of the majors are difficult and challenging to get into (like nursing, for example) and if you apply too late, you'll be rejected or wait listed simply because you waited too long.

- Get your financial aid application in on time or better yet, early! Salem State College as I mentioned before offers SUCH good financial aid if you get your application for it in on time before the dead line, and unless you're independently wealthy through your parents, that makes such a big difference in whether you're struggling to get through the semesters or not.

- Visit the campus. Make sure that it's what you want. Don't just look at the...

This is not a party school, although it isn't one hundred percent clean of people that come stumbling in at two in the morning drunk or high either. However, if you're looking to party every night of the week, this school is NOT for you. All buildings are pretty strict about quiet hours and Resident Assistants will not hesitate to report you if you're caught with alcohol or drugs within the building. So if you're coming to this school in hopes of partying every night, you're better off going to U Mass.
This school is PERFECT for students that actually want to learn and aren't big on the party crowd, as except for Halloween week/night there aren't many places to party in the sense that you're used to down town or anywhere in the city either unless you go over to a neighboring city. If you're a student who enjoys learning and meeting friends and being able to hang around in your dorm lounge until two AM playing Apples to Apples and watching Hey Arnold on the television, then this school is for you.

Salem State allows me to grow as a student and explore all of my interests. I am a Marine Biology major with a chemistry minor and until I came to Salem I hated all sciences. I had a terrible experience in high school with all of my science courses and now am excelling in all of my classes, making the dean's list each semester. The professors here make sure that every student gets the help they need and make sure that every student feels comfortable with the material. I have a great relationship with all of my professors and they all go above and beyond for me. Salem is right on the water which is great for a Marine Bio major and all of my professors actually hold their labs at the beach. The hands on work that I have been introduced to here at Salem has given me such a better understanding of biology and I have come to love the subject and I know that when I graduate I am going to be greatly prepared for graduate school or a career because of my education here at Salem.

Everyone at Salem State University are extremely friendly and welcoming. I was at first very nervous and to be perfectly honest did not want to even attend Salem. However, after my first week here I knew it was the perfect fit for me. My parents ended having to beg me to come home for visits because I love it so much that I never want to go home. I have found the most amazing friends here and there is always so much to do. I am part of the Repertory Dance Theatre here at Salem and have met so many people through that program that share my same love for dance. Salem is just a fun and exciting place to be and geographically is the perfect balance of suburban and city life.

When I was applying to colleges I was not quite aware of the huge expense that it was going to be. I started out by applying and touring all private out of state schools and then soon realized that it just was not worth the inevitable lifetime of debt that I would be placing myself in. When I heard of Salem and the great academics I immediately was interested in touring. The campus is really nice and everything that I have experienced here is nothing short of what my friends are experiencing at their private schools. The difference however will come out after we graduate when I do not have tons of loans to pay off and they all do. I am receiving a great education at a wonderful university and am not paying an insane amount of money to do so.

For anyone who is thinking of attending Salem my tips to you would have to be, tour. Make sure you come and look at the campus and try to truly picture yourself here. Every college looks identical online, it is only when you actually are there that you can decide what you want. Also remember the cost of college. Salem makes sure that every student can get an education for a reasonable price and when choosing a college to attend that may even be the deciding factor.

Salem has an amazing nursing program and the facilities for the program are state of the art. If you are a nursing major this is a great school to look at and also, our theater department is nationally accredited and those who graduate from the program go on to some of the most prestigious institutes in the world. Our marine biology program is also amazing. An entire campus is dedicated solely to marine bio majors. It is right on the water and is filled with real labs with ongoing experiments dealing with every aspect of the marine and aquaculture world. Also, any student coming from a small town that is looking for a city feel without being thrown in the middle of Boston. Salem is a 15 minute train ride outside of the city and it is the perfect mix of suburban and city life, especially for those who are not used to living in the city.

Salem State University is an awesome school. There are lots of different clubs and organizations to join. The school has a very laid back and fun atmosphere.

Join clubs, it makes it so much easier to make lots of friends and helps you really get connected with the school.

Classes can be tough but manageable as long as you are good at managing your time. Keep on top of the work and you will do well.

There are always lots of activities going on in the dorms. The RAs are great and each dorm has academic mentors around to help you with school work. The rooms are a good size and it is easy to have fun.

The dining hall is set up really nice and is very spacious, but the food quality varies a lot. Depending on the day the food can be great with lots of awesome options and then the next day there isn't much and then what is left is cold and gross.

Downtown Salem is of course fun in October but is fun all year. There are great restaurants and fun shops. The North Shore Mall is close by, and Boston is just a twenty minute ride on the commuter rail away. The school has events and parties all the time as long as you look you can find things to do.

The school has a very laid back atmosphere. It is very easy to find fun things to do but also can be a great place to just relax or find a quite place to study and get work done. Not the best place for people who like a constant party atmosphere but the school is never boring.

The RDT or Repertory Dance Theater is and awesome club for anyone interested in dance. The club has awesome members and puts on two amazing shows a year.

Greek life is new to campus but the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma has some great girls involved and the group has done alot on campus in the year that they have been there.

My whole year at Salem State I never felt unsafe once.

Salem State is great school that is constantly growing. It's in the wonderful city of Salem with a lot to do on and off campus. It has many great accademic programs that can help any of it's students find their future.

My sister is enrolled in the nursing program and challenges herself everyday, constantly learning incredible thing, despite the stress.

There seem to be more and more dorming buildings everytime I drive by. The buildings look great and they're in a great location.

Although she commutes, my sister has had the food before and says it's great! You can also walk just down the street to bagel word, flying saucer, gulu gulu, and so many other places.

All of the classes, especially the general education courses, are very informative and thorough. The staff here genuinely wants you to be prepared for the future.

I love being a student at Salem State. The professors definitely want to see you succeed, the other students are very kind, and the city is amazing.
The dorm staff are very nice, and take good care of the students.

Salem State is very affordable, and they offer great financial aid packages for a state school. The classes are informative and thorough. You definitely get your money's worth with the classes here, and they don't charge you more if you take extra classes.

Come to see the campus and talk to current students and professors. Everyone here is very friendly, and they'll be sure to help you as best they can.
Be sure to bring an Ethernet cord if you become a resident student because the wireless internet network in the freshmen dorms occasionally acts up.

Salem State is good for students who prefer a smaller school setting, an urban environment, and an encouraging team of professors.
Salem State is definitely not a party school, so if you're into that it's best to head elsewhere.

I love my dorm room I had an issue with thrift and they moved me to a single now I am beyond happy. Also we are able to select what rooms we want to live in and I was able to pick a single again for my senior year.

I think Salem State University is a great four year institution, and I am extremely happy that I chose to go here out of all the schools I applied to. The class are small and the professors really care about how you are doing and are really there for you. The school is not too small, but not to big either; you can not go somewhere on campus without knowing someone from either a class or club.

During freshmen year, get out and socialize! These will be your go to friends for the next four years... and the rest of your life! I am now a senior at Salem State and the people I met freshmen year are now my best friends, and I can not imagine my life without them!

Salem State takes academics very seriously. When you are on a team, involved with a club, or departments like residence life there are checks to make sure that you are doing well in your classes. If you are not, your advisers in these areas are there to help you do well. The classes are tough and require you to work for your grades, but they are not too hard that you won't be able to have a social life.

I have to say the dorm life at Salem State is amazing! This is where I have met the friends I am going to have for life! We all lived on the same floor freshman year. Our freshmen year dorms are the largest in Massachusetts, and you can really tell the difference. The maintenance are wonderful and are there to clean the lounges and bathrooms everyday. We have two freshman buildings, a sophomore building, and two upperclassmen buildings. Our sophomore building is brand new! It is only two years old and it is gorgeous, and is environmentally green! The two upperclassmen buildings are apartment style and have a full kitchen, living room, and two bathrooms a piece.

There are two dining halls on campus, one on north and one on central campus. The one on north is a dining hall downstairs and upstairs there is a burger king, sandellas, hersheys ice cream, and a salad bar. In the brand new dining hall on central campus, there is a burger station, a pizza station, a specials station, a sandwich station, and a salad bar. All the food is catered by Chartwells. There cookies are to die for!

There is always something going on on campus. Resident Assistants are require to put on at least two programs a month. They are social programs, informational programs, or programs just for fun! All the groups on campus put on programs every month, also. There are dances, movies that are just out of theaters or free movies in the theaters, laser tag games, and recently Gym Class Heroes put on a concert!

I am in the honors program at Salem State and it is a wonderful organization! If you meet the requirements I highly suggest joining! Each semester they give out scholarships and amazing opportunities. Also by joining the honors program, I have met so many more people than I would've if I didn't join!

Campus Police is awesome! They are a fully functioning police station, where all of the officers had to go through the police academy! They are located right on campus and are just a call away! On every campus there are blue safety buttons that when pushed are automatically linked to dispatch. At every residence hall, there is a 24 hour front desk where student staff make sure that people that do not live in the building are not granted access. Also, at 10 pm the front doors lock and the student staff member has to buzz everyone in.

salem state is a growing school with facilities being updated every year. the course offerings are vast, although some are only offered at certain times of the year or certain times of day. the student body is very diverse and welcoming.

apply early, especially for any online courses. meet with your advisor as often as you need to, and utilize any resources (such as writing lab or math lab) that will help you live up to your true potential.

the courses vary in difficulty, but each class i have taken at salem state has broadened my mind on the subject being studied and required extensive studying and research outside of class.

there are always activities to become involved with and the ras are great.

the food is standard cafeteria food, but with your clipper card you can also dine at local restaurants. there's a sushi place and a sub shop right across from the school that are fantastic, and mediterranean food at the white dove is cheap and delicious.

salem is a fantastic city to live in. there are fantastic museums, restaurants, and bars within walking distance or via public transportation. boston is about 20 minutes away, and there are beaches, parks, and forests within a 30 minute drive or train ride.