Reviews

College does change an individual, and I certainly am no exception. I went to TCNJ expecting to gain better writing skills and become immersed in learning about the journalistic world. In actuality, the real learning came from outside the classroom (may sound a tad cliche' but alas it is true). I came out of freshman year having learned valuable social skills, talents and how to live on my own. Most importantly, I learned to believe in myself. Oh, and I did learn about journalism.

I have not been happy 24/7 at TCNJ. While my first visit to the College was love at first sight, my first few months as a student were not. After a while, I realized that it was because I had not really made the effort to go out and meet people or find something that I really enjoyed. Soon after I started getting involved, began to fall back in love.

The professors are all very devoted teachers and no student will ever be in a classroom where their name goes unknown. The Education and Nursing programs are particularly excellent, and students in all majors find themselves frequently challenged. TCNJ has been known for giving their students an Ivy league education for the public school price.

Get involved. Do what interests you. That is vital to a successful first year.

To be perfectly honest, TCNJ really is for all kinds of people. There appears to be a place for just about everyone (the aforementioned tip on getting involved is a sure way to find your niche) and my school friends have an extremely varied social makeup. It does, however, help if you are looking for a beautiful campus on a medium sized location in suburbia.

This is a very, very good school, so the classes are rather intense, with a lot of outside work. I am a political science major, and sometimes have hundreds of pages of reading to do for each class, but after reading it and discussing it, I really do learn so much more about the topic.

The College of New Jersey has one of the most beautiful campuses Ive ever seen, especially in the fall and spring. There are two big lakes, with plenty of benches around, so I love to study out there. The size is perfect - I can easily walk to all of my classes. I have a ton of friends, because everyone is so nice and welcoming. There are groups for absolutely anything you could want to do, and you can always find something to do at night, whether you like to drink or not.

TCNJ has a great reputation for being one of the best colleges for its relatively low price, especially if you are from in-state. They also offer many scholarships, so coming here can be very, very affordable.

Utilize the library. It is new and gorgeous, and a great place for getting work done. There are also computer labs in every building - I didn't realize this before, but now I always use the one in the Political Science building in between my classes. If you aren't sure what you want to do career-wise, visit the career counselor, he is very helpful. Finally, enjoy your freshman year. The friends you make on your floor often become your best friends.

Students who like seeing people they know whenever they walk around, students who are interested in and willing to do the work to really learn, and students who want great education in an equally great environment

The College of New Jersey is a thriving academic community with wonderful staff and educational programs that will create the leaders of tomorrow. Enrolling into Biology program.

I have visited TCNJ on several occasions and each visit was a new enlightening experience, instilling more and more excitement into me as I wait for Fall 09.

The college offers so many options and programs, flexibility is the key to a happy and successful student. All Professors at The College of New Jersey have obtained there masters degree in their field, so each student is receiving the best education they can possibly receive. When students leave The College of New Jersey they will among Harvard and Princeton graduates entering the workforce.

One of the top-ranked liberal arts schools in the northeast - for a reason. Nothing beat's TCNJ's small class sizes, professor interaction, and community feel. I couldn't see myself anywhere else.

If you're looking for a good-sized school with intelligent students and a real family feel, where you have small classes and can really get to know your professors, look no further. If you're looking for a big school, large classes, tons of parties and fun things to do off campus, then TCNJ may not be the best fit.

I graduated 2nd in my high school class, and I am an honors student at TCNJ. I'd say classes are just right - challenging, but not overwhelmingly difficult. My classes have been fairly rigorous in terms of the amount of work required (readings, studying, essays, etc.) but the content isn't too difficult. As long as I work hard, I can keep up. Professors are usually pretty helpful, and are always available when necessary.

During freshman year, TCNJ works hard to create a close-knit atmosphere. Your freshman hall floor becomes your second family and it's a ton of fun, especially during orientation (welcome week). Everyone's doors are always open. Most freshmen live in the towers - two, ten-story dorm buildings with about 50 people per floor. Honors students can live separately in a different dorm, which I did and found to be just as fun as the towers. TCNJ is a dry campus, so there are no dorm parties. Sophomore year isn't quite as fun - people tend to room with their friends, and doors are kept closed. Definitely not the family atmosphere you create during freshman year. Juniors and seniors tend to live in houses off campus, or in campus apartments or townhouses.

TCNJ has one main dining hall that's open for all three meals. The food isn't terrible (sometime's it's great!) and there are a lot of options, but it does get boring rather quickly. Sometimes the dining hall has theme nights which are actually pretty fun. Between 11AM and 1:30PM students can visit 3 or 4 different locations and use their points to buy lunch. Points can be spent at any time, but during these special lunch hours each student gets a free $7.50, and points aren't subtracted from their account. Our library has a cafe that serves Starbucks coffee. Personally, I wish we had a few more dining options - sometimes lines in the dining hall can be very long!

The town of Ewing isn't much for a fun time. Students generally attend campus events or frat/sport/club parties on the weekends. There are a few bars in nearby Trenton that upperclassmen go to. Downtown Princeton, Quakerbridge Mall, and other shopping centers are less than 20 minutes from campus. Freshmen without cars can take the free loop bus to these places. Philadelphia is also only about 30 minutes away from campus, and the school provides trips to fun places on the weekends. In terms of sports, TCNJ is D3 and no one is very interested or involved in sports. We don't have big games where everyone attends. TCNJ is definitely not a big sports or party school, but there is plenty of fun if you look for it. As with any school, it pays to get involved ASAP. If you join a club, sports team, or Greek organization, you'll always have something to do.

Wonderful academics for half the price (or less) of prestigious private schools. I don't see a reason why anyone, especially those who are state, wouldn't come to TCNJ! I feel that I'm really getting a great quality education at TCNJ. Class sizes are usually no more than 30 students. The school doesn't even physically have any lecture halls. This provides students with the opportunity to get to know their classmates and professors well, which in turn opens the door to many opportunities they wouldn't get at a larger school. For example, I started doing research with a professor during freshman year, and I am now manager of the research lab - unheard of at larger schools! We also have no TAs - all classes are taught by professors. I personally have not had a single professor that I've disliked.

One TCNJ tradition is for students to jump into the fountain in the science complex before they graduate! There is also a hot spot - it is a piece of the sidewalk that is warm because of pipes that run underneath it and is a fun hangout spot late at night in the early fall and spring.

Students at TCNJ are generally work hard, play hard. The majority of people I've met at TCNJ are incredibly smart and dedicated to their schoolwork, but also like to go out and have some sort of fun on the weekends.

TCNJ has quite a few clubs and activities to join - look for them all at the activities fair at the start of the school year. As I said before, it pays to be involved. As long as you're involved in something, you'll always have friends and fun activities to do.

A little less than half of TCNJ students are involved in Greek life. I am personally not involved, but I have friends that are. My Greek friends absolutely love it, and my non-Greek friends are equally okay with not being Greek. There are certainly benefits to going Greek, but at TCNJ I feel no pressure to join like there is at other schools. Greeks and non-Greeks are generally friends. As with any school, some frats and sororities come off as a bit superficial and cliquey. But for every one of those, there is a frat or sorority that really works hard to give back to the community and do positive things. Each has its own reputation. Greeks at TCNJ will tell you that it's a huge time commitment - don't join unless you can keep up with your school work while going out to party at least 3 nights per week, as well as attend meetings and philanthropy events. I sometimes feel like most of the nightlife happens through Greek life - you have to be Greek or at least know someone who is Greek in order to get into parties. However, I have no regrets not going Greek myself and can find plenty of fun.

Some people are turned off by the fact that TCNJ is close to Trenton. However, TCNJ is nowhere near the city and is located in the residential community of Ewing, surrounded by houses. The campus is public but very enclosed. It has a real campus feel. I feel comfortable walking through campus alone and have walked with friends alone at night feeling perfectly safe. We often go on walks through campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. Sometimes we walk to parties off campus, although frats are generally good about providing safe rides to and from their houses in order to avoid this. Students are signed up for text alerts from campus police in the vent of anything concerning.

Depending on what you take classes can be challenging, but you will learn a lot. The work assigned isn't busy work, but actually helps you to understand and learn the material for the class.

Even though I an not from NJ like most of my classmates and no one else from my high school goes here I had no trouble getting to know people and finding groups to get involved in.

Being an out of state student my tuition is obviously higher, but the small classes and the professors make up for the difference. The professors get to know you by name and really care about how well you do in their classes, they don't want you to fail and are always willing to help.

The classes are seriously great. As a member of the School of Culture and Society, mine are small (around 25 students) and while there is work, its not too much to handle if you know how to balance your time. The professors are nice and informative, and the discussion that generates is not only intriguing, but helpful.

I'm a sophomore now, so I've been at TCNJ for a while and have my bearings, and honestly can say I love it here. I fell in love when I visited, and am having the time of my life. There's tons to do, and freshman housing introduced me to people I now consider my best friends.

TCNJ really is a great value for the tuition price - you're getting an education at the level of top universities without having to accrue a massive amount of debt.

Your first year, don't be shy! Get to know the people on your floor, go to community events that interest you (the football games are fun), and enjoy yourself. And don't worry about understanding something right away, as the professors are facillitating and will answer your questions, so don't hesitate to ask.

Students who are not just academically-oriented, but have a breadth of interests, i.e. students who like to be involved and who also value good grades, generally thrive here.

The opportunity to be independent mixed with a quality college education is a winning combination that you are bound to take from.

Every time I visit I get more excited about going. The students and faculty are super friendly and helpful. I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. No other college made me feel as comfortable.

The financial aid is not that great but as is the case with most colleges you have to make 2 cents a year to get anything.

Preppy, fun-loving, relaxed, laid-back but not lazy students.

the college of new jersey is a great undergraduate college. the class atmosphere feels wonderful. the professors are are always willing to help in anything.

before picking classes make sure that you do need them. also make sure that you are familiar with the campus. always have a back up plan for classes.

small class settings. professors are always willing to provide assistance. classes challenge you to get the best of you.

truly best years of your life. thus is the way you get to make friends in the dorms. a great resource for anything that you need to learn in college.

there are a variety of locations to go for food and dining. the atrium at eickhoff is great with a variety of choices. there are also many different dining places.

we have concerts that students put on themselves. there are also comedy shows. the college provides a bus which takes you to the mall and the movies!

tcnj, is a great choice because it is so widely recognize in nj. also you get one of the best educations around.

we have great football games where we all wear the tcnj colors and show pride.

tcnj fits the needs of every student, from the student that likes to work alone to the student that enjoys the company of others

with all the different types of clubs and organizations found at tcnj , there is a place for everyone. from student council to the biology club.

we have many different greek life choices and at tcnj its great, awesome choice.

tcnj, has their own police system, who are always around when ever you need it.

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) has one of the most academically challenging curriculums in the state and country. The class size averages 22:1 and the professors are very knowledgeable. They will never teach you information from years ago because a majority of them have their own research which they conduct on campus and open up to their students so they can get hands-on experience from their sophomore year.

TCNJ has an extremely beautiful campus that is small and safe. There is lots of space for students to work and play outside especially during the early fall and late spring semester when the weather is optimal including many large lawns, a grove with tables and benches, and two lakes with multiple benches surrounding them. There are also over 150 student organizations that students can become involved in including 16 social fraternities and sororities, many other academic and volunteering fraternities, multicultural organizations, intramural sports, and intrauniversity non-varsity sports to name a few. The only thing that attending the school lacks is a lot to do outside of campus that doesn't involve going into a major city. However, Philadelphia is a 30 minute drive and New York City a 50 minute to an hour ride on public transportation.

TCNJ is most definitely one of the best schools to attend to get the best bang for your buck. With the academic intensity and it's prime location between New York City and Philadelphia for intern opportunities, it is hard to find another school that offers that much for the price of The College of New Jersey.

The College of New Jersey definitely lives to its reputation in New Jersey and it's hopeful growing one to the nation of being a school of academic excellence and it is not to be taken lightly. Attending this school means that you are prepared for the vigor that comes with being a student. Don't fall under the assumption that all the students do is study however, we are one of the top Division III schools in the nation and there are an endless amount of activities to do on campus for those who love to keep busy.

The high achievers who strive for furthering their education but do not want to just sit in a huge lecture hall unnoticed. They also want to make something more with themselves outside of academics which they can take advantage of with the activities and sports on campus.

The classes here can be pretty hard, depending on which ones you take, but it is worth it because you learn a lot from it. In fact, I wish I could take more classes than I'll ever have room to in my four years here.

Most of the professors here have the highest degree possible in their field, so they really know what they're teaching. Not all of them are the best at conveying their wealth of knowledge to you, but if you're willing to put in the extra time to understand the material, they're willing to put in the extra time to help you.

Also, this is a liberal arts school, so you'll be require to take a little of everything. That has its pros and cons. It's good because it makes you well-rounded and exposes you to new things that you might not have voluntarily chosen to study on your own. It's bad because sometimes it means you have to take a class in something you know you don't like, but high school usually does that anyway, so it's nothing new.

Also, this is a four-credit school, so instead of taking 5 3-credit classes each semester, you'll be taking 4 4-credit ones. What this means is you'll get to take less classes overall, compared to a three-credit school, but you'll cover more material in the classes you do take.

The campus has a pretty balanced and diverse community, in terms of gender, ethnicity, and religions, which helps keep things interesting.

There are usually plenty of fun events taking place on campus.

The people here are really nice and friendly, so even if there isn't an interesting event taking place, you'll still find something fun to do with the plenty of friends you'll have here, even if it's off campus (there's a highway nearby with plenty of restaurants, stores, and a movie theater on it).

The campus is fairly small, so it's not uncommon to run into familiar faces on the way to class or at the dining hall.

The school is a public one, so it's sticker cost is certainly better than that of a private school. With financial aid and scholarships taken into consideration, it becomes and even better deal.

Also, considering the quality of the education and social environment you'll have by coming here, it is definitely a great deal. Sure, you could get just as good of an educational or social experience (or maybe a better one) elsewhere, but I can guarantee you that it'll cost a lot more.

This may not be the best school out there, but it's a very good one, especially when you take the price into consideration.

--Aim for scores greater than or equal to 600 in each section of the SATs
--Aim for a class rank in the top 15% of your class
--Stay or Get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities (sports, music, theater, clubs, honor societies etc)
--Take AP tests where you can, and aim for scores greater than or equal to 4, if you do
--Volunteer work is always a plus (but is not necessary)
--If you're not sure what you want to specifically major in, at least decide on a vague/general field (ex: science, engineering, education, music, social sciences, nursing, art, etc) because you'll have to at least know that when applying (ex: you want to major in some kind of science, but don't know which specific kind, so you'll apply as an Open Option Science major)
--Double majoring is possible here
--Having up to three minors is possible here
--You can study abroad for as long as a full year here
--You will be exposed to internship opportunities here
--You will have research opportunities here
--There is an honors program here
--It is possible to change majors here, and you can still graduate on time depending on how/when you do it
--You do have the opportunity to take certain classes pass-fail
--You do have the opportunity to retake classes you did poorly in
--You can bring in AP credit, as well as transfer credit from other schools, here
--If looking to take classes at an NJ community college and transfer them here, refer to NJTransfer.com (it's usually easier to do that than to bring credits in from other four-year schools)
--Once you figure out exactly what you want to do, PLAN AHEAD AND CONSULT YOUR ADVISER

--NJ residents (just because it's cheapest for them, since it's a public NJ school)
--Students interested in becoming teachers (Education majors)
--Students looking for a small, cozy, quiet campus atmosphere
--Students who intend to spend a lot of time working in the library (we have a REALLY good one)
--Students looking for a diverse/cultural campus
--Students interested in being very socially involved and making plenty of friends
--Students looking to stay involved in a variety of extracurricular activities/clubs
--Intelligent and hardworking students looking get a good education
--Students looking to save money on their college decision
--Students looking for smaller classroom sizes (ones more similar to high school)
--Students who prefer a liberal arts curriculum to a professional-oriented one (in other words, students who like variety and well-roundedness over focusing solely on a specific field of study)