Advice on Universities

Heh, well, I've got somewhat of a predicament. There are three different colleges/universities I want to go to. Two are local, one is all the way across the country in Arizona. (I'm from NJ) This problem has come up without doing any research on other local campuses, and just going by what I've got from school and brochures I get from colleges after I took the PSATs.

First let me tell you the two programs/carrer choices I've chosen to take. They're either Internet Development, or Information Systems/Network Engineer, which is basically Network Administration.

The three universities I've decided (for now) to go to are:
1. Rutger's University -http://www.rutgers.edu
2. DeVry University - http://www.devry.edu
3. University of Advnacing Technology - http://www.uat.edu

I had planned on going to Rutger's because it's a good all-around school and has a program or two I'm interested in, but not the best program in the world for networking administration, atleast from what I think, I haven't really asked around which I should probably do.

DeVry, as most of you who live in the US probably know, is nothing but a computer/business based school. It, again from the small percentage of articles I've read, has an excellent program and they also have the highest percentage of students to get job within one year of graduation.

The third one, which is all the way in AZ, consists of about 30 different programs I would love to take, but can only choose one. It has BOTH programs I'm most interested in, and now that I see they actually have a course on PHP, I have become even more interested in taking their Internet Development course. The only problem with this is that it's all the way in AZ, and I really think I'd get homesick. This college, if it were local, would probably be my definite choice to go to, because it not only has programs to study, but it has other outside of school activities such as campus LAN parties on the universities LAN which many participate in and as you all know, the geek I am, just love my LAN parties. :D

So, basically what I'm asking here is for advice on two situations. The first being, stay local (which is about $3,000 less because I'd be living at home) or move to AZ for approximately 2-3 years (as most IT schools are only 2-3 years) and most likely get homesick.

The second being, if I were to stay local, should I go to DeVry or Rutger's if I plan on going into Networking Administration/Engineering?

Ahhh, yes, and one more question. If you were hiring for a position, let's say Network Administration, and one resume had Rutger's and the other DeVry on it, which are you most likely to think had the received the better education in this subject, assuming you did not know a thing about either school?

Bah, maybe I'm worrying over nothing, so many decisions. Well have to go eat, any advice would be great. :D

Well, I am Canadian, so I have no incite as to the schools. But I will say one thing. Just because a school says it has xxx% of students getting jobs after means jack...That's up to you. My program was billed at close to 100% job placement and I can safely say that number is substantially lower.

Have enough money, you can get into any school. That doesn't mean you will do well. So don't base too much of your decision on how succesfull the past students did in finding work. It is probably an over emphasised or biased number. Work hard and do well and you can get a job out of any school. It's how bad you want it. Your work speaks for itself, not so much the school. :D

how about
harvard ?

Woah! Two of those are really close to me. LOL.

i am from germany. here we have a completely different school-system so i cannot not really helpp you i think.

but: take the best school you can affort! You won't get a second chance. Don't choose a closer school just because you might get homesick.

Originally posted by pixmap
i am from germany. here we have a completely different school-system so i cannot not really helpp you i think.

but: take the best school you can affort! You won't get a second chance. Don't choose a closer school just because you might get homesick.

That's the thing, I'm not sure which of the three is the best school to go to, I should probably read some college forums (if they even exist).

Look up the colleges' stats...employment rates, student:teacher ratios etc.

Dear lord i am nervous, i'm flying to England in a few hours for two college interviews. *shiits his pants*

The most important thing is that you find out what college is best for you, find out information about everything, talk to the admissions officers/advisors.

well my uncle went to devry, they do a really good job of getting you a job out of school, but a very expensive school. probably the same as the others though. I live in az and university of advancing technologies has the best website so go there. =P

my advice, squid...

Don't let the fear of being homesick affect your decision. (You'd be surprised how well email, IM and cell phone plans keep one from being homesick.)

Go to AZ and check it out in person, for sure.

I'm not a big fan of 2 year tech-type programs. Some of the best classes I took in college were electives. I discovered I had a great interest in African American Studies, Art History, Printmaking...and more. You're not going to get much of that at Devry's, dude.

My advice... trust your gut, and don't rush your decision.


....Or rock, paper, scissors for it.

Yea, I'm going to a college fair tomorrow, should be good. UAT's suppose to be there, so I might check them out.