Category: architecture

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Marywood University

I visited four Catholic colleges in April in the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre vicinity: Marywood University, King’s College, Misericordia University, and the University of Scranton.  Students at all four seemed friendly and steeped in community service.  Each school had features that would appeal to different kinds of students.
Marywood University which has about 2000 undergraduates has some unusual features including:
      – Academics
o   Believe in practical, hands-on experiences
o   Aviation program
o   Information Security program
o   Five year Bachelor’s to Master’s programs in accounting, biotechnology, communication arts, criminal justice, education, financial information systems, health services administration, physician assistant, speech-language pathology, architecture (6-years)
o   Gateway Program for students accepted with lower GPAs and test scores including remedial work and extra advising
·         – Facilities
o   A unique LEED Gold Certified Center for Architectural Studies which was special and which I feel has a positive impact on the architecture studies
o   Suite style living with two bedrooms sharing a bathroom in the freshman residence hall.
o   Is an 115-acre national arboretum.
Marywood is in a suburban setting with a free bus to downtown Scranton.  Popular majors are:
  •         22% Health Professions
  •         12% Business
  •         12% Visual Arts
  •         11% Education and
  •         7% Architecture. 

Traditions include Christmas tree lighting, bonfires, and the flapjack festival.  There are over 60 student clubs and 20 NCAA Division III teams.  Here were some of the upcoming events while I was visiting.
The school has rolling admission and looks for an SAT score of 900 or higher for Critical Reading and Math.  The SAT scores for certain majors (e.g., Education, Speech Pathology, Nursing, pre-Physician Assistant and Architecture) are a little bit higher.  A portfolio is required for entrance to the art programs, but not to the architecture program.
What is your experience with Marywood University?

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New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ

                                                                           Sophomore architecture contest photo

NJIT is on 45 acres, a few square blocks, in the University Heights section of Newark, NJ.  There is a light rail station next to campus which goes to Newark Penn Station. There is a limited amount of green space on campus.

NJIT is the only NJ state college with an architecture program.  It is also strong in engineering and the sciences.  The college has an  Honors college that offers enrichment, a significant scholarship, its own housing floor, and its own space on campus.  There is an engineering class that Freshman can take to help them decide on an engineering major.  Clubs that have to do with your major and internships (e.g., with at&t or PSE&G) are popular.

Housing is limited and there are many commuters. Students who want housing seem to get it. Freshmen have a choice between long hall building with the bathroom in the hall or a building with 2 room suites with a private bathroom for each suite. There is an Electrical Engineering floor and an Honors floor.  Upper classmen can live in those buildings or in apartment style buildings. There seems to be a strong safety focus on campus. I wouldn’t want to stray far from campus alone after dark.

I think a NJ student who wants to study science, engineering, or architecture but wants a school smaller than Rutgers with a multi-ethnic group, doesn’t mind that the school is only one quarter female, and is not too interested in social life would be happy here. A student we met in the dorm said he went to class, studied, ate and slept.

Check out my business Facebook page for additional photos of NJIT.  If you are an NJIT student, add your comments to this blog.