Rutgers University-Newark Reviews

"RU SPAA is top rated. However, RU itself is a bureaucratic mess due to their antiquated way of doing business. Their computer systems are disynchronized, so whatever you do you need to wait days for it to update, or the departments you contact may or may not write back to you. The financial aid office is backed up, their computer system is not user friendly, and they never contact you in regards to your aid, unless the system sends a message saying you need to submit something you already submitted. This is criminal, as students expect their business taken care of, so they can focus on their studies. SPAA teaches public management, yet RU itself can't manage to do things as they teach. What a disaster of a school system. RU should not be in the online teaching business if they don't attend to students' needs. What a horrible experience. Don't get near this mess of a school. I've learned my lesson to never again apply to online state universities, as your life depends on the whims of lazy, unprofessional bureaucrats, overwhelmed by organizational disrepair."

"I graduated from Rutgers-Newark in 2006 with a masters in social work. I found it to be an excellent school. The instruction was top notch. It was very challenging, but worth it. It really prepared me to be a good social worker. It is also very highly regarded, and people express admiration when they see my diploma."

"This was one of my safety schools and I absolutely did not want to come here at first, but because of the commute and financial advantages, I decided to give it a chance. The only decent qualities about Rutgers-Newark is the diversity, an outgoing campus life, and multiple leadership opportunities. It's easy to make friends here whether you commute or live on campus. Other than that, this school has multiple issues regarding academics. As a psychology major, I never had any proper advising when choosing my classes or getting into research labs. I had to depend on labs and volunteering outside of campus to get some experience, despite the numerous amount of labs this school has. Most people in the Psychology department, specifically the faculty director, were incredibly rude for no reason, especially when I simply just wanted to declare my major in junior year. I personally know some people who had her as a professor too and heard some negative reviews about her as well. Also, some professors just don't teach anything during lecture and rely on prerecorded lectures from 10 years ago. They most likely won't be able to explain anything now if you ask them a question and usually end up blaming the students for not paying attention."

"ABSN program is terrible. If you want to teach yourself, have a million ridiculous assignments/exams, recorded lectures to review short notice & basically self teach and stress yourself to death then this is the program for you. I’m too invested to quit but I wouldn’t recommend!"

"Rutgers SSW is an incredibly easy program. I graduated with a 4.0 and never got below an A- on any test or paper. A lot of the professors had very lenient standards and some practically gave away answers. A lot of low quality students were admitted. You could get away with 1/5th of the reading in your classes. The Office of Professions doesn’t help much with placing students in the right internships, and many internships aren’t great experiences for students. I learned more and worked far harder in undergrad (about 4x more). I’d consider the quality of education here and rigor as on par with an associates degree at a community college. Education quality and admissions standards are part of the problem of low social work salaries and professional standing."

"Hands down one of the best school. As an undergraduate and graduate student, I was able to gain so much from the school, professors, staff and admissions office. I was a chemistry major and I was privileged by having some of the most amazing, caring professors. My major (Chemistry) is not an easy major, but professors were supportive and helped every step of the way. I graduated with a hope to find a job and after several years I made it big in the industry. When I graduated, a typical chemist were making $50k, but don't let that fool you (sky is the limit). Moreover, campus was nice, and now it is even more developed. Between, NJIT, Rutgers Law School, Rutgers Grad School and Business school this was most amazing campus. I commuted, but I heard the dorms were nice. Everything is near by and school has amazing facilities (cafe, library, gym, pool etc..). New Brunswick campus is too large and it is easy to get lost in the environment. I attended several courses on this campus as well. I did not like the campus too much. I highly recommend the Newark campus to everyone and encourage to go to Rutgers."

"The program that Rutgers offers is very challenging, you are doing NP and DNP at the same time, if you work that is even more challenging. NP program is OK not the best! Some professors should leave the program because they don’t teach you much, but they give you hundreds of power point slide for one lecture. You still can manage. However, the DNP project is horrible!!! No one helps you at all!!! Then they offer you an extension for continuation of the project but..., you have to pay for it extra$$$. You may think that you are done with your NP classes, however, you cannot take state exam for NP until you graduate!!! They don’t tell you that when you apply to the program, but they tell you that when you graduate you will have a doctorate degree if .... they don’t remove you from the program one semester before graduating or extend your graduation until you finish your DNP project... maybe in an extra year or two if you’re lucky!! DNP does not give you extra knowledge for NP practice nor better $$$"

"I am part of the traditional two year program. The program does not accommodate students who are working multiple jobs a week to put themselves through school and offset the costs. There are very few scholarships and financial aid given out to students. The field placement department is horrible. I did two internships that I felt did not prepare me at all for a career in the social work field. Once you are in an internship, no matter how bad it is, you are stuck there for the entire year. They mislead you and have very limited internship opportunities in other counties but the county the school is in. They want you to travel 40+ minutes for field placement. They are horrible at placing you at appropriate internship sites (it took over four months for my second year placement.) My second year field placement had a very small social services department and expected the interns to do everything the agency does (i.e. education, serving food, etc.) The agency treated volunteers better than interns and there was no parking lot and the staff laughed and expected you to just "figure it out" while Rutgers says oh well! The internship component is an extremely large commitment (1st year: 15 hours a week, 2nd year: 22.5 hours a week) which is not ideal for anyone with an already busy schedule. Rutgers academic program has some good courses offered although Human Behavior in the Social Environment is Psych 101 all over again. There are not many online courses available for traditional program students. The school is also not very accommodating for individuals wanting to get their classes over with one day a week. The parking situation is actually ridiculous and only here can you pay $560 for a primary parking pass or $185 for a secondary parking pass and still not have guaranteed parking. Shuttles are unreliable. Some professors, liaisons, and off-site supervisors are wonderful and go above and beyond and are really proud of the work they do. There are also a lot of deadweight faculty members who are rude, inconsiderate, extremely unhelpful, and literally, do not listen to a word you say."

"I did my bachelor's in Finance and Economics. I am a mother of two kids and at the time of my enrollment it was specifically hard for me as I received very little family support- financially and emotionally. Although I started my degree with a minimal confidence I knew that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I found great support and appreciation from the university staff and faculty. From academics to financial aid everyone was very helpful which was critical for someone like me."

"I did my bachelor's in Finance and Economics. I am a mother of two kids and at the time of my enrollment it was specifically hard for me as I received very little family support- financially and emotionally. Although I started my degree with a minimal confidence I knew that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I found great support and appreciation from the university staff and faculty. From academics to financial aid everyone was very helpful which was critical for someone like me."

"Rutgers Newark is a small campus of a very large university located in a busy city. When I went there, there were not many amenities around campus although I have heard this has changed. One thing I greatly valued about the campus was the diversity. There are people from all walks of life with different demographic backgrounds and experience, allowing for diversity in thought. I enjoyed my time there and would recommend it to others to attend."

"Rutgers School of Nursing was established in July of 2014 as the result of the New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act. Looking back in time however, Rutgers history dates back to 1956, with the founding of Rutgers College of Nursing. In June of 2013, the UMDNJ and Rutgers University merger took place, bringing together the best in nursing education, research, and service previously offered by both institutions. Rutgers School of Nursing is recognized as providing the most comprehensive program of higher education in nursing in the state of New Jersey. It has been ranked in the Top 20 by U.S. News and World Report. Rutgers School of Nursings Doctor of Nursing Practice programs recently ranked number 17 and their MSN program was ranked number 19. Although I have not started my DNP Nurse Midwifery program yet, it makes me feel so privileged to be attending a university that is continuously sought as a place for meeting educational goals. A perfect example of this an individual who now has her PhD in nursing. She attended Rutgers School of Nursing throughout the years of 1989, 1992, and 2000, respectively, earning her BS, MS, and PhD degrees. Her name is Dr. Sung Poblete and in May of 2016, she got inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni Association. Dr. Poblete now dedicates her career to improving research and translating it into evidence-based practices, in order to improve patient outcomes. She is also president and chief executive officer of an organization that funds research to help in the battle against cancer. The students at Rutgers University School of Nursing are also continuously engaged in organizations such as the Nursing Student Community of Ambassadors, the Rutgers Student Nurses Association, and the Rutgers University School of Nursing Student Senate, to name a few. All of the above stated are reasons why I feel proud to have been accepted to the September 2017 DNP Nurse Midwifery program at Rutgers School of Nursing, Newark campus."

"I received a Master's degree in nursing from Rutgers University in 2016. The program was both challenging and rewarding. What I found very helpful was that many of the professors adjusted their lectures to their students learning style such as visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. After the program, I felt I was adequately prepared for an entry level position as a Nurse Practitioner. About six weeks after my graduation ceremony, I attained a job as an Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, with a focus in internal medicine. After a year in this role, I decided I would like to further my education; therefore , I re-enrolled at Rutgers University to attain a post-master's certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I will begin classes in September 2017. Subsequently, I plan to pursue the doctorate's degree in nursing, also at Rutgers University."

"Rutgers University Newark College of Arts & Sciences was the obvious choice for me when it came time to decide where I would be best prepared to achieve my educational goals. After researching Rutgers Urban Teacher Education Program and learning that it was one of the top-ranked teacher certification programs in the state, I knew that I had found the ideal school that would not only help me become specialized in my desired area of focus, but would equip me with the skills and educational experiences that would allow me to excel in my field. In addition to Rutgers research focus and diverse campus environment, its faculty of highly-credentialed professors was impressive and exciting. Upon graduating, I felt certain that I have received one of the finest educations possible with opportunities to conduct undergraduate research and study under some of the most respected academics in my field. With its low tuition, generous financial aid packages, and convenient accessibility via public transportation, Rutgers allowed me to focus on my studies with a lighter financial burden. With no reservation, I wholeheartedly recommend Rutgers-Newark as the ideal school to attend."

"Rutgers University- Newark is a great campus. It is one of the most diverse campuses in the United States, everyone is welcoming of people's differences. Campus life is great, since the campus is small you are always seeing people you know. The classes sizes for the most part are small with the exception of the entry level courses, which make it an ideal learning environment. The faculty is amazing and are always willing to work with you."

"The psychology program at Rutgers University-Newark was one that was unique. The program exposes students to the realities that are associated with working in the field of psychology as well as granting students the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice."

"I believe the School of Social Work at Rutger's University is beyond resourceful, empowering and motivating. I was fearful as a student returning to school after a prolonged period. I was belittling myself assuming that I could not handle the course load. My first day at orientation the way the students made me feel was a breath of fresh air. The advisory team and Dean made it their duty to answer any and all questions to ensure that all students knew they had a team rooting for them. The professors on campus are understanding and accessible when necessary to validate your frustrations, clarify and confusion and connect you to the proper parties in the event your concerns are out of their hands. I would suggest the state university to anyone who wants to be in a diverse, supportive and adequate learning environment with a staff who believe in you beyond what we sometimes believe in ourselves. Rutgers University is the place for you."

"I love Rutgers Law. It's complex and has its flaws, but I love the education I've received. I moved from Kansas to New Jersey for school and wouldn't change my experience at all. Within my first week I felt right at home at a school so tremendously dedicated to social justice. The professors are wonderful. The courses offered are spectacular. It's really a great place."

"Rutgers- Newark has an excellent program for Physical Therapy. They have been established since the 1990's and they continue to be featured on the top graduate programs offering physical therapy. The faculty really cares about their students and are apart of our support system which motivates us to strive to do our best. The program itself is quite rigorous but we know we are getting a good quality education that will allow us to be the best clinicians we desire to become. The area of Newark is a bit sketchy, however as long as you keep a watchful eye of your surroundings, you should be fine. The laboratories are open to students to continue to learn and study what they would like for any upcoming exams or assignments and they also have full cadavers for dissections. Since I am just starting this program, I don't have much else to say but I am eager to see all this program has to offer and the potential physical therapist I will become."

"Rutgers University has a long history as being the State University of New Jersey. One of the reasons I chose Rutgers as my graduate school is because it is one of the most diverse universities in the country. This was exciting to me since I wanted to study Global Affairs. The Global Affairs department here at Rutgers-Newark is very supportive of student needs, helping students during their time here to seek out all possible opportunities to grow for their future careers. The close proximity to New York City is also valuable when it comes to internships and jobs after graduation. I feel lucky to be a part of this community."