Proud to Be A Mastodon
Written: Nov 07 '07
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Pros: small classes, economically sound, convenient, great for part-timers
Cons: fewer chances to drink oneself insensate as a freshman
The Bottom Line: To most of the world, it's now where you went to school but what you learned while you were there; and IPFW is a darned good place to learn.
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| scmrak's Full Review: Indiana University-Purdue Univ. Fort Wayne |
Hey, IPFW: Baby, you've come a long way in the years I've known you. I barely recognize you, with all those buildings and athletic fields. Heck, you even have student housing now. The locals sure can't call you "Bypass High" anymore! And yet you retain the appeal you had when I attended years ago: small classes, high teacher-to-student ratio, affordable tuition (sort of), and the ability to transfer credit to either of two world-class universities. What's not to like?
Perhaps some complain that students aren't exposed to the full "college experience" they'd encounter in Bloomington or West Lafayette, but how much beer pong can one freshman play? And does attending football games really prepare one for cubicle farming? Probably not... in fact, a student at a commuter college (which is still IPFW's major role) actually has some classroom advantages over a student at a residential college, like:
• classes are taught by PhDs, not by people studying to be PhDs.
• classes are small (averaging 24); no lecture halls of 800 students
• many classes, especially at the 100-200 level, are available nights and weekends; perfect for returning or part-time students.
• Sure, you don't have that world-renowned researcher teaching your class. But it's pretty likely only grad students see him at Enormous State U, too.
Add to this the "main" campuses' ready acceptance of transfer credit (assuming you passed the class), and IPFW starts looking pretty darned good. Perhaps that's why there are 20,000 students enrolled at the campus.
About those costs: back when I started there tuition cost $8 per semester hour. It's undergone about a 2500% increase in the intervening years to $210/hour, but that's still less than the main campuses (by comparison, IU-Bloomington is around $3625 a semester). You pay only for the hours you take, too; not a flat fee for anything in the 12-17 hour range. Also on the money front, the cost of housing tends to be lower than in "college ghettos" (especially if you can stay with the parents) and wages are higher than in college towns. So it's definitely an economical alternative to packing up everything and heading to campus.
Think the course offerings are skimpy? Between its two university missions, IPFW offers over 180 degrees, Associate through Masters - everything from Accounting to Women's Studies. The medical programs: nursing, medical technology programs, dental hygiene - have long been considered top-notch. Same with the business programs, which are likewise highly regarded. Non-degree and certification programs abound; with course offerings for everyone from first-time students to seasoned professionals.
Returning students find the campus environment more comfortable than a residential campus, with attendees of almost every age (my Dad took courses at the age of 68). There's not that rush to finish in eight semesters; so many IPFW students work full-time jobs and get their degrees on a more leisurely schedule. Such a setting is also ideal for e-e-e-asing into college life if you don't feel quite ready to make the jump to a big pond.
I'm living proof: My BS degree from IPFW turned out to be every bit as good as those of people who went to the country's most expensive public university (although they were continually told theirs was better). In today's market, it's not where you went to school; it's what you learned - and that's a function of who you are.
There's no shame in being a Mastodon: Students get a complete education from qualified instructors and they can do it on their own terms and at their own pace - part-time students are definitely welcome. Students have the advantage of living in a larger city, with its bigger spread in housing costs and larger job pool. And if you ever find that mascot a little weird, just remember: it's probably no stranger than an Anteater or a Banana Slug.
At 643 words, this qualifies as an entry in the Lean-n-Mean VI entry.
Recommended:
Yes
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