Drexel in 40 Years...

[bmf25]

Just wondering... to which program are you applying? The admissions are done by individual colleges. I'm personally waiting to come back for my MBA until the new business building is complete. But you know what? It will be. Along with the building on 33rd and Chestnut. So right there you have two new, state-of-the-art buildings in two of our biggest disciplines. Add to that the building on 34th of Market for design majors. I'm wondering what you're complaining about. If it's the fact that it isn't here instantaneously, then you have some unreasonable expectations. If you're complaining for the sake of complaining, then I somewhat understand it.

I'm currently in a business program with a concentration in computer science. I looked into the programs at Drexel because I was impressed by many of my professors at Lebow in the undergraduate program and wanted to stay in the NJ/PA area. However, after going through the application process and comparing facilities with other programs, I could not apply to Drexel. Even when the new Lebow building is completed the university will be significantly handicapped by its facilities.

In addition, I was disappointed in the "sales" department of the Drexel online degree department, which reminded me of the University of Phoenix. Between the online degrees, culinary arts training programs, and Sacramento campus the Drexel brand is slowly diminishing.

I bring this up not to complain, but to bring about change.

[RGS]

"Describing his ambitions for Drexel University as "outsize," the school's new president on Friday announced bold plans, including overhauling its campus and neighborhood, and creating an institute to study autism.
...

"Who among us could walk around our campus, take full stock of all our spaces, resources, and supports for faculty and students, and then say, 'This is a campus befitting a world-class university'?" he asked.

In an interview before his speech, he said his plans included $200 million in investments over the next four years. The school is working on building a residential and retail complex but also will focus on small projects, such as pocket parks."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/119964849.html

[warpig]

a few thoughts...

first...drexel swept the double header at uncw today. they came from 4 runs down in the second game. i'd take a broom stick down tomorrow for the last game of the weekend series...but i'm going to charlotte for the drag race.

Even when the new Lebow building is completed the university will be significantly handicapped by its facilities.

how much do these facilities really matter? most kids think you don't even have to go to class. they waste their four years at drexel just like kids at every other college in this country. the kids who are going to succeed would get good grades and learn a lot if their classes were in a cardboard box.

even if we assume the facilites aren't important...drexel's really aren't that bad. the bio. and chem. departments were the red-headed step child to engineering when it came to getting better facilities. somehow they still got me ready to do very well in med. school.

again...that gets to the point of the kid...not the facilities...making the difference.

[warpig]

I bring this up not to complain, but to bring about change.

if you want to bring about change...go out and be successful. don't whine on a message board. it's doubtful all of my whining can cause any change in the basketball program so it sure as hell won't change the course drexel is going to take over the next 40 years. it's really all of us...the alumni...that decide what drexel's place in the worldwide community is going to be.

[bmf25]

again...that gets to the point of the kid...not the facilities...making the difference.

Improved facilities will help attract kids with better worth ethics, which will make a difference. Based on my experience in the undergrad business program about 20% of the students were actually hard workers, and consistently finished assignments/performed well on exams. However, the rest of the students were just happy with a diploma and could careless if they received C's. While working on projects, I was always amazed at the laziness of many students. People shouldn't go to Drexel just to squeak by getting C's and B's.

Improved facilities will help get rid of those mediocre students.

[jmo34]

@BMF25 -- Wow...if you think Drexel's facilities are horrible now, I wonder what you thought before they renovated the Handschmacker, renovated parts of the Main Building, built Bossone, built the Papadakis Integrated Sciences building, built Pearlstein, renovated Newman, renovated the Parking Garage, renovated/expanded the DAC, built the Law Building, renovated the Library, renovated Caneris Hall, renovated the Armory's inside, renovated Buckley, built new tennis courts, built Race Street Dorm, renovated the Academic Buildilng, built North Hall, renovated Kelly Hall, built Millenium Hall, renovated Ross Commons, built Drexel Park, etc. etc. etc. Almost all (or maybe all, I don't feel like looking up dates for North Hall and Buckley) of this was done in the last 12 years. As someone else mentioned, you must want everything ELSE that still needs to be done to be accomplish instantly. It sounds like you will never seem satisfied with any progress.

And I never thought that a Drexel Alum would predict that Drexel would fall out of the Top 100 when all they've done is climb the rankings of the Top 100 the last 5-10 years and are one of the main reasons U.S. News invented an "Up-and-Coming" category, of which we continue to climb in that category as well. I hope your analysis of these trends, which leads somehow to a conclusion on your part that our ranking will drop, is a result of your new grad school education and not of your Drexel undergrad education!

As someone else mentioned, if you have a problem with how your alma mater is recruiting students, do something about it. Just one alumnus who chooses to help and volunteers to go to Accepted Student Days events and Information Sessions and talk to prospective students in an enthusiastic way and try to attract them to Drexel will do a lot more than a new $50 million building will ever do to attract anyone. And yes, I am regularly on campus doing such things, I would be happy to pass information on to you about getting involved, especially with the CS Department.

[Marshall_Amp]

bmf, I agree with you completely about better facilities attracting better students, but you seem to dismiss the fact that LeBow will have 2 state of the art buildings when the new one is complete. That will significantly increase the academic profile of the student body. (Something that has already been steadily increasing in my 5 years here). Again, 2 new Drexel buildings currently under construction with a 3rd undergoing massive renovations is HUGE progress, and my problem is that you seem to expect the entire campus to be state-of-the-art by next week.

I can't speak to what the graduate/online admissions people are like, but I do know for certain that undergraduate admissions are handled completely differently. Besides, Drexel is known mostly for it's undergrad program and co-op, and ours is better than 99% of the other schools out there.

On a personal note, I make no bones about not being a straight-A student. I'll graduate with a low 3-point-something, but I made up for it by killing on co-op and running a bunch of student orgs. It's why I have a bunch of job offers for June and some of my fellow students are stressing the job search with 4.0's. My point is, there's more than one way to do college. Work ethic isn't just shown in GPA. In fact, I'd say it's mostly shown elsewhere. (When did you graduate undergrad? That 20% you mentioned is definitely not indicative of the current LeBow students)

Definitely agree with warpig... The best thing anybody on here can do is be successful in the real world, and rep Drexel that way. Complaining on a message board does absolutely nothing.

[bmf25]

(When did you graduate undergrad? That 20% you mentioned is definitely not indicative of the current LeBow students)

I graduated in the fall/winter of 2007. I'm not complaining about the quality of the education received, I had some outstanding professors at Lebow.

Drexel Tuition:
One Co-op Option/No Co-op Option (4 Years): Tuition $39,700

You can't charge nearly $40,000 for tuition and have facilities, which are behind cheaper schools. Look at the 83% acceptance rates at St. Joe's, which might be a sign that private schools without top-notch facilities can no longer get away with charging $35,000+ a year for tuition.

Our campus doesn't reflect a $40,000/yr tuition.

[DBALL]

Facilities is the biggest factor in increasing tuition costs over the last 20 years. Each school has to outdo the other one to make itself more attractive. Which is a shame because I agree with Warpig said about the best students learn despite the environment. But it's usually the book's cover that gets you in the front door. Thus, schools will dump more $ into plant costs and keep pushing the limits on what students pay. As long as there is credit and gifts from the government, there is no need to stem the tide of increasing costs.

[JonP]

If you're complaining for the sake of complaining, then I somewhat understand it.

It's taken you this long to figure it out?