My daughter was accepted to East Stroudsburg University as an education major. This was top on our list because their teaching program seems good and the price and distance is right. But the recent arrests and before that violence over rival gangs selling drugs on campus has me thinking no way. Can anyone whose kid goes there or went there recently tell me what their experience was with academics and the overall environment of the school? Thanks!
I can’t talk about the current climate, but I work in a school in NJ and we have two excellent teachers from ESU, one at the elementary level and one at the high school.
Has she looked at Shippensburg?
@cozminok My friend’s son was there for about a year but quit.; more a reflection on him than the school.
I think you will find issues at any school with a larger population, but recent incidences would be concerning to me as well. Have you looked at any of the other PASSHE schools? I know a lot of teachers that graduated from Bloomsburg and it was the second choice of my youngest.
@mommdc She did look at Shippensburg but decided not to apply there.
@laralei Yes, she was accepted to Bloomsburg and we both really liked it. It’s far away but still doable. She also applied to IUP and WCU (as a commuter) and a handful of non-PASSHE schools. She really liked ESU’s campus and it seemed to check a lot of boxes, but the more I think on the recent happenings, the more I think we’ll probably pass.
@cozminok I will see my friend tomorrow and ask her about ESU. Though her son doesn’t go there anymore, he still talks to friends of his on campus; will see if he has heard anything about the recent incidences you mentioned.
@laralei thank you so much. I would love to know what actual students think so that would be perfect.
A good place to check on what students are thinking is the respective schools’ student-run newspaper, or other publication. In this case, a quick search shows that it’s the Stroud Courier:
http://thestroudcourier.com/
After speaking w/ my friend, though her son had great friends on campus, she would agree that the incidences are concerning and she is glad her youngest son did not end up there.
Per the above link, it does seem that ESU is not handling the issues on campus very well at all. I would probably pass on ESU as well since your daughter certainly has better options.
Thank you @laralei for asking your friend. I really appreciate it. When I’ve mentioned it to others, they feel the same.
And thank you @hop for the link. It was extremely helpful to read a student’s take. I’ll check those out for the other schools she’s considering.
I work with a woman who’s son graduated ESU and is VERY successful. Not sure what his major was but he’s an area manager of Enterprise Car Rental and is really enjoying it. Making loads of money and moving up in the ranks very quickly.
Now her other son graduated Bloomsburg with a Masters in kinesiology or exercise science and the only job he could find was a personal trainer at LA Fitness for $10/hr and no benefits. Worked weekends and was miserable.
Lastly her youngest graduated from Wilkes Univ as an engineer and is also doing very well. Got a job very quickly.
I’m sure it does come down to the student and what they put into the experience. Part of me thinks I’m overreacting. We have time to think about it and maybe make another visit.
What concerned me in reading articles is that two of the guys they arrested had a warrant from about a year earlier from another incident on campus. I don’t understand why they were still students there. I know drugs are a problem on any campus, but I worry about the kinds of students they’re accepting and how they’re handling problems (or not).
The funny thing being my daughter’s top choice is Temple, which has had its own share of problems in the last couple of years. My hope is a bigger state or public college, while not necessarily safe, will attract a more diverse range of students and will offer more things to do too.
I thought ESU was open admissions? I thought it was when S17 was looking at schools. Did she look at Kutztown? It’s not highly ranked, but I know many people who got teaching degrees there and are doing well. We also loved Bloomsburg and Millersville when we toured. All PASSHE schools so I don’t know if that makes cost about the same for you? Or how far away they are for you. Good luck!
Wow - we had a deposit at ESU for my freshman nursing student; she ended up choosing York instead
@toomanyteens I’ve heard great things about York’s nursing program. Hope your daughter is happy there.
@NJWrestlingmom I don’t think it is open admissions but does have a very high acceptance rate. Kutztown and Millersville were not schools she wanted to apply to, which is a shame because they’re both kind of close. I was happy to narrow down the list though and figured why apply to a school that doesn’t feel right for whatever reason. She was accepted to Bloomsburg and it’s top of the list. It has a beautiful campus, seems to have a great teaching program, plus a small downtown area within walking distance. I think it’s great.
She is also looking at Rosemont College this weekend and loves Towson for out of state schools. I went there but it will come down to any aid since it’s OOS prices (assuming she gets in).
@cozminok She is very happy at York so far and looking forward to her first real ‘nursing’ class next year
York was on my son’s short list for education too! We even took the check book to accepted student day planning to deposit, and he came away changing his mind! I thought he would end up at York or Millersville (great dorms!), but ended up staying in state. It all works out in the end!
I live near ESU. It’s OK. Safety is as much a concern there as it is anywhere; I wouldn’t call it unsafe, though.
But if you have higher options, academically, I would take them.
@cozminok She is very happy at York so far and looking forward to her first real ‘nursing’ class next year
It’s weird. My daughter is really interested in ESU. She left HS after sophomore year to major in math at our community college which has dual admission with ESU. It’s the least prestigious institution that she can transfer to, but she has really liked what she’s seen of it.