University of Saint Joseph

This review will be from the point of view of a former student.
I honestly applied to this school as an afterthought. I don’t even remember what made me do it; probably had something to do with the fact that it was free (application fee waived) and no essay required («optional» paragraph at the end, which I did not write). Honestly, it was less than a safety school type thing, as I had my eyes set elsewhere.
I wasn’t shocked when I got the acceptance, but I was quite surprised at the generous scholarship. I come from a working class family; I was the first one in my family to attend college, so I was totally clueless as to how the whole process worked. I strayed from community colleges because I didn’t know any better, so I believed in the stigma that only «lazy» people went to those schools.
It turned out the school I wanted (UMaine at Orono) and this one (it was Saint Joseph College when I attended) would cost the same to attend. I ultimately chose this school because it was close to home and seemed to offer a very rich and rigorous program. However, problems began as soon as I started attending. My academic advisor placed me in a too-​high level math course, and wanted to place me in a too-​low French course (I had to fight to be placed into a 300-​level course, which is standard for someone with 4 years of high school French). On top of that, I was informed at the end of my first semester that the major I was going here for, Environmental Science, was being revoked due to low attendance (there were THREE others in the major besides me, and they were all graduating seniors. I was not informed of this prior to agreeing to attend.). Essentially, they pulled a bait-​and-​switch on me.
I tried to stick it out; however I did not have the proper background for the required coursework. I did have one year of high school chemistry, only to be told on the first day of General Chemistry I by the professor: «All of you who took chemistry in high school, you didn’t learn actual chemistry.» Great. I ended up having to drop it halfway through, as I was failing even with tutoring. The math class they bumped me up into, Pre-​Calculus, I somehow survived with a C-​. I was barely staying afloat, and my academic advisor was baffled («But you did sooo well in high school? What’s wrong here??»). My confidence was wrecked.
That scholarship that I was offered? It turns it out it BARELY made a dent in expenses; my parents and I sunk THOUSANDS into tuition and residential fees after it was applied, and I STILL had to take out loans. I should have noticed something was amiss when most of the ladies I began my semester with either dropped out or transferred out after the first semester.
Eventually, it became too much, and I withdrew from the college. Took a semester off to let my fried brain rest, then sucked up my pride and admitted into Manchester Community College. To my shock, the coursework was at the same level, and they had/​have the proper foundational math and science courses that I was looking for all along. I didn’t end up staying in science; I switched out into the social sciences and eventually got my BA at Central, but I will go back for my BS.
The whole point of this long-​winded review? This school is a money-​trap. Unless you’re going into Nursing or Pharmacy, stay way away. They may lure you in with fancy scholarships; unless you’re getting a FULL ride with tuition and living expenses covered, don’t bother. I now have 31k in debt, and most of that is from my time at this school.
My advice to anyone looking for an affordable undergraduate education: start at one of the community colleges. Get your general education requirements out of the way and any foundational courses completed, THEN transfer to your school of choice. You will save THOUSANDS. Also, UConn and the State University system have direct-​transfer programs, which means you can just seamlessly go on through.
I did have some good experiences here, but they ultimately weren’t worth the insane price tag. As an aside, their natatorium is gorgeous.

As a New Yorker who came from the active social life and diversity… it was a shocker. The campus is very isolated, if you don’t have a car, its equivalent to being in a nice prison.
I left the college because, it was too expensive like «NYU expensive.»
I think there is no sense of going to an all girl school unless you are rich or you have been that boy crazy girl.

I went here to do some homework with my girlfriend. The campus looks beautiful, looks like they do a good job with landscaping (area beautification).
I went into the library. The Wifi is free as long as you sign in as «Guest,» then type your full name and reason for using their wifi. The library I saw had a couple floors. There are a few quiet group rooms with windows and fans in them. I suggest to still use your indoor voices, because these rooms are not that sound proof.
This campus looks a little antiquated, but you can feel the history with this place.

Great place to run at nights. I go here often when I need to escape and the track is open to the public. Usually people are playing ultimate frisbee at night which is cool, but the track is soft and well lit and it’s just an all-​around good place to be 10pm and later when nobody else is around.

Great school. not all girls however. I have taken some classes here on this campus. Currently they are working hard to expand their distance learning programs. The school is quietly progressive. Weekend programs, undergraduate and advanced degrees. Very convenient small campus.

Small all girls school. Great academics and great campus.