Concord University

It's interesting I find myself writing about this. As I write this I've been out of Concord over 2 years, moved out of state (a point I will elucidate upon), and taken a job not at all related to my major while I continue to apply for government employment. I guess you could say I didn't have the "typical" college experience, and living close to a more typical experience (i.e. Ohio State University) I have to say that there's both good and bad in that. I think that Concord is an excellent school to go to if you're interested in studying, learning, and wanting to better yourself. Concord is an easy school to get into, and I believe the philosophy is that they'll give anyone a chance but to graduate you have to prove to them that you're worthy. The attrition rate of freshman alone was enough to prove this statement. Moreover, if you graduate from Concord, you'll know you have a degree that's actually worth the paper it's printed on. So many schools tend to take the easy road where you "pay your fees and get your C's" and if you take that approach with Concord you will wash out in no time. You have to study. Full stop. If you aren't in school to study, then read this no further. However, if you are interested in going to school to study, let me present you a caveat: there is NOTHING to do on campus. Most students, no kidding, go to the Walmart in nearby Princeton or to the Omelette Shoppe (I heard the name got changed to the Omelette Stop, but I digress.) I mean there is a Greek culture on campus, and they seem to be rather tight-knit, so I never could penetrate that mystery, but other than that, you're on your own. It's up to you to make friends, find things to do, and create your own entertainment outside of studying. I think that it's less that Concord itself is slow and boring as it is all of Southern West Virginia. The Appalachians are a very rural and zealous people, and aren't particularly into doing things that most of us would consider "fun." If you love nature and mountains Concord is your place. If you want to be in the heart of it all then I suggest strongly you look elsewhere. Likewise, don't expect much help from your advisors or career services. Although Career Services is very helpful, it consists of one person for a college of over 4000. Tammy is a wonderful person and has proven invaluable to my own job search but one person can only do so much. My wife, who attends Ohio State, tells me that they have an entire placement division that helps new grads find jobs. Again, that's all up to you. Most professors will try to lie to you and tell you you can either go to grad school or work a McJob the rest of your life. Don't expect any career counselling on their ends. However, being this as it may, don't blame Concord (or any other school you attend) if you don't get that dream job making X dollars out of college. That, to me is Concord's great failing. Concord has a good education program, but largely it seems like they promote education for education's sake. If that is your aim then go to Concord, but if not then I suggest you look elsewhere. I, for one, enjoyed my time at Concord but I don't necessarily think that I would do it over again, in hindsight.One final piece of advice: if you want a job and you're from the area, LEAVE WEST VIRGINIA.

4th Year Male -- Class 2005

Faculty Accessibility: A+, Useful Schoolwork: F

Concord is a hole of an experience. There is so much wrong with this place that I do not know where to start. No one here is interested in talking to other people, as everyone forms their own little cliques like in high school. Once, I was even asked to LEAVE when I was sitting on the other end of a long table, about 5 chairs from the closest person. If you're looking for a "friendly" environment as is commonly associated with small colleges then you seriously should look elsewhere. If you're looking for a place where you can continue your social shenanigans that you so adeptly perfected in high school, then this is the place for you! The social life is, as commonly noted, non-existant. Very little in the way of extracurriculars if you aren't into Concord's joke of a sports programme (just like HIGH SCHOOL!), and I think we average about one activity per week, which generally consists of some tired old comedian or magic show. They get the same acts year after year, so don't be upset if you miss it one year for a date or cholera. Finally, and most importantly, there seems to be this vast conspiracy here at Concord to keep students ignorant and pursuing needless higher education, under the guise of telling them that they'll "never do anything with their degree" unless they get a doctorate. This is a LIE, and one that I believed for 4 years. Did you know that your major is only the 12th most important factor employers look at? Or that only 4% of employers think that grades are important? Neither did I, and it was a book that my career counsellor recommended, not my "advisor," who only wanted to put me in some grad school that I didn't need and couldn't afford so Concord could keep up its reputation of trucking its career-stupid students off to grad school. I was also demeaned and told that I would "only be able to work at Wal-mart" when I explained that I didn't want to get a Master's. Concord fails so masterfully on so many levels, from its idiotic administration, its pathetic maintenance crew who chooses the most inconvenient times to do construction work (my window has been broken for 2 years, and has NEVER GOTTEN FIXED, despite my putting in at least 10 work orders), its dearth of extracurriculars, its religious fanatics (including a short-lived but scary cult), and most importantly, its lack of anyone, save Tammy in Career Services, to give you a straight answer on what you can do to get a job with the degree you've spent 4 years of your life getting! Failure of these proportions is truly something of legend.

4th Year Male -- Class 2005

Perceived Campus Safety: A, Useful Schoolwork: F

1st Year Male -- Class 2005

Scholastic Success: A-, Social Life: F