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| Rutgers University–Newark (aerial view) Photo: Rutgers-Newark Webpage |
by Devon Christopher Corry
JUNE 28, 2020
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY-- With graduations still happening this week, and graduation parties underway, our students that have done the impossible. They were practically the guinea pigs for such a new lifestyle that was unprecedented and for that, we have to value them that much more. Arguably the best class, most of our Essex County, and more specifically, our Newark students have decided to stay local.
Rutgers University-Newark statistically, is one of the most competitive and diverse schools in America. With multiple genders, nationalities, religions, and sexualities represented across the campus, and each race holding a 15-20% demographic in the student population, one can fathom that the culture representation on campus is undefeated, and very much equal. With New Brunswick holding the largest student population, some argue that it is their escape from home. While this may be one of the reasons that Rutgers-Newark may be very appealing to our students, there are quite more reasons why many will be attending the Newark campus in the fall.
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| Joelle Diaz Photo: Courtesy |
Successful sole proprieties, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and LLPs are formed right out of Newark. Home to one of the most lucrative business schools, Joelle Diaz, Newark Tech graduate, majoring in Finance says that she chose Rutgers-Newark because "It has one of the best business schools, has great connections with big companies, and it's affordable." Not to mention that it provides a reasonable balance between her studies and her family, as she exclaims "I couldn't go to a faraway college due to family reasons, so RU-N was the best choice for me." Diaz will be graduating in four years and is ready to start school in the fall.
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| Christopher Nguyen Photo: Courtesy |
Located in the heart of Downtown Newark, also known as the Arts District, surroundings are crucial to a student's college experience, not only outside, but inside and as well. Location and classroom size are part of Criminal Justice major, Rahway High School alumnus, Christopher Nguyen's list of motivating factors. Nguyen has declared enrollment at Rutgers because "It's right next to the beautiful NYC, and [Rutgers] Newark has a good student to professor percent ratio." 21 years old, Nguyen is transferring to RU-N from Union County College and has found a new place to call home.
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| David Daughety Photo: Courtesy |
Money and financial situations also play a huge part in the final college decision. Sometimes students may prioritize attending a school that is accompanied by lethal student loans, heavy expected family contributions, and minimal financial aid. The sacrifice of still attending such a school becomes dire to one's life later. Many students must come to the realization that there are many postsecondary institutions that have the same exact degrees, which many corporations and businesses will only care about when it is time to pursue a career. The household name institutions are no doubt, very impressive for those few seconds a resume is being scanned.
David Daughety, Political Science major, Newark Arts High School alumnus states that "Howard" was his first choice, and "RU-N" was his second choice. "It was my safety school while being my second choice. I originally was accepted to Howard but my finances chose Rutgers." Daughety also has a concentration in Social Justice, through the Honors Learning and Living Community (HLLC), a program only existing at Rutgers-Newark, providing a room and board four-year scholarship. Daughety is pursuing a B.A. Political Science degree, in hopes of pursuing a Doctorate of Jurisprudence (JD) degree.
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| Lendy Salazar Photo: Courtesy |
Comfortability and having the college experience were determining factors for sedulous rising sophomore, Lendy Salazar, also majoring in Criminal Justice, to eventually pursue a Doctorate of Jurisprudence (JD) degree. Salazar recalls back to her senior year at University High School when she caught the famous "Senioritis". Due to this, she would lower her chances of getting into some schools and says she was basically "forced" by her guidance counselor to fill out the CommonApp. Rutgers not being on the CommonApp, she still persevered to fill out the application. On college decision day of 2019, Salazar announced that she would be attending Bloomfield College, submitting her non-refundable $150 enrollment deposit, just a few days before. Rutgers has not gotten back to her. Just a couple days after, Salazar received her acceptance to Rutgers-Newark, and she felt conflicted. Part of her conflict came from her already submitting her enrollment deposit, and her mentor/law teacher Dr. Liza Lopez, Esq. Lopez, who is also a Rutgers Law School alum, gave a compelling argument to Salazar to rethink her decision, with reasons including financial aid and acceptance/graduation rate comparisons. Salazar rescinded her decision and submitted her enrollment deposit to Rutgers. Today, Salazar is full of exuberance with her experience and is not regretful about her changing her college.
Kelly McIntyre, Journalism major, as well as another University High School alumni, stresses that making a pros and cons list when you have multiple schools in mind, is a powerful move to make. McIntyre was proactive during her senior year when it came to making her college decision. She recalls "In my decision process I had my top three schools, Rutgers, TCNJ and The New School in NYC." While The New School was her top choice McIntyre knew that without a doubt that cost of attendance was apart of her decision process. McIntyre emphasizes that "I didn't see it attainable due to its pricing. (Being nearly $70,000 because it was out of state when I only live an hour away.)" As hard as it was, McIntyre knew that letting it go, was the best option. Knocking her college list down to 2, she had to be a little more critical with her pros and cons list, as well as her deciding factors. With sisters both attending Rutgers-Newark and The College of New Jersey, that already made the decision hard for McIntyre. "The pros for Newark outweighed the cons" she claims. Furthermore, she explains "Some of these pros being, proximity to NYC, diversity on campus, price, as well as the campus being in a city that I'm more than familiar with." Kelly McIntyre will be entering her junior year at Rutgers and has utilized many of the opportunities that have been brought upon her.
As the summer begins, and students are using these times to rest or even continue their studies, our new Rutgers students will be starting EOF next week, on a virtual platform. Hopefully, the testimonies from these students will be pivotal and effective to a prospective Rutgers student.
Well! That is all the news that I have for you today. Continue to read the chronicles that I bring to you because it only happens here on Christopher's Chronicles.
Until next time,
Peace!
| Kelly McIntyre Photo: Courtesy |
As the summer begins, and students are using these times to rest or even continue their studies, our new Rutgers students will be starting EOF next week, on a virtual platform. Hopefully, the testimonies from these students will be pivotal and effective to a prospective Rutgers student.
Well! That is all the news that I have for you today. Continue to read the chronicles that I bring to you because it only happens here on Christopher's Chronicles.
Until next time,
Peace!
