Rider University Top Questions

Every one of my professors know me and I also make it a point that they do. I love the one on one help I am able to receive from them. My favorite classes are based on the professors, if I enjoyed the professor I loved the class. I haven't been much involved with the education department yet because I am only a freshmen but I've been very involved with the psychology department. Most of the professors seem very nice and they are all very experienced in their fields.

My biggest qualm with Rider might be the great sense of Rider pride at the university despite the fact that the academics are extremely sub-par. In an attempt to finish my degree sooner, I have taken many of my courses over the summer, through community colleges or four-year universities, for transfer credit; I have honestly felt more satisfied and educationally fulfilled from each of these courses than from nearly any Rider University course I've taken. At Rider, the classes I've taken have been horribly unfocused. I've heard of so many instances where professors run the class on an "as you wish" basis, where you need not attend, and as a result, many students are gaining no knowledge from the first handful of courses in their own majors. I had a class this past spring where several students seemed to suffer in their grades because they were more informed on the subject than the professor, and her instruction was just so inaccurate that their knowledge became detrimental. Regarding some earlier comments, I feel that Rider also needs to raise its admission requirements. It is clearly becoming more of an issue of money for the university than credibility, and for every student that is deserving of the chance to pursue their degree, one student is also admitted who will spend each night out drinking and not make any use of the opportunities. These students make the academic environment that much worse for all the serious students, and Rider needs to reprioritize and stop admitting so many of these students just for the money. I can say that from my knowledge of Westminster Choir College, I have next to no complaints. The faculty is stellar and the level of instruction is unparalleled. Barton Bartle is the only professor to watch out for; he is highly unfair and insensitive and does not set out to see a student succeed. Westminster is Rider's strongest asset, though, and should be treated as such.

Academics at Rider is excellent. I'm an accounting major and have a minor in health administration. Rider started out as a Business College and thus the business courses here are fantastic! There are so many businesses that are close to Rider including: Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ernst & Young, Lehman Brothers, and so many more. Here you can get internships, summer jobs, co-ops, etc. If Rider doesn't have an established major that you are interested in you can create your own. Health Administration and Accounting are not normally paired together, but that's what I wanted to do. You tell them what you are looking to achieve and they will help you achieve it. In the classes I've taken class participation has always been a huge part of the grade. Some of the classes I've taken, no one wanted to participate and the teacher didn't encourage it, like in my statistics courses. But many teachers really encourage participation and the studnets always want to share their opinions.

Generally, you only have classes for 15 hours a week. That is where time management comes in to play. If you don't know how to study, get started now. College tests are not easy, you should prepare by studying your notes a week before the test. Ask your professors for help whenever you need it. If you study a few days before a test, you should do average depending on how well you know the info. GO TO CLASS, some classes count attendance, others don't. If you don't go to class, you will most likely do terrible. If you go every class, your professors will know you & will be more willing to help you out. The average class size is about 15- 25 & your professors will begin to learn your names. Many professors love when their students participate & have an interest in what the subject is - not just the grade their going to receive. I'm an education major, I have yet to take the classes yet so I don't know much about it.