I have been out of SHS for 27 years...good great academic instruction from the Ph.Ds...not a GA. Nothing against GAs, but you pay the money for the "real deal".
Great college atmosphere...small town, but found ways to have fun in and around Huntsville. The people are helpful and you feel safe there.
As an alum, the university has had some great leadership over the years. Dr. Gaertner has been wonderful to THE U and to the Alumni. He has done so much for the university in 9 years. The University works extremely hard to make sure the student does well and leaves with a degree. The university has great enrichment centers to help with that process. THEY DO CARE!!
As far as the rankings from the periodicals, a lot of that is endowment driven along with the other criteria. SHS, until recently, never had an endowment drive until Dr. Gaertner put a Capital Campaign together. It generated ~60M in four years...pretty good for the first one and the goal was 50M. Considering SHS has ~100K alumni and ~20% contributed to the campaign...again, not a bad effort for the first time. This should help with the endowment portion of those reviews...don't go by just those supplements. Visit the university and talk to the departments. I guarantee you when you visit SHSU, you will be impressed by it's people and the beauty of the university itself.
Just a note...SHS is a Carnegie Doctorial Research Institution...only about 7% of the 4-yr institutions carry that moniker. That tells you something right there.
BKPRIDEof TX1:02PM July 27, 2010
I am an alumni of Sam Houston and was so proud when my child decided to attend. Unfortunately, she has not experienced the same as I. Instead, she is faced with a very clicky department and in spite of everything she had to offer them, has not been given the level of education that we pay for. Compared to other colleges, she could have learned so much more, but too late to transfer now. And as far as obtaining scholarship or funding assistance, in spite of her needs and gpa (4.0) cannot qualify for a scholarship there simply because of a department head that does not like her. Not fair and I think that one person should not control the purse strings of this particular department. For it being a public university, they pick and choose too much. I truly regret not letting her go to her first choice.
Unlike Lone Star College that is growing by leaps and bounds, if it were a 4 year university, it would wipe SHSU off the map. Definately a first rate college will 50,000 students to boast about.
Evanof TX2:23AM September 07, 2009
SHSU is a great school!! It is such a beautiful campus. I just got my BBA in accounting last May. I am now finding out how well prepared for graduate school
I can’t understand why US News ranks Sam so low! It is just insulting to see how poorly my school is regarded. I choose to go to Sam and have not regretted it. I also could have gone to UT and I even got into Rice but I chose Sam because of the quality of the education, the location of the campus, and low tuition rates. Unlike students at UT, I can honestly say I never had a class with a teacher’s assistant. If I ever had a problem I went to the source, the professor. Also, Sam’s professors have actual real world work experience instead of entering academia after college so they can have an easy life.
I would easily put Sam’s graduates against that of UT, A&M, Rice, and Baylor.
09Graduateof TX9:52PM September 01, 2009
Agree wholeheartedly with this article! Sam Houston State University is a great place for students who might really struggle at the big schools. There is a lot of individual attention, small classes and easy involvement in any number of great extracurricular organizations. Campus is beautiful, has lots of great new facilities and is very friendly.
My daughter could have gone to University of Texas but chose SHSU and has never regretted it. You aren't wait listed or denied admission to the department of your choosing. The head of her department took an interest in her academic career from the very first semester and has helped and advised her through a great internship and her upcoming graduation.
Can't recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a great university that thinks big but acts small and friendly!! Make no mistake...even though Huntsville is a small town, they still find ways to have plenty of fun!!
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BKPRIDE of TX 1:02PM July 27, 2010
Evan of TX 2:23AM September 07, 2009
09Graduate of TX 9:52PM September 01, 2009
HonestMom of TX 2:31PM August 28, 2009