It's No Secret: Newark is a College Town

College Readiness and Awareness is, as I have stated in earlier blogs, one of the main priorities of Newark Public Schools. It is of such significance, in fact, that it’s part of the district’s mission statement. As a teacher of amazingly talented and inquisitive students at Arts High, I take this very, very seriously. I spend probably two or three lessons a month talking about some aspect of college readiness, from developing critical thinking skills to knowing what certain colleges have to offer. But one of the most important aspects of this subject is one that I really wish students (and parents) would take to heart: Newark has long been, and continues to be, a college town.

My students are a lot like teens everywhere else. Even in this age of transcontinental connectedness, they tend to be myopic. So many get wrapped up in their own lives, their own personal dramas and relationships, that they compromise their view of the larger picture. But in another way, they’re not like other students in, say, suburban or rural New Jersey. If you live in Newton, or Morristown, or Wildwood, you simply don’t have the benefit that Newark’s students do. That benefit is clear. Newark’s students live in a city that hosts some of the most impressive, comprehensive (and affordable) colleges and universities in the nation. And what’s just as important, they are all linked together and recognize each other’s students and transcripts (more on this later).

The Brick City is home to several venerable institutions of higher education. Rutgers, our state university, occupies a large and modern campus that doubles as an oasis of green in the middle of the city. Rutgers-Newark students get every benefit and privilege that students in New Brunswick receive, including a prestigious degree. Rutgers-Newark students can also enroll in classes at any Rutgers campus, take advantage of the university’s many “study abroad” programs, and use their I.D. to access state-of-the-art recreation centers and libraries.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology, or NJIT, has a campus that adjoins Rutgers in University Heights. NJIT has been repeatedly recognized by such authorities as U.S. News and World Report and others as one of the best science and tech schools in the nation. And its students are also fully integrated into the Rutgers-Newark social community.

There are two aspects of Rutgers University in Newark that I am constantly trying to get students to remember. First, the university has several colleges with different admissions criteria, though all lead to an esteemed Rutgers degree. Secondly, at Rutgers in Newark, in most majors, students can enroll in programs that lead to both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in five years. This, I tell them, is very, very critical. While there are many factors that will lead to employment, applying to a position with dual degrees earned before the age of 25 is extremely beneficial. “And,” as I repetitively inform them, “once you have your degrees and the knowledge that came with them, no one can take them away from you, ever. You can work, then not work for five or ten years, and you still have them.”

Many of my students come from families that will find paying for college a challenge. Some students have little or no help at all from home. But this cannot stop them from attaining a college education. Both Newark and NJIT have superb financial aid offices that offer millions of dollars worth of scholarships, grants and loans (avoid these if possible) to undergraduates. But when it comes to affordable tuition, that’s where Newark’s hidden gem of gems comes in: Essex County College (ECC).

Located adjacent to Rutgers and NJIT, ECC, more than any other undergraduate institution that I’ve ever found, offers a real bang for the buck. At ECC students take courses with quality professors at some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation. That’s great, but what’s better, and this is what’s crucial, is that ECC has an “articulation agreement” with Rutgers. If a student attends ECC and graduates with an Associates Degree (A.A.), all classes instantly and immediately transfer to Rutgers. Upon transferring to R.U. (Rutgers admission for ECC grads is just a formality), ECC grads enter as Juniors. In short, ECC alumni don’t skip a beat! And to make the process as smooth as possible, ECC has a fully staffed “transfer office” filled with counselors ready to help. Amazing!

There’s one more very important point about living in Newark and going to school here. I tell my students this all the time: if you don’t have to move out, if you can stay home (relatively) rent-free during your college years, do it. As an educator, I’ll readily admit that the campus is full of opportunities to learn and grow, to make connections and relationships. Some of these will last, professionally and personally, for decades to come. But college life is filled with distractions, and living on campus, in the age of the Internet, is not necessarily the best option for most students who live locally…especially those who are concerned with savings. This is a loaded subject though, and I’ll be sure to further discuss it in a future blog.

To my present and future Arts High students (and all readers) I say this: before mortgaging your future with loans on top of loans to attend a school far, far away, consider Newark’s colleges and universities. They’re right here, and they are world-class institutions. Don't just take my word for it...visit them online today!