University Of North Texas review: some things i've notice here... 5

With a less than a 3.0 gpa (from a pretty good, private, small liberal arts school) and less than stellar GRE scores, I must say, I'm glad I got admitted somewhere for grad school. When I got here, however, I was seriously wondering for quiet a while, if the school was some sort of a "diploma mill, " the standards are so low. For example, I've witnessed listening to head phones in class, as graduate students, and they are still here! And, for masters classes, at least in the department I'm at, some classes are still using undergrad textbooks, even though, I'm sure most of the students don't even notice because, presumably they don't read them. I do notice an effort on the professor's and the department's behalf to maintain "high standard, by imposing strict "letter by letter" type of requirements, such as, a whole bunch of prerequisites for you to get your degree if you're in a grad program for which you did not complete an undergrad degree (come on, if you didn't get an undergrad degree in sociology or psychology, for example, you'll do just fine in its study on a grad level, because those fields aren't exactly "rocket science, " now, if its was engineering or chemistry, or Arabic, now, that would be a different story); lots of undergrad-type of assignments throughout the semester that are graded on a stringent point system (rather than papers and thought-pieces as is more typical of grad school for social sciences, which is, the area I'm in), even multiple-choice tests (for crying out loud!). Despite the best intentions of these efforts, these requirements reinforce the lack of rigor of the grad program, while also, reflecting the simplistic thinking of its faculty and its administration. Also, the program is catered to working professionals and people with babies, so the program is "watered down" to accommodate them. Its like a community college version of grad school. But like I said, I'm glad I got in somewhere, and needless to say, I won't be staying here long 'cause its just for the masters.

One thing that does concern me though is the business model that UNT seems to be employing in running itself. While there is nothing "wrong" with it, nor is it illegal, maybe even necessary in today's competitive economy, but when the business model is applied to a place of higher learning, such as a state university, ethical issues are bound to arise. First of all, in order to aggressively attract and retain its students, I do believe that they misrepresent how much "financial aid" they give away. They advertise it to be in the three digit millions, which makes sense for a large institution like itself. However, I do believe that its deceptive in that, much of this money is most likely government loans and grants that it students would get regardless of where they go. And yet, UNT is claiming it as something that IT gives. Secondly, I've noticed that, in my department and others like it, public administration, for example, it seems as though students are admitted indiscriminately, and presumably because of the source of revenue that they provide for the school. However, the amount of faculty remain the same, which creates a much higher that ideal (for graduate study) student to professor ratio. This makes it extremely difficult to find someone to advice you, to sign your paper work, to "help you along, " as is ought, be the graduate program. I've felt like a "fish out of water" many a times, and I've only been here for six months.

A lot of international students are also admitted, perhaps so that UNT can go about touting how its is a "diverse" university, even if the large number of its students can't even speak english, despite being in programs that require a very good grasp of it to be successful in your field once you're out of school; and another reason, is perhaps because these students are obligated to pay out-of-state tuition as internationals, hence, serving as a good source of additional revenue for the school. UNT even hires, as a full-time position, recruiters to recruit international students. Maybe, more and more schools are doing this kind of thing nowadays, but if you ask me, its just a little bit sketchy...

The way UNT does allocate funding to its very few, at least what I've seen in the social sciences, is completely backwards. This includes giving someone a full ride for a PhD program in the social sciences because they had a 4.0 gpa in their masters program in interior design, or a full ride for a PhD program, again in the social sciences, to someone with a 4.0 in a masters from a school that is not even recognized as an accreditation-worthy institution in the US.

Like I said, also plenty of its students do not have a good grasp of the english language. This makes it unfair to charge these students full tuition, at a graduate rate (that is higher than undergrad) and out-of-state, when they are likely not going to be able to succeed in academia in their chosen field of study afterwards. Yet, success is something that UNT, and its various departments promises. The dean of the graduate school went so far as to say that, graduating with a masters places one in the top 5% and that, jobs that the graduate students will be holding in the future are not even created yet.

Come on, at least be honest to us...No propaganda, puh-leaze. There are tactful, non-disillusionment type of ways of doing so, and if you're the graduate-head-type-of-person 'ya should know...