Drew University

Academics

Located in Madison, New Jersey, Drew University is just a hop-and-a-skip away from the New York City universe, and the school takes full advantage of its proximity to industry hubs. The 1,500 undergraduates have access to more than fifty majors and minors and thousands of related internships, as well as lots of study abroad options. Drew’s seven unique NYC semesters allow students to do coursework with professors and then commute into New York City to learn in the field (for example, on Wall Street, at the United Nations, or in the art, communications, social entrepreneurship and theatre scene). The science departments are standouts—one of its fellows won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015—and its top-ranked theatre program is “comprehensive in such a way that every graduate of the program will have at least tried every single part of the theatrical process.”

The “incredibly engaging” professors go “above and beyond the role of just...teacher” and are “very much willing to assist in any way.” They “facilitate conversations so that you learn in a way that’s not just your average PowerPoint [presentation]” and “invest time in you academically and as a young adult looking for a career.” The university does an excellent job of fostering undergraduate student research, and professors “require a level of accountability that motivates a student to perform” both in and out of the classroom. Far and away the things that students appreciate the most about Drew are its small class sizes, which bolster the personal attention from teachers, almost all of whom have PhDs. (“There are no classes taught by TAs, which makes for better quality learning.”) This “mentorship with professors” is a lasting benefit to students, who say that “you really get to know your professors in an impactful way.”

Student Body

While about half of the students are from New Jersey, the student body is diverse and includes a growing international student population. As a small school, “Everyone at least knows of everyone else and is friendly with them.” “Drew students are the type that see a $50 bill in the street and find the person who dropped it,” says one student of this group that is “attractive inside and out.” There’s a large percentage of people actively involved in both the arts and sciences, and the regular cliques—“jocks, theatre kids, science nerds”— all “blend together and overlap so that there are no definite lines separating people.” Drew is an eco-friendly campus, and “there is a fairly large number of gluten free/vegetarian students.”

Campus Life

While the small, wooded town of Madison isn’t exactly hopping, students make the most of the “gorgeous” campus (where housing is guaranteed all four years; currently 87 percent of the student body lives on campus) and “tend to be proactive in creating their own recreational experiences.” People “are very involved in sports and activities, such as clubs and organizations,” and many have jobs or internships. New York City is a short 50-minute train ride away, and nearby Morristown also provides some flavor. Academics “take up a good amount of daytime, but life at school is “always manageable”; “classes are challenging enough and the workload isn’t overbearing” so “there is always time to relax if you’re responsible and manage your time well.” Tuesdays and Thursdays are dollar beer nights, so “many students take time out of studying to go out for a little,” but “most free time is spent in friends’ rooms, playing video games or watching shows.” Though school events aren’t terribly well-attended from time to time there are things which students make sure to have fun at, “such as Bingo night, the holiday ball, and Drewchella (a live music festival).” All in all, “there is a good balance of leisure and education.”