Written by Catherine Winters
Montclair State University is not the first choice for a lot of people. Some students choose the University for its education program, the proximity to their hometown, or the chance to play a sport, but others come because they can't afford anything else or they got in here and not many other places. In the end, though, Montclair offers a good education at a great price.
While any college can only prepare a student as much as they are willing to work, Montclair isn't lacking in its offerings. Many of the programs are very good, and there are opportunities that MSU offers to build upon what is offered in the classroom. Some majors require cooperative education, while all others make it available and help students find internships for the semester or break. Besides that, there are opportunities to do research, go abroad, and participate in organizations that give real world experience. Yes, some students coast through MSU and leave unprepared for any type of job by the time they get their degree, but other students also work hard and are ready to get a good job at the end of four years. The only downside is that many times your classmates will not challenge you, so to do very well, a student has to motivate and compete against themselves and the system. Overall, MSU is a good school, but it isn't outstanding. Perhaps the most unique fact is that it offers a quality education at a relatively low price.