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Just, find a different school. This one really isn't worth the time, effort, money, etc. This school has been fighting closure for YEARS, it has had to change its name like 3 times in the last 7 years, pair up with other schools to try and repair its reputations, and the town is just depressing. I just had to jump through hoops to merely get my college transcript so I can attend a different University. Honestly, the absolute only reason I went there in the first place was that I HAD to go there to... Read More receive credit for the college classes I took with the High School down the street.

I went to Vermont tech’s satellite campus in Brattleboro, after high school I took 2 semesters to get the prerequisite courses completed to get into the nursing program that I began the following fall. I learned so much that I continue to apply today in my career. The instructors and clinical educators were supportive in preparing the students. With the fast paced, vigorous program additional resources are available to take advantage of to ensure success during this stressful time. If you’re motivated... Read More to become a successful nurse, I recommend the program through VTC.

I struggled greatly before attending Castleton University. Prior to enrolling, I went to a couple different universities, one large and one very small but I had a difficult time completing my degree. I was finally able to complete an associate degree at a community college and felt ready to finish my bachelors degree after that time. When I entered Castleton, I was enrolled in the nursing program with the intention of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner and quickly found out it was not a good... Read More fit for me. At that time, I transferred into the psychology program because I could pursue a similar career as a counseling psychologist without a nursing degree. The psychology program at Castleton University was one of the best educational experiences Ive had. The professors were caring, knowledgeable, approachable, and truly invested in the students. I finally found a good fit for myself and my advisor contributed to my pursuit of a graduate degree. I am currently finishing my masters degree in mental health counseling and wellness and I do not believe itd be possible without the faculty at Castleton or the psychology program. I gained a lot of confidence and thoroughly enjoyed my classes. Although, Castleton had very few students who were close to my age. I am about ten years older than traditional college students and the population is mostly ages 18-22. This was not a concern for me because the main reason I was there was to complete my degree and was not interested in the typical college social aspects. However, they have excellent facilities and sports programs. Overall, Castleton University was a great experience for me.

Northern Vermont University - Johnson formerly known as Johnson State College is a small, personable, affordable college nestled in the green mountains of northern Vermont. Highly recommend the Outdoor Education program as classes are active and experiential with many opportunities to facilitate activities and demonstrate ones learning. The staff is very knowledgeable, helpful, and patient. I found that it was easy at this small school to receive guidance and support from academic advisors outside... Read More of classroom hours. I also loved spending time with my guidance counselors who were very personable and uplifting. Being in the Outdoor Education major, it would be hard for me to rate the other majors as many of my classes were off-campus. However, the few elective courses I took were very enjoyable including a health and wellness class on meditation and a Native American sweat lodge ceremony course. I think students of the Outdoor Education major were very close due to our extended overnight experiences in the backcountry with one another. If I was not in this major, it may have been hard for me to find friends as there did not seem to be many people on campus most days. Although there is not much to do in Johnson, the school is only an hour away from Burlington and a half an hour away from Stowe. There are a lot of hiking and ski trails if you enjoy outdoor activities. I think school is what you make of it and finding what you are passionate about. If you are passionate about what you are studying, you will make the most of your experience regardless of the location.

I received my M.A. in Education: Curriculum Studies from Johnson State. Under the Individual Strand program, I was allowed to construct my own pathway and focused my studies on the recursive and perpetual nature of problems using phenomenology and cybernetics. The program provided a foundational structure for educational theory and pedagogy, while the seminars allowed me to research and explore my specific areas of interest. The process was rigorous and exhausting, but never negative. The thesis... Read More committee was devoted to my success and their feedback was honest and insightful. Johnson is one of those places where you get out of it what you put into it. The professors hold vast stores of knowledge (in my case systems theory, phenomenological research and praxis, theory of mind, second-order cybernetics, educational philosophy) and are more than happy to share and guide grad students who are willing to step up to the challenge.

I greatly enjoy JSC, but I wish I had thought more about being a graduate student in a small town. There are not many jobs, and housing was hard to find. I was lucky enough to be able to grab an apartment on campus, but even with my loans paying off the rent, there is not money left for food, etc. Finding a job is hard here as well, as most of it is word of mouth. There is little to no public transportation, so if I had been an undergrad or did not have my car, I would be having twice the trouble... Read More finding a job as I do now. An upside is the quality of the professor-student interaction, as well as my interactions with the financial offices. They are all willing to answer questions and do their best with giving me information, however, they do not have much available for graduate students in the way of loans, scholarships or grants. If you have a learning disability, their program here is amazing as well. The director of the learning assistance program is a kind, open man who is willing to talk whenever you need. The learning center has a lot of options to help with whatever you need help with and are open to adjusting what they offer to fit your needs.