Main campus vs. branch/ regional campus?

Question

Anyone know if there are advantages of going to the main campus of a university over a branch/ regional campus?

I’m already scheduled for this fall, so I can’t change that (I’ll be a junior), but if I want transfer up to main campus for next spring, they want you to start thinking about that early—a whole semester early.

See, I can finish my majors at the branch (English and psychology), but I’m having trouble figuring out if I should transfer up to the main campus. The schedules of classes are so weird to read. All I can figure out is that there are a lot more opportunities available this fall at the main (obviously) but there are a small number of classes listed in the ‘offered courses’ section of the psychology department that aren’t listed in EITHER campus for this fall, so…yeah. I can’t really tell.

Also, I’ve been considering doing grad school for psychology, so, I’m trying to figure out if there would be more classes up at the main campus that might help me in that endeavor.

Kent State University

2006 undergrad course catalogue

Answer 1

I think your problem with Flashline not showing classes that are "offered" at either campus is because certain classes are only offered during the Spring. It sucks, because sometimes that messes up your schedule...but certain classes are only taught by a few professors or they're meant to be taken in sequence so you're supposed to take them in Spring, not Fall, so they're not offered.

(I'm a psych major at Kent main campus.)

If you transferred to main campus, would you be living in the dorms? Or would you rent an apartment, or commute from where you live now?

If you'd commute from your current home, I'd think about finishing your majors at the regional but taking a few classes at the main campus if any interest you. I take a couple classes online at regional campuses, so I'm sure you'd be allowed to take a couple classes in person at main campus. There will be more classes offered here at main, but I don't know how much that'll help you for grad school...depends what you want to go for, I guess.

Just remember that classes on the main campus cost a lot more ($384/hour at main vs. $217/hour regional) so if money is a big concern for you, I'd carefully think about transferring. I wish I lived closer to a regional so I could take classes there during the summer since they're so much cheaper.

As for the comment about getting to know your professors better at a small campus, you're pretty far in your education so the class sizes should be smaller. I know my general psych class at main campus was 500 students, but now I'm in the upper divisions I'm in 20-30 people classes. I think a lot of regional campuses have similar class sizes.

Hey, if you transfer - we might have a class together! Funny.

Answer 2

Class of 2010

I know many graduate school are sometimes located away from campus like medical schools located in different areas and you have to routate to them... which isnt that bad. Although for a undergraduate school to be located away from the main campus is absolutely a turn off.

Example: Those who want to study pre-medicine, or pre-nursing or major in biochemistry will not be on the main campus. That would push me away from the school...

Answer 3

I prefer smaller schools (which a branch campus likely is).  The teachers get to know you better, which can be a big help in getting into grad schol.

Thanks

Bill