University/College Review: Longwood University

Longwood's Graduate school doesn't require the GRE to be admitted. The admission process is smooth and the student is notified of admission quickly. The people who work in the Graduate Office are also very friendly during the admission process.

2) Landscaping and parking

Longwood University has a beautiful campus with outside fountains. The buildings are also kept at a nice temperature. The parking, however, is problematic. They charge a lot more than other schools for a parking sticker. The parking is very limited; sometimes you have to park on the street. However, street parking isn't allowed by the town unless you have a sticker that shows you live in Farmville. Furthermore, they tell the commuter students not to park in the commuter spaces when it snows. I asked them where the commuter students are supposed to park then because we cannot miss class due to no where to park. I was never given an answer. I think they expect you to have someone drive you or take the bus. This isn't realistic when the weather is bad or you simply don't live in Farmville. This may also be a ploy to encourage on-campus living.

3) The library and computer labs

The library at Longwood University has the friendliest staff of anywhere else on campus. Actually, it has the friendliest staff of any school that I've ever attended. The interlibrary loan requests are usually processed the same day. By accessing your student account online, you can check the progress of your interlibrary loan requests.

The library has a computer lab available. However, computer labs are limited in the other campus buildings. Anyone attending this school should purchase a laptop.

4) The teachers and the classes

With graduate level classes, the class size tends to be rather small. The teachers tend to all have the same teaching style of putting the class into groups to work on a project while the teacher then goes off on a break. Attending Longwood University is a very frustrating experience if you aren't a teacher yourself, as the teachers basically only teach to the teachers in the class. Class examples are often about teaching, which is annoying when you aren't planning to be a teacher yourself. The teachers are also very gossipy and tend to turn other teachers against you if they don't like you. Furthermore, the teachers do not enforce any kind of manners in class. Loud gum chewing and talking among the students are just a few of the distractions.

Admission is very easy with Longwood University because they wait until you are there to decide if they want you as a student. If you're planning to be a counselor, beware. They have the teachers evaluate the students. And if the teachers determine that you will not make a good counselor then you won't graduate no matter how good your grades are. All of this information is hidden until you are admitted, have paid your tuition, and it is past the drop with refund period. I withdrew from the school after one brief summer session in 2006.