College Snapshots: Widener University

College Snap Shots

In an effort to provide Burlington High School students and their families with relevant and up-to-date college information, the Guidance Staff will be visiting various colleges and universities and providing you with information. The colleges visited do not represent a preference on the part of the BHS Guidance Department towards any particular school.

In the college search process, many things are taken into consideration. Things that are considered, but not limited to are: campus size, location, number of students on campus, majors, tuition, distance from home, athletic programs, clubs and other activities. When considering a college, students must also make realistic decisions based on personal interest, grades, test scores, etc.

The department feels that the college visit is an integral part of the process, and we strongly encourage students to visit any and all schools that interest them, especially if these schools are fairly close by. The information we provide is only a small snapshot into each respective college. We hope to add information about other schools in the future, and as always we appreciate any feedback that you have that would help us provide our students and their families useful information in the sometimes overwhelming college search process.

Furthermore we ask that students also research colleges by using their Naviance accounts and scheduling meetings with their counselor on a consistent basis. Please feel free to contact your son or daughter's individual counselor if you have any further questions.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Widener University

Chester, PA

Visited in April, 2017
by Ms. Diozzi

A small but sprawling, flat campus (with a feel that's similar to Dean or Clark) Widener U. is located about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia.. Widener is a former military academy that was turned into a liberal arts college about 40 years ago thanks to donations from the Widener family (relatives of the same family who donated Widener Library at Harvard). The Widener students we met were very focused on their specific majors, such as business and international relations and loved the small size of the school

Widener takes pride in the personalized attention students get on campus. Although it is not listed among official "colleges that change lives," it takes a similar approach to many of them. Professors will definitely take attendance and call students who do not show up for class on their cell phones. For example, an accounting professor shared an anecdote about running into a student at the local mall, after the student had blown off a quiz. Since the student assured the professor he had been prepared for the quiz, the professor sat him down in the mall and made him take the quiz there. It was obvious that the professor, who was engaging and funny, was deeply invested in his students' success; He was very proud of the fact that his own children chose to go to Widener in lieu of other options.

Widener students are encouraged to work in their fields of study through internships and opportunities offered right on campus. For example, the university recently opened an Uno's restaurant on campus, which is run by students. Students have also been placed in internships working for the Philadelpia Union soccer team, the stadium for which is very close to campus.

Most popular majors: Nursing, psychology, business administration, accounting, engineering.

College Snapshots