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Johnson & Wales University - Providence

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I strongly suggest this school for culinary artsQuite BrightNutrition
I strongly suggest this school for culinary arts or hospitality majors, not so much for business majors. Many people I know who currently are in business majors are very dissatisfied, but then again JWU is not known for its business college. In fact, most of the negative comments here about JWU are from business majors. I feel the negative comments left by culinary students just might have been ones similar to students with whom I had class that were content to slack off, then complain when good grades weren't simply handed to them. Some people here fail to realize this is COLLEGE, and not an extension of high school. You must work for your good grades.

I have my AS in baking and pastry arts, and feel I received a good education (good enough to work as a pastry chef), my chef instructors were wonderful and cared about their students succeeding in the program. However, I feel stopping at the AS level is a big waste of time. Sure, you'll have a bit more earning power in the job market, but if you really want to go places, stay in school and get a Bachelor's degree. I've also gone through the culinary arts associate program, but must still do a co-op or internship to complete my degree requirements, so I have experience with every major at the culinary arts college. The culinary AS program was much more rife with slackers than the baking & pastry AS, and are people who have no sense of urgency in a kitchen, nurture bad habits and who have bad attitudes to begin with (although not ALL of them are like this!). These are, i'm 98% positive, the people who are quick to leave a scathing review on this site, saying this school and the education here is crap. These are also the people not participating in or taking advantage of the plethora of information and resources this university provides to its students. YOU ONLY TAKE FROM AN EXPERIENCE JUST AS MUCH AS YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT IN.

I am now in the Nutrition program, and this is such a wonderful, challenging program. I felt like I wouldn't have been very marketable with a Baking & Pastry Arts Bachelor's degree (and I didn't want to work in a kitchen for the next 40 years!), and the Baking & Pastry job market is difficult to break into. Pastry jobs are well-paying, but there aren't that many available (compared to culinary chef jobs). Nutrition is a much broader field and you can do just about anything with it. The nutrition program at JWU is exceptional; take it from someone who is currently in the program. I'm being challenged every day. It is also the ONLY Bachelor's nutrition program in the country that is accredited by the ADA (American Dietitic Assoc).


Getting into the nutrition program is somewhat difficult (but worth it to work toward!). Faculty recommendations, an essay, several questions, an interview with the department chair, and a GPA of 3.4 or higher are all required. The students in this program are focused, determined and have a drive to succeed. If you are someone like that, I strongly recommend this program. Graduates from the nutrition program are well-respected out in industry for a reason - they get a great education here.Good luck!

3rd Year Female -- Class 2010
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Let me begin by describing myself.Quite BrightBusiness - Management and Administration
Let me begin by describing myself. It is true that many who bash the school do so because they are losers who did absolutely nothing and can't possibly blame themselves. I am the complete opposite. In high school, I was close to the top of my class, had a strong academic record and SAT. I liked hotel management and thought this would be a great place. I went to visit with a copy of my transcripts. They accepted me on the spot without any sort of application process. This was a bad sign from the start and I should have realized it.

The classes are essentially no more difficult than high school courses. They are terrible for students who want real academic and intellectual stimulation. It seems better suited to the kids who had a hard time in high school and can't really move onto the next level. I had a huge project that I didn't have time to present, so the teacher says don't worry about it and gives me an A. This is not the way college should be. And anyone who reads that and thinks how great it is, perhaps you should reflect on your own immaturity for a second and wonder if you would survive a second in the real world. The hospitality classes are very technical and I did learn quite a bit, but the general academics are an absolute joke. However, the academics are not the low point of the school. (Obviously, if you are culinary, then you can expect one of the best programs in the country)

It is the students that really disgusted me to the core and drove me out of this school. I have never seen such pathetic wastes. Sure, there were a few studious and bright kids, but the majority are essentially high school students who don't want to go to real college. They are absolutely obsessed with drinking and drugs. Oh here is a great story: My roomie during my year there was admitted as a freshman at the age of 24. Why did he apply so late you ask? He had just finished his 2 year jail sentence for drug and weapons charges. Great to know, huh? He dealt pot out of the room in huge quantities and he was a campus hit. You will rarely find anyone studying or working, just drinking or doing drugs. I moved to another dorm so that I could have the opportunity to study and sleep without being constantly interrupted by drunken fools at 4 AM. Of course, my next roomie ended up getting suspended for fighting and destroying property. Oh and guess what? He had spent 10 days of the past summer in jail for drug charges! Here are some other incidents involving the always mature and bright students of JWU:

-STudents throwing eggs out of their windows at passerbyers
-25 year old Iraq vet breaking into a neighbor's room to steal things because he owed him money
-Alcohol busts on a nightly basis with no reprocussions
-Drunk driving every night
The campus does not feel safe and I constantly hear stories of muggings and robberies. There is a very large black population in downtown Providence and this is usually the source of these crimes.

The dorms themselves are pretty decent. Renaissance was an amazing place to live. Once my roomie got suspended, I had a huge room all to myself with a bathroom and kitchen. If you decide to go to JWU, try for Renny. I am sorry if you love the school or if it is a place you are considering. Don't get me wrong, the hospitality and culinary programs are pretty solid. It is just the students that really make this place terrible. If you go, make sure you find a good crowd because there are many immature and worthless people at JWU.

1st Year Male -- Class 2009
Friendliness: A-, Campus Aesthetics: D-
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BrightOther
Its good but the technology department needs work
2nd Year Male -- Class 2010
Individual Value: A, Education Quality: B-
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Johnson & Wales University - Providence
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