Student Voices from the Road: The following blog post—and others throughout this week—are written by Carver students participating in Carver’s 53rd Annual Spring College Tour. These reflections offer a firsthand look at their experiences visiting colleges and universities across the East Coast as they explore their futures and share what inspires them along the way.
By Zoe Pierre-Louis, 11th Grader at Norwalk High School & Alaysia Ashley, 9th Grader at Brien McMahon High School
Widener University was the first college we visited on Carver’s 53rd annual tour. A friendly face transported us: Josh, our driver for the past three tours. Josh greets each of us with a warm welcome and says, “Enjoy your day.”
We noticed and admired the beautiful and modern buildings as we arrived on campus. We entered the student activities center and received a warm welcome from Assistant Provost for Civic Engagement, Marina Barnett. She shared information on the school’s diversity and the support available to help students succeed.
Admissions director Matt told us that Widener University is a private school in Chester, Pennsylvania, with a history dating back to 1821. It started as the Bullock School for Boys in Wilmington, Delaware. It later became the Pennsylvania Military College before changing its name to Widener University in 1972 to honor Eleanor Elkins Widener.
With a student body of roughly 3,000, Widener’s education is fueled by great teachers and scholars who are personally invested in the student’s success. The students are 20% more likely to participate in research, internships, and high-impact practices. The mean starting salary is $67,800, and the mean mid-career salary. The tuition and fees are $58,000 and $17,000 for room and board. Almost all undergraduate students receive financial aid. Scholarships and financial aid contribute to the university’s affordability. It is in the top 150 most affordable colleges (out of 1,700) for freshmen.
The college operates within a six-college structure with small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio 12:1, so it is easy to socialize and ask your peers for help. Various programs, including associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, are offered. Students can study liberal arts, business, engineering, nursing, and health sciences. The campus has resources like the Wolfgram Memorial Library and the Deshong Art Museum to help students learn and grow. The university also has two law schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and another in Wilmington, Delaware.
The most exciting part is earning your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. Degree paths are flexible and responsive to constant changes in the industries our students are preparing to enter. The one thing that stood out to us was how close all the students were to each other. It made us feel like figuring out what group you’d be in would be easy. It made us feel more at home. Overall, our experience was great!!
