Princeton Review says “Best value” for 2009

Earlier this month, the Princeton Review named UNCG one of the Best Value Colleges in the nation for 2009.

The Princeton Review, based in New York City, has made a name for itself by providing test preparation courses, education services, and its annual college, business, and law school rankings.

“(I think that it’s) great for attracting new students,” said Bethany King, senior assistant director in the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

“It’s not the ‘Best Bargain’ list, it’s the Best Value list, which lets students and parents know they’re (still) getting high quality for a good cost,” said Kacy McAdoo, senior associate director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and King’s colleague. McAdoo continued, “It’s nice to see truth in advertising. This is something we believe in as employees and it’s nice to have tangible recognition.”

The Best Value list was reported in USA Today, and UNCG was among 49 other public universities. UNCG’s entry in the Review touches on some of our school’s best qualities, including our student-faculty ratio of 16:1, average class sizes of under 30, wide diversity of students (UNCG’s student body represents 49 states and over 81 countries), and our 140 student organizations ranging from “dance troupes to a fishing club.”

With this prominent form of advertising, McAdoo believes that UNCG will see an increase in visitors and prospective students. Recognition such as this does not only influence prospective students but current students and alumni as well. King believes that hearing their college bragged about in this way will “reinforce students’ decision to come here, and help parents to feel confident in their choice.”

The Princeton Review ranked many other North Carolina schools under the Best Value name: Davdison, Duke, Elon, N.C. State, UNC-Asheville, and UNC-Wilmington. McAdoo believes that having that many N.C. schools included in the article really says something about our schools. Along with the Best Value recognition, UNCG has also received awards for being included in the Top 138 schools in the Southeast, and was included in another Princeton Review article ranking the best 368 colleges in the nation.

Blayne Ziegenfuss, a sophomore vocal performance major, thinks the university has truly earned these acknowledgments stating, “Everything, all around, is good here for the price it is.”