After four years and somewhere upwards of $200,000, students will leave here with a single piece of paper granting them the title of Fairfield alumni.
Unfortunately, for future and past graduates, the fact that a student made it through Fairfield may look less impressive to prospective employers outside of the collegiate circle.’ ‘ ‘
According to Barron’s Guide of the Most Competitive Schools, Fairfield has fallen from ‘highly competitive’ to ‘very competitive’ in this past year’s edition.
The average SAT score of students Fairfield has admitted peaked with the class of 2008 at 1,200, and has now dipped to 1,170 for the class of 2011.
Academic Vice President Orin Grossman said the school usually fluctuates in rankings, but didn’t think it would affect any students currently entering, or already in the job market.
‘I would prefer that we be highly competitive rather’ than very competitive, and I hope we will be there next printing’ he said. ‘However, we build our reputation student by student, in the quality of the education we provide, that is really how a reputation is built over many, many years.’
Director of Admissions Karen Pellegrino said the numbers of applicants have increased, and that the school has enrolled a class that ‘meets or exceeds the desired class size.” ‘ ‘
She also alluded to Fairfield’s increasingly diverse student population, and the University’s ‘holistic’ admissions process, which is not reflected by narrow SAT-based college rankings.
‘We look at every aspect of a student’s application, including the special talents and abilities they will bring to the university community,’ she said. ‘Unfortunately, most of the rankings use a fairly narrow measure of a student’s profile, and information like an increase in the diversity of the university community will not necessarily be part of the objective rating.’
The news of the drop in rankings has caused some unrest in Fairfield alumni, who are disappointed to know that the name of their diploma might be beginning to lose some of its luster.
Thomas Catino ’08, called the drop ‘outrageous’ and noted that Barron’s is a respected publication and widely read by many high schools students and guidance counselors involved in the application process.
‘This will be a big time hit to the perception of the institution’s reputation, and I am sure that I and other alumni will be disappointed to hear Fairfield has become less selective,’ said Catino.
Other recent graduates feel as though despite being settled into the job market, they might be hurt in when looking change companies if their degree is losing some of its value.
Mike Colford ’07 was able to receive a job after school, but said he hopes the downward trend of selectively does not continue for the sake of his professional career.
‘When I left the school, I felt that the Fairfield education was impressive to put on my resume,’ said Colford. ‘I would hate to see the school lose it’s perception of a competitive institution.’
Despite Fairfield’s increasing effort to beautify its image, the fall in Barron’s rankings has unsettled alumni more than any campus renovation could comfort them.’ ‘ ‘
Jerry Pittman, who also graduated in 2007 was very upset at the news and said he noticed in the ‘real world’ that many people outside of the University don’t even know the school exists.
‘To pay over $160,000 over four years [and] hear that the school is declining in selectivity makes me very nervous and makes me question the direction Fairfield is heading,’ said Pittman.
Despite being ranked fourth according to the Princeton Review among comprehensive masters’ granting institutions in the North, the news of the decline was cause for worry with undergraduate students.
‘I’m not happy about it because the reputation of the school will fall,’ said Michelle Melendez ’12. ‘When I try to get a job after school, I feel it will be more difficult if the reputation of the school goes down.’
The most unsettling issue among current students was their post graduate endeavors, which will call upon the Fairfield name to get them that one interview, or even push them over the cusp and into an ever tightening job market.
Miles Obedin ’10 shared concern for the reputation of the school, and said he thinks the more the school declines in selectivity, the worse it will look to prospective employers.
‘Reputation of the school is a very important factor when trying to attain a job after school,’ he said. ‘I feel like my SAT score and the work I put into attaining it mean nothing now.’
‘It takes away from everything we do while we’re here’ said Ben Geller ’10. ‘Knowing the school is becoming less selective just makes me want to transfer.’
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