Kettering University
Flint, MI, USA

Reviews

Kettering University

Zachary from Defiance, OH

a current student here
11 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I haven't had a professor I couldn't understand, and classes are small enough that I can ask the professor any questions I have, and they all know me by name.
Am enjoying being here
It is definitely a blast! There are so many clubs and activities to do, I haven't been bored yet
Bang for the buck
It is quite pricey and it isn't easy to find a co-op right now...
Tips for prospective students
Don't plan on finding a girlfriend here. The guy to girl ratio is like 10 to 1 and lets just say the girls who are here... well they are studying to be engineers
Great for these types of students
Active students who like to keep busy and can balance a heavy work load with all the other great opportunities the campus has to offer

Kellie from Cary, IL

accepted here and planning to attend soon
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This is the best place you could go if you plan to major in engineering. Kettering mixes schooling with working at a real life job so you will be more experienced than the average student at other universities. It's hard work, but it definitely pays off.
Tips for prospective students
Know what you're getting into. Co-op here is not optional, it's required. Also, it's year-round. There will not be the normal summer breaks. You have to be dedicated and know without a doubt that engineering or business is what you want to do with your life.
Academic Rigor
They pack a whole semester of schooling into only 11 weeks. It's fast paced and rigorous but definitely worth it if you're up to the challenge.
Dorm Life
Major plus: No room mates! Plus there's a mini fridge/ freezer and a microwave in every room. Major drawback: if you're a girl, sorry. There are only 17% like you in this population.
Food and Dining
College food isn't terrible. It's not a five star restaurant, but it isn't bad. There are options, so there's bound to be something you can eat.
What to do for fun
There are about a billion different clubs and activities. You won't be bored. Greek life is a big thing there too!
Bang for the buck
Yeah, it's expensive, but the scholarships are extremely generous and easy to get for good students. Plus, Co-op pays big, so you won't be in too much debt by the time you graduate. There's also a 100% employment rate, so you don't have to worry about this economy impeding your ability to get a job.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Painting the Bulldog statue. It's always something different every few hours!
Great for these types of students
Hard working and dedicated. You have to be sure your chosen field is for you. Not for the average student.
Clubs and Activities
There's something for everyone.
Greek Life
It's HUGE here!
Campus Safety
They do a very good job of implementing security, especially since it's in Flint, MI, which is not the safest of places. But you'll never have to step outside. The tunnels allow you to stay dry in the rain, and safe at night and day.

Andy from Mount Morris, MI

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Kettering University is an extremely challenging University that is completely based on the co-op program. Kettering is a great school to be challenged in a unique way to provide the best learning environment possible.
Am enjoying being here
Although Kettering's courses are difficult, I enjoy being here because I know it's right. This place thinks like I think. Kettering brings excitement to learning!
Bang for the buck
Kettering is pretty expensive, but it's totally worth it! The co-op program helps offset the cost and help you prepare for your future! I was able to land a co-op job with NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. Even though I may have some student loans, Kettering helped me get my foot in the door at an amazing Government Agency!
Tips for prospective students
Go to class, on time, everytime.
Do your homework, even if it's not required.
Don't slack!
Don't pull all-nighters before a test.

Luke from Belding, MI

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
This is a great school if you are ready to work hard and learn a lot. Most of the teachers I have had had are great, and the ones who were not were in easy classes where you could learn all the material just from reading the book anyway. Classroom size tends to be small, especially in labs, so instructors have more time for you if you need it. Learning tends to be hands-on, which is beneficial to the way most students learn best.
Am enjoying being here
Even in your freshman term you get fun labs with things like casting, welding, machining, and playing with the crash-test sled.
There are all kinds of extracurricular activities you can be involved in. I have been told that if you know where to go you can get free pizza every day of the week. In Physics Club we used a vacuum canon to shoot ping pong balls through pizza boxes.
Bang for the buck
Kettering is pretty expensive, but they do give decently sized scholarships to most people.
Tips for prospective students
If you are looking to save money, you may be better off taking your General Education and basic math and science courses at a community college and transferring the credits. If you do this, make sure beforehand that the courses you take will transfer. They have a course equivalency system on their website that will tell you what will transfer.
Great for these types of students
If people tend to call you a nerd or a geek, you will probably fit in just fine here. If you like hands-on learning, you will love it here. If you like to build stuff, blow stuff up, or just like math and science, you'll do great here.

Elysia from Lindenhurst, IL

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
This school is definitely challenging. You'll be learning something new every day!
Am enjoying being here
Contrary to the belief that this is a geek school, I've made lots of friends! I'm a girl, and I'm not a Star Wars/WoW fanatic, and you don't need to be some crazy gamer/nerd to fit in at this school. On top of that, there are lots of activities to get involved in and it's a friendly atmosphere where everyone is willing to help you.
Bang for the buck
No denying it. Kettering is expensive. But keep your grades up and you're bound to get either a need based or merit based scholarship.
Tips for prospective students
If you want to come here, you need to be willing to work. The classes are challenging and you'll have to apply yourself to do well, but you can have fun at the same time once you learn basic time-management skills.
Great for these types of students
Kettering is primarily an engineering college, so it's good for engineers of course! Also great for physic/math majors.

Joseph from Lake Orion, MI

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
An intensive Engineering school in Flint, MI that puts students in 3-Month rotations that alternate between school and work. Students take place in this program for 4.5 years, and end up having 2.5 years of work experience as well. A very close community of 2,000 students.
Tips for prospective students
Kettering is not an easy school. You have to work hard, and if you do, the rewards will be more than worth it. The feeling of community is very strong in a school of about 2,000 students who are divided halfway into A and B-Section. While one section is in school, the other is in work and they switch every three months. The best way to survive is to make friends. You will most likely need support and advice from your friends and upperclassmen. The best way to do this is to pay attention and be involved. Join a club, rush a greek organization (about 60% of KU is greek), make friends with your suitemate and unit members! I already know that some of my best relationships have started at Kettering University, and I look forward to making many more!
Academic Rigor
The academic portion at Kettering is definitely very rigorous. The academic term lasts 11 weeks, while the last week is finals week. Basically what happens is that you learn in 10 weeks what most other schools will teach in 16. It is very challenging, but definitely not impossible and a very good way to develop (or start) your study habits. A problem that I had is that I skated through High School easily without doing all of my homework. I assumed that I could do the same thing at KU. I was wrong, haha. As long as you know what you're doing, you will be fine.
Dorm Life
The dorms are in Thompson Hall. There are four floors, most with four units which usually consist of two hallways, or about 20-30 students. There are all-male, all-female, and CoEd units. Each unit also has an RA to help the students. Each student gets their own room, which has a pocket door shared with another student in the adjacent suite. The situation makes for a really good balance for privacy and social interaction which I really enjoy. The bathrooms are communal bathrooms, and they are kept really clean all the time. Each floor has 2-4 lounges with a couch, a table and TV. You can either borrow a gaming system or a movie from the front desk or use your own and hang out with your unit members! This residence hall is primarily used by freshmen, and is a dry residence hall.
Food and Dining
The food can be really good or bland. The supplier is Sodexo, and the Sunset Cafe (or Sunrise, I forget which it is) is a buffet cafeteria. There is also BJ's cafe in the bottom floor of the main building, where you can use BJ Bucks. If you are tight with some of the fraternities, they can also invite you to eat some meals at their houses, which is always fun.
What to do for fun
There being 11 fraternities and 2 sororities on campus, the party scene is pretty good. There are also many school-sponsored events that you can go to such as intramural sports, clubs, and the student government. Some club include fencing, dance, improv, games club and many others. There are also the SAE teams as well, including Baja, snowmobile and Formula. If you aren't having fun, you are trying not to.
Campus Safety
Campus safety is taken very seriously at Kettering. Security patrols around campus, and entry into the buildings requires your ID.

Jon-Alan from Toledo, OH

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The teachers are extremely helpful and easy to understand. If you put the effort forth and show that you want to learn something, you'll have no problem doing just that.
Am enjoying being here
There are plenty of activities/clubs/whatever to be involved with, or if you prefer not to do so, you can keep to yourself and speed through college no problem.
Bang for the buck
It's a pretty pricey college, but well worth it. Co-op is a big help with keeping the cost down (once you find a co-op job) and there are plenty of scholarships available, especially if you're a good student.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared for class. Don't procrastinate. Get involved and get to know people around campus. Sometimes the greatest help you can get is sitting in a room down the hall.
Great for these types of students
Anyone with the drive to succeed. It's definitely a school that rewards you for dedicating yourself to getting things done.

Melissa from Stanton, MI

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Kettering challenges you to be the best that you can be and has a curriculum specifically focused on engineering. You dive right into your engineering classes your freshman year!
Am enjoying being here
Attending an engineering school is great because all of my friends are taking similar, if not the same, classes as me. This allows for a great academic support system and as a result I have made life long friends. I also love being on a small campus where there is small class sizes and all the buildings are within easy walking distance. Above all else, what I love about Kettering the most is it's cooperative education program. I have learned so much and had so many amazing opportunities through my co-op job, I would never go anywhere else. Kettering helped me secure my co-op position before I even graduated from high school!
Bang for the buck
Kettering may look pricey, but lots of scholarships are offered and they're easy to get. Combine that with your co-op earnings and you can't go wrong. In addition, you'll be graduating with two years of work experience, which puts you ahead of other graduates who didn't do co-op.
Tips for prospective students
With school semesters being only 11 weeks (to accommodate the co-op rotations) Kettering is definitely a challenge academically, so be prepared for that. Also be involved in as much in you can in high school; that will help you a lot when you start interviewing for your co-op job.
Great for these types of students
Students who like small a campus, small class sizes, and are sure that engineering is for them.

Samuel from Bellbrook, OH

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Kettering is the best Co-Op School in America. With hundreds of company links all across the country, and an incredible Common Core-less curriculum, they WILL set you up for success in your future. Just as they will mine.
Academic Rigor
I am going to be fully immersed in classes relevant to my major, and since my three possible majors, Chemistry, Biology, and Biochemistry, all have many science classes in common, I may be able to double major without too much addition to my schedule.
Dorm Life
The dorms are fantastic. Every student gets their own, spatially designed room, connected to a dorm-mate through a lockable door and window. They look good, and the furniture has the amazing ability to stack and tuck, and still be usable and stylish.
Food and Dining
The food was good, and with several, flexible dining plans, I can eat anytime I need to, almost anywhere. Perfect for a late-night studying break!
Campus Safety
Even in Flint, the campus is very healthy, very pretty, and very, very safe.

Justin from Fenton, MI

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
When it comes to engineering, look no further. The best are made here and the rest can't compare to here.
Tips for prospective students
Apply, apply, apply.

Kettering has a high acceptance rate, but has a high failure rate.

Expect the toughest 4.5 years of your life here, but know, when you walk across the stage you're on top of everyone else who took the easy way out.

Campus Security is taken VERY seriously.

Join Greek Life. There's a reason 50%+ of the students are Greek.

Have fun.
Academic Rigor
You will be challenged, you will get frustrated, but you will learn more than the others.

Put in the work and results will follow.
Dorm Life
It's cool having a suite mate, but the dorms themselves are small and very warm.

The furnaces could use a filter change also.
Food and Dining
Two stars if you eat on campus, five if you eat at one of the many Fraternities/Sororities that are always willing to let friends and PNM's eat there
What to do for fun
Greek Life, intramural sports, malls, and much much more
Bang for the buck
You will make more than the others do right out of college and pay will only go up.

Co-Op education only helps solidify this
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Painting the bulldog, stairwell tag, going into labs after hours, relay race from detroit to flint
Great for these types of students
Hard workers, energetic, and very social
Clubs and Activities
Greek Life and intramurals are among the best
Greek Life
50% of the campus is Greek and for a good reason. Great support group, great people, and they are always willing to help.
Campus Safety
The best of the best