Webster University

[Viseman]

It seems that with every new semester, I find a few people asking me my opinions about Webster University. Typically, these posts are limited to "What can you tell me about Webster" or the like. I thought it may be useful for me to post my opinions for everyone to read.

First off, I must stress that these are my own opinions, and should not be taken as fact. Secondly, do not expect comments about particular classes or teachers, positive or negative. This would be unfair, and I am sure that more than one WU staff member visits this site.

Without further ado...

I started attending Webster University's St. Louis USA campus (www.webster.edu) in 2002. I have remained a member of that campus, and only came to the WUT campus (www.webster.ac.th) as a study abroad student. However, this fact has more to do with paperwork than experience, as I went to the same classes as regular WUT students.

WUT is essentially an American University in Thailand, and all classes are taught in English. There is an extensive ESL program for those wishing to enroll but lacking in the English language abilities.

I cannot compare the quality of my education at WUT to another Thai university. When compared to similar courses at the St. Louis campus, I found them to be a bit easier. This did not suprise me, seeing as how so many people are still mastering English. In that sense, I had a bit of an advantage.

The Thailand campus is also lacking in supplies. The last time I attended (2004), class textbooks still took 4 to 6 weeks to arrive, if they arrived at all. While cheap by American standards, the price of textbooks was high. Computer labs were not of very good quality and the internet is slow, although I believe that this has improved somewhat over the last year.

In terms of education, I think that you will get out what you put in. If you work hard, study, and become involved, attending WUT should be little different than any other university. The campus is small, but we are a pretty tightly knit group in general. I have a great deal of positive experiences from this campus, which is why I will be finishing my last semester there this spring (Graduating with a combined degree in Media Communications).

If you are seriously interested, you can visit the campus. I don't think you need an appointment to do this, but if you schedule one a person may be there to show you around.

I don't mind answering any further questions, but please visit the campus website before sending me anything. Also, I would be interested in knowing your opinions about Webster Students in Hua Hin. Are we a fun group, or do we piss you off? I imagine its a little of both.

Congrats on the 3 years HHAD! Keep up the good work!

[Jake]

Of course opinions will vary from bloke to bloke, but there are so many variables that go into an overall opinion and evaluation of WUT. If coming from a Western country (ie. germany, U.S.) the expectations I think can be a little high on what one would expect from a University. WUT looks much better online than it does in the flesh. Then again I came from an undergraduate school with state of the art facilities and a country where the BIG MAC was invented.

For the money and setting I think its well worth it. The education gained from dealing with International people, whether at the local pub or in a classroom is by mastercards standards "priceless". I can recommend to spend 10,000 USD, 5,750 GBP, 8,400 Euros, 410,000 BHT at local pubs, for the education there is much more interesting and you get to see who can hold their booze the best.. (so far English women)or lasses I think they call em.

WUT is worth a gander and if interested in living by the beach, drinking out of coconuts, getting daily massages, and having your self-esteem boosted by the many Thai pursuers that will for surely attract your attention... I'll have to agree with Mastercard. I more recently put in bid to change Soi Binhabaht to Esteem Alley. Even the ugliest wil get a "hello, welcome, sexy many".....After only being here for 5 months I can give WUT an above average rating.....facilties C-..... professors B+...... location....A-.... Its this or go back to the boring life that so many live in their little towns with their ethnocentric views...... chok di!

[Farang]

'
All the above having been said about Webster, I now comment on education in general.
I have acquired this view through working abroad in quite a few countries and quite a few environs.
Anyone disagreeing with my views is, of course, right. Before making a decision affecting the
rest of one’s life, one should check at one’s Ministry of Education the list of approved exams and approved universities.

The problem with nearly all foreign universities and other seats of higher learning is, that unless
well-known and well respected, they all are considered as diploma mills. Most anyone presenting
a diploma from University of Utopia is generally seen as someone who could not hack it in real
Academia and consequently chose the Low Road of partying it up for a few years and then being
issued a MBA in exchange for paying the heavy tuition in some obscure College of Out-Cast.
Rightly or wrongly this happens as a reflex on part of fishy-eyed Personnel Management of nearly all major companies.
Perhaps they, too, have experiences that have shape their involuntary reflexes in this manner.

Particularly the countries with severe application of Numerus Clausus in their universities’ admission
this is true. On going to University of Quickdiplomas you actually are telling your future bosses
you could not get in the Unis they got. And you’ll face the consequences.

Then again, you might get lucky, get a good job, have an international degree as well as international career.

Above all, you will have enjoyed your time at a Thailand college. Good luck!
,

[Norseman]

Rightly or wrongly this happens as a reflex on part of fishy-eyed Personnel Management of nearly all major companies.

I assume you are speaking of your personally experience Farang, but I find this statement a bit weird.
Do you mind to explain your expression!

[Farang]

'
Yes, I am speaking of personal experience. I've seen it time and again; a bright-eyed,
bushy-tailed young person all eager to show the world his/her capabilities, is being washed out during
the evaluation process merely for having studied in some obscure college. That kind of person is
matched against Ivy League alumni and Ivy League wins every time.
Particularly, as the Personnel Management most likely themselves are alumni of some Respected,
Well-Known, Revered College. This Mutual Admiration Society - Old Boy Network, if you will - looks
down on alumni of Lesser Colleges. Not by conscious thought, but by-now-conditioned reflex.
It’s a cruel, cruel world of cold calculation, frozen hearts and cold fishy eyes devoid of compassion.

And no, I’ve not been washed out myself because of this. I’ve just seen it happen many, many times.
.

[caller]

"This Mutual Admiration Society"

Mutual masturbation society more like!!!

Or is that mastercating(sic?)? You can tell I never had a uni education!

Actually, I've never really understood what (sic) means apart from the link to incorrect splling(sic).

I certainly agree, as someone that recruits and manages others in the UK, that outside of the Ivy League (I assume) thats its a lottery. And no, personnel are not involved - far too wierd to be allowed anywhere near real people!

Even genuine UK degrees hold little sway without the nounce to back it up. I have recruited and managed a great number of people far better qualified than I, but so often they seem to be lacking the vital ingredients from the university of life, or the ability to communicate well - or even spell!

So many have a qualification these days, which I suppose is a good thing, that often it comes down to how they perform in the recruitment process and little to do with their qualification, unless its something to do with technicalities.

My personal hate - apologies to those I offend - are degrees such as business or media studies, which seem to offer an employer little and mean even less.

So the bottom line is, make a good application, look the part, be confident and knoweldgable, be a good communicator, and demonstrate intelect (have I spelt that correctly?).

I think thats the end of the lesson? I haven't even reached the 2am p**s up club status (UK version yet)!

[Wesu]

But if you've lived 20+ yrs in Europe and studied your BA grade there, wouldn't it be interesting and different to study an american degree in Asia? I guess that would broaden your horizon a lot. And for example in many european countries a lot of ppl have master's degrees, so if you don't get it in top5 schools in the world, it might be good it is atleast different than most others have in your country. And these days a lot of industry is moving to Asia from Europe and Usa. Maybe you could learn new culture, way to deal with ppl from that area and learn a language that many ppl in your country don't know.

I might be wrong or just a dreamer, but I feel the thought temptating...

[Farang]

Wesu,

So wanna go to Thailand College? So go there. Simple. Stop fucking around with excuses.

Forget Webster, go to one of the Bangkok or, better yet, Udon Thani Colleges.

Enjoy!

"Kyllæ suzy syyn løytææ kun lam baita syødæ haluaa!"

[Wesu]

Thanks for your kind reply. I don't know about excuses. Your point is partially right, and if I do it in thai-school, the probability that the degree won't help me getting a good job is more obvious. Btw, I have to start studying in english.

So... I just thought I'd like to know more things about the school I might apply to, I might apply to other places as well. I just would like to gather as much information as possible before doing my decision, and I've gained some this far, so... thanks, and I'd love to read more your opinions and facts.

Wesu

[ajarnfrank]

Ivy League, pivy league, whatever. If you have the good fortune to go to one of the 25 best schools in the world, please go there and regale the barons with stories about the party last night at Lord Abingaleswyth's mansion. But it's a big Westernized world out there, and a typical state or province may have 50 accredited universities. Now, if you're earning a degree in civil engineering in North America, the top five schools are....(the list, please....) UI-Champaign, T A&M-College Station, Georgia State, and probably MIT and Stanford. But if you can get an honors degree from one of the better programs in your home state/province, and pass the P.E. exam the first time, and don't mess up your interview, you're going to get hired for a good job.

Nah, walking into Manhattan with my degree from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi isn't going to get me a job in a top accounting firm.

Webster University in Hua Hin sounds good. I'll let my neighbor know. He's looking for part time courses, in English. Does Stamford have courses, or is Stamford a college rather than a university?

[david83]

Thanks for a great post, have been looking for some more neutral information regarding Webster.

I am hopefully starting there this summer or fall, if I get off my ass and send in the application

On the transcript there is no mentioning of having studied in Thailand, it just says Webster´s University St. Louis according to their website... Which is probably a very good thing.

Anyways, thanks for the post and I´ll see you in Hua Hin in a few months!

David

[Wesu]

Hey... check that transcript thing...

It DOES say Thailand on the document which says names of the subjects and grades you have studied...

It DOES NOT say it on the paper which only tells your degree.

What are u going to study there???

[david83]

Hey... check that transcript thing...

It DOES say Thailand on the document which says names of the subjects and grades you have studied...

It DOES NOT say it on the paper which only tells your degree.

What are u going to study there???

Ok, so that is how that works, from their website it seemed like there would be no mentioning of it... Well to be honest I´m not that worried about it anyways since I will go for my Master´s in the U.K afterwards I think.

I´m going to go for their BBS, even though their International Business is more interesting but there is to much humanities for it to work in the U.K later...

They suck at answering e-mails btw, sent them two now and after more than a wekk I´ve heard nothing

[Rider]

Has anyone else actually attended websters? What did they think of it?

Some people who I've encountered actually remark that its an 'attendance' university where the hours you attend and the classes you show up to determine your performance more than the actual written work/examination!
A bold statement I know which is why I'm putting it to the forum.

[Big A]

Webster University is a regionally accredited for profit university from St Louis Missouri in the USA.

It is a school I am willing to share my opinions about.

It is a long established name in higher education and one of the most liberal schools one could ever attend. Many famous and successful people have graduated from this school.

Webster is an expensive private school that charges less here than in the US and Europe.

The students from Webster Thailand who I have met tend to be a talented, and outgoing group, they often come from higher class families particularly if Asian (the expense precludes poor families) and are quite a fun bunch in general. I know you will hear about the occaisional fight with Stamford students at the local club or some other negative but thats not really what its all about.

There is a multicultural "in crowd" and several sub groupings mainly based on shared interests, nationality or ethnicity. Since the school is very diverse nearly anyone can fit in.

They have many degree programs overall. Some are geared towards the workplace while others are more geared towards personal development.

Because the school is so small and class offerings have not been managed that well, it can be tough to get in the classes you want or need.

The student advisement system is quite rigid and instructor approval is required in order to register.

Webster itself ranks at number 580 worldwide.

Webster University Thailand however fails to make the Asia Top 100 list and is in fact outranked in Asia by the following six “nameâ€