Hello!

My $0.02

Beckley is not a bad place, although I was there when there were 8-12 of us on and off, unlike today where the number reaches ~300 from what I hear.

It is a wonderful place, laid back and people were generally nice.

The university itself sucks, if you want easy grades and not a whole lot of learning/ mental excersise / real college experience, this is not for you (I cannot say the same for nursing, I have friends who went to the nursing school and haven't had a whole lot of problem with the courses they offer). Computer Science is Horrible, Business is a Joke. Having said that I love MSU, I graduated out of there and so far have not had much problem carrying on careerwise with what I got out of there. It could have been better, but it definitely could have been worse.

I would not pick this university for a master's degree over a dead rat.

If you are a self learner and do not need professors to tell you how you can success, if you do not require career counseling, decent job fair (not the case with most people, including myself), MSU is for you. This place will allow you to graduate quicker than most other places. You can CLEP many classes and stuff. Also if you are a self motivated individual, the laid-backness of this place would mean you would learn a lot of  "American" culture, if you are a social person that is, from the people in the area.

With 300 people from a different place, you have to understand that the mental state of the people is Beckley is to be defensive. I would be scared if I was a native of Beckley. Blame is on human nature. It would take you longer to break the ice, but once you break the barrier, it won't be as bad.

Bob Marley and vj ji, I think I have heard of you guys from someone in Beckley who apparently all of us know. let's try to get in touch if you are in the NY-Nj area.

Good Luck and TAKE THE DAMN GRE, trust me you will regret not taking it after 2 years of wasted effort and mucho dinero!