Wagner College

Date: Apr 10 2003
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
Wagner is a strange place. It is very close to all the benefits that come along with a big city. Only about 30 minutes away from Manhattan, and even closer to Brooklyn. But the campus itself is somewhat insulated. I think this has more to do with the fact that most of the students that go there only want to be able to say they go to school in or near NYC, but are in some way afraid of city life and culture. Therefore there is a large portion of the student population who rarely venture off the beautiful campus. I must admit it is an idealic place to study. The campus itself is country like, and one of the most peaceful I have even been around, and I have been to many throughout the country and Europe. But immediate off campus activities are non-existent. Staten Island is a very either blue collar or Wall street bedroom borough. Not a bad place to live or have a family, but in no way an area for a college. Without a car and without the willingness to venture off campus one could go absolutely nuts or join the very sad excuses for greek oraganizations. But there are some very good things to say about Wagner. The faculty with few exceptions are very helpful and more than willing to provide the individual attention that would be expected at a small liberal arts school. Plus if you desire, there is the connection to NYC. While I was there I found only 30 percent actually took advantage of this, but if you are the type to explore and not the type for beer pong every night then this might be a perfect place for you. The school struggles between being a serious traditional liberal arts school that offers an excellent education and has some solid programs, and a small little party school for the not so intelligent but smart enough to have good but not great high school grades. Do not pay to go to Wagner!!!! Go to state school or city school. With all that out of the way in the end I liked Wagner. Like any school you get out of it what you put into it. If you are coming from outside the NYC area then it might be a great choice. Just be sure to venture of campus alot, NYC is a great city! Plus, the surrounding area isnt that bad as some people complain. If your not used to being around a diverse population then you might construe it as 'ghetto', but really this is more of a revelation of the naive nature of most young 'white folk' from more rural or suburban areas than it is an actual reflection of the majority of the surrounding area.