StudentsReview :: The City University of New York Borough of Manhattan Community College - Extra Detail about the Comment
-or-
Search for Schools by Region
 

or within distance of city

Similar Schools
Marymount College of Fordham University -- Tarrytown, NY
Columbia Union College -- Takoma Park, MD
Pace Institute -- Reading, PA


  Who's got the Best?

Perceptual Rankings:
You Make 'Em.
We Post 'Em.
You Vote 'Em Up.
You Vote 'Em Down.
Aww yeah.


The City University of New York Borough of Manhattan Community College

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB+ Faculty AccessibilityB+
Useful SchoolworkB+ Excess CompetitionA+
Academic SuccessA- Creativity/ InnovationA+
Individual ValueB+ University Resource UseB+
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyB FriendlinessA+
Campus MaintenanceD Social LifeB-
Surrounding CityA+ Extra CurricularsC+
SafetyB+
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Arrogant, Approachable, Closeminded

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful

Female
Super Brilliant
Lowest Rating
Campus Maintenance
D
Highest Rating
Excess Competition
A+
She cares more about Campus Maintenance than the average student.
Date: Dec 20 2006
Major: Video/Media (This Major's Salary over time)
I will begin with the Positives and finish with the Negatives.

BMCC's slogan is:

Start here, go anywhere.
Indeed, it is an excellent two-year school to use as a jumping-off point for senior college or to join the workforce. The school offers many very practical programs that can lead to good careers. It has an extensive selection of classes that are available on nights and weekends (even Sunday nights!), so a student CAN work full-time and make a living while studying. There is also an excellent childcare center for those students who are parents and need such resources in order to attend.

The school has computers everywhere, free for students to use anytime, and several computer labs where students can insert their disks or zip drives and print documents - up to 8 pages allowed per day. The cafeteria and library have great views of the Hudson River, and the main campus is situated next to a lovely community park and in a vibrant, thriving neighborhood. BMCC also has a beautiful pool and gym facilities that anyone can use. There are numerous clubs and workshops for almost any interest.

Many of the students I've met are enrolled in the Nursing, Human Services, and Accounting programs, but it seems that the majority are enrolled as Liberal Arts students. The school also has an excellent Writing & Literature program, and a wonderful Theater/Drama department (with three theaters, BMCC is also host to the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and plays a large role in Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Film Festival). Unfortunately, they no longer have a dance program. The Video Arts & Technology program is BMCC's best kept secret.

The VAT program received huge grants that enabled the department to acquire the best, state-of-the-art high definition digital equipment. Yes, the production studio has THREE high-def cameras, and high-def switchers and monitors, etc. The edit lab has all the top-notch, cutting-edge equipment and software as well (both Macs and PCs). It is common knowledge among working editors in the city that BMCC has the best-equipped college production studios on the East Coast - YES, BETTER THAN NYU & COLUMBIA! Hunter doesn't even have

high-def equipment yet. It is not just about filmmaking, but also broadcasting and corporate communications. BMCC has also participated in NPR’s Radio Bootcamp.

Of course, in any school, there are some teachers who are better than others, but most of the professors at BMCC are dedicated professional or scholars with Masters and Doctorate degrees who really want their students to succeed. The students that complain about their teachers, and how hard the classes are, are probably are "allergic to work." I mean, this is community college, not the Ivy League - for the most part, the courses are incredibly easy. I know that many students who need Science pre-reqs, to transfer into other schools for medical programs, take their Science courses at BMCC because they’re so easy.

That being said, however, BMCC also has a wealth of opportunities for students who need tutoring and/or remedial work in almost any subject. Both the Math and English labs are open late, and any one can walk in and get face-to-face help or watch an instructional video. There are study groups in the Library, too. I intend to tutor next semester (tutors must have at least 24 credits and high grade point average).

Now to the negatives… unfortunately, the worst aspect of going to this community college is the student population! It is the largest collection I have ever seen of lazy, whining slackers who expect to have good grades just handed to them after never coming to class or just doing the bare minimum of work. Most students are inner-city financial aid recipients and products of the lousy NYC school system. They have been passed and promoted in high school out of mercy-and they just don't have any discipline or the least understanding of how to cope with schoolwork or behave appropriately in a classroom. Cell phones ringing, people constantly talking during class (when they do show up), using profanity and poor English in the classroom, shouting out questions without raising their hands, copping a nasty attitude when they get bad grades, etc. Seriously, sometimes I see people come in to take a test that I don't recognize at all because they've attended class so few times-how do they expect to pass the test? One such young woman cursed the teacher out loud in the classroom when she saw her grade!.

These kids really ruin it for the serious student who cares and puts effort into getting an education. I have observed that the serious students who actually SHOW UP & DO THE WORK are mostly older or foreign-born. This is probably due to having a better appreciation of how the world works and the importance of getting an education. I don't know how some of the people I've met at BMCC ever graduated high school or got their GED. For those of you who care about statistics, BMCC is currently about 70% Black and Hispanic, and 30% Asian and White.

I've had conversations with other serious students like myself who are paying for their own education, and it is extremely frustrating for us to have to be in a classroom with the financial aid kids who don't give a crap-and why must teachers continue to give group assignments in such situations?!! These slackers usually drop out half-way through the semester, when they realize they actually have to show up, listen to the teacher, read, and study in order to pass. In every class I've attended, about half the students are gone by the end of the semester.

However, I do see that BMCC has a great deal of great programs, opportunities, and resources to offer. The library is excellent and wa-a-ay underutilized. There are numerous courses available to take online as well as in the classroom, and a huge amount of clubs and student activities. BMCC is in a great neighborhood, and very accessible to most subways. I encourage the serious student to attend (the more of us there are, the better it will be!). Plus, BMCC has articulation agreements with NYU, Pace, Vassar - and if you earn an Associates here and transfer to a senior college within the CUNY system, your AA or AAS fulfills all the CUNY General Education Requirements. Best of all, BMCC is only $120/credit. So, ignore the slackers and go!

   
Responses
responseI couldn't have said this better myself!!!! Man. You have done a wonderful job girl!!

I see someone has made such a great effort to commend the school on it's strong points and not solely on it's weak points—which is a shame. Again many students are so lazy they blame everyone and everything except themselves. Shame.

Anywho, here are some tips for those who are thinking about BMCC.

-Take Interpersonal Communication by Professor Sandra Poster. SPE 240. If you are serious about education, look that class up. I swear, the best you'll probably every take. It'll help professionally or personally. Life saver.

-Apply for the Study Abroad Programs that BMCC offers. BMCC is the only institution in CUNY that offers a scholarship to cover the amount that the CUNY's STOCS scholarship does entirely cover. Good stuff! And regardless of where you are, always try to Study Abroad. Life-altering experiences. Trust me. I know.

  • Join Phi Theta Kappa! International Honor Society for Two-Year colleges. Great organization that helps build leadership skills amongst those who are active in the organization. Also, tons of other benefits you can reap. For more details, contact the PTK club or go to this website.
  • Join the Peer Mentoring Club when you can. Assuming you get to the point of "successful student" status, you can help others in their academic and maybe other endeavors as they venture through their times at BMCC. It is very gratifying and looks great on the resume!
  • -Apply for the Salzburg Seminar Award program. It is a week long intense seminar about global issues during the week of Spring Break. Very prestigious and awarding! Go go go!!
  • Apply for Vassar. Even more prestigious than Salzburg. Uber academic boot camp for the top tier students. Apply for it!
  • Do an honors program for classes you excel in. Very nice on your resume/transcript. Keep that in mind folks!!
  • And here is a 3 star note. APPLY FOR THE KAPLAN SCHOLARSHIP. That thing will pay for virtually everything. Problem is you'll have to apply EARLY! So don't forget. Check out those pointers kids. It'll definitely give you an advantage over everyone else…;)
  • commentIt is true that the ghetto slackers ruin everything for the serious student. I wish all classes had the seats arranged in a circle so there wouldn't be that back row of people constantly talking during class. Professors have to always shush people while lecturing. And when they do raise their hands and speak, their stupidity is just amazing. BMCC is not perfect but you get what you put into it!
    response…… You can't be serious. Financial aid students, lousy public school education. How dare you. Before you speak on sensitive matters such as these, by all means please keep in mind that your paying your hard earned money to sit among these lousy slackers. Not only are you an asshole, your also a sucker. I would have saved my money to attend a private college, where you and a thousand other suckers can get your pockets sifted and sucked dry. Your a damn dummy who if you had a brain you'd be dangerous. Damn dummy! hahaha let me guess you attended an expensive private school while your your daddy banged his sec and your pill pop'n mommy was too doped up to attend any of your ceremonies lmfao
    Ask a Question or add a response!
    The City University of New York Borough of Manhattan Community College
    Compare CUNY/BMCCSave CUNY/BMCC