Simmons College

Date: Oct 23 2007
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I came to Simmons despite the fact that it was an all women's college. I was originally looking for a co-educational undergraduate experience but settled on Simmons because I was offered a strong scholarship due to my leadership and involvement in high school and I loved the idea of being in Boston (Simmons' only draw other than its professors).

I have been highly disappointed in my college experience.

The women here are caddy, immature, arrogant, and snotty. They create an unfriendly atmosphere of superiority and unnecessary competition both inside and outside of the classroom. The few normal people (which is a HIGHLY relative term at this college) here are the ones stretched so thin that they could snap at any moment. This select 5% of the student body runs the student government association, the school newspaper, and all student groups… additionally, more often than not, they are also the ones that find themselves needing to hold down a work-study job on campus due to the insane tuition price tag.

This college has a small endowment and a hard time fundraising from alums (probably due to poor experiences while they were here) so a large portion of each student's 'cost to attend' literally comes from the tuition they pay. Although coming in my $10,000 presidential scholarship (big whoop when the price tag is upwards of $40,000) was an enticement compared to other schools, as the campus has grown (with a new library and school of management building) the price tag has consistently risen… and guess what… financial aid is never re-calculated here!!!!!! (Short of the death of a parent, or the loss of a parent's job but my financial aid wasn't even recalculated when I had another sister enter college… adding an additional $40,000 burden per year on my parents)!!!!

Additionally, living conditions on campus are horrible. The office of residence life is slow in acting, and unorganized. Students go unattended to, or an e-mail will go un-noticed for days / weeks. The rooms themselves are small, and old… the majority of them are cinderblock walls with exposed heading and water pipes; temperatures are difficult / impossible to control and almost all freshmen have to live in forced triples that have a floor plan of 20 feet x 20 feet with one closet. And there is no discount to tuition or living costs. There are dirty community bathrooms, and living in the city it is not uncommon to have a mouse/insect infestation in the buildings.

The only amazing thing about this college, which has kept me here, is the strong bond with professors that you will make. ALL professors here are amazing, accessible, friendly, and care about your success. Most of them give you their cell phone and house phone numbers the first day of class. They will be highly influential in the job search or for grad-school recommendation letter writing for the future.

You weigh the pros and cons… but I wave my hard-earned flag of caution.

On a side note- this is coming from a student who has been highly involved throughout my 4 years here. This involvement is what has led me to see the corrupt underbelly of the institution, as well as the inefficient allocation of resources and poorly run offices (AT ALL LEVELS including the presidents).

I should have transferred when the time was right…but when the time came… my social life and friends connection took priority… with a shift in these priorities has come large regret in my decision to stay. Please do not make my mistake.