Salem State University

Date: May 12 2008
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
The administration at SSC is probably the worst part. Going to the registrar, bursar, financial aid, or residence life office is not a good experience. The people there are often rude and unhelpful. When they do help you, it's like they're doing you some kind of huge favor. Sometimes they will send to you another building, only for that building to send you right back. They make it clear that they're not your friends and they'd rather not waste their time on you.

Through the majority of the year I spent there, the library was shutdown. Resources were scattered across the campus, but they didn't measure up to the library.

The first two months of school I had no idea who my academic advisor was because getting in touch with her was near impossible. She would responds to e-mails days later. She only had specific hours (usually early in the morning, during class) which she would be in her office. Twice I went during that time and she wasn't there.

The one campus bookstore is horrible. Prepare to stand in line for a good half hour, 45 minutes. The prices are absolutely ridiculous. Purchase your books online!

The dorms are disgusting. The janitors do not clean the bathrooms, they HOSE THEM DOWN and then leave them to soak in water. You'll step into the bathroom and soak the bottom of your pants. Janitors refill soap dispensers, paper towels and toilet paper when they feel like it (sometimes once every few weeks). The shower curtains are often covered in mold and go unchanged for weeks.

It's practically 100 degrees in the academic buildings. It's hard to concentrate under those conditions.

The food in the cafeteria (provided by the meal plan) is plain awful. It tastes like microwaved week-old left-overs. There is only one cash register. The employees are rude and arrogant.

Most of the students I met were friendly, but if you're planning on living on campus then expect to spend the weekends virtually alone. Nobody stays.

My experience at SSC was overwhelmingly negative, but I did make some good friends, had a few great classes and professors. I did get something out of it, but I wouldn't go back and I wouldn't recommend the school to anyone.