The City University of New York Queensborough Community College

Date: Aug 05 2008
Major: Chemistry (This Major's Salary over time)
Queensborough is entirely what you make of it. The CUNY system is possibly the most bureaucratic university system in the country. In order to succeed, my advice is to form a relationship with your professors, particularly in your major.

If you plan to pursue anything related to science or healthcare, QCC will prepare you on a level unthinkable for a community college. I attended a prestigious university years ago, and I was forced to take a long break from my education. Although I could return to my previous school, I chose to save money by attending QCC after being encouraged by professionals I respected. I repeated a number of classes I had taken years before, and I was shocked by the rigor and quality of my science classes, particularly chemistry. The professors have been educated (and in many cases, had faculty positions) at elite institutions like UPenn, Columbia, Georgetown and Cornell, and they insist on the same intensity and depth that is expected at those schools. Expect to work just as hard to succeed as you would anywhere else.

Plenty of support is available. There are (voluntary) workshops, and tutoring is always available in the math center for most science and math courses. The nursing and allied health programs have a great reputation throughout NYC. I've heard nursing is somewhat cutthroat, but the students in my classes have always been great about working together and helping each other. I have actually unexpectedly made good friends here.

There are countless opportunities for internships, research, clubs, and campus and community involvement. In the sciences, QCC is almost unparalleled by any school in the country for opportunities to conduct independent research and present at major conferences. Professors are eager to mentor students. I don't know much about activities outside the sciences, but I've heard great things about the debate/mock trial team. Other opportunities for volunteer experience, student government, activism, clubs, athletic teams, etc. abound. The majority of students just don't take the initiative to seek them out, or in many cases, just show up to an event or meeting that has been e-mailed to them.

Honestly, I don't think QCC is the best place for you if you intend to major in liberal arts. The professors I had in history and sociology were phenomenal, but the school forces them to lower their expectations of students. For example, a "writing intensive" class generally only requires three short papers. In most schools (including community colleges that are strong in liberal arts) there is a much heavier workload, and if you're headed into fields like history, English, etc., I believe that most students will be in for a rude awakening upon transferring to complete a BA.

Aside from academics and clubs:

The cafeteria is horrible even by university standards. The company that CUNY has contracted for all of their schools franchises each school. In other words, the food is the same at each school, but the prices at QCC are significantly higher than at other CUNY schools. The greasy food is especially disgusting…they never change the cooking oil. Most of the kitchen staff is unfriendly, often bordering on spiteful, no matter how friendly you are to them. They get away with it because the closest eateries are just far enough away from campus that they are inaccessible if you have less than 30 minutes between classes.

The atmosphere leaves plenty to be desired, and this is due mainly to the student population. The campus is actually quite beautiful by design, but it is an open campus that accepts anyone…lower quality students trash and graffiti everything in sight. The courtyard and bathrooms are often disgusting. On the plus side, security is everywhere, and they are terrific. I once arrived on campus before the the buildings were open, and a security guard waited with me. They get to know you by name if you're around enough to show up for your classes.

Queensborough is a community college, so certain disadvantages are inevitable. I was skeptical when I arrived that I would get anything viable out of QCC, but now I am proud to have graduated from a school that provided an amazing education at a steal. I have been offered admission to a number of elite transfer schools, and my academic resume is longer than most students have after four years.