The City University of New York Queens College

Date: Jan 28 2009
Major: Sociology (This Major's Salary over time)
I think Queens College is, overall, a good school. I have met professors who are respected in their fields and who have published extensively. There is computer accesibility throughout the campus, which is nice. I live in Manhattan and I could have gone to Hunter, but I really appreciate being in a campus setting with open spaces and greenery.

Having said that, the student body is a different matter. Students, especially the ones right out of high school do not seem to be very bright. QC also gets a large number of community college transfer students who have coasted along and managed to transfer, when they are not really college material. Many students have the mentality of just getting a degree to get a job. In my opinion, college is about becoming a well-rounded individual with a liberal arts background, not vocational school! Students seem to have this very hierarchical relationship with professors and I see so many students who seem intimidated by the professors! A professor is somebody who is providing you a service, you should not fear him/her.

In addition, the predominance of adjunct faculty is appalling! Having so many adjuncts really hurt students because a)teaching is not a priority to adjuncts—they are busy getting their graduate degrees, and they get paid little, b)they do not mentor students (for the same reasons mentioned before).
All in all, I give QC a B-. College is what you make of it, and I am not there to make friends or engage in silly conversations with kids in their early 20's. I think I am getting a decent education, but that's because I am being proactive—I don't just sit in class and listen to lectures. I am a big believer in students being responsible for their education. College doesn't educate you. You educate yourself by using the college and faculty and facilities for your benefit.