Rockland Community College

Date: Feb 17 2009
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm on Students-Review often, and I feel like its time RCC has a more in-depth review…

**(Let me just state before I begin that I do not write this review out of resentment. I do sorta feel about for what I'm about to write, but these are merely MY OPINIONS. I had decent grades in high school, and only came here because I wasn't satisfied w/ the 4-year schools I was accepted to out of high school. And through my own hard work, I graduated from RCC, with honors! I currently go to an upper-level SUNY school, and are 1000x happier there.)**

I didn't have the best experience at RCC. I know a lot of kids come here to make up for poor high school grades, or because they cant afford a 4-year school at the moment (and a few who failed out of 4-year schools!) but if I had to do it over, I would jump right into a career at a 4-year school.

First off, its a given that the social life at any community college is going to be lacking. Most dont WANT to stick around long enough to make friends, and instead dream of the day when they can transfer to a 4-year school, and be just like "everyone else" (most wont admit this openly, but you can tell)! I participated in clubs, spoke up in class, remained overall friendly, and still didn't make one single friend during my time there. The quality of the student body is almost a joke. The majority is guys in polos w/ popped collars, and girls in Uggs roaming the campus, just like any other SUNY school, I guess. You can tell most students don't care whether they do well or not, lets just say not all of them are "winners." I've heard numerous stories of kids going into the woods to smoke pot to pass the time, and people napping in their cars in-between classes is a normal occurrence. I actually caught a "stoner" classmate trying to cheat off my test once, and another showed me his collections swastikas he drew himself (see what I mean by "winners"?!) But on the upside, there are a good amount students there that take their academic careers seriously, and aren't total failures in life, but you have to keep your EYES OPEN for them. Most of the "good students" though don't stick around long enough to earn an associates, and transfer out to 4-year schools since they're GPA's are high enough a year or so in.

The parking is horrendous (the lots actually look more like an auto show then a school parking lot, the way that most people like to show off their "tricked out rides!"). I lived 5 minutes away and left my house 35 minutes before class just to get a decent spot. If not, you have to park in the back of the school and walk a steep hike until you reach the flatter part of campus. The officers on patrol in the parking lots are totally up everyones butt, so be sure to abide by all traffic signs, otherwise you'll be harassed. Food wise, you either have vending machines, or the campus cafeteria, which consist of sometimes rude staff and fast food. There are some fast food places nearby though if you want to travel off campus.

The campus does nothing to promote any sort of "student togetherness." The spring that I graduated, they had something called "Spring Fest" w/ a BBQ and a couple carnival-type attractions, but aside from their LAME incoming-student orientation, that was it.

Academics are okay, most courses are Gen-Ed's or "Into to ____" so courses aren't exactly rocket science. The faculty is hit or miss, some professors are chill and easy going, and some are a straight up nightmare…this is where you can run into difficulty with-in a course. I've found success w/ professors from the English, Science, and Theatre dept. (BTW, the shows the Theatre dept. put on are really great, by far the nicest department on campus)…other dept., not so good. Most classes though have really strict attendance policies (professors have to model their individual policies based on an "official RCC one", so I've been told), so make sure you GO TO CLASS, its very easy to fail a course based on poor attendance!

I would say the upside to the school is their staff (not to be confused with the faculty). Most administrative people and advisors are really nice, and are very helpful with what you need. I've gotten tutors for a few classes and they've been really good too, a great asset to anyone struggling in a class. I even called upon one of the advisors who I became chummy with though a club (probably the only relationship I formed there), to write a college recommendation for me, and even kept them up to date with my academic journey beyond RCC. Also, the graduation ceremonies are really nice I guess, but you're so eager to leave the place at that point, you really could care less!

Overall, if you head is on straight, and you KNOW what 4-year school you want to attend beyond RCC [since most continue on], and are okay with the fact that you might not make any friends, then by all means go…but start preparing your transfer applications AKA "your escape" as soon as you get there, that way you don't have to stay there longer than you wish! …If your a slacker in life and don't care about grades/your future, you'll fit in, but don't expect to move on from RCC or do well with that kind of attitude!