Elmira College

Date: Mar 25 2009
Major: Psychology (This Major's Salary over time)
There are so many negative things to say about Elmira, it's hard to know where to start.

1). Its size. Ok, so I know that this is information that is readily available (Class of 2012 was 300 students), but I thought it would create a close-knit community, and the classes would be small and personable (how I learn best). HOWEVER, the community was not close-knit (more later), and the classes were taught by professors who made it quite apparent that they were there solely because they could not find work anywhere else. Because of this, the small classes did NOTHING for me; they might as well been lectures of 200.

2). The students. Elmira College prides itself on its diversity. Ha! The "diversity" they speak of is the handful of international students, most of whom can barely speak 50 words of English and are paraded around like show dogs at Orientation for the parents. Other than this small percentage, the majority of students at Elmira fit the same mold: White, wealthy, and snooty. Most of them are of the "dumb blonde" variety, and are very condescending toward those who may be a little different (a.k.a.-not white, wealthy, and snooty). Oh, and they looooove to party! Except the parties are lame, and only fun if you like being drugged and sexually molested by hockey players (not included in the brochure, I might add).

3). The faculty and administration and pretty much everyone everwhere. Many professors don't seem to care if you succed, nor do they care if they're actually teaching you something other than what you can learn in the "(Insert Subject) For Dummies" books. The administration doesn't give a hoot about you once they've got your money. Actually, that's not true. They give a hoot about getting MORE money. During Fall Orientation, they pretty much guilt you into "donating" to the class, and then pressure you to give it as soon as possible. My advisor told me that it was not her job to help me pick classes…what? You're not supposed to ADVISE me?

4). The activities, both on and off campus. Ok, so again, I REALIZE I went to a small school, and they can only do so much for you. But the "activities" are so lame, it makes you feel like you're in summer camp. Elmira prides itself on all of its clubs, but most of them never meet or do nothing (The EC Democrats did stuff, but by "stuff", I mean trying to elect some representative or something, and I didn't live there, so I just didn't care [meanwhile, it's the most important election year of our lives, and we're not discussing that at all, because "it's been played to death already"…]). Dorm activities are usually forced upon you (like "Phone-A-Thon", in which you call alumni and ask them for money. And you have to do it. Don't even TRY to say you have to write a paper or anything, because then everyone will be so maaaad!). The surrounding area has nothing. No fun bars, no fun clubs, and if you don't have a car, don't even think about going anywhere. All in all, there is nothing to do in Elmira.

5). Freshman Requirements. I do know that a lot of schools make you take Gen. Ed. courses. However, this school has the most ridiculous programs I've ever seen. The worst? The Writing Program. If you're at all interested in Elmira, you've heard of it, because they're constantly shoving it's wonderfulness down your throat. However, it is incredibly sub-par. How do I know? Because I ALREADY TOOK COMPOSTION I AND II IN HIGH SCHOOL. But that doesn't matter, they wouldn't take the credits. A kid in my class got 5s on his AP exams (BOTH English classes!), but he still had to take Elmira's program. And it wouldn't be so bad, but it didn't make sense. Everyone has to write a 20 page paper that seemingly has no point to it, and every week write a five page paper about what ever classic literature we're reading (and I don't mean Steinbeck, I mean Herodotus). The teachers are ALL terrible, and I've been told that they're usually only there for a year (or less!), and then they're fired. There's a Saturday class, which is only used so that the students can't go home for the weekend. CORE is kind of ridiculous, because it's pointless; we learn nothing. ENCORE is the absolute worst piece of garbage I've ever done. There are NO good performances, and it's a waste of time. And of course there's a five page essay (pointless!). And then there's community service. 60 hours by the end of Term II! Why? Who knows!

All in all, this college is really only fit for a select few. Many kids are miserable there, and it's very hard to fit in. I would never, EVER go there again. The very thought of it makes my stomach turn.