Hunter College Reviews

Students Are Self-Driven

Hunter College is primarily a commuter school, a lifestyle that can be hard to handle at first. But this also opens up a lot of freedom for students who are interested in developing their personal interests. The college is in the center of New York, which offers incredible opportunities to participate in internships, art programs, etc. A lot of students are academically driven because there is no campus life. The cliche saying that your education is what you put into it definitely applies to Hunter. It's a great school and can be just as intellectually stimulating as pricy universities, granted that the work and effort is invested.

The basketball team always draws a...

The basketball team always draws a large crowd whenever they have a home game. I was on the fencing team once, but we never were able to draw as big of a crowd as them. I guess it just depends on the team and players, and if you can bond with them like a family in order to enjoy their company, earn their trust, and have sheer fun!

The campus police are pretty...

The campus police are pretty strict, though I've never seen many problems. There are places where you can get away with drinking alcohol, or I've seen students mix their alcohol with sodas. They get away with it because they are sneaky, not because the police don't do its job.

The athletic facilities are okay....

The athletic facilities are okay. The student centers are always busy and congested. Free printer lines are humongous—they should have more free printing stations around campus. The library is alright, but it really feels old.

I like Hunter. You have to want...

I like Hunter. You have to want the education, because nobody is gonna try and hand it to you, but if you want it, then a very good one will be given to you at a very low cost. The paperwork and red tape can be absolutely nightmarish, but I choose to look at the situation and say, ‘Hey, if I graduate from here, I will never have to worry about difficult bureaucracy again, because it couldn’t possibly be worse than this!’ I think of Hunter as the poor and motivated man’s NYU. You can walk out of both schools with pretty much the same degree and knowledge, but people walking out of Hunter won’t be in debt up to their eyeballs.

I thought I was just going to go...

I thought I was just going to go here for a year and transfer, but it is too good to leave. I’ve met my best friends for life (BFFL)! Seriously, I’ve met some very interesting characters, some great friends I know I’ll have for a long time, I met the love of my life, some professors I hope I talk to until they retire (after which I’ll buy them drinks on a tropical island in tribute to the good old days), and I love NYC. Seriously, your school doesn’t need to ‘hook you up’ with internships because everything is already here, so just go get it. This city is yours for the taking, so if you don’t take, you only have yourself to blame. Hunter also makes for some great stories for those dinner parties when you’re 40. Also, since it takes the average student 27 years to graduate, according to the on-campus Spoof magazine, you’ll see everyone for a long time to come. And, if you can’t get a job once you graduate, Hunter has a soft spot for its grads, so Hunter will always employ you, even if you don’t get a professorship. This school is so great, you have no idea until you come.

As with all schools, there are ups...

As with all schools, there are ups and downs. I hate being screwed over, but I enjoy the classes and the people, for the most part. I enjoy being here, for the most part. Sometimes, I wish I went to a school with an actual campus, or dorming, but there are some things that we get here that you can’t get anywhere else, like Central Park being a block and a couple of avenues over. Sometimes, you wish you were at a dorming school, so you could have all the parties they have, but at the same time, at dorming schools, you have to deal with those people. Here, if you don’t like them, you can just leave campus and go home.

There are many different aspects...

There are many different aspects to Hunter. It cannot be defined by one person, because it is largely what you make of it, as most colleges are. There are different motivations and perspectives among the student body on what college is and what it’s supposed to be. Hunter could be a first choice for some, last choice for others. Night classes accommodate students who work during the day, often older, returning students looking to obtain their first, or a new, degree. Some students can’t wait to get out, while others are very motivated and will see to it that they will finish. My experience has been mixed, somewhat disappointing, and other times rewarding. However, through Honors courses, you can be challenged, you can find great mentors among established professors, and the diversity provides great, interesting people. Hunter is not the typical college experience of parties, crazy dorm life, and a sheltered campus—it is a worthwhile introduction to the real world and maturity. You find your friends, develop interests, and grow by establishing yourself confidently in two large, potentially overwhelming environments—Hunter and New York City.

Don’t be a dumbass; don’t bring...

Don’t be a dumbass; don’t bring your car into Manhattan.

If you have a mini bike, yeah,...

If you have a mini bike, yeah, parking is easy. Have you ever tried to park in Manhattan? No? Don’t start now. First, you must memorize the insane parking laws of NYC, alternate side, no alternate side suspended, no parking, and tow away zone. Finding parking by Brookdale is not nearly as bad as trying to find it by the main campus. I think the garage on 68th Street charges $30 a day, so don’t think about it. Besides, why pollute with a car when you have the best public transportation in the world? Don’t be spoiled and ungrateful. There are enough Chinatown buses and railroad services to get you where you want to go.

New York has very cold winters and...

New York has very cold winters and very hot summers. Bring everything you own.

The teachers vary, of course. Most...

The teachers vary, of course. Most of mine have been good. If a professor is not passionate about the class, and this is usually the case in 101 courses, then whatever the subject is, it is going to suck a bit. If a professor is very enthusiastic, of course it will change the learning atmosphere, and one is likely to learn more. For the most part, I find political theory classes the most enthralling, because they introduce new ideas and allow one to voice his or her own. I have found most of my political science teachers to be very careful in hiding their bias when discussing politics in the classroom, and there’s a lot to be said for that.

Since Hunter is a commuter school,...

Since Hunter is a commuter school, it depends very much on what borough you live in and what neighborhood you live in. In the Washington Heights area, there is another university around, but I wouldn’t exactly say it’s the most fun place to hang out. Most of the things to visit are the parks and museums, but I just happen to be a fan of those.

Well, it’s New York City, isn’t...

Well, it’s New York City, isn’t it? The main campus is located on 68th Street and Lexington. There’s not much to do there besides walk a few blocks to Central Park or grab pizza a block down. Maybe I’m missing out.

Sodexho, the company which...

Sodexho, the company which provides our cafeteria food, is the devil. You pay about six bucks for a transparent plastic bowl filled (filled is actually an overstatement) with iceberg lettuce. Oh, on the top, there is usually a dollop of tuna (regular, not albacore) salad with a few black olives. Meanwhile, the spinach salad with feta is $1.99. On the other hand, you can get two slices of pizza and a 16 oz. soda for less than $4. Nutrition is not a priority. And I don’t understand why pop tarts are a $1.40 in the cafeteria and $1 at the vending machines. Yes, there are lots of vending machines. In fact, a room on the second floor is devoted to them. You can get a Hot Pocket and microwave it. Outside, thankfully, there are plenty of vendors, like the fruit man, the gyro man (the gyros are extremely popular, and even have a fan base on facebook.com), the hot dog person, your morning bagel people, and the falafel man. Also, there are plenty of restaurants and delis around campus, so it’s not hard to find something to gorge on.

There are some really great...

There are some really great professors at Hunter, particularly in the political science department. Basically, every professor I’ve had that either had tenure or was on a tenure track was excellent. The adjunct lecturers are usually hit-or-miss. Sometimes they are great, sometimes they are not, but I’m fortunate in having had more good adjuncts than bad adjuncts. Classes are really great. On the first day, you get the syllabus that basically tells you what you need to do and what you are going to learn. I think if people have problems with their classes, it’s probably because they didn’t read the syllabus. And skimming doesn’t count. The professors put a lot of thought into their syllabi, and they usually ask for student feedback on how to improve the course if they are going to teach it again. I also think there are some classes that you might not find anywhere else. They may seem really small and obscure, but that is until you take them and realize how many others are interested. I mean, where are you going to find ‘Post-Stonewall Gay and Lesbian Literature?’ Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.

I usually walk to 1st Avenue and...

I usually walk to 1st Avenue and get McDonald’s most of the time.

If you can afford a nice...

If you can afford a nice apartment, lucky you. The rest of us live in sketchy neighborhoods, with lots of roommates, or both.

I don’t think off-campus housing...

I don’t think off-campus housing is so convenient, because if you have an apartment in Manhattan and your parents are not paying for it, then you’d have to work—and if you live in the outer boroughs, then you’d have to commute. No thanks. But you’re asking one lazy cookie.

People find apartments, but that...

People find apartments, but that usually requires going to an outer borough. Rents are astronomical compared to the dorms, which are relatively cheap. In economical terms, there is no reason to leave. In keeping sanity terms, some would not agree with that statement.

The dorms are totally worth it,...

The dorms are totally worth it, they are like $2,000 a year, whereas an apartment would be like $12,000 a year.

Varsity sports are big with the...

Varsity sports are big with the sports crowd. Two- or three-sport athletes are not uncommon, and Hunter kicks ass. We usually win at least seven CUNY Athletic Conference championships a year. Hunter is the rival team to beat in most sports, particularly basketball and softball. Games are pretty interesting, particularly playoffs and championships.

It’s Manhattan. Students don’t...

It’s Manhattan. Students don’t depend on the College to have a good time; they find it on their own. But, if you want to stay on campus, parties at Hunter mainly derive from clubs, which attract few people. Student government- sponsored parties steadily attract larger crowds.

Girls are lookin’ good.

Ah, there are hot guys and girls...

Ah, there are hot guys and girls everywhere.