Ithaca College Reviews

There are many restaurants off...

There are many restaurants off campus, both in The Commons on State Street as well as in Collegetown over at Cornell University. There is a large range from Greek, Italian, Thai, Indian, Korean, and many sandwich shops. None of these are within walking distance. Some good spots are Sticky Rice, Taste of Thai, Aladdins, Diamonds, and Sammy's.

The restaurants off campus are...

The restaurants off campus are actually pretty good for a town the size of Ithaca. The prices aren't that bad, and the service is usually good.

The guy-to-girl ratio is very...

The guy-to-girl ratio is very favorable for the guys. Although there are a lot of different people, most have at least a little bit of hippie in them. There are also a lot of gay guys and girls around because this campus is so gay-friendly.

For the most part, enforcement is...

For the most part, enforcement is pretty lax. As long as you aren't creating a problem, you probably won't be bothered. Be discreet and be safe.

Good prices and a large variety of...

Good prices and a large variety of off-campus eating. Some examples include Thai, Chinese, pizza, Italian, Mexican, and vegetarian.

The restaurants off campus in...

The restaurants off campus in Ithaca are great, and the good thing is that most of them delivery. There's a great variety of cuisine to choose from. Taste of Thai, Samurai, and Sammy's are some of my favorites.

I have had good and bad...

I have had good and bad experiences at Ithaca. The weather is depressing, and the political climate is not friendly to conservatives, so there have definitely been times when I missed my home. I think I’ve learned a lot in my three years here, however, and I will take with me knowledge and friends that will last for the rest of my life.

I don’t know about any hardcore...

I don’t know about any hardcore drugs, but marijuana is fairly common, especially given the pot signs in the downtown Commons shops. They sell some very pretty bongs, bowls, and hookahs. You get the idea.

If you’re a gay girl or guy, this...

If you’re a gay girl or guy, this is the place to go. Sometimes, it seems like half the population is homosexual—you just have to make sure you get the right sexuality. I have no trouble finding guys to drool over.

I’m overall very ambivalent about...

I’m overall very ambivalent about this school. There are definitely days where I wish I would’ve attended a school closer to home, but then there are days where I’m glad that I’m here. The main factor that’s keeping me here is the Park School program. It’s very unique and stimulates a real-life environment. If I could find a program like this in California (that’s not theory-based and then hands on), I would definitely transfer. However, I think that being so far from home has its benefits, too.

This campus is very diverse when...

This campus is very diverse when it comes to people’s interests and sexuality. However, from a racial, religious, and ideological standpoint, there is lacking diversity. It’s okay, though, you roll with it and bring out what’s missing in your own way. That’s how Ithaca College students do it.

Parties on campus are lame, but I...

Parties on campus are lame, but I don’t really like parties anyway.

Find a spot and stay there.

Campus Security is a Joke

Campus security cracks down on all the wrong things at all the wrong times. They bust parties at the circle apartments, where juniors and seniors who are 21+ live, but do nothing to stop the ridiculous amount of pot smoking going on in the dorms. If you call to report people on your floor smoking, they take your name down like you're guilty. Because IC is a dry campus, they don't do anything if someone is stumbling around drunk or high on campus.

AWFUL

You can go to Cornell if you wish, but its a hassle, and the frat parties there aren't any better than off campus parties on Prospect St. or at the circles. There's an "underground" fraternity and an underground sorority at IC, but the frat is filled with Crew team d-bags, and the sorority consists of probably the most hideous girls at the college. If you want Greek life, this is not your school.

It saved me about $3,500 between...

It saved me about $3,500 between food and housing. And I’m right across from the back entrance to the College, which is nice. It’s closer than the Terraces.

Well, it’s convenient in the sense...

Well, it’s convenient in the sense that it’s not too far away, and in a lot of places, you can even deal with not having a car. Ithaca is a residence-based school, and anyone who isn’t a senior who wants to live off campus needs to get permission. I don’t know how hard it is. The only reason I think I will want to live off campus in the future is to learn how to do the whole house thing.

It is much easier to get...

It is much easier to get off-campus housing after your sophomore year. The college provides a lot of housing on campus, though. There are many apartments available for upperclassmen, and if you move off campus, it isn’t too hard to get a place to live.

Because Ithaca College is a...

Because Ithaca College is a residential college, there is little chance of living off campus until your junior year, and you are not assured a spot off campus until your senior year. Living off campus will save you a ton of money, as Ithaca College charges almost $10,000 a year to live on campus, but if you don’t have a car, commuting will be a huge hassle.

When they acquired the Circles...

When they acquired the Circles Apartments, it make it that almost no one except for seniors get off-campus allowances. I have found it more convenient to stay on campus, even as a senior, so I did not have the hassle of driving to class in bad weather or being too isolated from campus.

I don’t particularly like any of...

I don’t particularly like any of the houses off campus. To me, they seem run down and very ugly. I would prefer to live in the Circle Apartments.

You can’t move off campus until...

You can’t move off campus until senior year. Apartments seem to be available, but most students sign leases in September or October for the following academic year.

They don’t let very many people...

They don’t let very many people live off campus until their senior year. It’s worth it for the money because Ithaca is so expensive, and you save at least a couple thousand dollars in room and board. You might want to have a car, or live with someone who has one—the bus system is kind of expensive, and the walk up the hill to school is a big one. Keep in mind, it’s hard to find a parking spot if you do have a car.

I think the main problem with...

I think the main problem with living off campus is driving in bad weather and finding a parking spot.

We have Greek Life. There are a...

We have Greek Life. There are a few underground frats and sororities. If you look around, you'll be able to find them.