City University of New York—Queens College (CUNY)

Located in New York's "most diverse borough," Queens College "offers high quality academics for a very reasonable price." As one student puts it, "Queens is about getting a valuable and quality education that does not drain you financially for the future." In keeping with the fact that the majority of QC students live off campus in a variety of nearby communities, one of the school's strengths is helping students become "the best you can be so you can give back to the community." One student even goes as far as to say that QC is "considered the Harvard of CUNY." The Macaulay Honors College and the Aaron Copeland School of Music both get high marks, with students saying that QC as a whole "provides a strong liberal arts education to give [students] well-rounded knowledge and skills." Professors generally "genuinely care about [students'] grades and well-being"; as one student puts it, "They won't let me fall behind." But while "most professors genuinely care for [students'] success," it's inevitable that they will "vary in terms of quality." As one student puts it, "Many of my professors just lecture and don't interact too much, however, some are very involved and passionate." Students appreciate the "challenging yet interesting courses" but some lament that for the coveted courses, "you have to really run and register for those classes like it's a competition."

Diversity is key at Queens College, where, as one student puts it, "We have a very diverse campus, so no minority is really ever a minority." "If one were to ask me to name every ethnicity, nationality, and religious group on campus, I would not even know where to begin," says another. QC "has a very friendly student body" and some says that "the friendships and bonds you make from taking transit together, or sharing stories is special in [its] own way." Others note that "there is not much of an established social life" and that "if you want to make friends here you really have to work for it." Many students "have parttime jobs," some students "are parents, and have to take care of their children"-"Of course, many people are straight out of high school [too], but even these people usually spend a lot of time off campus." Students describe their peers as "career-minded and focused"; they "love to have fun, but they [are] still focused on their studies and their futures."

Though the school opened the Summit Apartments, its first residence hall, in 2009, the majority of QC students still commute; as one student observes, "Even though the Summit Apartments can only house 500 students, it still remains pretty empty throughout the semesters." Since "most students come here to go to class and then head home or to their job afterwards," many QC students say that it's difficult to foster much sense of a school community-"the sense of community could use some work." But others counter, saying that, "I would not expect a school composed mostly of commuters to bond as much as we do." Outside of class, it's "very hard to be bored," especially "being so close to the city, there are a lot of activities to do around the area." Many students explore Queens, which is accessible via a free QC shuttle. For those who live on campus, or those commuters who stick around after class, as one student puts it, "We have clubs for everything, and if there isn't a club for something you like, you could always start [one] up." One thing that students agree helps unite QC as a community is student government: "Student government provides us with events and carnivals during both the fall and spring semesters. It brings people together."