Dutchess Community College
Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

Reviews

Dutchess Community College

Christina from Newburgh, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Dutchess Community College is a wonderful school. The staff actually sits down and goes through every little detail with you to help you succeed. They also try to get you active in events and sports.
Tips for prospective students
When you go to Dutchess don't just look at it as a school, look at it as a home. See the people as if they are family and not just friends. Just be yourself and thats all you could ever ask for when you're there.
Academic Rigor
Academic life is wonderful, everyone is on task and ready to help. The staff is very generous and try to give you as many options as possible. They also offer jobs on campus as well.
Dorm Life
The dorm life is new and exciting! It gives you a chance to get out of your comfort zone and be who you are, that's all the college ever wants from their students. They just want you to be everything you want to be.
Food and Dining
The food can use a little more work. The Cooks get distracted and talk a lot, which causes them to burn the food. They also need to work on their prices because everything costs too much.
What to do for fun
They give you actuvties like BBQS, Man Hunt, Karaoke, Dances, Games, sport events.

Selena from Lagrangeville, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
dutchess community college is a great school for those who are on a budget.
the campus is beautiful and reflects the creativity of the students, also the teachers here are extremely committed to the success of their students.
their open admission policy makes it possible for anyone to succeed here.
Tips for prospective students
to anyone who is thinking of, or is definitely applying to dcc, be sure to speak to an advisor who can assist you in finding the right classes for you. they will help you find a degree program that fits your goals! dcc has low tuition as well, and the staff there are there to help.
Academic Rigor
at dcc, you will have to work hard to reach your goals, they have informative seminar courses as well as a great library. at the library one can find many reference books and a lot of information that can help the student with assignments.
Dorm Life
currently dcc does not have livable dorm rooms. but you would be pleased to know that living quarters are being built and will open at the beginning of the fall semester.
Food and Dining
at dcc there is a dining hall, as well as several areas throughout the campus buildings with snack machines, etc. they have a large choice of meals at the dining hall including fresh pizza and salads.
What to do for fun
there are computers in the dining hall as well as the library which you can use for entertainment in addition to researching. dcc holds various events as well as free movie nights for students.
Bang for the buck
dcc has the lowest tuition in the state and is a good choice for people on a budget.

Amanda from Dutchess County

a past student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Did learn a lot
~ DCC provides a very excellent education. Most of the standards are strict, and the administration is always working to improve the education, the staff, the campus, and the experience of attending a higher education institution.The administration remains very active and is always working hard to improve an already progressive college. The education provided is definitely on par with a four-year university, and because DCC is a SUNY school, your education counts doubly over. Many colleges, especially local colleges and universities recognize most of what DCC offers, excepting where there is not a similar course provided. ALL of my credits transferred except where a similar course wasn't available.
~ One of my favorite aspects of the whole campus is the staff. My teachers at DCC were most of the greatest teachers I ever had. Not only could they teach, but they were engaging and interesting. They made learning a fun and desirable experience beyond If I don't get a degree, I won't be able to get a good job. They really pulled all the stops and DCC has managed to bring together a conglomeration of some of the quirkiest teachers, too. These teachers actually care about their students and seeing them succeed because they know that learning happens both inside and outside the classroom. Many of them treat teaching as a passion instead of a job. They are more interesting all around and many of them are very willing to work with you and provide any help you might need. They are not lenient about falling behind, especially if it is because the student is not willing to do the work, but the majority of them realize that most of students at the school are troopers. The staff realizes that most of the students also work or probably have families and/or a social life outside of school. They prefer that students remain engaged and often find the students at DCC refreshing to teach because They are not robots (as one of my teachers put it). Also, this is an adult envir...
Did enjoy being here
I absolutely loved having the opportunity to attend Dutchess. The campus and facilities are very well-maintained unlike plenty of colleges I have heard of since, and the atmosphere is comfortable. Also, different parts of campus provide different environments for students' needs. Some places are rowdier and louder for those who just want to relax between classes with their friends or play games and have fun. Other places provide the solace some people need for study or to just be away from people for awhile. The schedules were fairly simple and the campus was easy to navigate. Some majors required a little different of a schedule (like some art and science classes), but I always found it easy to compact my day if I wanted to be on and off campus fast or to spread out the classes if I did not want to learn everything in a short period of time like elementary through high school. The food is okay, but keep in mind that it's a school cafeteria in a school that does not have campus housing. It's great for getting a snack while stuck on campus. If you prefer to buy food elsewhere there are a couple of little delis and diners and plenty of other restaurants in and around Main St. in Poughkeepsie. Books are moderately priced although I would always recommend shopping around as with any important purchase. Another thing: there are a lot of student jobs on campus and career resources can work with you to find a job, even in a tough economy. For jobs though, you have to be ahead of the game. There are several positions, but the positions do not remain open long. Also, if you do not like spending much time in buildings or on the lawn, Hyde Park and Staatsburg are only around a fifteen minute drive away, easy to find, and home of two state parks with trails and field alike.
Bang for the buck
Dutchess has the lowest tuition in the state of any college or university. That's a no-brainer. A great education is available at the lowest price on the market. If you are interested and want a quick peek at just how unique Dutchess is even among community colleges I suggest checking out their Fast Facts page on their website at: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/aboutdcc/fastfacts.html. Dutchess is a college that is interested in going green and students who attend DCC are usually consistently successful in keeping their ambition to chase a higher degree or a better job and attaining their goals.
Tips for prospective students
Take you education seriously. That should go without saying, but I have witnessed a constant misconception that a community college's classes are easy to breeze through affect the work ethic of new students until after their first semester. As at any respectable college, if you do not do the work, do not expect the credit.Also, have fun. Enjoy your stay here. Join a local club and meet new people. Take advantage of the academic and professional resources offered. In any department, if one person is not able to help you as much as you like, remember that there is always someone above them that can pull more strings and make what you want happen. I seamlessly changed majors and transferred because of the staff's useful advice and assistance, even when I faced very unique circumstances at times. Also, If you are in the top ten percent of your class in any local high school, check out the Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholarship. It is a full tuition and fees scholarship for those who have pushed the extra mile. (Oh yeah, and make sure your guidance counselor actually gives you paperwork to sign, so the application goes through).
Great for these types of students
This college has an open enrollment policy, but robots do not tend to fare well here. Students with a personality do very well here. The average person who does not like that much attention brought to them does well here. Also, the person without a whole lot of money can do well here. My family does not have enough to help me, so I pay for college alone. I have had little money, but because of help from scholarships and a part-time job, I was able to make the bills AND focus on my work to get the most out what I have bought.

Brian from Wappingers Falls, NY

accepted here and planning to attend soon
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
Have been told most people get a better than expected education.
Will enjoy being here
It's a community college, so better than high school, but nothing I will be crazy about.
Bang for the buck
One of the best community colleges around and lowest price.
Tips for prospective students
Just cause it's a c.c. APPLY and take the placement test EARLY. It'll give you the chance to make your schedule before everyone else and ensure you get into classes.
Great for these types of students
Smart, budget-aware students.

Doesn't matter how good your GPA is: unless you have $30,000+ a year just sitting around, go to a C.C. It'll save you soooo much money in loans that you shouldn't even be taking out.