St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY, USA

Reviews

St. John's University-New York

MusicStudent

a current student here
40 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Thanks to the professors, St. John's is a school that helps students for their particular career field. Many of the teachers have had experience in your field, so they are willing to give you tips that go a long way. This college is not for the slacker- expect to do work, but in the end it helps out. Many students go onto graduate school in the city or receive internships after they graduate. Some even participate in internships while they are in undergraduate school.
Am enjoying being here
There's plenty to do on the weekends and during the week. If you dorm on-campus, activities in the dorm can help you have financially cheap fun. There's plenty of transit around such as the subway and the bus so if one wanted to go in the city they would fine no problem. For the extra-curricular students, there are plenty of organizations to join such as Greek life, the radio station, Fashion Club and many other ethnic or event driven clubs. There also is an active volunteer service on the different campuses. There are off and on-campus parties, but there is a strict no alcohol policy on campus.
Bang for the buck
This is a costly school, but many students are on scholarship. Don't fear, there is work-study and many other merit-based scholarships the school lends out. If you are persistent and do more than sit in a classroom, St. John's will love you.
Tips for prospective students
I must warn you, the dorms on campus is not the best for those who need space. If you are a freshman, you will be on campus, but expect to share a room with up to two- three other people.
Also, feel free to volunteer around your community. The admissions love that.
Great for these types of students
St. John's is great for students who want a close-knit community, who are willing to volunteer for a cause and want to succeed in whatever they wish to do. If you're up for a challenge in the classroom and want to have fun out of it, then you should look at this college. If you want to live in New York City but also need to concentrate, this is a great college for you. STJ is in the suburbs but within distance of the city.

Morgan from Ronkonkoma, NY

a current student here
19 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The classes here are fairly small which enable you to really get to know your professor. It's nice because by truly knowing my professor, I feel that I am less intimated to go to his/her office hours for extra help or even stay after class to ask some questions or get a follow up on the lecture. Also, it is A LOT easier to pay attention in a lecture (which trust me can be very boring at times!) if a class is smaller because the professor will noyice if you doze off or decide to catch up on your facebook chatting and completely ignore the lecture! It also is easier to get involved in debates and top conversations!
Am enjoying being here
I really like it here. There is so much to do on campus and this school has so much school spirit. People really take pride in the school here and it is nice to be around such an optomistic atmosphere! Also, there is a great mix of students, so it's nearly impossible for any student, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, to feel out of place. Also, because Queens is so close to the Manhattan, yet also so close to the beaches of Long Island, with just one simple train ride you can have the best of both worlds.
Bang for the buck
St. Johns truly is an up and coming university! Yes, it is a bit pricey; however, it is a private, well noted school! Alumni are HUGE here and really do help out wiht scholarships, jobs, etc! Plus, there are a LOT of new buildings. There is a huge new University Commons with completely all new facilities. Some other universities have not been renovated in years and years! Also, a lot of the dorms (like the brand new townhouses) have JUST been built within the past 3-4 years, so really they are extremely nice!.. and very large compared to many other college dorms as well.
Tips for prospective students
Definately join clubs! Get active! Greek life is very big here, and I took full advantage of it. I love being in a sorority and it really helps to make friends! Volunteering is a greazt way to become active too. There are many different ways to volunteer here whether you join a club, such as Habitat for Humanity or Save Darfur, or whether you sign up with Campus Ministry to go on one of their excursions, whether it is to the Ronald McDonald House only 10 minutes away from campus or a Mid-Night run to deliver food/hot cocoa to unfortunate, homeless people in the area, where you will meet tons of other students!
Great for these types of students
St. John's is really great for any type of student striving to exceed. There is a great deal of opportunity here and it would be a shame to let it go to waste! Students here like to go out into the city, volunteer around the community and become involved in campus activities. Unfortunately, this school is not for any major football fans! (We do not have a football team) However, if you love soccer or basketball.. so does St. John's!!

Marc from Brooklyn, NY

a current student here
12 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
There truly is an opportunity to learn a great deal at St. Johns. They have a wide area of studies ranging from Anthropology and Psychology to Computer Science and Law. Even within the classes, the environment is set for comfortable learning. Classrooms are small to accommodate personal attention and engagement. The student-professor relationship that you have here sets St. Johns apart from other colleges. Alongside with classes, there are many organizations and societies that can parallel with your learning in your class. Technology is also not a stranger to St. Johns University. They have many web resources, that can help student connect and learn. Honestly, without these extra resources, you are bound to feel that sinking bored feeling while in a few of your classes at least 5 times. It happens to a lot of us but it’s natural. St. Johns seems to understand that and that’s why they have and are continuing to create new things for us students. It is not only the Professors and classes but the interactions you have with your fellow classmates are extremely helpful. Most classes do start out with people being quite and keeping to themselves or their friends. But don’t worry because there is just something about these classes that gets people to start interacting and the whole thing becomes more like a group of people instead of just a class. These classes are no joke; besides the core curriculum you major can put you into some serious classes. Having lighthearted but very professional instructors along with a group of people learning and interacting together brings many new and innovative ideas to the table. This will defiantly help in those times when you homework assignments give a big surprise and you are sitting there for hours trying to figure it out.
Am enjoying being here
For me this is a great place to be. It is far enough from home to get the great college experience but close enough still to have the support of my family and friends. I originally am a long distance college experience king of guy but I found his location to be very comfortable. The Queens campus is pretty open and suburban. Great landscape and amazing views to wake up to on a weekend are definitely something that kept a lot of students happy. The surrounding area is nice but not as engaging as a city. However, one simple train ride or shuttle bus ride can get right into Manhattan along with many other students any day of the week. Also, the Manhattan campus is amazing too. It feels like living in a hotel. Free shuttle bus transportation to the Queens campus everyday and at night you have the whole city at your disposal. Dorm life is also good too. Dorm rooms are good size and have pleasant accommodations. Most likely you will be rooming with someone, but at least it’s more like one or two people instead of eight. There are also townhouses which are just plain awesome and the new dorm the built nearby which has a lot of space. If you have picky preferences like I do when it comes to living conditions, you might be really pleased with the campus life hear. And if there is a problem with anything, there is a Resident life team that works along with your R.A and R.D to help you out.
Bang for the buck
St. John’s is not the cheapest University in the world. No need to fret because there are so many opportunities for aid. The amount of aid and financial opportunities that you can be a part of is so large; I am still applying to some right now while having a few under my belt. The compensation you get for coming to a private university like this is really generous for more that 80 percent of the student body. One reason could be due to the massive amount of alumni that St. John’s has and they help out in big ways such as scholarships, internships and job opportunities. St. John’s have different payment plans to accommodate the different situations its students can be in. When you arrive here, you will easily see how in tune people are with financial aid. When you ask students why they chose to go to St. John's, most of them will probably say “Because they gave me the most money.” St. John’s University is also pretty nice to its students throughout the years. With tuition the school provides students with a free laptop which becomes yours after your graduation. There's always various amounts of events that students. Just this fall there was a Maroon 5 concert that I remember many people screaming their heads off for. There are free shuttle buses that leave campus and take you into Manhattan as well as other locations if you happen to not have a car. Assortment of outlets and free resources like tutoring are just waiting for students to hold of them. In a lot of colleges, a good amount of money is going to the name. In St. John’s, the academics are really the same in a more personal environment with a less hefty price tag.
Tips for prospective students
Sometimes I hear people saying that you have to do something substantial and not “coast through life” at their college. To be honest, St. John’s does not really have that kind of attitude. Instead of trying to push the students, they try to help you push yourself. St. John’s wants to have well educated and well rounded people (I bet you heard that before). However, the atmosphere here is not really like being squeezed through a bottle neck to do everything you see in your path. If you show interest in your education and try to be a bit creative, you can go really far, especially with the help you can receive here. At my high school, St. Johns was not really high on people’s lists. A lot of us thought that the more expensive meant the more prestigious while at the same time trying to not pay a lot for college. I did not realize how silly and counter-productive I was until my senior year in high school when my college advisor talked to me about St. John’s. He said that St. John’s was a very important school, especially in the New York area and in turn the nation. I was told how this private university was very well known and how the St. John’s name on a resume can raises eyebrows. With the many networks and resources available to you on campus or online, St. John’s University can be in some respects a big bundle of opportunities. With all of this you become a better person dynamically, which is one of the most important reasons of college right? Don’t be pressured to do anything, college life is different for everyone. St. John’s wants you to make a difference in yourself before so you can make a difference in the areas around you. As long as you’re willing to put in the effort to work hard and meet new people, you can have a great time here.
Great for these types of students
St. John’s is great for self-motivated and passionate students and even for students who is looking for great networking opportunities. The campus is not as big as some other campuses so you don’t have to cross a river or freeway to get to the other sides. Things are a good length apart and there are still other campuses elsewhere besides the Queens one and relationship between all of them is real nice and enjoyable. Everyone can find a place to fit in here, but it is firstly important to be humble and grounded, and confident in your own abilities. There are some people here who are using St. John’s to go to very high and prestigious graduate schools or even as a large stepping stone to transfer into other colleges between years. Not everyone has the same goal as each other, but you do not have to feel intimidated. The graduates here are really nice to you and help you out sometimes. For the most part, things are really friendly here and easy to get along with while you are working on your studies. Ultimately, St. John’s University is great for those students who can take on a challenge and realize their full potentials so they can go to place that can help them harness it.

Melisa from Santa Ana, CA

a current student here
10 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Academically, this school is very good. I am a freshman this year on the Staten Island campus and I love the classes here. The professors on this campus really get to know you because the classes are so small. Everyone gets a laptop at the beginning of their freshman year, so it is really easy to keep up with class notes.
Am enjoying being here
I am from California so this New York weather is really a huge deal. This campus is mostly a commuter campus but there are residents here (I am one). If you are looking for a small campus with the benefits of a big campus, then the Staten Island campus is for you. I personally like the bigger campus experience, that is why I am going to take some classes on the Queens campus.
Bang for the buck
This school is really good with financial aid. The only thing is that one needs to really make sure all the financial stuff is taken care of first. First year freshman do not get penalties for paying late. Another good thing about this school is that it offers a deferred payment plan. Students don't have to pay their bill all in one hit. The greatest thing about coming to this school is that it is in New York City. It was cheaper for me to go to school on the other side of the country than to go to a state school in California.
Tips for prospective students
If you are not used to cold weather, come prepared. Bring a nice pair of boots. Also, the Staten Island campus is on top of a hill so it gets really windy during the winter; this means bring a heavy duty jacket. Remember the Staten Island campus is on Staten Island, not Manhattan. The city is accessible, but one needs to take the free school shuttle (which is shared with Wagner College) and take the Staten Island Ferry to the city.
Great for these types of students
If you want space, this is the place to be. We do not have dorms like the other campuses. We have apartments. There are single rooms, double rooms, and triples. You will always have two other people living with you but it is better than eight. Greek Life is a big deal on this campus, so if you are interested in local chapters, then this is where to go. We have two national sororities and one national fraternity.

Kaybria from Fairfax, VA

a current student here
6 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
St. John's University is one of the leading Catholic universities in a America. St. John's is known for its superb academic programs and diverse student life. St. John's is the perfect choice for a high quality education.
Tips for prospective students
St. John's is an excellent school to attend because of the high quality education and supportive Vincentian community. It is also a very diverse community which gives each student the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
Academic Rigor
St. John's provides a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, compromising over 100 majors. St. John's also has a global studies programs that allow students to study abroad in places like Rome, Jamaica and Spain. This is University has some of the top professors that are very supportive of every student. Alongside the supportive staff, St. John's University also provides tutoring and writing centers for students in need of extra academic help.
Dorm Life
St. John's University provides comfortable living for all students on all three campuses. Each residence hall is cable-ready with wifi and plenty of space. Living on campus in the residence halls is very convenient because they're close to all academic building including the campus library.
Food and Dining
St. John's provides a variety of healthy dining services all over campus. It has one main dining service that every student can access. It also has two buildings that have various places to eat such as Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and Subway.
What to do for fun
Each campus has a variety of activities. St. John's gathers all students at their popular annual events for all to enjoy; sometimes St. John's includes the local Queens residents. St. John's has daily recreational events in the inside Gym for students to enjoy like Yoga, Pilates and even Zumba. Aside from Gym, St. John's has an additional recreational building for sports such as basketball and volleyball for all students to participate.
Clubs and Activities
St. John's University has over 40 student-led clubs/organizations that support academics, community service, cultural learning, performing arts, religion, media and honor societies and other special interests.
Greek Life
St. John's Greek Organizations are made of groups of many different interests. St. John's has 16 Sororities and 19 Fraternities which include: The Divine 9, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Inter-Fraternity Council, and Panhellenic Council Together they all strive to reach a common goal. Each organization is bonded by honor, respect, friendship, and truth. These Greek Organization also come with many benefits like leadership opportunities, academic support and a bond of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Campus Safety
St. John's provides campus wide public safety that include the local police department, on-campus public safety officers and 24 hour surveillance. Many of the public safety officers are former law enforcement officers.

Christina from North Caldwell, NJ

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
As long as you're willing to put in the effort, you'll definitely learn a lot at St. John's. When you're picking out your classes, make sure to check ratemyproffesor.com first - you'll most likely end up with good professors that way. Participate in your classes and show that you care by doing your work. The classes are fairly small so professors will likely be able to tell who's a slacker and who's actually paying attention.
Am enjoying being here
There's definitely a lot to do on campus. There's activities all the time and there's also a lot to do around the area. St. John's location makes it fairly easy to get to Manhattan and there's even a free shuttle that goes to various places nearby and to the Manhattan campus. Also, there's a lot of opportunities to give back to the community through various volunteering activities.
Bang for the buck
While St. John's is a private university with a hefty price tag, they have a tremendous amount of scholarship money available. Almost everyone I know here has received a scholarship that is beyond generous and many of them even have full (tuition) scholarships. When you ask students why they picked St. John's, most of them will probably say Because they gave me the most money.
Tips for prospective students
Don't be fooled by first impressions. When I first visited the campus, I put St. John's on the bottom of the list of schools I applied to. But after I found out they were going to cover all of the tuition costs plus around half of my room and board, my parents urged me to re-consider. I'm glad I did because I grew to love St. John's through my subsequent visits.
Great for these types of students
If you want a campus with a lot of diversity and to be close to the city, St. John's is most definitely the place for you. If you strive to succeed, the smaller class sizes here and the opportunities available to you at St. John's will help you to achieve your goals. Be willing to get involved on campus, and you'll love it here.

Margaret from Bensalem, PA

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
when you start at st. john's you have to take a lot of core classes, but how well you learn or how easy it is depends on the teacher.

if you like a big school with small classrooms this is the place for you. We have 16,000-20,000 students here yet all of my classes are usually around 30 students, only time this wasn't the case was for one business lecture of what 50? all the teachers remembered me and knew me by name which is definitely better than other schools where students are basically a number.

There is also a new accelerated learning opportunity where, if your in Accounting, Management, and some other business courses, you can opt for a program where you can have your bachelor's and master's degree finished in only 5 years! As a Management Major i will definitely be signing up for it. Be mindful this opportunity is really only opened to students with good grades. So keep them grades up! =]

In addition, St. John's University has connections with major Business Companies in NYC, that are looking for specifically St. John's Students), especially Goldman Sachs which came to St. John's three times this year alone. Why are they looking at St. John's, one reason is because the school is extremely diverse, is somewhat more of the middle class students, actually knows about Manhattan since we are in the area, and finally because we get such a broad education with all our core classes. We're the type or workers Goldman Sachs are looking for. Last month my business class had an exclusive visit by a high end member of Goldman Sachs, we all had to wear business attire and everything.
Am enjoying being here
In st. John's, for freshman, there are regular dorms (st vincents, donovan) and the fairly new suites (hollis, dasilva, carey).

now i thought like on other colleges you have to pay more to be in a suite but i got in a suite for free.

but be mindful, no matter what dorm your in the elevators, or at least for the freshman, are a little slow and tends to break at least once a month.

Sophmores are in the suites; century, henley and also carey.

There are a million and one things to do on campus talent shows, business events, fashon shows, discussions, barbecues. There are also alot of clubs to join. be prepared for your school email account to be filled with constant messges of activities.

A good amount of people go home on the weekend so sometimes the campus seems like a ghost town.

party wise is tricky. St. John's University is a dry campus, meaning we aren't allowed to have alcohol or drugs on campus, but people drink, sell, and smoke weed anyways, just in secret. Mostly people go off campus to party.

Nearby there are frat house parties, fun bars (Traditions, Cheapshots, McFaddens, etc), and some clubs. Farther off, i work at and attend manhattan clubs and have been to legit brooklyn raves. All are really fun.

Now this is an undeniable fact. St. John's is nearby the big apple but it isn't right next door. Be prepared for 30-50 minute traveling, depending on where you are going. Thoug, to me, i've been to manhattan so often it doesn't even seem that far anymore.

From the top of the Great Stairs and some buildings there is a perfect view of manhattan which i love sitting down and viewing. There are alot of beautiful landscaping and trees. The campus is escpecially beautiful in the springtime.

If you don't live in New York, be prepared for it's wheather especially when it's transitioning between seasons, then things really start to get crazy. One week in February or March it was 70 degrees one day, 40 degrees after, snow the next, 60 t...
Bang for the buck
it is somewhat expensive to live here just because it's New York so you gotta learn how to be money-savvy

Financial wise, they give away a lot of grants and scholarships, right now I'm only paying half of my tuition, and i know students that is going by FREE RIDE, just make sure that if your financial aid is depending on grades, that you keep your grades up.

all students get a free laptop that they keep if they graduate. If they don't graduate the laptop is taken back.

i like the fact that we get to wash our clothes for free (laundry mat in every dorm)
and there is a website that lets students know when washers and dryers are open if your too lazy to go to the laundry room
Tips for prospective students
-there is a convenient store on campus called the Hungry Johnnies C-store, i would advise you to only go there when you HAVE to go there because there products are somewhat expensive.

It's usually cheaper to get your food and stuff from 7/11 nearby, stores on hillside, and, if you really feel ok with a little travel, the Queens Mall(Their Target is AWSOME).

-IF YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY IT WILL BE BEST TO GET AN APARTMENT SOPHMORE YEAR

if you are dorming then i feel social-wise for freshman year it's awesome to be on campus, but the fact is getting an apartment is actually cheaper than dorming, plus it's more freedom. I personally am not getting an apartment because I'm moving to the most social sophomore dorm next year, but i have a lot of friends planning to get apartments nearby the university.
Great for these types of students
Business Students
students who like big schools and small classrooms
students who like NYC
Students who want to study abroad
students who like to recycle
students who want a free laptop

Victoria from Houston, TX

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I am a student at the Staten Island Campus of St. John's University, I have found that the professors here are some of the best in their field of work and they all have shown care for students. Every professor that I have had so fr will go out of their way to help, all you have to do is ask. Because of this relationship with the professors I feel that every student has the ability to learn so much.
Am enjoying being here
As an on campus resident there are so many activities that are provided to us, like tickets to Broadway plays for $15 or sometimes less. Also there are many things you can also do with Student Life, for example last weekend there was a Ski Trip, and there are other fun and exciting things to get involved with on campus like the different groups and organizations.
Bang for the buck
You will definitely being getting all your moneys worth, if you get involved with things around campus. It doesn't have to be to much but at advantage of the things that are offered. Also take advantage of the facilities that students can use like the tutoring center, the writing lab, the free printing in the library, counseling, financial counseling, and so much more.
Tips for prospective students
Tips for students that are planning on dorming at St. John's get to know your neighbor, get out a few times, if you don't then like in any other place it can become boring, I like the dorms on the Staten Island Campus because they are apartment size, with a living room, one or two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and small dinning area. For any student planning on attending St. John's don't be afraid to talk to the professors they are all nice.
Great for these types of students
This school, the Staten Island campus, is great fro students that want to get involved with school activities, for students that want a small campus to go to, for students that want to need help to advance in academics, and for students that want to get to know many new people.

Bayyinah from Jamaica, NY

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The campus is beautiful. The study spaces are very convenient. The food is great.
Tips for prospective students
Have a plan for balancing academics and clubs. Look up your professors on ratemyprofessor and choose them ahead of time and schedule your classes on time with your preferred professors. Learn how to study for multiple subjects at once and be prepared to put in way more work than you did in high school. Don't be disappointed if your first semester grades aren't all A's.
Academic Rigor
Because I'm a bio major and a pre-med student, I do more work than a regular student would. It's easy to get overwhelmed and fall behind but if you do the work in your core classes, which isn't much, you can boost your GPA that way.
Dorm Life
I don't live on campus but it would be very nice. Everything is very convenient. The only problem is there are no supermarkets very close to campus.
Food and Dining
The food is great. I wish there were more healthy choices. I enjoy eating burgers and fries whenever I want but I know its know brain food.
What to do for fun
I go to events by clubs and by the school. For example, there was a buffet on the great lawn by the multicultural affairs. Then there was a horse carriage ride around campus that was pretty fun as well.

Brittanya from Bronx, NY

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The diversity at this school is very existent. It is very easy to meet different people from different backgrounds. The programs and events at this school are very beneficial to finding a job or starting your career in the future.
Tips for prospective students
As long as you take advantage of the courses, majors, programs that you take, and events that you go to you will do very well.
Academic Rigor
The classes can be easy or hard depending on the professor you get and your determination to want to pass.
Dorm Life
Dorm Life is OK depending on what dorm hall you get placed into. There are good dorm halls and bad dorm halls but you can make the most of any you get. The best part is you can choose your roommate and get a glimpse of there personality by reading their profile before choosing them as your roommate. You get an improved dorm hall with each year you dorm.
Food and Dining
The food in the dining hall is not all that but is improving at a steady pace. There are other places to go to get food such as Taco Bell and Burger King on campus
Clubs and Activities
Clubs have a lot to offer not only for leisure and fun for the students but some clubs can look really good on resume.
Greek Life
Greek life is existent on this campus and a great way to get social with other people and the right sorority or frat can look good on a resume