Overall Experience

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.

Parking

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.

Safety & Security

I’ve never been asked for my ID when entering any of the buildings, but it seems to work out somehow. I feel safe on campus, most of the time (not considering the times when you have to stay there late, like 11ish at night).

Transportation

New York City has the best public transportation system in the world, so unless you really want to blow your money, you never ‘have’ to spring for a cab or appoint a designated driver. Come on, tons of people ride the subways while in an altered state of mind—just be careful, you’ll be fine. That being said, the nearest subway is five blocks. Honestly, it takes 10 minutes, and the main campus is on the same line. If we get a 2nd Avenue subway, it will improve markedly. Write to your elected officials.

Weather

NYC exhibits the extremes, weather-wise. It is extremely cold in the winter, and it’s very hot and humid in the summer. I would recommend wearing many layers, scarves, gloves, and hats for the wintertime, and loose, light clothing in the summer.

Academics

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.

Athletics

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.

Campus Dining

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.

Campus Housing

Well, you don’t really have a choice with dorms. It’s really a commuter school, so if you get in the dorms, you might want to thank Jesus, if that’s your thing. If you like cocaine and drunk wrestlers, go for the Mezzanine (Mezz) floor. The general rule is the higher you go, the quieter it gets. So, if you don’t mind being with girls who cry when you let your door close loudly at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night, the 11th floor is for you. Coed floors tend to be dirtier, and you have to look at guys in boxers, which usually isn’t pleasant because the specimens aren’t exactly Greek gods. All-girl floors tend to revolve around one menstrual cycle collectively shared by the entire floor, so try not to piss anyone off right before that ‘special time.’ And clean up your mess in the kitchen for God’s sake!

Campus Strictness

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.

Computers

The computer labs are crowded during finals, but other than that, they’re fine. There is free dot-matrix printing, which takes forever, but saves a lot of money. The new Student Resource Center has iMac G5s, which are beautiful. SMail sometimes goes down, but that’s okay. As long as you have half a brain, registering for classes is so easy, and eSims, our online register, is very-user friendly. I’ve heard from faculty that they hate eSims because it’s a hassle for them, but from the student’s end, it’s great. I know Hunter is trying to get Degree Works, which would help those with only a quarter of a brain figure out which requirements they still have to do. The course catalogue is comprehensive, and if you can read, it should be fine. If you bring your own computer, there are a lot of places you can get wireless access, which is definitely a plus. Laptops are great, but then again, I’m a ‘laptop kid,’ so I might be biased.

Diversity

I honestly don’t see how a school could be more diverse (except for the gender aspect). There is every nationality, every age, every learning level. Most people who go to Hunter have some fascinating backstory and can bring so much experience to their learning.

Drug Scene

On the main campus, most people just do nicotine in the form of government-subsidized tobacco products, also known as cigarettes. Occasionally, people will smoke weed, but most go to Central Park for that. In the dorms, people drink, do pot, and do a lot of coke. But, you can easily avoid it or easily participate, whatever you like. Remember, Manhattan is your campus, so sometimes you get offered crack. In subway stations, just say no. Or, yes, if that’s your thing.

Facilities

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.

Greek Life

’Greek life,’ like Greek and Latin roots of English? Seriously, we have a coed fraternity and a couple of other ones that pretend to do community service just to get student activity money. They tend to be full of cliques, and I think I heard about one party, but it was in Brooklyn, so I didn’t go. Honestly, if you want Greek life, go somewhere else.

Guys & Girls

Well, 70 percent of Hunter is women, or at least of the feminine gender. Some are good-looking, but for the most part, everyone blends into one because there is something like 20,000 people at Hunter. It depends on your type, but there is something for everyone. Most of the Women’s Studies department is queer, but everything is worth a try. The 30 percent of guys are not overtly preoccupied with getting it, so if you are, you will stick out like a sore thumb and will probably not be liked by the ladies. Everyone here is more mature than that. Granted, there is a finesse about how to do it, but the ‘Let’s have coffee, dinner, a few more dates, and then hook up’ routine is not popular here, just because nobody has that much time. Flirt for a few classes, invite them over, and get down to business. If the experience is mutually pleasing, try it again. Trying to get people at Hunter is hard because you can’t rely on the tired ‘We just got drunk and did it’ thing (except at the dorms). Class and clubs are probably the best ways to try to mac it to someone. In between classes and at the bookstore, people just want to get the hell out of there and to their next class or their job. Don’t bother them with hellos, instead try to get them to bitch about lines or the cafeteria food—that will go over well.

Local Atmosphere

Yeah, NYC is kind of a rinky-dink town, not much to do—okay, clearly I’m kidding. The whole city is at your fingertips and is only a subway or bus ride away. There are innumerable museums, art galleries, parks, zoos, historic neighborhoods, and so much more. The CUNY system alone has 20 colleges within it, and the city is home to NYU, Columbia, Fordham, St. John’s, St. Joseph’s, Manhattan, Marymount, Yeshiva, Wagner, New School, and probably 50 more I can’t think of this very moment. As long as you know the neighborhoods to avoid, you’re pretty safe, too.

Nightlife

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.

Off-Campus Dining

The restaurants off campus are great. There is a wide variety to choose from. You can find pretty much anything you’re looking for, and prices range from very reasonable to expensive. Even the street vendors sell pretty good food. I highly recommend going to Pax for healthy but very good food. They sell amazing salads.

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.