Poughkeepsie, NY
Marist College

Marist College is heaven on earth. Yes, there may be construction always happening on campus, but the administration is always trying to improve the campus through construction. The buildings are modern yet rustic. The campus is on the Hudson River, which is home to fabulous sunsets and also a cool place to hang out after class. Overall, Marist College is a great place to attend college and further your education and I look forward to the last two years I have left.

Housing isn’t great. Many people were placed in buildups that mostly got broken down, but me and a lot of other people have had issues with their roommates. People can be very noisy too, such as by blasting music. In my dorm there were cockroaches, a lice outbreak, and someone once vomited in the sink and it sat there for a whole day. The hallway often smells like weed. Also the priority points system for housing is awful, it’s meant to incentivize people to get involved and get good grades and be rewarded with better housing but it’s unfair to people whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to find time to get involved. The food is very hit or miss. The campus is very pretty and the classes are small which is good. Most of my professors have been great too. There is nothing to do around campus though. Poughkeepsie isn’t the safest place ever either. There’s not much to do on campus unfortunately so I’m usually pretty bored. Diversity could be improved too, most people are upper middle class white people from the Northeast. On the weekends most people go to bars. If you don’t like to party and you’re not super social, avoid Marist.

So the benefits are that Marist College has small classes and fantastic professors but the cons are that there's nothing to do on the weekend (you need a car which you can't have until Junior year), food is bad (expect stomach aches) and on-campus activities are boring and nothing happens, there's a huge lack of diversity. Outside of the school, unless you take the train to NYC, there's nothing to do or accessible unless you have a car and have a very hard to find parking space. Campus is on a scenic view of the Hudson Valley and Hudson River.

Marist College is a great place I love that I can commute and be close to home. The classroom size is average which I love because I'm remembered by my name, not a number. The professors are awesome I never have to worry about any of my professors not responded to my emails, I know if I go to their office there always going to be there to help me. Also, everything in Marist is advanced I feel like I'm walking to the future when I see the technology.

If you are looking for a laid-back, wear sweatpants to class type of college, Marist is NOT for you. You will be surrounded by cotton dresses, wedges, and button downs, as you sport your coffee-stained gray sweatpants. However, if you are looking for a close-knit community, with accessible professors, attentive academic advisors, stunning views of the Hudson River, endless study abroad opportunities, and life-long friendships, you might want to consider Marist as your home away from home. As a 2018 graduate of Marist College who is not being imbursed by Marist to write this celebratory review, I can truly say that I would not have changed my decision to attend Marist five years ago. While I would not give the cafeteria food a five-star review, I would give most of my English professors at Marist five stars for their attentiveness, creativity, and guidance throughout my four years. Marist College also brings together an extremely welcoming group of young people; I have met some of my best friends here. Located an hour and a half from New York City and surrounded by some of the best hiking locations in the Northeast, you and your friends will have plenty to do. Although the city of Poughkeepsie is not the most picturesque, Marist’s campus is a mini-oasis seated alongside the Hudson River with incredible views of reds, oranges, and yellows during autumn. This remarkable scene, the incredible friends I made, and the professors who pushed me to succeed are what have led me to encourage others to attend.

I believe Marist College is a quality school. I am going into my Sophomore year there now, but I spent my Freshman year abroad (through Marist's Freshman Dublin Experience). My knowledge of the facilities and academic life there comes from friends I know on campus, and the times I have visited myself. I have taken online classes directly from Marist and received quality help from the professors, and my advisors from Marist have been helpful in all aspects related to their job. When referring to Marist directly, I do not have any complaints.

This is a VERY freshman geared school, which has pros and cons. You really grow close with your class over the years because you're living so closely with them your first year and close to every class building on campus. Quality of the dorms and food is below average. Lifestyle and food venues are extremely outdated and off campus has some dangerous areas if you're not careful.

Marist is a school with a reputable name. The atmosphere it exudes is professional and diverse in its academic options. the student life is enviable and all around the school can be classified as a goal for up and coming high school graduates. Thank you Marist for being a second home down by the river.

Marist is a beautiful school in an amazing location. I always feel completely secure and safe on campus. Every time I had visited, the students and faculty worked super hard to make me feel welcomed and answered all of my questions. Marist provides its students with wonderful opportunities, like studying abroad in Italy and internships in New York City. This is truly my dream school and I can not wait to attend.

Marist College is home. The views of the hills and Hudson River creates a feeling of energy and peace. Professors and current students welcome visitors as if they have known them for years, bringing a feeling of love and compassion. Marist is not just a college, it is a family.