Poughkeepsie, NY
Marist College

On the weekends, Marist students usually go to nearby bars or to on-campus parties. During the basketball and football seasons, a lot of students go to games at night with the rest of the student body. Marist brings a lot of on campus events to keep students busy. Every year there is a spring concert on the campus green, this year is Jack’s Mannequin and Matt Nathanson. Marist also brings comedians, shows movies, plays, for students who are looking for something to do. Student Activities runs trips to the mall down route 9 and to Stop and Shop, so if you don’t have a car this comes in handy. They also run Broadway trips to NYC for $25, ski trips to Hunter Mountain, and tickets to the Yankee games. Most students stay on campus during the weekends because there is always something to do and fun to have with your friends.

The best thing about Marist is the people. Everyone here is nice to one another and is friendly to each other. We all have a good time together and it is really easy to meet new people. The school is pretty small compared to other campuses, but I think that it is perfect. There are definitely enough people that you can meet someone new everyday and still not know everyone, but few enough people that you see a couple people you know every time you walk to class or go somewhere. At any time of the year, you will see people outside playing Frisbee or just hanging out (obviously more people are outside when it's warm out). The campus green in front of the library is gorgeous and looks over the Hudson River, so I like going there when it's warmer out. A lot of people spend time in each other’s dorms and go to the cafeteria or Cabaret. On the weekends people go out to the bars (there are 18 and over bars) or just hang out with each other in the dorms. The town of Poughkeepsie is not really the best place to walk around, so the only time people really go off campus is to get food, go to the grocery store, go to the mall, or go to bars. A common complaint about Marist is the cafeteria food, but I really don't mind it, I think that it is good. There is not a huge variety, but enough that you don't have to have the same thing every day. I don't think that I could have chosen a better school to go to than Marist, I love it here.

Like I said before, I'm Jewish and I am going to a predominantly Catholic school, so every day I experience a religious difference between myself and others. I have not had any problems here whatsoever because of my religion; I actually find it interesting and I like learning about other people's backgrounds that are different from mine. Even though we are not the most diverse campus, I think that almost everyone is able to find a connection with other people at Marist. When students go to class, most of us are not dressed in lounge wear or our pajamas (part of the reason is because it's so cold and we need to bundle up), but there are some students who do go to class straight from bed, and pretty much everyone does every once in a while. We aren't really dressed to impress, we just wear casual clothes. Most of the students at Marist are from Long Island and New Jersey...I am not one of them, I'm from California!

I love it here at Marist...that's pretty much all there is left to say.

That is not really what the majority of students are at all. I myself am not preppy, I consider myself to be more laid back, relaxed and comfortable. I am from the west coast (California!), and I am Jewish. A lot of the student population is white and Catholic, but Marist is really trying to become more diverse and you can really see that in the past couple of years there has been a huge difference. Right now we are working on making a Hillel (a Jewish college campus organization) here at Marist, and hopefully that will give the campus even more diversity.

Classes at Marist are generally small, so the professors get to know everyone by name. Also, since the classes are so small, it makes it easier to have class discussions and ask the professor questions. Professors are easy to contact and have office hours that you can go to. Depending on what classes you are in really depends on how much work you have. I haven't ever been too stressed or felt overloaded with work, but some of my friends have been in classes that require a lot of their time. My friends and I have had some "intellectual conversations", but they are not the basis of all of our conversations, we just talk about what is going on in each other's lives. I am a fashion merchandising major and I really enjoy the classes offered for fashion majors. The fashion department here is very good; we have classrooms full of computers with everything a fashion merchandiser/designer needs. There are also sewing machines, mannequins, a fabric closet, and a special library full of fashion books/magazines/articles/etc. Marist isn’t just about going to class and reading from a textbook, they really encourage internships, and being so close to the city makes it easy to do so. I think that Marist really helps its students prepare for life after college and getting a job.

The most popular team on campus is definitely girls basketball, the games are fun to go to and are usually packed. I am not involved in any sports, but I am involved with other groups on campus. The dorms are so fun, I live in Champagnat this year and I really like it. The rooms are pretty big and the people are nice. At the beginning of the year, and even now, people leave their doors open and we just go in and out of each other's rooms. So I am really close with a lot of the people on my floor; but my other close friends I met the first couple of days just by sitting at random tables in the cafeteria. A lot of people go out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays here, but you don't have to go out to have fun. I only go out like once a week, if that, and I still have a lot of fun. Last Friday, for example, a bunch my friends and I just hung out in my room, watched Shrek (we were going to see the musical in the city on Sunday), and just hung out until about 2 or 3 in the morning. Then on Saturday we went over to a house party for a couple hours and just came back to the dorms. The college tries to put on events every Friday and Saturday night so that people have other things to do besides go out to house parties or clubs. Since Poughkeepsie is sort of sketch, the only things people really do off campus are go to the clubs and go to the mall. Marist has mall trips on Fridays and Saturdays that go to the mall and to Stop & Shop; buses leave every hour and you can just leave whenever a bus comes.

A common stereotype about Marist students is that we are all upper class, preppy, white, east coast, Catholic kids.

When I began my college search, I had some ridiculously specific criteria and at first I doubted that a school could even fill all of my needs. Just to give you an idea, this is what they were: 1) Liberal Arts college 2) Close to a big city 3) Fashion Program 4) A classic college campus: Brick buildings, grass, and a football team 5) Small classes I can assure you that Marist is the only college that I found that filled all of those needs and more. I guess the easiest way to say it is if you asked me to design a college, I would design Marist. That is how comfortable I feel here.

The first thing that will strike you about the average Marist student is how polite and friendly everyone is. It seems that no matter how well someone knows a person, even if it is just someone that is in one of their classes, everyone always acknowledges everyone else with a simple "hey" and a smile. While it isn't much, I just think that just shows how outgoing the Marist campus is. Even better, they are polite too! Holding the door is huge here. Even if you are several feet behind someone, more likely than not, they will hold the door for you until you get there. I have yet to see that anywhere else.

I really can't say enough good stuff about Marist. I left Arizona for this school, and I don't regret it for a second. I have met some of the greatest people, I'm having the time of my life, and I feel like the opportunities are endless. That, I think, is what college should feel like.

To an extent it's true, but only to an extent. While you will see plenty of kids wearing polo shirts and other preppy staples, it is not a standard. There are plenty of kids who don't dress that way and I'm sure they feel no need to.

At Marist I feel just the right amount of pressure and confidence when it comes to academics. The course load isn't so light that you wonder why you are coming to college but it isn't so much that you feel completely overwhelmed and like you are never going to be able to catch up.

Marist is huge on planning activities for its students. They organize to have comedians and bands come and perform on campus, a shuttle to run students to the mall almost every weekend, and (my personal favorite) Broadway trips to the city. You can have transportation and your ticket all for the great, college kid friendly price of $25! They are to big name productions and the seats are great. No nosebleed seats. Off campus, there are plenty of night clubs that are VERY popular on the weekends.

I think the general consensus about what the Marist stereotype is would have to be that everyone is really preppy. That we are just a bunch of polo wearing, canvas bag toting preps.

Marist is just the right size. You always see a friendly face wherever you go but it is also not small enough where you feel like you are still in high school. Someone always knows a marist student when you tell them where you go, and they always know what a great school it is. There is no college town which is the only downfall to the school.

A majority of the Marist student body is Catholic. All religions and nationalities are accepted by all though.

No, there is a diverse student body at Marist. While there are people that fit the stereotypes, there are also many that do not.

Professors do get to know your name and make a point of it too. I did notice that attendance became less necessary once my core classes were done because my higher level professors would just make presentations and put them up on ilearn. That was the only downfall I found with Marist's academics.

People go out to bar or house parties 2 or three times a night on average. There are also the occasional party animals that venture out 4 times a week and those who don't go out at all. There is a party for every night of the week if one really wants to go.

Marist students are said to be white, catholic, preppy and rich. The girls are said to tan too much, wear their Northface fleeces and Ugg Boots and whine when they don't get their way.

Marist College has an amazing campus. It's right on the Hudson River, and is just beautiful. The size is just right- not too big and not too small. I love that I can recognize most people on campus, and yet there are plenty of new people to meet all the time. Marist is not a commuter school and so there is a great campus life. There is always something to do and someone to hang out with.

Marist is a diverse school when it comes to culture and religion. There are a lot of different groups that make up the Marist community, and Marist does its best to make everyone feel welcome. No matter who you are, there will be a group of people that you will fit in with.

Marist is such a great school. It's the perfect size, a great campus, and there is always something to do.

There is diversity at Marist, and people come from all over the country to come here.

Classes at Marist are very small compared to most other schools. I love that all my professors know my name. My largest class has 40 people in it, and because of this size you get to know your professors and all your classmates.

Marist has so many activities and clubs. There are club sports and regular clubs for any interest you may have. I am in a sorority and a club that promotes the welfare of animals. There are clubs to suit everyone’s' interests. Athletic events are pretty popular. Football and basketball games are probably the biggest events at Marist, and we just recently got a brand new field and stadium so the games are even better. There is always something to do. There are concerts every year, people go out on the weekends, and you meet friends through classes, your dorm, and the activities that you join.

We are all white from Long Island and very preppy and wealthy.

Marist is an average size college that lies right along the Hudson River. The campus and view at any season is gorgeous! Marist is about an hour and a half from New York City making it easy to make weekend trips into the city to see a show or just go shopping. Around Marist, there are many different restaurants that line Route 9 and there are plenty of shopping opportunities at the various malls. As you walk around Marist, it is likely you will see dozens of students with Marist "gear" on. There is Marist pride all around the campus and you can see this pride simply by walking around or by attending one of the many sporting events throughout the year. As a freshman, entering a new place is always scary. I must say, the second I walked on to campus on my first day, my fears were gone. I felt comfortable and everyone I have met has made me feel comfortable and at home.

Although many students hang out in groups often, this does not mean there are any cliques at Marist. Often a single student can hang out with a wide variety of people. In the cafeteria, students may jump from table to table in order to talk with all their different friends.

This stereotype couldn't be more inaccurate. At Marist, there are several different types of people. In just my first few months here, I have already made many friends from NY, Florida, California, Hawaii and many other places.

Since Marist has only a few thousand undergraduate classes, the class sizes are pretty small. My biggest class so far has been about 27 or 28 students. This is very beneficial because the professors get to know each student better and the relationships between the students and the professors are personable. Students are Marist take their work pretty seriously. On any given day, you can find the library packed with students working on the computers, working on group projects, or studying for a test. Most students have a pretty decent work load but work hard to manage their work and get everything done.

There are so many clubs/organizations/teams etc. at Marist. Whatever your interest is, there is most likely a group for you to join. All the students at Marist are friendly and usually leave their dorm's doors open in order to talk with different people in the dorm. On weekends and weeknights, there is always something to do at Marist. On many weeknights, you can find students attending club meetings, going to the gym, hanging out in dorm rooms, or attending athletic events like basketball, football, or soccer games. On weekends, Marist runs many different trips to NYC, the mall, ice skating, etc. They also run different concerts throuhgout the year that are less expensive and open to all Marist students. At night, there are many things to do that do not include drinking. Any student can find a fun time at Marist on the weekends!

The biggest stereotype about Marist students is that everyone is the same. Some people say there is little diversity throughout Marist and that each student comes from the same background.

The first thing that I loved about Marist was the view of the Hudson when you first drive down the main road; truly breath-taking. I remember my first basketball game at Marist and I was blown away with how much school spirit we have. My highschool was so quiet at games, but Marist has a constant deafening roar at the games.

Marist has such a diverse amount of students. The majority of people hail from New Jersey and Long Island but there are a ton of kids from all over the country. I myself and one of a handful of people from the first (and best!) state, DE

The students are far from boring! Even though Poughkeepsie is a little random for a city, there is so much to do. Everyone is involved in so many different clubs and sports and there is such a huge demographic of people in those clubs and organizations. If you're bored here at Marist, than there HAS to be something wrong with you.

The professors in my major are some of the most interesting people I've ever met. They present the material in such an interesting manner that I've been genuinely excited about going to class! How often does that happen? Class sizes are small and very hands on. I'm on a first name basis with half of my teachers (one professor actually threatened to fail us if we didn't call him Ed...)

Like I said before, if you're bored here at Marist then there has to be something wrong with you...

I've heard some stereotypes that Marist students are boring because Marist itself is in Poughkeepsie...

Marist is just the right size. There are small classes, but a huge sense of community via sporting events and other on campus activities that bring everyone together. I never really feel like I'm at a small college even though I technically am. The campus is stunning in all 4 seasons and there are tons of activities going on both on campus and in the surrounding Hudson Valley. School pride is especially present at the basketball games.

There are SO many student organizations that you can become a part of at Marist. Political, religious, LGBT, ethnic, you name it we have them. Most people here are very friendly and you learn that there is more diversity than meets the eye. Most students are from New York.

One thing that I haven't talked about yet is Marist's extraordinary abroad program. As a freshman, I got to study for the entire year in Florence, Italy. It was the best experience of my life and I'm so thankful that Marist enabled me to do this with a group of incoming freshman who are now some of my closest friends. If there's anywhere in the world that you want to visit, you will likely be able to find a way to study there for a few weeks, a few months, or even an entire year. It's a great experience that many Marist students take advantage of and the Marist Abroad Office is great for helping kids out with finding the program that best suits them.

NOT true. While there is a significant Long Island population here, there are tons of people from upstate, the surrounding Northeast states, as well as people from across the nation.

Small classes assure that your teachers will know your name. I'm currently enrolled in Psychology of the Adolescent and I'm learning so much in it because my professor specializes in the area. The same is true for my Poetry of the Hudson Valley course. Marist is very good at getting professors who are experts in the field that they teach. Students are competitive- especially in the honors program. The English department is great and very diverse. I'm currently taking class from Moira Fitzgibbons (a medieval literature expert), Pau-San Haruta (a linguist), and Judith Saunders (an expert on contemporary poetry). While some people feel that there is a problem with grade inflation here, I feel that I am challenged and have to work for the grades that I receive, especially in my major coursework. Also, professors are very easy to get a hold of and meet during office hourse.

The two biggest clubs on campus are Campus Ministry and the Dance Club. These two organizations have a variety of members. I'm involved in the dance club and I like to see how many people join no matter how strong their dancing background is. There's room for all levels. I've met my closest friends through my extracurricular activities. There are tons of things to do on a Saturday Night that don't involve drinking. For example, the college often sponsors a movie night where they show a movie that hasn't yet been released on DVD. Speakers and performers are also present along with productions that the theater majors will put on. Off campus there are several small movie theaters, fun coffee houses, and restaurants that aren't too far away.

Some of the stereo types of Marist students is that they're all rich white kids from Long Island.

I can honestly say that my college experience can't have been any better than it has been at Marist. It was soooo easy to make friends, which is always a concern your first year. And the classes are great. Most of my classes have on average 20 students in them, so my professors know who I am and how I'm doing, which was important to me. I'm also doing my second Independent Study class where it's just the professor and me. At most other schools, there are never opportunities like that! The housing is also incredible. I live in an apartment-style dorm this year with our own kitchen and everything. No complaints, whatsoever. Marist is definitely a college that you should at least come and check out. There's always, always things to do, and you'll never know if it's right for you unless you stop by!

Come check out Marist! It may be perfect for you!

The jump from high school to college can be scary but for me, it was a great transition. It was definitely more challenging work than I had ever done, but it was at the point where I could still handle it. You also have a lot of support. The class sizes are on average only twenty students, and the biggest they can get is 30 students, so the professors know who you are and are very available and approachable. I've had professors put their cell phone numbers on the syllabus before, in case we have trouble on assignments. I've also had the privilege to take two one-on-one classes which I got soooo much out of. Opportunities like this are what makes Marist a unique experience.

The best thing about Marist is definitely the small size and gorgeous campus. All the buildings are in close proximity to each other. I can leave my dorm 2 minutes before class and make it on time. Walking on campus, you see familiar faces but there are always new people to meet. One experience I will always remember is last spring when the weather finally got nice, it was hard to find an open spot of grass to play soccer on. Students were everywhere laying out on the campus green and by the student center; it was like a beach party every day. Walking down to the river, I remember finding a large group of students BBQing on the docks. It was unbelievable!

Most students at Marist are from the Northeast (New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, Albany area).

The small size of the student body keeps classes small so that your professors actually know your name and care about your success. Professors I had for only one class will stop me in the hallway and ask how my semester is going, etc. Most professors really care about what they are teaching and provide review sessions for the material and strongly encourage attending office hours. Outside of class, you often see professors attending football and basketball games. They get very involved on campus and don't just take off after classes.

There is a large variety of clubs and organizations to join depending on your interests. Most students are invovled in at least one club/organization. Greek life is not very big at Marist, although there are a few fraternities/sororities. On the weekends, most people go a to a friend's house or go out to the bars in Poughkeepsie. College activities hosts movies on the weekends that play in the Performing Arts Room if you want to relax for a night.