<p>I am an international student who has been accepted to the Macaulay Honors College at City College. I plan on studying engineering. I was wondering what the reputation of this program/college is on a national/global basis.</p>
<p>I have the option of attending a more-renowned university in my own country (University of Waterloo, Queen's University, University of Toronto, etc.), or I could attend the Macaulay Honors College. What would you advise, and why?</p>
<p>Ill be honest with you.
The deal is great, but the school is not so great.
None of the CUNYs are good.
They are just like high schools.
I would recommend you pick one in Canada if $ is not an issue.</p>
<p>City College used to be exceedingly well-respected in academia, but over the decades, it’s reputation has significantly declined. Some of your classmates will be illiterate, to put it into perspective.</p>
<p>UToronto is Canada’s best university, right? You have a fine choice right there: it’s an internationally reputed school.</p>
<p>CUNY is nowhere on the level of UT/Waterloo/Queen’s.</p>
<p>You won’t have ANY illiterate classmates at Macaulay. And the opportunities Macaulay will present you with in New York will be huge.</p>
<p>Agree with Mini – I just started a thread on their incredible successful fundraising. They are reaching out to the alumni of their golden years and will rekindle the fire.</p>
<p>The OP is Canadian and has no guarantee of staying in the states after graduating. I’d go to Waterloo which has the elite reputation for engineering in Canada.</p>
<p>There’s also no campus life at CUNY, it would be moving to NYC and taking classes as opposed to a college experience.</p>
<p>Hmom5 – the major CuNYs are getting dorms – City has them and posters have said others. One thing CUNY is doing that is great is giving the honors kids first crack at the dorms. What an incentive. And NYC what a campus. </p>
<p>Cuny is reaching out to the old grads – it is doing a full court press and I think it will be the up and comer.</p>
<p>I would recommend UT, Queens, or Waterloo in that order based on prestige and college life existing. Even if City and the CUNY system are “rekindling the fire” and building dorms (Which I believe, it will be prestigious again over time), it simply isn’t yet.</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice so far!</p>
<p>I would just like to note that I do plan on doing grad school and my doctorate in the States, ideally, if everything works out. Would going to Macaulay improve my chances of doing so, or should I just stick to the Canadian universities and then apply to US grad schools afterwards?</p>
<p>Essentially, I can imagine more attention/recognition being given to me for my work/research interests at an undergraduate level if I go to Macaulay. But at the same time, I would be compensating for the quality of my education/experience.</p>
<p>Any further input would be greatly appreciated at this point. Thank you!</p>
<p>@ Spacecamper</p>
<p>Honestly, from the previous replies, all the posts give you an idea of the CUNY school system, but none really touched on the select Macaulay Course at the school. If you’ve taken AP classes in your H.S. then you know that there is a difference in the workload when compared with the regular classes. The same holds true for the Macaulay honors college. The classes are far more intense and there are seminars that go beyond the classes. The Macaulay honors is not another “high school.” People leave the Macaulay Program and study as graduates in the Ivies; so that should give you an idea. Don’t judge Macaulay based on CUNY. To get into a CUNY school you need an SAT score from 1000-1100; anything higher is just padding. Macaulay requires students to score int he 1350-1450 range, to put it in perspective.</p>
<p>I totally agree with you amoney3. </p>
<p>Don’t ever compare and place Macaulay Honors College with/in the realms of regular CUNY’s.</p>
<p>Totally agree with the previous two. First, look at the stats for Macaulay. For the Class of 2013 the mean GPA was over 95 and the average SAT combined on the MATH/VERBAL was over 1400. Acceptance rate roughly 9% - 11%. The freshman class definitely consists of high achieving students who are not going to want to pursue an education that is similar to that offered to the regular CUNYs. Everything in the Macaulay is more intense and rigorous. Macaulay Students are required to maintain a 3.3 GPA by their freshman year and 3.5 GPA throughout their entire 4 years. Also a certain amount of hours of community service should be completed. It is definitely worth taking into consideration because the CUNY system clearly puts its Honor students above its regular students and it is evident by the deal Macaulay gives each of its students. In addition, Macaulay has received increased attention that even Ivy League caliber students are giving a look into it.</p>
<p>Bump guys!!!</p>
<p>Because to be honest, many “CUNY Honor’s” Students that I know are near 2nd or 3rd grade reading level, so I want more re-assurance about Macaulay.</p>
<p>How hard is it to get an internship or move to another college on joint research projects for mathematics in particular? I am looking into Queens and CCNY, although I am also applying to top tier colleges like MIT, harvey Mudd, Princeton, UoFC, CMU, UCB, UCLA and Waterloo. Money is a major factor me and the Macaulay dorms, free macbook pro and such are enticing. I will probably enter as a Junior, since I am going to be taking credits there and about 1-2 years worth of CUNY credits, hence can skip them.</p>
<p>It is basically a glorified community college. I would steer clear.</p>
<p>Younger D was in Macaulay Honors @ Brooklyn College.</p>
<p>If you are looking at grad school, it is a great way to get your undergrad out of the way for very little cost. And CCNY’s engineering program is ABET accredited - which is very important.</p>
<p>It is very competitive to get into Macaulay, and you should be congratulated <em>hugs</em></p>
<p>^ By competitive, you mean “must have graduated from high school to attend.”</p>
<p>informative is obviously uninformed.</p>
<p>Class 2014
Applicants 4,072
Accepted 877
% Accepted 20.6%
Enrolled 394</p>
<p>Admitted Applicants 2014
HS Average 93.5
SAT Total 1402
SAT Verbal 640
SAT Math 700</p>
<p>[Macaulay</a> Honors College - Frequently Asked Questions](<a href=“http://macaulay.cuny.edu/prospective-students/faqs.php]Macaulay”>http://macaulay.cuny.edu/prospective-students/faqs.php)</p>
<p>[Macaulay</a> Honors College - Fact Sheet](<a href=“http://macaulay.cuny.edu/about/factsheet.pdf]Macaulay”>http://macaulay.cuny.edu/about/factsheet.pdf)</p>
<p>I would consider this if the study abroad programs are free, also can I take all my graduate math courses in undergrad then? I am now approximately sophomore undergrad math, but am in my sophomore year high school, so by time I go to college I’ll have finished undergrad math, and with the study abroad I only saw international applicants as well mediocre american colleges. Would I be able to intern with real top notch colleges such as UCLA, MIT, UoFC, Harvard, etc…</p>