<p>Hi, I'll be visiting Marist (and Vassar as a reach) in the fall and wondered what I could find out about Marist from people that have visited or know someone who went there. I am looking for safety schools I'd like and this was given to me by my GC. I toured Wheaton recently (another suggestion) and it was okay, but for some reason, the longer I'm able to think about it, the more I realize I really didn't like it that much. I would still apply, but not as enthusiastically. Thanks for any feedback.</p>
<p>I can chime in here. Our family has visited. The school is small so class sizes are smaller. I think that there is only one cafeteria but it has generous hours and you may be able to go in unlimited times (don't recall, but it seemed generous). Then there is another cafe for flex dollars or cash and it was very pricey. The ave. student could only go in there once in awhile. It serves fried chicken, sandwiches, fries, onion rings, ice cream, junk food, as well as healthy choices, I think salads are there. Applebees is across the street, as is some the upperclassman housing (I did not see upperclass housing).</p>
<p>The school was very clean and has a beautiful view of the Hudson. </p>
<p>Kids get into Poughkeepsie for discounted cab fares of a couple of dollars. I did not see the city, but ppl say it is run down. The school does a good job in organizing trips into NYC (90 minute train ride I think). They have gotten a bus and Broadway show tickets and charged a nominal fee for the day -25- 30 dollars for the show and the transportation.</p>
<p>Housing works on a point system and is not guarenteed all the way through. You have to do well academically and particpate in school activities to get points- ie: school organized community service, marching band, sports. I hear that sports are a big part of Marist. The points thing forces the bookworm and coachpotato to participate in something.</p>
<p>If you have trouble with a class professors are available. There is a writing and math lab.</p>
<p>Upperclass housing is nice but can require walking in the frigid NY weather. Freshman housing is connected, if I remember, to the cafeteria and classrooms.</p>
<p>I believe most of the students are Catholic, although it has not been an affiliated school in many years. </p>
<p>From what I know, this is considered a solid school.</p>
<p>BRJ-CT, I read in a past post that you would like a smaller school with at least 1500 students, and are interested in English, religion, and psychology. You may want to look at Clark University in Ma. It is known for psych, although it has many other strengths. It might be a good fit for you. If you visit you might check out Holy Cross while you are in the area.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the info! I have very recently looked at Clark and Holy Cross and liked both, but Clark more. I will stay for a day during the fall to get a better feel.</p>
<p>I am glad Clark might be a good fit. It is a very good school.</p>
<p>Only thing I know about Marist was that my professor left because he felt the drinking was getting out of hand.</p>
<p>I visited in the spring when it was full of students and hated it. It was one of those schools I wanted to leave the minute I stepped on campus. It may be perfect for someone else though. What I didn't like was that seriously you couldn't tell one student from the other. It's one of those homogenous pretty schools that the uniform is upscale mall. I would never wear a baseball cap and felt very out of place as a guy without one. My parents and I were making a game on the tour, find a kid without a cap, find a black kid, find a kid with piercings, etc , etc.</p>
<p>Funny, I never noticed the baseball caps. I can't remember the month we were there, but it had to be early spring because I remember it was one of the first days that you did not need to drag around a coat. I did notice that there are not many minority students. I also noticed that African American students seemed grouped together. I must add that I know of a minority student that felt so so uncomfortable that he left after freshman year to go to an instate public school instead. I should have put this into my prior post, but just did not think of it until your last post reminded me. Also note that there is little religious diversity as well.</p>
<p>Also, try to squeeze in Bard if you can, I'd also take Mount St. Mary over Marist, however, that is my preference.</p>
<p>Bard is wonderful, but not necessarily as a safety. Mount St. Mary, which I know nothing about, would be a safety. Judging from what I looked up it has many more women than men, and sat range is around 450-550. The range for Marist is around 550-620.</p>
<p>Maybe Fordham would be a better choice and they have EA also, so I'd have one answer early. My GC had recommended Marist as a college that would give more $ than Fordham, but she thought Fordham (RH) would give me more opportunities overall and have a bit more diversity. I will see how it goes. I haven't heard of many overly generous colleges, but in my small but growing list, Clark is on the top for that. That might not be the most important thing overall, but I don't want a lot of debt before grad school. I know of a few full tuition Cross students, but they were all athletes.</p>
<p>BRJ-CT Fordham is a very good school and I have met a few ppl that were students there within the last few years and they loved it. There is a heavier foreign language requirement to meet so look into that unless you don't mind it. </p>
<p>From what I know they will give less $. The students I know got 5,000 to cover commuting costs, as they drove from NJ into NY. That created its own set of problems from time to time, but they did not mind. </p>
<p>Marist had a chart up last year, and I do not know if it is on their website. It spells out exactly how much $ you will get in merit aid, so it is not a mystery, but of course it is at their discretion. </p>
<p>Clark is supposedly generous with aid too, and I remember students indicating that they did have to go for interviews to get the aid, but since you don't live on the other side of the country you could manage it. </p>
<p>Are you applying to UConn, or is it too big for you? I assume you are instate.</p>
<p>Northeastmom, I do live in CT and Uconn would be way too big for my taste. I've known many students that have gone there and most stayed, but a good deal of them complained and came home a lot, especially the first year. The size, the party atmosphere, feeling like a "number" not getting class's, the list goes on, but for some the "fit" wasn't there but the cost was workable. A lot of opportunities there, but having the right personality helps.
As far as the language requirement, at first I moaned when I read it, but after taking 4 years of Spanish, what's 2 more? (famous last words)
Fordham is not known for great aid and my parents found very few families in our area that didn't call (beg) for more $. If you can get a 1300 or more (old score) on the SAT or equiv. on the ACT, they do have scholarships and an honors program where they offer more money, but is their discretion too.
I'm seeing Conn College this afternoon if I get out of work by 1, and will see how that goes. Not too diverse and expensive, but they offer some great programs, so I'm keeping an open mind.</p>
<p>BRJ-CT- I know someone who got into Conn. College. They had around a 1250-1270 sat score, took APs and honors classes and had about a 3.3 uw.
There was no merit aid though- I just thought you might want to know that.</p>
<p>my sister goes to marist (we're hispanic, middle class). she likes the campus because it's so beautiful but the people there arent always the best. shes told me about looks shes gotten just walking into the bathroom from girls on her floor. on the upside, she has found a great group of friends by joining the singers group. if you find the right people, the college experience goes pretty well. marist is a communications/business school from what i've heard but the psychology program is popular and strong. there is even a mental institution somewhere near the campus i believe.</p>
<p>the times i've been there, i've seen a homogeneous student body and almost no diversity. apparently all the minorities stick together and there are very few of them.</p>
<p>smile06, Is your sister a freshman? How does she find the cafeteria? The guy I know who used to go there said eating in the cafeteria as a urm was very uncomfortable. Does your sister stay on week-ends? Overall is she happy there? What is her major and how are her classes? Sorry for all of the Qs, but I would like to find out about Marist from somebody that knows. Smile06, thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Hi, Just came back from Connecticut College. Didn't go well for a variety of reasons, most out of our control. A traffic jam made us late for the first tour, so we walked around until the next information session. We were told, along with 2 others to wait in the office. About 10 minutes past the time it should of started, a guy came out and called in one person. We assumed it was an interview. 20 minutes later, the other woman waiting with us, said she was going to ask when it was starting. They said, it did, 20 minutes ago! She was miffed, went in and the same guy was giving it. Maybe he thought we were waiting for something else, but the communication was awkward all around. She went in but we left. I was starving and we decided waiting another 2 hours, was too long. It was a nice looking campus, we looked in some buildings, which were well kept.The financial aid office made it sound like getting close to half the tuition in grants/aid was rare and most students got less than that. Around half pay the whole 41,000. One minority student told me most minorities are diverse in color, but not socioeconomic status, which is not a big surprise with their tuition. Probably not a good prospect that way, but you never know unless you apply. So far admissions has been either very good or very apathetic. Hope the next college trip runs smoother.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear that BRJ. It sounds like it would be expensive anyway. 38% get between 19,000-20,000 in grants. The guy that I know did not get anything and is not attending.</p>
<p>BRJ, there is someone who is an apparent alumni of Connecticut College taking Qs under the alphabetic list of colleges- thought you might be interested.</p>
<p>*Is your sister a freshman?
she's entering her sophmore year this semester
*How does she find the cafeteria?
she thinks the cafeteria is ok but that the staff is a bit odd. haha...it seems that the majority, if not all, of the staff at marist who cleans and serves the students (like janitors for bathrooms and the lunchroom staff) are slightly strange in manner. i still dont understand that but her friends agree.
*Does your sister stay on week-ends?
my sister stays on weekends since we live in the city and metro north is more expensive when you look at it every weekend. i think the fare to get to grand central is from 10-15 dollars. i think most students are from the city and dont go home on weekends.
*Overall is she happy there?
she likes the school and is pretty happy with her choice. she actually applied early action knowing she could get in and that she wanted to go there.
*What is her major and how are her classes?
Shes majoring in psychology and might take a minor in something media related. the thing about my sister is that she is very smart but can be very lazy. she was salutatorian at our school when she could've kicked the valedictorians butt so hard. the hs she attended (which i now go to) is a nyc public school and not competitive outside of the 40-60 honors students. when i asked her about college classes at marist, she told me it was like high school courses. her professors were pretty laid back and were lenient when she handed stuff in late. she half slacks off like she did in hs and she got a few A's and a few B's this year.basically, you can do well without killing yourself. her only trouble class was statistics, but then again, she never liked math. another thing i want to mention is that some ppl have completely opposing views of marist. i have a teacher that made a comment saying "marist isnt that great academically" but i have others praise the school tremendously. point is, it has a great reputation and could probably get you places.</p>
<p>if you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. i'll answer anything you need.</p>