Academics
St. John’s University upholds the Catholic and Vincentian traditions set forth at its founding in 1870. At the residential Queens, New York, campus, located in a suburban area (as well as at the two additional New York City campuses found in Staten Island and Manhattan), students receive “a well-nurtured education that can help one turn into a specialist in whatever field they desire.” A wide range of support systems, such as career services, campus ministry, the writing center, and a focus on mentoring ensure that “every student has a safe, healthy, and challenging academic career” while at St. John’s.
Most professors are generous “when it comes to providing help and any aids for you to succeed” and “are here to help you and prepare you for the rest of your life.” “Almost all my experiences with professors have been positive. If you are willing to put in the work they are willing to work with you,” says one actuarial science major. They are very helpful “in making sure you actually understand the information rather than memorize it and not use it outside the classroom,” and “provide guidance with classwork, finding jobs and internships, and more.” On top of faculty help, the career services office is “amazing.” “They help you with your résumé, cover letter, [telling] you when there are career fairs, picking graduate schools, [and] finding internships.”
Classes are “easy to follow and there are never any surprises from the professors,” and most are discussion-based. Students in all majors find that “the workload is not overwhelming and the assignments are helpful and relevant to the subjects.” For commuter and noncommuter students alike, the Monday and Thursday afternoon common hour provides a universal time for most social and academic clubs to meet.
Student Body
This “very diverse” group has students from all over the country and world (it “falls perfectly into place with the diversity of the New York City area as a whole”), which “exposes everyone to new ideas and helps us better define where we stand on our own views.” “There’s an atmosphere of the core staples of the University: Catholic, Vincentian, and metropolitan,” says a student. People speak of the sense of unity that comes from everyone being “more than happy to be here, excited to learn, and [willing to] participate in campus activities.” There is a lot of collaboration when it comes to student organizations, and students also “have great initiative when it comes to getting their voice heard.”
Campus Life
From athletics to coffeehouse shows and cultural events, there are “multiple things to do on campus every day.” Many people take advantage of the gym and the classes it offers, or “hang out on the Great Lawn and play Frisbee and other similar games.” Students “sometimes have to wait a long time for their next class” so the school provides “too many extracurricular activities to count” to help time pass. There are clubs to represent “almost every racial, religious and interest group” and “there’s never a day where there isn’t anything to do.” Basketball season is a huge rally booster (the men’s team plays some games at Madison Square Garden), and St. John’s also hosts “many great events on off days such as family day, picnics, barbecues, and more.” There are a fair number of commuters, and those who live on campus often venture into the city to “enjoy the fast pace and vibrant life of New York City.” Between “the spring carnival, the free commuter breakfasts, and reduced prices on movie tickets, [and] Broadway shows, St. John’s wants their students’ experience to be unforgettable.”
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