CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Top Questions

I feel the academic requirements are balanced; the prerequisites needed before the business courses all add up to make a well rounded student, having at least a little knowledge in every single aspect of education. In addition to having a major, students are required to have a minor not related to their major. This was kinda good for me since I intend on majoring in marketing and advertising, but also had an interest in graphic design. The mandatory "minor with major" kinda gave me the push to go for my second interest as well.

Professors are really friendly, although some are extremely strict and harsh graders.

FOr the most part, the professors at Baruch College are great. They are always available for you to speak to outside of class. Baruch students are always studying. There is never a day where the Newman library is empty.

Baruch has a structured guideline as to what classes one must take. When you enter Baruch, you have to first fulfill the core requirements. Then according to which school you want to go to (Zicklin, Weissman, or Pubic Affairs), you then have to complete their requirements and then take the necessary classes for your major. I am a Finance major and so am enrolled in Zicklin School of Business. With a concentration in business, I have to have a minor in the liberal arts arena. Therefore, I am a double minor in Political Science and Graphic Communications. Upon your acceptance into Zicklin, you are required to take a class in each of the following areas: finance, accounting, management, and marketing. The reason for this is because Baruch wants you to have a feel for each area and see which on you would be truly interested in. Many of the classrooms encompass 50-100 students. Then there are those big lecture halls, that can seat up to 500 students. In the lecture halls, you are recognized by your seat number. In smaller class sizes, they professor may know your name, that is if you are the type of student to participate. At Baruch, there is lack of participation within classrooms. With many students being international and having trouble with English, they choose rather to stay quiet. However, they will respond if the professor calls on him/her individually. Baruch is adamant about improving students writing and communication skills. In many of my classes, I have found myself working in a group and giving a presentation. It is important for you to be able to express your points both orally and on paper, when you graduate and enter the real world. In addition, networking is highly pointed out in classrooms and at professional events. By networking, you want to leave with a business card in hand and build a relationship with the individual who may provide guidance with your career.

I think the corses that are assigned for your major gell together nicely. The things I'm learning in effective speaking relate to the things I'm learning in principals of selling which then relate to the things I'm learning in essentials of marketing and so on and so forth. When proffesors find out about things outside of school you might be interested they let you know. The professors don't always know your name by heart but they know your face. They aren't many lecture classes which can be seen as boring.

Very strict academically, and I suggest learning community blocks for incoming freshmen. It makes it easier to meet kids and is fun too!

Most people who come to baruch their math is really good but the professors here kind of messes up that for you. When it comes to finals, the library is basicallyed filled to the top. Students would rather sleep and student for that extra two hours then to go back to their houses. Baruch is a VERY competitive school, especially with most of the students heading towards wallstreet even with the economy. The academics requirements for Baruch are quite strict.

Some professors make it a point to know your name and others don't. From what I have observed so far class participation is not all too common. It seems students are either intimidated to speak or just so "serious" that they are listening very, very hard... Are students competitive? Well, they can be when it comes to things for which one must actually compete, but I haven't witnessed any kind of cutthroat behaviour so far. In general, these are aspiring professionals who understand the importance of being social and helpful to others. If you go to Baruch and pick a major in the Zicklin school, you will basically be getting a vocational education, i.e. finance. However, core requirements include liberal arts courses as well. Speaking of core requirements, at least where Zicklin is concerned, you have to take a sizable number of liberal arts courses. If you are planning on coming to Baruch as a transfer, I highly recommend you focus on liberal arts (including math up to, but not necessarily including, calculus) first. Leave the business courses for when you are here. Now, the one thing I dislike about Baruch. The school has a reputation for having "difficult" classes. As a new student, you will hear it mentioned "cutely" during orientation, i.e. the advisor might ask, "Did you all have your first tests yet? How many of you were a little surprised?" while nodding with a sympathetic smile. They might also bring out a current student or recent alum to tell you about how "challenging" the courses are here at Baruch. Let me explain something to you. There is a huge difference between a class that is actually challenging, and a basic 101 course for which you must sweat blood and tears simply because some guy decided it is his duty to complicate to as pedantic and impractical degree as possible purely for the sake of making it "difficult." In other words, Baruch seems to have a culture whereby professors will intentionally make even the easiest class -- and let's not be naive here: there are, indeed, classes that are far from brain surgery, hence "easy" -- as irritatingly uncomfortable as they can. This is not a challenge. This is pettiness. It is my biggest turn off with this school. Some put forth the argument that Baruch's "hard" classes will prepare you for the real world. Unfortunately, college and the real world have zilch in common. Others will spittle that, "If you think the classes are too hard, you can't handle it." That's like saying if you think being constantly stressed out and miserable for no good reason, you're not really learning. Hogwash. If you do come to Baruch, you have to choices: say goodbye to any GPA above 3.0 by your third semester or make RateMyProfessor your bible before each and every registration period. And you better register early. The few normal, likable professors fill up extremely fast.

Some professors on campus do know my name. For instance, I am taking an International Business class this semester with a professor that is unique even when compared with some of the better professors at Baruch. He keeps the class interested by making jokes that somehow relate to the topic he is discussing. He encourages participation and the students feel compelled to participate due to the nice personality the professor displays in the class. In other classes, particularly, the finance classes, there are a lot of students in the class and so participation suffers and takes a back seat to the lecture of the professor. It is harder for students to work up their courage and ask a question in that large a class, especially given the difficulty of the classes. I am taking a futures class right now that combines the features above, however, the professors is one of the best in the school, he is a director at one of the major futures exchange, and so, he makes class a little more bearable. Students at Baruch, like students everywhere, study when they have the time to study. Now since students at our school are so involved with part-time, leadership roles on campus (you know, those resume filling activities?), the time they left is even more limited. What usually happens is that around midterms or final’s time, the library – which by the way is open 24/7 during that time, is full of students who huddle together in the library and help each other out. The only downside is that the offices in the library are not staffed after 12 o’clock midnight, in which case, students may not borrow a book on reserve or take out a laptop. But who needs those anyway since every Baruch student is ingenious in finding what we need?

Depending on the professor. But the library is a great place to focus.