St John’s University-New York Top Questions

Professors can call most of their students by name, except the students who slip under the radar due to inactivity during class. My largest class consisted of 40 to 50 students, and even then, the professor employed a memory-game to have each of us know our classmates’ names by heart (therefore he can learn them as well). Most classes have about 20-30 students. My favorite class was Philosophy: (Honors) Logic with Professor Gianelli. It combined rigorous coursework met by hard work on the part of the students with ample explanation and patience on the part of the professor. The subject matter was very interesting and applicable to everyday usage of language and thinking, while the professor was engaging and conversational in his style of teaching. The class was tiny, consisting of about 10 to 15 students. My least favorite class was Discover New York because it seemed pointless and that sentiment was reflected in both the attitude of my classmates and my professor. Everyone seemed to care less about the academic portion of the course and more about the mandated trips to the city for Broadway shows and tours of museums. While collectively, most students probably don’t study too much (depending on how devoted they are to their education), many students I know are holed up in the library for hours on end each week. Some students don’t study outside of class time. Some students study for 4-5 hours a day, going over the coursework that was covered very quickly during class for the professor expects them to understand it through individual self-review. Or others type out early drafts of papers to submit to the Writing Center for improvement tips. I personally study an average of 8-10 hours a week, give or take additional hours if there are papers due or tests, and not factoring in the time spent at my job and organizations. While some classes have high levels of participation, some classes are spent in moderate silence. While professors will prompt students, students should take the initiative to get the most out of the class by engaging the professor in discourse about the subject. Some classes like Philosophy: (Honors) Logic may require more extensive explanation by the professor, so the students choose not to participate as often. But a class that is built around discussion, such as Introduction to Creative Writing, requires dedicated students to speak up. Many students, with intellectual conversation already sparked during class, continue their discussions long after the professor has released them. Many organizations on campus also encourage discussion of current events, controversial topics and age-old philosophical questions. I’m a member of the NAACP and at each meeting there is a room full of students voluntarily discussing social and racial issues in addition to their mandatory classes. My Mock Trial team cultivates verbal articulation for the purpose of intellectual debate. The close-knit campus atmosphere creates a constant buzz of activity and an aura of activism, as professors and students alike fervently spread their opinions in the form of signature solicitations for petitions (for Troy Davis) or chalk writings on the walkways (for Take Back the Night: Breaking the Silence about Sexual Violence). As it is with all colleges, there are a select number of students whose drive and ambition make them the most competitive out of their classmates. However, these numbers aren’t few at St. John’s for there are many at the top that vey for the coveted spots of highest honors. Such honors include the various Honor Societies for each college and most majors/minors, the President’s Society that spans all colleges, the Skull and Circle Liberal Arts and Science Honor Society and the Honors Program. The most unique class I’ve taken thus far is Latin American Art History. It covered all mediums of art from the time of the Mayans and the ideologies they exhibited through their stone carvings to later European-influenced art. While taking the class, I often forgot that I was receiving a grade at the end of the year for my performance in the class because the subject matter was so engrossing and the professor was thoroughly passionate. The English, Government and Philosophy departments of the university are comprised of talented and innovative leading researchers and writers in their fields. Each professor offers something unique to his or her respective department. In the English Department, many professors coordinate their classes with the Writing Center (leaders of which attend annual writing conferences to utilize the most effective modes of tutoring) to offer as many sources of help to students as possible. In the Government Department, professors propose classes based on their passions, such as Politics of Genocide (pushed for by an almost over-zealous professor), Constitutional Law (a first year law school class) and Current Terrorist Movements. The Philosophy Department boasts of amazing professors that I want to take again and again (I’ve taken Professor Gianelli twice and I have another class with him next semester). I personally don’t spend an ample amount of time outside of class with my professors because of my busy schedule, but there are a few professors that I’ve gotten to know better outside the context of the class. Often, a few students will stay after the class to ask more detailed questions about the subject discussed or ask the professor to expand on something he had mentioned. Once, my Emerging Global Societies professor invited our entire class to his apartment after finals to meet and then take a tour of the MET as a reward for our hard work during the semester. I greatly valued that personal time with the professor and to this day, it remains one of my most vivid memories of St. John’s. Though initially, I thought the core requirements were unnecessarily extensive (especially with three philosophy courses and three theology courses), but then I found myself appreciating the subjects I had once deemed pointless. I liked philosophy so much from my core requirements that I picked it up as a minor to further my understanding of it. St. John’s offers a classic education, with a focus on critical thought and well-roundedness (in addition to philosophy and theology: history, math, science, language and writing courses are required of all students). The education at St. John’s is geared towards learning and gaining an open-minded perception of the world. The philosophy and theology courses are not just for Catholic students, but for every student, so they are all-encompassing, covering a wide array of theories and religions. The purpose of the classes is not to strengthen faith or evangelize, but to have students explore the theories behind existence and human mental capabilities.

Professors can call most of their students by name, except the ones who slip under the radar due to inactivity during class. My largest class consisted of 30 to 40-something students, and even then, the professor employed a memory-game to have each of us know our classmates’ names by heart (therefore he can learn them as well). Most classes have about 20-30 students. My favorite class as Philosophy: Honors Logic with Professor Gianelli. It combined rigorous coursework met by hard work on the part of the students with ample explanation and patience on the part of the professor. The subject matter was very interesting and applicable to everyday usage of language and thinking, while the professor was engaging and conversational in his style of teaching. The class was also tiny, consisting of about 10 to 15 students. My least favorite class was Discover New York because it seemed pointless and that sentiment was reflected in both the attitude of my classmates and my professor. Nobody seemed to care so much about the academic portion of the course and more about the mandated trips to the city for Broadway shows and tours of museums. While collectively, most students probably don’t study that often (depending on how devoted they are to their education), many students that I know are holed up in the library for hours on end each week. Some students don’t study outside of class time. Some students study for 3 hours a day, going over the coursework that was covered very quickly during class for the professor expects them to understand it through individual self-review, or typing out early drafts of papers to submit to the Writing Center for improvement tips. I personally study an average of 8-10 hours a week, give or take additional hours if there are papers due or tests, and not factoring in the time spent at my job and organizations. While some classes have high levels of participation, some classes are spent in moderate silence. Most of the time, the students must take initiative to get the most out of the class by engaging the professor in discourse about the subject. Some classes like Philosophy: Honors Logic may require more extensive explanation by the professor, so the students choose not to participate as often as a class that is built around discussion, such as Introduction to Creative Writing. Many students, with intellectual conversation already sparked during class, continue their discussions long after the professor has released them. Many organizations on campus also encourage discussion of current events, controversial topics and age-old philosophical questions. I’m a member of the NAACP and at each meeting there is a room full of students voluntarily discussing social and racial issues in addition to their mandatory classes. My Mock Trial team cultivates speaking ability for the purpose of intellectual debate and conversation. The close-knit campus atmosphere creates a constant buzz of activity and an aura of activism, as professors and students alike fervently spread their opinions in the form of signature solicitations for petitions (for Troy Davis) or chalk writings on the walkways (for Take Back the Night: Breaking the Silence about Sexual Violence). As it is with all colleges, there are a select number of students whose drive and ambition make them the most competitive out of their classmates. However, these numbers aren’t few for there are many at the top that vey for the coveted few spots of highest honors. Such honors include the various Honor Societies for each college and most majors/minors, the President’s Society that spans all colleges, the Skull and Circle Liberal Arts and Science Honor Society and the Honors Program. The most unique class I’ve taken is Latin American Art History. It covered all mediums of art from the time of the Mayans and the ideologies they exhibited through their stone carvings to later, European-influenced art. While taking the class, I often forgot that I was receiving a grade at the end of the year for my performance in the class because the subject matter was so engrossing and the professor was thoroughly passionate about his field of expertise. The English, Government and Philosophy departments of the university are comprised of talented and innovative leading researchers and writers in their fields. Each professor offers something unique to the departments. In the English Department, many professors coordinate their classes with the Writing Center (leaders of which attend annual writing conferences to utilize the most effective modes of tutoring) to offer as many sources of help to students as possible. In the Government Department, professors propose classes based on their passions, such as Politics of Genocide (pushed for by an almost over-zealous professor), Constitutional Law (a first year law school class) and Current Terrorist Movements. I personally don’t spend an ample amount of time outside of class with my professors because of my busy schedule, but there are a few professors that I’ve gotten to know better outside the context of the class. Often, a few students will stay after the class to ask more detailed questions about the subject discussed or ask the professor to expand on something he had mentioned. Once, my Emerging Global Societies professor invited us our entire class over to his apartment after finals to meet and then take a tour of the MET as a reward for our hard work during the semester. I greatly valued that personal time with the professor and to this day, it remains one of my most vivid memories of that professor. Though initially, I thought the core requirements were unnecessarily extensive (especially with three philosophy courses and three theology courses), but then I found myself appreciating the subjects I had deemed pointless. I liked philosophy so much from my core requirements that I picked it up as a minor to further my understanding. St. John’s offers a classic education, with a focus on critical thought and well-roundedness (in addition to philosophy and theology: history, math, science, language and writing courses are required of all students). The education at St. John’s is geared towards learning and gaining an open-minded perception of the world. The philosophy and theology courses are not just for Catholic students, but for every student, so they are all-encompassing, covering a wide array of theories and religions. The purpose of the classes is not to strengthen faith or evangelize, but to have students explore the theories behind existence and human mental capabilities.

I can hardly say that the classes are amazing or mind-blowing; maybe that is because I am still in many entry-level classes. I have to admit that I feel I have learned a lot so far at St. John's; my photography and theology classes especially challenged me in two areas that I had never been challenged before, which was cool, if not a little intimidating! I don't particularly like how many core requirements there are for liberal arts majors, but I suppose that is an occupational hazard of the liberal arts major! Overall, I would say I am having a positive academic impact at St. John's. The professors seem caring, knowledgeable, and dedicated. I haven't encountered a disappointment in the faculty so far.

The academics at St. John's University are very good. I am an English major with a minor in creative writing and the English faculty is always there to help their students with school work, preparation, studying, and skill-building. I have been in contact with several other students who have majors in communications, sports management, pharmacy, accounting, finance, legal studies, and hospitality management to name a few. They all have grades over 3.0 and are pursuing good careers in their fields. Some have internships and part-time positions thanks to what they are learning in class. If a student is struggling with their academic material or with writing assignments the University has access to a tutoring center and a writing center that provides excellent service. I am not the greatest in mathematics so when I had to take a core class in the subject I went to the tutoring center a few times throughout the semester for help. Thanks to what I learned in the center I received an A for the class.

The academics at St. John's University are very good. I am an English major with a minor in creative writing and the English faculty is always there to help their students with school work, preparation, studying, and skill-building. I have been in contact with several other students who have majors in communications, sports management, pharmacy, accounting, finance, legal studies, and hospitality management to name a few. They all have grades over 3.0 and are pursuing good careers in their fields. Some have internships and part-time positions thanks to what they are learning in class. If a student is struggling with their academic material or with writing assignments the University has access to a tutoring center and a Writing Center hat provides excellent service to their students. I am not the greatest in mathematics so when I had to take a core class in Mathematics, I went to the tutoring center a few times throughout the semester for help. Thanks to what I learned in the center I received an A for the class.

The academics are very strong. Every professor I've had in a class that required regular participation knew my name within the first view weeks. Participation is strongly encouraged and warmly welcomed. Professors have been known to engage in long discussions on topics in class and sometimes out of. The English department is very strong. The professors are always willing to help and lend a hand to any student. The classes are so diverse in most subjects that they're good for both pursuing a future career or learning for the sake of learning.

The rigor of academics at St. John's University varies. When it comes to classes that make up the core curriculum, I have found myself bored and rarely challenged. However, when it comes to my major, which is English, I am consistently engaged. The majority of professors make themselves readily available when needed and are willing to assist a student whenever possible - however, some seem as though they'd rather be elsewhere than teaching a bunch of college students. For the most part, the professors really seem to love what they do. Also, most of the classes I have taken have been considerably smaller than what I had expected prior to attending college, making for an intimate and personal learning experience. This also allows for more adequate participation, as the discussions become more like conversations between the students - allowing for more in depth understanding and analysis of the material. Studying is, of course, crucial to doing well in school - and areas designated for studying on the St. John's campus are plentiful. There are many student centers and common areas specifically for the purpose of studying and further developing knowledge - and many of these areas are open 24 hours a day. Overall, the academics at St. John's University are up to par and allow for students to broaden their minds and work towards successful futures.

Academics at St. John's varies throughout the five colleges on campus. It is well known that the six-year pharmacy program is widely revered and highly difficult so pharmacy students never leave the library. The School of Education students live an extremely leisurely life yet have the attitudes that the school revolves around them. The College of Professional studies is known to be one of the easiest schools yet it has awesome electives like wine tasting classes and piano classes that fill up almost instantaneously each semester. The Tobin College of Business is very difficult but provides students with many real world opportunities working with businesses in New York that give them a leg up on the competition from other colleges. My college, the St. John's College of Liberal Arts, can be difficult or easy and really is whatever the student makes of it. As a double major in both government and politics and English and a minor in Economics I couldn't be more pleased with my education. My classes are difficult and always engaging. I have taken fascinating classes such as the Politics of Genocide, Media and Politics, and the History of Silent Film. St. John's definitely builds scholars but also has a reputation for landing students incredible jobs through its large network. The vast number of 5-year masters programs here are quite sought after as well.

The rigor of academics at St. John's University varies. When it comes to classes that make up the core curriculum, I have found myself bored and rarely challenged. However, when it comes to my major, which is English, I am consistently engaged. The majority of professors make themselves readily available when needed and are willing to assist a student whenever possible - however, some seem as though they'd rather be elsewhere than teaching a bunch of college students. For the most part, the professors really seem to love what they do. Also, most of the classes I have taken have been considerably smaller than what I had expected prior to attending college, making for an intimate and personal learning experience. This also allows for more adequate participation, as the discussions become more like conversations between the students - allowing for more in depth understanding and analysis of the material. Studying is, of course, crucial to doing well in school - and areas designated for studying on the St. John's campus are plentiful. There are many student centers and common areas specifically for the purpose of studying and further developing knowledge - and many of these areas are open 24 hours a day. Overall, the academics at St. John's University are up to par and allow for students to broaden their minds and work towards successful futures.

Anyone who says that St. John's gives out 'easy As' obviously hasn't taken a class here since 1972. We work hard for our grades, especially when you get paired with a professor just as arrogant and incompetent as the next teacher is inspiring and capable. It's a disparaging toss-up of professors that you might get at StJ, that no amount of scrolling RateMyProfessors.com can prepare you for. I've had professors that've run the gamut from easily displaying why they deserve their tenure to some that I don't understand how they haven't lost their teaching license yet. Every now and then you'll get a professor that takes the time to learn your name, no matter how big the class is, but most likely you won't, no matter what size the class is. My favorite class is Creative Writing, indicative of my minor. My least favorite is any theology course; I'm not sure if it's the subject, the professor, or a little bit of both, but I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I figure it out. Class participation all depends on what class it is; one one hand you have some classes which are very interactive and you're happy to engage in and on the other hand, you have classes with professors that have no regard for the students, so they speak so fast that you'll miss half the lesson if try to stop and speak. Like I said before, it really is a random toss- up. Outside of class, most of the time we're having intellectual conversations about a class we have together because if we relied on the teacher's conversation alone, we'd all flunk out of college. We rarely have time for ourselves; we practically LIVE for the weekend. Fortunately for me, StJ has a really great English department, which is my major. This upcoming semester will be the last of my core classes, and I will only have to worry about classes for my major and minor. That's one of the advantages of StJ; they give you a lot of ridiculous core classes, but at least you're done with them by your junior year as opposed to having to take them every semester. With all that being said, even though we have a career center to help us gain employment, sometimes I can't help but feel that education at StJ is geared toward learning for its own sake,