Academics
At Marist College, faculty “like to make classes interactive yet challenging in a positive aspect.” They also value real-life experience and connections in their classrooms. “I have had faculty … [in contact with] a finance firm … within minutes of me mentioning interest in working there,” says a student. Professors are “highly qualified,” “diverse in the way they teach,” and “always willing to help,” both in and out of class. “The academics are the best thing about Marist,” says another student. Support staff and advisors are also highly praised for being “some of the most supportive people.” The Honors program at Marist is “a huge strength because it unlocks many advantages” by “[exploring] unique perspectives on topics related to all sorts of majors.” Honors courses include “a class on the ethical implications of emerging technology [and] an economics course focused on why nations fail.” One course even involves “riding a boat up and down the Hudson River” in order to examine the environment of the area.
Student Body
Students identify the community at Marist as “incredibly friendly,” and they point out that students have an unspoken “policy to hold the door open for people,” “no matter the weather condition.” One student commented: “I’ve never met so many friendly strangers in New York in my life.” Another observes that “nearly everyone … is Catholic, but the majority are not religious.” While many students herald Marist for its diversity, others claim that appears more “on paper” than on campus. The dominant groups on campus appear to be “athletes,” “in the fashion department,” or those “studying computers/technology.” “I find that students are very hungry for knowledge,” says a student. A large portion of the student body also likes to give back: it’s common for students to “participate in two hours of weekly community service … [or] help with one-time community-service events.”
Campus Life
Marist is near the Hudson River, so students often “fill their days by walking along and laying out … when [the weather] is nice.” In the winter, “students may be sledding on snow days or getting together with friends” elsewhere. “A big tradition is jumping into the Hudson River before you graduate,” says a student. Indeed, Marist’s beauty, which “never fails to amaze” students, offers nearby Rhinebeck and New Paltz for hiking and access to the Walkway Over the Hudson, as well as the chance to just walk around the “rich community.” For study time, there are campus cafés, and “there are a lot of cute [off-campus cafés] around Poughkeepsie,” too. The library “is a very popular hub for studying, group work, or just [hanging] out.” Clubs and intramurals “[give] the campus life after dark.” Students also mention that “the student center often holds events like bingo nights, stand-up [comedy nights], and more.” Outside of participating either in sports or clubs, many students “intern in NYC several times a week while also maintaining a social life.”
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