Ramapo College of New Jersey Reviews

Mel Justin

from Paramus, NJ

Current student

In which ways do you feel you are learning and growing?

RCNJ does a great job at offering alternative solutions to struggling students. For example, there are many tutoring offices and connections that are provided once you are admitted as a student here. I have done many self-studying hours and incorporated those tutoring sessions accessible here at the school. A majority of my professors reached out to me asking if I needed help or needed more information concerning an assignment or upcoming exam. Many classes have taught me very valuable information and important skills that I will be needing in the future.

How would you describe the dorm life at this school?

As a commuter, I can't effectively describe the living conditions here at Ramapo. However, I visited Rutgers New Brunswick, University of Delaware, Seton Hall, and Rowan University and without a doubt, I can confidently say that Ramapo has the best dorms I have ever been in. There are many building options for freshmen to dorm in and I feel like that's pretty rare at other colleges. My friends (freshmen) live in suite-style dorms with big spaces and private bathrooms. Matter of fact, all dorms have a bathroom that you don't need to share with other students on the same floor. Again, as a commuter, I'm not so sure about the rest of the factors regarding dorming, but RCNJ definitely has the nicest and most comfortable dorms among the other colleges I've visited.

In your experience, what is there to do for fun at this college?

I initially thought that Greek Life wasn't a big part of this college, but the Greek Life at RCNJ is decent. Many college students are concerned with going out and partying, and RCNJ offers a decent party life. There are like three major fraternities here and I've been to a fair share. Personally, I've had a good time at the frat parties and if it is ever boring, Rutgers is only one hour away.

Khadijah from Union, NJ

a current student here

Categories	Comments
Am learning a lot	Being a nursing major, I knew it was not going to be easy. I started my first semester by taking 5 classes which is not recommended but I knew I had to. At RCNJ, you learn ALOT. You may think oh this class is going to be easy, but once you get into it, you find that you are learning a lot more than you think. But overall, RCNJ is a great college where you will learn a lot and still have fun.
Am enjoying being here	I enjoy being at Ramapo. You meet people from all over. Ramapo is like one big family. If you need help, they are not hesitant to give it to you. Also there are a million and one things to do. Everything from Zumba to going to NY to making sushi. There is always something to do so you really can't get bored. Ramapo is a great place to meet new friends and have a lot of fun.
Bang for the buck	YOU DO GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH WHEN ATTENDING RAMAPO! There are always things on campus happening so students can attend. There is almost an event everyday of the week. Even with the academics, you get your money's worth because you learn so much. You also see where your money goes with dorming. You have wonderful student lounges, different events happening in the dorm halls, and even free laundry. In my opinion, we get the bang for the buck.
Tips for prospective students	1. Don't be afraid to ask questions about different things or help. There is always someone there to help you. 2. Take advantage of the on campus events and the free stuff. 3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP!!!! 4. Enjoy your college experience to the fullest.
Great for these types of students	- Laid back but hard-working students - Students who like to have fun but can do work all at the same time - Students who don't want to be in a big school, but want to be in a school where everyone knows everyone

Adam from West Milford, NJ

a current student here

Categories	Comments
In three sentences	Ramapo faculty, students, and staff provide a friendly atmosphere that's specifically geared towards teaching instead of research. At Ramapo, you're not just a number because your instructors really take the time to know who you are both in and out of a classroom setting. I feel as though I made a great choice in attending Ramapo for my undergraduate studies.
Tips for prospective students	The most important piece of advice that I can provide is to get involved with a club or organization on campus in your first year. It's a great way to make friends and develop a strong connection to the campus. As an Orientation Leader/Student Aide in the Center for Academic Advisement and First Year Experience (CAAFYE) Office for the last three years, I feel as though I have been able to develop a connection with faculty, staff, and incoming students, while also learning the business side of how an office operates. More importantly, campus involvement can lead to great networking opportunities as well as life long friendships.
Academic Rigor	Ramapo College's Anisfield School of Business has received AACSB Accreditation making it one of the top 5% of business schools in the world. Courses are challenging, but it makes more of an impact when you have a professor that has had real-world business experience and can share their knowledge with the rest of the classroom. Additionally, having multiple courses pertaining to topics such as Economics, Accounting, Management, Finance, International Business, and Information Systems has made my academic experience very unique within the classroom.
Dorm Life	Many of the residence halls in which I have lived in are absolutely gorgeous. As an Orientation Leader, I like to tell incoming students that we are spoiled with our on-campus housing. Many of these residence halls (e.g. Laurel, Overlook, Village, etc) are better than what most college graduates choose to live in when they buy/rent their first apartment. The residence halls are close in proximity to one another so if there is ever a need to visit friends in residence halls across campus it is no more than a 5-10 minute walk.
Food and Dining	The food is pretty good. As someone who is on a gluten-free diet, I am never at a loss when it comes to eating in one of the dining halls (Birch Tree Inn or Trustees Pavilion), and I feel as though there is a wide variety of foods to choose from. More importantly, as long as incoming and current students mix up their selection of food and avoid eating pizza, hamburgers, and french fries every single week, it's very easy to adhere to certain dietary restrictions or eat something healthy on a regular basis. Ramapo also does a great job of labeling food for individuals with food allergies so that they can avoid eating something that would create an allergic reaction. (i.e. whether or not something has wheat, milk, soy, gluten, tree nuts, shelfish etc).
What to do for fun	There's plenty to do at Ramapo. You can go for a hike, jog, or walk in the Ramapo Reservation which is just a 5 minute walk from campus. You can take the bus into the city and spend the day with friends and buy discounted tickets to go see a Broadway show or sporting event. You can participate in intramural sports like Volleyball, Tennis, Flag Football, Softball, and make new friends along the way. You can grab a bite to eat off campus at one of the many Diners or Restaurants in Mahwah, Oakland, and Ramsey.
Bang for the buck	Tuition, Room and Board, and other related fees make Ramapo a very affordable institution in comparison to other colleges and universities. Even though it's a public campus, it has a very private feel. Most of the amenities are state of the art including the gym located in the Bradley Center as well as the residence halls that make you feel as if you're living in luxury. I feel as though the amount of money I have invested into Ramapo will truly pay off when I graduate in May of 2013. More importantly, many former students love this place so much that they end up working as full time faculty and administrators within the college.
Great for these types of students	This institution is great for students who are focused, diligent, and want to get involved right from the start. The most important thing to learn when coming to Ramapo College is the aspect of time management. Although many students may want to get involved in lots of clubs and organizations, it is very important for incoming students to focus on three key parts: 1) Academics 2) Club/Organization 3) Something fun (e.g. intramural sports, fitness classes, hanging out in the J Lees lounge to play pool, ping-pong, or get free popcorn). Students looking to get the most out of their education should come to Ramapo.
Clubs and Activities	We have a variety of clubs and organizations on campus ranging from the Student Government Association to the Dance Club. Many students choose to get involved immediately and can participate as active members and eventually be elected into leadership positions in the future. Plus, we have a website called OrgSync that helps students track their co-curricular involvement, while also keeping a record of their roles on campus which they can later use when establishing a professional resume. Ramapo also has new clubs that are created every year because some students may want to establish a club that is right for them (e.g. Cycling Club, Pokemon Club, Board Game Club). In order to make a new club, you just need to come up with a minimum of 10 signatures, a mission statement, and a constitution explaining the details of your club.
Campus Safety	Ramapo is an extremely safe campus. We have Public Safety Officers patrolling 24/7, and in case of an emergency there are designated areas that light up when the buttons are pushed. Both men and women can walk alone at night and have no need to be worried when traveling back to their car in the main parking lot, or to their specific residence hall. Additionally, Ramapo has an emergency notification system called Alert-Me-Now which sends email, voicemail, and text message alerts in the event of on-campus emergencies ranging from a bear sighting to school cancellation due to inclement weather. All in all, this is a very safe school.

Breanna from Great Meadows, NJ

accepted here and planning to attend soon

Categories	Comments
Will learn a lot	The professors that I have met so far seem very nice and helpful!
Will enjoy being here	Ramapo is close enough to my home where I can come home when I need to, but far enough away where I can live on campus.
Bang for the buck	I received Ramapo's top scholarship after all the hard work I did in high school. This is great for my family since we have trouble making ends meet sometimes.