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Hi all,

I have the opportunity to do a year studying abroad in the next accademic year, and Mercy College is the place my Professor suggested - due to some link with between there and my current University.

I was just curious what people's opinions / experiances are with it. I've read their website and a few other bits and pieces.

I'm on a computer related degree, so i'd be doing one of their computing courses.

Any other relavent comments about Mercy College?

Appreciate your help

Zambro

Can't say I've ever even heard of it. Where in Ny is it?

 cincydooley wrote:
Can't say I've ever even heard of it. Where in Ny is it?

Dobbs Ferry, a dinky little place... like 2500 students, 92% of them are commuters. OP would be one of 8% that lives on campus...

I worked there for years. It's a good college, but a little expensive. Were you going to live on campus?

 Alfndrate wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
Can't say I've ever even heard of it. Where in Ny is it?

Dobbs Ferry, a dinky little place... like 2500 students, 92% of them are commuters. OP would be one of 8% that lives on campus...

Eeek.

If that's the case, OP, id totally look for a school that isn't a commuter campus like that. I know my school had a fairly large program (Wittenberg University) and I'm pretty sure Alfs did as well. Granted, Ohio isn't as exciting as New York, but I really think you want to avoid a commuter campus if possible.

Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA!

If it's good enough for Karl Malone, Terry Bradshaw, that dude from Duck Dynasty, and Kronk Kronkington I, then it's good enough for you!

 cincydooley wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
Can't say I've ever even heard of it. Where in Ny is it?

Dobbs Ferry, a dinky little place... like 2500 students, 92% of them are commuters. OP would be one of 8% that lives on campus...

Eeek.

If that's the case, OP, id totally look for a school that isn't a commuter campus like that. I know my school had a fairly large program (Wittenberg University) and I'm pretty sure Alfs did as well. Granted, Ohio isn't as exciting as New York, but I really think you want to avoid a commuter campus if possible.

Idk, he might want to go... it is only 40 minutes from Manhattan...

Yeah I'd try to go somewhere that has a decent on campus population. Commuter campuses suck.

Ashland University's tech programs aren't terrible, and they'll practically go down on foreign exchange students to get them to go, but it is in the middle of Amish country and corn fields..

Thanks for all the responses.

My professor suggested this place and UVA-wise as there was a link between the two colleges and my university as there was a fee waiver (or some such attractive financial incentive to go there opposed to anywhere else).

I've spent an hour or so reading the reviews of the college and overall it seems poor. Lots of complaints against 'poor' staffing, and the dorms not being too great either.

Meh, dorms are gakky, wherever you go. As for that school, i can't tell you yes or no as I don't know anything about it. Best of Luck, Zambro.

In general however, if you can study abroad, do it! You don't get those kinds of opportunities later. Take advantage of it while you can.

Zambro wrote:
Thanks for all the responses.

My professor suggested this place and UVA-wise as there was a link between the two colleges and my university as there was a fee waiver (or some such attractive financial incentive to go there opposed to anywhere else).

I've spent an hour or so reading the reviews of the college and overall it seems poor. Lots of complaints against 'poor' staffing, and the dorms not being too great either.

Do you happen to have a full list of partner schools? Tat may help more.

Mercy's Computer Informations Systems program is pretty solid. Generally speaking, it's a good campus and has solid academics. It's a private college, so it's a little expensive, and I definitely would not stay in the dorms - you can find an apartment in town for much cheaper; and we're talking a 7 minute walk.

Be careful, sometimes the campus is infested with geese and there is goose poop everywhere. That may have changed.

Some of the graduate programs are really good.

Zambro wrote:
UVA-wise

Waaaay out in the middle of nowhere.

Manchu wrote:

Zambro wrote:
UVA-wise

Waaaay out in the middle of nowhere.

Google Map

Yeah, dude. You're not going to experience much of the US of A in the middle of hill country, Virginia.

I never took a semester abroad, which is a decision I regret. Something else that I also think was one of my worst mistakes at college was moving off-campus my junior year. Living in the dorms and being pugged into the campus social life is an important part of college, and should not be squandered. With that in mind, I would stay clear of any school where most people commute.

While I have issues with some aspects of living in NYC, it's probably not a bad spot to spend a few months in the USA. There is always going to be things to do or see there, and it's within day trip/weekend distance of a number of other places, just so you can see more of the country. Remember, we're big and spread out here, with crappy public transit. You pick anything outside the north-east part of a nation, pick carefully, because that's all you'll see. (That's a bit of an exaggeration, but do keep it in mind)

To be fair, most of our country is considered to be "in the middle of nowhere" by the population centers that exist mostly on the coasts.

In fact by being in a smaller community, you will get a really good taste for what most of the USA is actually like.

Some would even say what the best of the USA is actually like.

You would have opportunity like the majority of people to make a special trip for the weekend to visit the big city to shop and see a show, or go clubbing. You do not need to live in the middle of it all 24/7.

There is something to be said for living in a city though. A lot easier to do spur of the moment stuff.

Wish i had the chance to study overseas. May well have that possibility with my elective placement next year though!

True city living gives you immediate access to a lot of things, it is also much more expensive for that benefit.

I would think that a full college course load would not leave you with a lot of extra time to do those things.

This is why I suggested the weekend trips from the country side to the city, since your cost of living would be lower, you could save money to do the things you want to do. The majority of your days would be spent in school, and doing school related things so why pay more just for that, while at the same time bringing down your budget for fun on your days off.

Living in/near NYC is probably not a good representation of America at large, but that's not going to happen anyway if you only go to one area of the country. It would probably be interesting at least.

I'm definately for the city over the countryside, for all the reasons above and more.

Surely dorm life wouldn't be 'that' bad? Small, yes, but surely everything will be as normal (just a sort of scaled down thing)? I never lived on campus here my first year, always had a house just outside - hugely regret it. I'm not really sure what to expect with dorms, let alone in another country. Dorms in USA are massively different to the UK. UK revolves around constantly drinking your weight in alcohol (legal age being 18). But that is very different in the USA. I'm sure there are still parties and what-not, but alot more strict about the rampant alcoholism of people aged between 18 & 21. And surely there will be a sense of 'community'.

Zambro wrote:
I'm definately for the city over the countryside, for all the reasons above and more.

Surely dorm life wouldn't be 'that' bad? Small, yes, but surely everything will be as normal (just a sort of scaled down thing)? I never lived on campus here my first year, always had a house just outside - hugely regret it. I'm not really sure what to expect with dorms, let alone in another country. Dorms in USA are massively different to the UK. UK revolves around constantly drinking your weight in alcohol (legal age being 18). But that is very different in the USA. I'm sure there are still parties and what-not, but alot more strict about the rampant alcoholism of people aged between 18 & 21. And surely there will be a sense of 'community'.

Oh your sentence about drinking is college is just so adorably naive.

The problem with a campus with such a high commuter population is that there aren't going to be a ton of people in campus on the weekends. When you're talking about a % as low as 9% living on campus, then it may as well be a community college in terms of dorm life.

Again, I'd encourage you to list all the schools that are options for you.

Yeah, I'm with Cincy, list all the schools available to you, and I would say that unlike drinking in the UK, you will find out just how much 18-20 year olds will 'pre-game' before a party, class, or social event. Since our drinking age is 21, the donkey cave kids try to load up with as much booze as they can about an hour or so before they have do whatever it is they need to do so they can ride the buzz for the entirety of the event. If it's a house party, I don't think you'll find much difference between the two schools. Note: Mercy College is a dry campus, as such you'll get into trouble for drinking on campus (if you're caught), so that may sway your opinion, it may not. As someone that went to a dry campus, it shouldn't hinder house party activities, but if you wish to have a Jack and Coke while doing your homework, you gotta be a little careful.

I went to a college that drew most of its students from the surrounding area, we had a decent commuter population, and a decent on campus presence for a small school in the mid-west, the problem was the weekends. Because the population lived so close to home or lived at home, there wasn't jack gak to do on the weekends because everyone went home. People would complain why the events on the weekend sucked and it was because people didn't show up, so they didn't have much incentive to do cool things. Also at a small religious school such as Mercy, there isn't much of a "community" especially when you can expect maybe 250 students on campus. Everyone will have their own clique of friends, and that's it. You get up, go to class, go back to your room, don't look anyone in the eye. It's a terrible way to go through college.

 SilverMK2 wrote:
There is something to be said for living in a city though. A lot easier to do spur of the moment stuff.

There are also more internship opportunities, especially for someone who likely won't be able to legally drive in the US.

Zambro wrote:
Dorms in USA are massively different to the UK. UK revolves around constantly drinking your weight in alcohol (legal age being 18). But that is very different in the USA. I'm sure there are still parties and what-not, but alot more strict about the rampant alcoholism of people aged between 18 & 21. And surely there will be a sense of 'community'.

There is a sense of community, but it revolves around getting drunk and getting laid.

Not surr why he would not be able to drive? If you have a UK licence you can drive in thr usa...

I was under the impression that UK license holders needed to present an IDP with their driver's license if they were stopped by a US law enforcement officer.

Well, i cant drive in the UK as it is. So that's one problem solved.

I'm going to speak to the person helping me out with this and i'll ask about which universities they have a link with, and i'll get back to you guys.

I appreciate all the help / advice so far

 dogma wrote:
I was under the impression that UK license holders needed to present an IDP with their driver's license if they were stopped by a US law enforcement officer.

Things may have changed but ive never heard of problems with uk drivers in the us. Certainly whenever i have been there has never been an issue with hire cars etc...

 dogma wrote:

 SilverMK2 wrote:
There is something to be said for living in a city though. A lot easier to do spur of the moment stuff.

There are also more internship opportunities, especially for someone who likely won't be able to legally drive in the US.

That's also a fair point, but I had it in my head he would only be here for a semester or so.

I spoke with my professor and the two universities mentioned are the only ones that have a fee waiver agreement with my university.

So effectively i can go to either these two and only need to pay for travel and accomodation. Or go elsewhere and pay travel, accomodation and tuition fees.

Fees here are £3k per year for me. And i dread to think how ridiculous it is in the states. Which kinda limits me to these two

It wouldn't hurt to find a school with a program that is related to your studies in the UK, but in a bigger area, or one that you've always wanted to be near/visit, and talk with them and with your university to see what sort of deal(s) could be done if any. Also I'd give my left nut to only have to pay 5 grand a year to go to school.

What's the difference between accommodation costs?