Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Paralegals And Legal Assistants
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at John Jay, La Guardia Community College, Nassau Community College, and Suffolk County Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider New York City College of Technology, Berkeley, Long Island University Brooklyn, and SUNY Canton.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Mildred Elley School.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Hostos Community College, Bronx Community College, La Guardia Community College, and New York City College of Technology.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Sage College, Westchester Community College, Schenectady County Community College, and Monroe Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of United States Military Academy, Ithaca, Marist, and St. John's University-New York.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of United States Military Academy, Ithaca, Marist, and SUNY Canton.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at United States Military Academy, Ithaca, and Marist.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at United States Military Academy, Marist, and St. John's University-New York.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Ithaca, Hilbert, Sage College, and Long Island University Brooklyn.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Hilbert College • Hamburg, NY
Studying Law And Government (completion in 2009)
• 5/5/2011
"The price was affordable and the location was ideal. I felt like I learned a great deal as well, so that's a major plus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The job placement services are excellent. The program gave me a great introduction into the real world because it is taught by people work or used to work as paralegals. Some have gone on to become attorneys or managers of law firms. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Several people I work with went to the same school and found jobs immediately. My employer in particular likes to grads from Hilbert because they like the way the school prepares its students. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The professors were very friendly and very helpful. They helped me every step of the way - including with finding my job! The price was affordable for me (which was important because my parents didn't pay for my schooling) and the school is located about 10 minutes from my house, which was convenient. |
| Instruction | 9 | I kind of touched on this before. The professors are very down to earth and really take pride in helping their students be successful. They found ways to stimulate the lectures to get students more into discussions. These weren't your typical lectures. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The work load was not bad, I would say about average. The material, however, was a little difficult at first but after the second semester, I got the hang of it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As i previously said, the instructors did a good job of switching things up to keep us interested in the material. They would show videos and use other visual aids to help keep us into it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They offer most classes during the day as well as at night, and this allowed me the opportunity to work while going to school. The only downside and the only reason they didn't get a 10 here is because I would've liked more classes to be offered over the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The campus was small, which I liked. I didn't have to walk 20 miles to get to my next class. In fact, most of my classes were in the same building. Parking was very easy to find. The library and computer stations are conveniently located. One could get out of class and head right to one of the stations to kill time between classes or finish a last minute assignment. |
| Social Life | 5 | I didn't take part in many events on campus because I preferred to work instead. But from what I hear, they planned some good events on a weekly basis and the students seemed to enjoy them. |
| Placement Services | 9 | As I said before, they helped set me up an interview, which was great. My employer was very happy to learn that I had graduated from Hilbert. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't really participate in any alumni services so I'm not really sure, to be honest. I know that they did have former students come back and speak in one of my classes, which I found inspiring. |
Cornell University • Ithaca, NY
Studying Communication Arts (completion in 1985)
• 6/25/2011
"It's one of the best schools in the country. The quality was high and I was able to learn a lot."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | As I said, the degree I took was not extremely relevant. However, the fact that I graduated from an extremely highly respected school was a great factor in getting a job. Also, a good college degree teaches you how to research, write well and organize your time wisely. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It's one of the best programs in the country. It covers all types of journalism. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I didn't study for a legal assistant job. The major is not all that relevant. |
| Instruction | 5 | As I said, the major I studied in university was not relevant to the career I ended up in later. However, it gave me a great general background in writing, organizing and research ability. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It was a very challenging major. It was in a highly rated university that required a great deal of work of a very high quality. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program provided a very good mix of hands-on and book learning. There was a lot of opportunity to put theory into practice. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | A degree at Cornell involves a four-year dedication. It's a residential college and while it offers extension programs, you are expected to live an learn on campus. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Resources at Cornell are extremely good. The facilities are some of the best in the country. |
| Social Life | 8 | I personally didn't take part in many activities. However, there are a great variety of activities and student organizations. The ones I took part in were politically based. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There wasn't a lot of placement assistance. You do it on your own. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The Cornell University alumni network is very strong. It supplies a lot of networking ability and opportunity. |
Clarkson University • Potsdam, NY
Studying Biology/Psychology (completion in 2010)
• 6/30/2011
"While I was satisfied with the instruction, the administration left much to be desired. School policies were in place and publicly available, but ignored by many authority figures, from the Residence Advisors to some Deans."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Clarkson is better suited for science oriented careers than those in law. Unless one is hoping to become a patent agent, patent attorney, or patent paralegal, or to pursue a related career, another university would likely provide better preparation. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The science programs, including biology and psychology, have in-depth research departments, with research opportunities available and encouraged for all undergraduates. In psychology, however, the range of courses is limited. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Clarkson is very science oriented, thus my courses involved reading more peer-reviewed journal articles and doing lab work and research, in addition to foundations and concepts. The programs/majors overall, however, are negative in that the scheduling can be inflexible, and some requirements, even some with prerequisites, are only available once every 2 years. |
| Instruction | 9 | The majority of the teachers are very enthusiastic about the topic of their instruction, and it is well communicated to the students. A select few teachers do seem to value attendance, in spite of the course materials all being available online and the lecture being a direct reading of the online materials. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty of the programs is determined by the student - some can take an overloaded number of credits (20+) and continue with extracurriculars, while others maintain only 12 credit semesters. Both the number of credits and specific courses determine the difficulty, but each factor can be chosen to be easy or difficult and still complete the degree program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a heavy focus on hands-on learning in the labs in biology, beginning from the first semester; however, book learning is the focus of all the courses, as most labs have a corresponding lecture with hands-on learning. Psychology courses were primarily book-learning, but an experimental psychology course was required. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | At the time of attendance, few, if any weekend or evening options were available. Online classes were available over the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | There were abundant laboratories, professors, and tutors available in biology and psychology. Computing resources were extremely limited, and lab computers were very slow. |
| Social Life | 7 | My social events were primarily through extracurriculars, which still provided significant opportunity for bonding and parties. There is a good amount of school spirit surrounding the hockey team, but infrequent popular school organized events. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I have not used the job placement and career services assistance, as I have not heard especially good things about it. Reports by fellow students suggest that they give generic advice not tailored to the field that the student is planning to enter, and may not be correct at all; however, an online network is available, and the career fair is well-attended for engineering students. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have not used the alumni network and support system, as it has not been heavily advertised, nor have I heard especially good things about it. Given the lack of information, positive or negative, I presume it is average. |
University At Buffalo • Buffalo, NY
Studying Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (completion in 2008)
• 6/27/2011
"I am currently where I want to be. I have a job at a law firm, and I am currently attending law school. UB prepared me for my present situation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UB has a great name, and is associated with prepared alumni. The cost is inexpensive as universities go, and it is not hard to find a job with a degree. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is know as a legitimate legal undergrad program. Employers feel that graduates are prepared and ready to work. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a great program. I enjoyed the work, and I feel like it prepared me for employment |
| Instruction | 9 | Instructors were hard, but helpful. This program was a little more difficult than others, but it definitely prepares you for the real world. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I took a legal studies concentration. The program was more difficult than others in the program. But it is definitely manageable as far as undergraduate work goes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some classes used strictly text books, while others relied on real world applications. It seemed to be either/or. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I did not use career services, and don't feel it necessary. Employers know what a student from UB is capable of. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facilities are some of the best in the state. UB is one of 2 state run universities. |
| Social Life | 9 | UB is a very diverse university. You can socialize as little or as much as you would like |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Buffalo is a small town in a big package. Networking is everything, especially in the legal community. Everyone knows everyone, and UB has a great reputation |
Bryant & Stratton • Buffalo, NY
Studying Real Estate Management & A Minor In Office Management (completion in 1990)
• 7/14/2011
"Again, Bryant and Stratton got me to where I am today and I am very satisfied with my job. I manage a one man law office and am involved in every aspect of the law practice. My boss has to take his work home with him and I don't, which is a bonus!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Recommending Bryant and Stratton would depend upon what the person's goals are. I would recommend Bryant and Stratton if a person is very goal oriented and self motivated. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Since I graduated from Bryant and Stratton, they have improved by offering more courses on each subject. The school has also improved since I have been there in that they offer more job placement support and counseling. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school gave me the tools to have a better resume. Also, my schooling taught me things that were extremely useful (especially the real estate management class) in my position. |
| Instruction | 5 | I believe that you get out of most classes what you put into them. The teachers were moderately paid and came from varied backgrounds. For the most part they shared life experience along with text book teachings regarding their topics. |
| How Difficult | 5 | My program of study was what I expected to have when i went to college. The level of difficulty was directly proportionate to the amount of work I put into mastering the subject. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | As I stated before, the teachers were adequate and I am self taught from many books, so this was never a problem. The teachers and the books were what I expected when I enrolled. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | One of the reasons I chose Bryant and Stratton was that they had extremely flexible class schedules. I worked full time and had to take evening and weekend classes. This was a newer sort of idea and now most schools embrace this approach. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | I don't mean to sound like a wet blanket but they threw a book at you (that the student had to purchase) and led you to the classroom. This was OK, because I was taught that you have to help yourself to get ahead and I did just fine. |
| Social Life | 1 | There were none of these that I remember. This was a school dedicated to helping a person advance in their field and most were just there to finish a degree to take a few classes, so I guess they figured that this wasn't of great importance. |
| Placement Services | 1 | When I went to Bryant and Stratton in the early 1990's, there was no job placement help. If you were fortunate enough to land a job through them, it was usually at the school and not in the student/job applicant's field of study. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Bryant and Stratton had/has no alumni support, groups, etc. and no network. arguably, this was a smaller type of college and most people were there to further themselves in a quick fashion with "no frills." |
Erie Community College • Buffalo, NY
Studying Paralegal Studies (completion in 2003)
• 7/24/2011
"I got my degree and my teachers were very knowledgeable. I learned quite a bit from them."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend it if they did not care about hands on experience. The classes were lectures. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It is a SUNY school which holds some weight. It is a community college and has a lot of low income students attending, which makes people think it is a bad school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | We had practicing attorneys teaching us. The program was very broad. |
| Instruction | 8 | We could have learned more practical hands on procedures. Some of the attorneys teaching us were impatient. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program was very intensive. However, if you studied, you had no problem. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had virtually no hands on teaching. We never went on outings to the courts, etc. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The paralegal program had no weekend or summer classes. The evening options were limited. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I give it a 9 because the library had outdated materials. I believe we had good academic advisers. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in any due to my work schedule. However, they did offer athletics and maybe some parties. |
| Placement Services | 5 | You were pretty much on your own to find a job. They had a placement assistance office, but it was not very helpful. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | We had access to our teachers for questions and directions. We also had a paralegal club. |
John Jay College Of Criminal Justice • New York, NY
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 2011)
• 8/2/2011
"While I enjoyed my college experience, I wish I had gone to a different school. Perhaps if I had gone to a different school I would have received a more rounded college experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Despite its downsides the school is a good school with a good local education. As long as a student is willing to do some work to make the school work for them, then it's recommendable. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | The major I chose seems to be a "dead end" major. I either have to get a paralegal certificate or go to law school if I want to seek a better position. I'm not sure employers will even know what legal studies is. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school has a lot of good professionals teaching the classes. The school has a good reputation within NYC. |
| Instruction | 7 | The curriculum was very diverse, which was good. The curriculum was also engaging. |
| How Difficult | 6 | While it had some challenging courses, the overall academic challenge was manageable. There were times when the work load seemed very challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was very book learning intensive. The only hands on training I received was in the form of an internship my senior year. The internship was an elective I chose. The school does not require you to receive hands on training, so I had to seek it on my own. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are many morning and evening classes, so they provide a very flexible schedule for students. Whenever I needed classes to fit around my work schedule, I was always able to find them. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The facilities available to students are wonderful and helpful. If students seek assistance, it is always provided to them. |
| Social Life | 3 | Being a commuter school, many people work or live away from the school, so the activities were poorly scheduled. Many people could not be part of school activities due to outside commitments which was the main complaint about the school. |
| Placement Services | 2 | I don't feel the school has provided me with proper job placement and career services assistance. I am looking for a better position and I don't feel my school will be of any help to me. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Although I just graduated, I don't feel the school has a solid alumni network or support system. While the school tries to keep alumni networked, I don't think it's effective. |
Barnard College • New York, NY
Studying Russian (completion in 2010)
• 8/9/2011
"I had opportunities to take an immense variety of classes that were personally relevant to me and my academic goals. It was also very much appreciated to have a small community in the midst of NYC."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I didn't go to school specifically to become a paralegal, so I probably wouldn't recommend such an expensive school to somebody whose career goals were solely focused on becoming a paralegal. I would recommend my school to those who want to explore a wide |
| Program Reputation | 8 | While Barnard is not widely know for its Russian program, the school itself has a great reputation. The school's connection with Columbia University further improves its reputation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | My school had an excellent Russian department. The professors included some of the best at the school. |
| Instruction | 9 | The level of instruction was sufficiently challenging and interesting. I had the opportunity to take many interesting classes and travel to Russia. On the other hand, I had little career preparation and am not really sure what I wanted to do--which is ho |
| How Difficult | 9 | Expectations were high and we had to complete a lot of work. We were required to learn the Russian language in four years, and mastering it is no easy feat. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Of course, reading was a large part of the coursework students are required to complete. However, we were also encouraged to go to museum exhibits and restaurants to learn more about Russian/Slavic culture. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes are scheduled to accommodate the largest number of residential and commuter students possible. Individual professors are also very willing to work with individual students' schedules and letting them complete missed work if they have scheduling c |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The Russian professors were a great group, and were always eager to talk with their students. There were language labs and libraries just for the department. |
| Social Life | 2 | School spirit was kind of a joke. The school had no sports teams and most people are more interested in exploring New York City than doing things on campus. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The career development resources available at the school are extensive. The same resources and seminars are available to alumni as well. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The school has several programs to connect alumni to each other and to current students. For example, members of the alumni network can participate in certain events focused on career improvement. |
Touro Law • Huntington, NY
Studying Law (completion in 1997)
• 8/28/2011
"I have a career in my chosen field and I possess the knowledge to do well in it. That is what a student goes to school for. I would like a better job network, however,that is up to the alumni, not necessarily the school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I like the school, and have no concerns as to the quality of the education. However, the cost was very high. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school has many top teachers and has produced many students that are successful in the legal industry. They have also recruited some of the finest teachers available in New York. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school provided a quality education. I was trained in the law in a thorough and comprehensive way. |
| Instruction | 10 | The school had professors with vast experience. The class size was small and great attention was paid to each student. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Training in the law is always difficult. The subject fills entire libraries and is ever changing. However, the school emphasized the proper subjects in the proper way. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Law is a written subject. The school always had arguments, debates and moot court contests. However, law must be read and understood, thus the written word dominated our studies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The school is designed for working students. Consequently, the school provided night and weekend courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has been rebuilt and expended since I graduated. They continue to upgrade both the library and other campus facilities. |
| Social Life | 10 | I am still in touch with fellow students. Furthermore, the alumni network is very helpful if I need to reach out to an alum with specialized skills. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I used the service when I graduated. They tried to be helpful, but had no real opportunities to offer graduating students. Their efforts were little more then resume writing assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I am an active alumni and I have been to a number of events. The alumni network is strong; however, it needs to be larger. It is growing every year and will reach an appropriate size soon. |
Dutchess Community College • Poughkeepsie, NY
Studying Paralegal (completion in 2000)
• 10/7/2011
"I feel like attending Dutchess Community College was a great experience. You get a great education for a fraction of the price you would pay at a private college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I know of other schools in the area that offer a paralegal degree, but the costs is much, much higher than it is at Dutchess. Dutchess has a great reputation which helps immensely when you are looking for employment. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Although it is a community college, Dutchess Community College is rated as one of the best community colleges in the country. The paralegal program has really grown since I graduated. |
| Program Quality | 8 | By attending a community college, I saved a great deal of money and received the same level of education I would have at a private college. However, I would have enjoyed going away for school. |
| Instruction | 8 | The program was very informative and prepared me well for my career. The school was very helpful with job placement opportunities. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Although there was a lot of information to be learned, the instructors made the experience easy. The instructors were also always available to offer extra help if needed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The paralegal program is for the most part book learning oriented. Hands-on learning came once I began working at a law firm. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Dutchess Community College's main campus is in Poughkeepsie, however they also have off-site campuses in Wappingers Falls and Fishkill which made it easy to schedule classes. They also offered a number of night and weekend classes, which was very convenient. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has a great library with a number of legal resources. It was always easy to set up meetings with professors for extra help. The professors made themselves readily available. |
| Social Life | 4 | Since it is a community college, you do not live there so there aren't many social events or parties. The athletic department, however, was great and I attended a number of baseball and softball games. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The school provided great job placement assistance. It also held numerous career fairs which gave students the opportunity to meet potential employers. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I have not received much information on alumni activities. However, between work and family, I haven't had any time to look into it. |
St. Lawrence University • Canton, NY
Studying Government (completion in 1999)
• 10/30/2011
"I obtained an excellent education. The school paid for much of my education by giving me a scholarship."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school has many strengths, including networking and job and graduate school placement. The cost of education has gone up, but they also provide very good financial aid. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | St. Lawrence's reputation is not what it used to be. That is, it is a much stronger place now than when I used to be a student. The rigor of the courses and the quality of students have gotten better since my graduation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My university has a strong job placement and graduate school entry record. I am very happy with the education that I received. The job that I chose was, of course, my decision. |
| Instruction | 9 | At this liberal arts college, I learned a variety of courses with emphasis in theory. The education that I received was designed to be adaptable to many different kinds of jobs. For that I am thankful. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I learned a lot, but that was mainly due to my own drive to learn. There were fellow students around me that didn't study as hard. I took advantage of the learning opportunities that were available to me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The focus of the studies involved plenty of book reading. Except for labs (biology and chemistry and such), much of the work entailed reading textbooks and other literature. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Both daytime and evening seminars were available. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Excellent facilities. Very good libraries with excellent IT systems. Professors are also top notch; they seem to excel in teaching and research takes a back seat. |
| Social Life | 6 | Very good. But the school was in the middle of no where. But we socialized like other students on different campuses would (usually alcohol was involved). |
| Placement Services | 8 | Very good. For the reason already stated, the smallness and tightness of the graduates translates to very good networking opportunities. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | It's a small school. It prides itself in helping graduates in the job market. That's one of the benefits of going to a small liberal arts college. |
SUNY Suffolk • Selden, NY
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 1982)
• 12/24/2011
"It wasn't a very nice campus. There were no social events. Parking was terrible. The scheduling was very difficult at the end of the program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I wouldn't recommend it, because I think that the program could have been a lot better than it was. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I'm not sure that they have the program anymore, but it's not known for being the best program in the area. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was just okay. Not any better or worse than other programs, I don't think. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very thorough. I think they covered all bases and prepared me well. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I really don't have anything to compare it to, but I think that it was about as difficult as I'd expected it would be. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Entirely book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The scheduling was flexible in the beginning of the program. At the end of the program, there were much less choices in scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Didn't have much in the library. I went and used the town's public library to use computers, because it had much better facilities and much more of what I needed. |
| Social Life | 1 | It was mostly a commuter school, so everyone went to school and left. No social life existed. |
| Placement Services | 1 | It didn't exist when I completed my degree. I had to find a job on my own, but that wasn't hard to do. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I'm not sure an alumni support network even exists. I've never heard from them. |
SUNY Geneseo • Geneseo, NY
Studying Art History And English (completion in 2012)
• 1/4/2012
"I have learned a great deal, made close connections with professors, and have a great social group."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Geneseo teaches students to think and to apply themselves. I think that skill is fitting in any career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The physical sciences are notorious for being the most difficult majors at Geneseo. Business and communication majors are considered the easiest, while the English program is regarded as very good. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I entered Geneseo as an Art History major and added English as a secondary major my sophomore year. Both have provided me with analytical skills that I think will prove beneficial in law school. |
| Instruction | 9 | The English department faculty at Geneseo have provided me with a skill set that allows me to look at any problem or task analytically and logically. The curriculum was very challenging and made me work hard for my good grades. |
| How Difficult | 7 | While I achieved straight As in art history classes, English classes proved much more challenging for me. However, I still received all As and Bs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While many classes are textbook based, some offer the opportunities to have hands on experience. In my biology class, I got to grow bean plants in the greenhouse and in my Museums class I got to create and install an exhibition at a local museum. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Geneseo offers no weekend classes and few online options. However, there are many evening classes and summer offerings both in Geneseo and abroad. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Geneseo only has one library that proves inadequate during finals periods. The science facilities are state of the art, however the humanities facilities need updating. Tutors are only available to students in specific programs. Professors are usually very willing to help students during their office hours. |
| Social Life | 10 | Joining a sorority has provided me with all of the social events I could ever want, along with community service opportunities. Soccer games and hockey games are very popular. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Career services is great for looking over resumes and for help applying to graduate school. They are lacking in job placement abilities. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The school does not actively network with alumni in order to connect students and alumni. We have an alumni-student connection site that is barely used because it is not advertised to students and is inadequate. |
Nassau Community College • Garden City, NY
Studying Legal Studies (completion in 2002)
• 3/5/2012
"The professors were excellent and very involved with their students. They had me placed in a full time position before I even graduated. I would say this was the best decision I ever made."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes. The school has many positives and I would recommend it. First, it is ABA approved which means hiring attorneys will be impressed by that because they also needed to attend ABA programs. The tuition cannot be beat anywhere. Nassau community College is a great school. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | This is a hard question to really answer because I'm not in a position to know. However, I would hire a graduate of Nassau Community College's program over someone from a four year college that was not ABA approved. ABA approved means that you went through a very rigorous legal program. In New York not many programs can claim that. |
| Program Quality | 10 | It is an ABA approved program, which means it meets a set standard. The school also has a very good reputation for preparing students for entry into the profession. |
| Instruction | 9 | I only had one teacher who was not very clear, and confused things for the students. Most of my professors were attorneys with practices who were part-time adjuncts at the college. |
| How Difficult | 9 | There is lot of reading that must be done for this major, and if you do not put the time in you will not be able to pass the courses. This being an ABA approved program means that the standards are pretty high, even if it is a Community College. This is not an easy major and one must be prepared for hours of studying outside of class time. I did receive a certificate from The Center for Legal Studies at Stony Brook University in 2000, and that program was much easier and not very relevant to the field either. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It is definitely a very book learning-focused program for the first three semesters. Very much so. However, Nassau has internships at law firms that really do prepare you for when you graduate. I think it is a really good mix and that Nassau has a wonderful program. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school has weekend, evening, and summer classes, so you can get done a bit quicker if you want. However, sometimes you need to be a creative scheduler as the classes are not offered at night, or during every semester. You need to stay in close contact with your adviser so you can complete your program on time. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I felt that my academic advisers were very interested in my success. The library was very good and the librarians helped me on many occasions. I actually helped poorer students with their studies. Professors tried to match the better students with ones who needed some guidance when we had bigger projects to do. |
| Social Life | 5 | I really did not have a social life at college as I went back as a returning adult. They do have many clubs, and a full athletic department for those who are interested. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I had a full-time job before I graduated. My internship in the the third semester led to a job offer upon completion. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am a member of Nassau Community College's Alumni Association and they do very little. However, my Legal Studies Professors invite me twice a year (Fall and Spring) to a function at the school so we can all meet up again to mingle and talk to the students. Meeting graduates that came back to talk to the students was something I remember being very helpful to me as a student. |
Long Island University CW Post • Old Brookville, NY
Studying Political Science, Pre-Law (completion in 2003)
• 3/1/2012
"You will be well prepared after this program. It is very comprehensive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Great school. Great experience. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Well recognized and accepted. ABA approved. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Felt very well prepared upon leaving the program. Was very comprehensive. |
| Instruction | 10 | Great instructors. Great texts. Great law library. Great program. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Required a lot of time, reading, and attention to detail. All is to be expected as this is required in the field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The perfect blend. Classroom, theory, book work, and hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The program was given over two semesters. Full days, 8-4, Mon through Fri. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Great law library. Great computer lab. |
| Social Life | 1 | They had events, but I was not interested. I was engaged and I was there to finish school. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Not much of a system there. More of an online database. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Not much of a program there. If there is, they don't make it known. |
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