Borough of Manhattan Community College

Where do I even begin. This school has given me hell ever since I started. First, every time I had a question, no one could give me a straight answer. Two, it’s like high school all over again. Some professors are a joke and students hang around all day being loud and obnoxious. Third, most of the staff are not helpful. I graduated late because of someone that worked in BMCC. I didn’t get her name which is my mistake but hey you live and you learn. A lot of the staff in the building have a terrible attitude and blow you off without letting you finish a sentence. One time a guy that was not a student entered the building and came into my classroom. Another student and myself actually had to report it to the security because the professor didn’t.
I’m sorry but this school is not one that you should attend.

I completed my Paralegal Certificate here. I absolutely recommend it, my learning and teacher were good. My learnings here had helped me in many ways. I didn’t dip in the law field, however, this classes were fantastic for career development.

Mixed feelings. Readmitting after a couple of years and what an ordeal. I am being charged out of state tuition when I’ve never moved. Lots of disorganization and back and forth just to correct an issue. No place is perfect, but being a mother and having to juggle all the back and forth and meet all of my obligations have been a pain. If it were not for the wonderful staff member in the student loan department (Serge) I wouldn’t have caught all those fees, it’s hard to decipher on the cuny first site.

Things here are so unorganized. Most of the departmental admin staff will talk to you like you’re not worth their time for asking questions. Everything is incredibly uncoordinated and unclear. Expect to be shuffled between the Bursar, Financial Aid, and your department about 20 times before you can settle your finances. Financial Aid staff will throw forms at you that you don’t need and don’t apply to you just to get you out of their way, after you’ve stood in line for an hour and a half.
For science classes, expect to shell out your first born. Text books can rarely be bought used now because of registration codes that are only good once. Maybe 7 or 8 out of the 12 or so professors I’ve had here seem invested in their students and jobs, which is really a decent percentage.
Though probably the worst part is BMCC’s online system for email, class management, and blackboard. You will need 3 different user names and passwords for these. They’re uncoordinated, incredibly unfriendly for users and hard to navigate, and frequently don’t work.
Academically I think the school has some really positive things going for it. However if you can’t afford or navigate the system, that starts to matter a bit less. I am, at least for now, attending as a second degree student and many of the classes I’ve taken have been worth the time. (Though tutoring services can be severely lacking.) I mean it could be worse, and the school does have some merits, but the ineffective bureaucracy of it all is a serious hurdle.

If you are going to write a bad review, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR JUDGEMENTS, Write FACTS! Like what happened, or how and why did it happend! that would actually be useful and credible. Once you start saying that you hate EVERY TEACHER AND STAFF member, you have completely lost my attention! They is just no way! Secondly, every good high GPA student knows to research their professors before enrolling in a class, so if you failed to do what you should, that’s on you! There are a billion Gems in BMCC; professors that will give you more than you know you are paying for. Dr. Sandra Poster alone is one seriously brilliant professor who will change your life. Not to mention Professor Paul Palven, Professor William Wright, Professor Daphne Sicre, and Professor Kunadu who is an incredibly talented speaker. If you haven’t had them, then you are missing out! I have had nothing but great professors here! Sometimes I forget that I am in a community college. Do your research! It’s your education, and you can get a great education here!!!

BMCC! Start here, go anywhere :)
I took four pre-​requisite courses here to apply for grad school. I chose this place because it was close to the A train (holler!) and it offered a lot of science courses. It was an ordeal trying to register, sign up for courses, and get my transcripts sent. But I just kept persisting. Don’t even bother calling the various administrative offices if you need assistance. They rarely pick up — at least in my experience. You just have to show up.
The classes for the most part were decent. I had some really good professors. (Just check
as a reference, but also take it with a grain of salt). The student body is really diverse, so that’s really cool.
Tuition is expensive, but that’s New York for ya. In the end, I was able to take the classes I needed to, and I got into one of the top grad school programs in my field. So if you’re taking classes here, be persistent and don’t give up! You never know where you’ll end up.
(It has also been one of my dreams to go to an out-​of-​state and/​or public school, so BMCC: you have fulfilled one of my dreams. #praisetheLord) :D

I graduated from Saint Raymond HS for Boys just a year ago. Sadly, I regret going to BMCC when Mercy College had it doors open for me. It’s small size of the college that prevented me from attending. PLEASE GET YOUR GRADES UP IN H.S. SO YOU WONT END UP GOING TO THIS «COLLEGE».
This isn’t a college. It’s a high school disguise as a college. If your still peak-​in-​high school this college is right for you. The classes feel like high school classes. If your taking a remedial class, chances are you’ll be stuck with a group of immature children who still act like there in middle school. If your trying to make friends here, your out of luck because everyone going to the school and go & some thinks there all that. So it’s best if you stick with the friends/​people you went to high school with or wait to make friends at a four year school.
Some (not all) of the professors think they big shots teaching at Yale or Harvard. The teaching is very poor & useless. Half the faculty are incompetent, rude & disrespectful. Most of them are worried about there paychecks more then the students future. I had an advisor in the English department (blonde woman, glasses, skinny, average height) who was nice but post-​first semester last year asked me what classes was I supposed to take. Like are you kidding me?!? How would I know when it’s her job to find out!
The cafeteria food is overpriced & the restaurants outside are expensive. There are Halal carts all over campuses that charged only $ 5 for a plate.

If I could give 10 stars I would. Why do I say this? Well… After reading all the reviews, the majority of them ONLY points out the «lack of professionalism of the staff» I’d say the problem is not BMCC, or the staff, it is YOU. When you go somewhere to get information about anything it might be troubling you, you can’t be rude about it! And expect them to solve your problems with an attitude.
If you want respect you have to give respect. I am a prospective student for the Fall of 2015. And I have gone to the campus numerous times. (Sometimes 2x a week) not because they made an error or anything, but because it just happened to be that way. For example, today Monday I went to have my picture ID taken, and on Wednesday I have to go back and register for the SUMMER IMMERSION Program. (It is a program for the subject you fail at your placement test, so you won’t have to take that remedial class. Anyways, all up to this date I haven’t had ANY issues about: Financial Aid, or calling on the phone and waiting long period of times, never had a rude representative or staff. They all called back if they offered to do so in a timely fashion.
Don’t always believe the reviews you read!!! Go with your instincts, and figure it out on your own. When I read the reviews here, I had second thoughts. When EVERYONE here said, how they’ll never answer your phone calls, financial aid office sucks, the students are all crazy and all over the place!!! –I decided to give it a go, feeling down and everything. Only because I didn’t had a choice (it is very close to my apt, and kids school)
And let me tell you it is the BEST decision I have ever made indeed! Everyone is super nice and friendly. I’d ask when I’m lost to the students walking around, and they’re very friendly and polite. The staff are funny, and make you feel comfortable. I haven’t met the professors yet, but I heard great things in #Ratemyprofessors. I can’t wait to start school, I’m very excited! –I’ll KEEP YOU GUYS POSTED

I like this college. I used to study here. They have pool, gym, relaxation space for students. I really like that. My current college doesn’t have those things. Only thing I don’t like is teachers. They are too formal and not happy with their life. Maybe I got unlucky with my teachers :(

Please don’t go to this school. I think this school should shut down and reopen with new employees and teachers.
I have had 3.9 gpa and took 45 units of general ed and mechanical engineering requiirements in other community colleges.
This community college is the worst community college because it is really disorganized, almost impossible to add classes, quality of teachers and teaching are very poor, and teachers and the school require ridiculously many unreasonable rules such as you are dropped after missing 4 hours of class or something.
I took five classes and most of the students in my classes have dropped out because of teachers who don’t teach but being absolutely strict about grading and they seem so stressed and often don’t know what to teach in the classes.
It is New York City. There are overwhelmingly many rude people working for this school, and you have to be prepared to get through it.
Unfortunately I couldn’t take it anymore and I got too stressed out .
I got yelled at from the employee who didn’t process my legal document to stay in the U. S and I filed a complaint to the vice president for the employee not doing her job and being extremely rude, and I also have a proof of recording, but I heard nothing back. Her name is Regine Lagrand in international student’s office. She is an immigration specialist who process I20 and transfer students. She yelled at me when I asked my legal document and she lied to me that she can’t process the paper. After I yell at her, she finally said she can process the paper work but she made me come visit the office like 20 times over the months and blew off the appointments more than 15times. She literally sat me down and didn’t say a word for a few minutes just to be rude. She said «You are driving me crazy. I don’t have time for this» for the request of legal document of mine. Even other workers at the office told me to report her.
Basically people seem not to care about other people getting screwd over because there are too many people getting screwd over.

As far as I am concerned, the great majority of these reviews are USELESS, and should be taken with a grain of salt. BMCC has been a pleasant surprise for me.
Background info: I took two years off straight out of high school to travel, work, etc. I initially had no desire to study after high school because I was DRAINED. Traveling and working in retail really made me realize that I wanted to study and it made me realize WHAT I wanted to study, which is sociology.
I ended up going to BMCC because there is no use in shelling out big bucks in order to get your bachelors, and should I want to go out of state or to a private school, I wanted to cut down on the potential cost as much as possible.
Personally, I found getting in extremely smooth and was no problem. I was respectful to everyone and got respect back from every department member I spoke to. When I started classes, I was a bit bougie and didn’t want to be seen going in just because the school has a terrible reputation, because it’s a community college, but I soon learned that that’s all because of ignorance. Education in this country is rarely based on merit, and all about money, so it’s actually SMART to start off at a community college. Sure, there are people there who mooch off the financial aid, but the great deal of people I’ve met actually want to do better things with their lives. The professors that are available to us are for the most part, HIGHLY qualified in their fields. All of my professors last semester had doctorates and were extremely accommodating and smart.
To sum it all up, I’ve had a great time my first year and I’m scheduled to graduate next year. If you’re serious about your education, and finances, go for it. This school gives great options and if you work hard and make the best out of your experience, you will surely succeed. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next year for my transfer and will update this review once that’s all decided. Good luck!

I am about to graduate, going to Hunter, but I must say my experience continues to be positive, the only negative was dealing with the department services. I am sad I am leaving this great location, I love tribeca. I always felt comfortable in the 3 buildings and felt were clean for the most part, the bathrooms should be cleaner but most times are decent. Loved most of my professors and the people I met.
My advice, google info you need before heading to school, pay attention to deadlines so you dont waste time, email and call whenever necessary and good luck, don’t let the initial perception of the school discourage you.

I study part-​time, and I have to say BMCC isn’t a bad college like some reviewers said. Yes, there are different people working there, some are nice, others are not so nice but you can expect it in every college. I have 40 credits completed, and I’d say most of my professors were nice, and I enjoyed classes a lot. I especially like Fisherman hall where my business department is located because the building is new and modern looking:) BMCC classes are small, like max 20 people, so you enjoy the class. I also took online classes, and they’re not bad as well. However, I think there’s still room for improvement in that area. I personally don’t like the blackboard and think online classes could be more engaging and interesting. (it’s mostly reading from the book, completing written assignments and posting to a discussion board every week. Sometimes quizzes). Also for some reason, you have to be advised EVERY semester before you’re able to register for classes. Today I saw my advisor, and he was a very caring and nice young man. He told me what classes I should take and offered to attend some free workshops held in our college. The workshops are about money, banking, savings and buying housing, etc. I’m really looking forward to attend some of the workshops if time permits. In addition to that, the college offers a lot of activities, gym and pool but I never had a chance to go there due to lack of time. Maybe I should one day…

I had no idea what nightmare would unfold when I applied to BMCC as a transfer/​non-​degree student. Long story short, I have a Bachelor’s degree already, and need to take some prerequisite science courses in order to apply to a Master’s program (at a CUNY school I might add). Easy, right?
I sent in my transcripts and immunization records as well as my application back in September. There is nowhere to even select «non-​degree» on the online application. I had to call the school, who told me to come into the admissions office, who then told me to come back in November — aka when non degree students are allowed to apply. Basically all of that could have been relayed over the phone and saved me an hour round trip commute.
Come November, I go in and apply. I personally hand in my transcripts and immunization forms again. They say I will get an email in 1 – 2 weeks allowing me to register. No email ever comes except two separate ones saying I didn’t turn in the transcripts or immunization forms. Are you kidding? After several phone calls I finally get them to confirm they have everything, and am told I have to make a CUNYFirst account (brand new info) in order to register. I do so, but still cannot register and get a message saying «I need to be advised»…also at this point all the classes are full/​closed. I call admissions, they tell me to come to the advisement center. I go in and the idiot running that department tells me I need to get approved by the science department (who is not even there, like their office is shut down at 4pm on Friday).
By this point I’m so frustrated, I go back to the admissions office and demand to speak to someone about my situation. I’m getting very nervous at this point because I have about a month left before classes begin. They take me back to a row of cubicles and I speak to a girl who looks younger than me… she tells me that I can’t register until January 15^th… the only time non-​degree students are allowed to because this is the add/​drop period for degree students. Again this is news! Basically you have to hope people drop the classes you need or else you’re sh*t out of luck. I ask her if I still need to go to the science department to get «approved» and she says «probably not, but maybe go just in case.» Yeah cause I don’t have a job and have all the time in the world to come to this horrible school run my morons. Also while I was there she basically said non-​degree students are the last priority because they do not pay tuition. I get that, but seriously, they make it almost impossible to plan for anything unless you are in a degree program there.
Who knows if I’ll be able to register come January 15. Hopefully another potential non-​degree student wanting to go to BMCC will read this and learn what they’re in for…

Jesus.
I’ve never encountered such an unprofessional, ghetto-​like school in my 24 years on this planet.
I don’t attend this college (thank god!) I actually attend a non CUNY school. Because of my chosen major, my mentor at my college suggested I cross register. He asked what college I’d like to cross register at and I chose BMCC for it’s, uh, cheapness? I guess that was a bad idea.
I go up to this woman at the registrar’s desk. She’s an old, black, cross eyed woman with a beard. That should’ve been enough evidence for me to just throw in the towel. I was friendly and polite and explained my situation, with my forms in hand. She becomes very rude and belligerent with me. She refused to allow me to explain anything and kept asking me, «What do you want? What do you want?!» I got so offended that I grabbed my papers and stormed out. I can’t fathom how a college could hire such terrible staff. Again, while I don’t officially attend this college, I highly recommend that you not go here as the staff seems unhelpful. All of the students there looked as though they were still in high school? Seriously? I’m not attending classes with a bunch of children.
College is a highly difficult time in our lives. Why make it worse by attending a sub par school?
EDIT: I’d like to add, that if you’re interested in a two year college and are especially interested in a science field, go to city tech. I hope this college’s application rate declines drastically within the next decade. It deserves to be shut down.

My 1^st year hasn’t even started yet and I have been to the Main Building about 20+ times. I called up the FASFA office (around a month ago) and I felt as if I have never even called them because they did NOT help me at all. All I wanted/​needed was for them to answer me ONE question, but instead they PILED up more questions for me. I got lost once and it was the day I had to attend the GPS Orientation, so I called a random office to help me get to BMCC: The lady on the phone instructed me «Walk straight. Just keep walking straight and you’ll see the school.» And I asked her, «Straight from where? I am on Chamber street.» Then she rudely said «Do you have GPS on your phone? Use it.» Like wow ma’am, thank you for reminding me that I had GPS. And again with the FASFA office, they need to hire better people to help the upcoming and transfer students at BMCC. The only problem I needed to resolve is my dad’s tax return issues. The problem could have been resolved a lot faster if they didn’t give me the WRONG 4506-​T form TWICE. Two different workers + two wrong forms = double thumbs down. How do you even messed up twice?
I’m not saying BMCC is an awful school but it sure isn’t the best either. It’s the departments here that gives the school a bad name. Every time I go to BMCC, I’ll walk out feeling even more frustrated and angry.

The worst school I have been to. The staff is unbelievable. My counselor didn’t know how to use Cuny first, so she couldn’t enroll me. Are you freaking serious? She even laughed in my face when I said I wanted to be in the RT program. She said «hahahhaa no one passes that». This college is a joke. Beware.

I have never in my life experienced such disorganization and uneducated people/​staff. As a transfer student, I have an interest in attending this college for a semester or two but after all I went through today, and the past week or so I’m taking my transcript and looking into another college. It may be a further commute and I’ll have to start the process over but I REFUSE to give this college my money or my time. They’ve left SUCH a bad taste in my mouth. The people that work behind the counter are kids themselves, having a serious lack of knowledge, as well as unprofessionalism. I spent three hours today being directed to several different departments, only to leave with no useful information and a HUGE headache, and maybe a few more gray hairs.
I think the coordinators at this college need to revamp it and change the student staff to adults who are friendly and have great customer service skills. The purpose of attending a school or making a transition into a new college can be stressful and a little scary… I would think the staffs job would be to make the transition a little easier and be informative ! I was told 7 different answers to my one question that I’m not confident in putting my degree or education in their hands.
Anyone looking into this school for a semester or even degree I would advise you to reconsider! They don’t even have an advisement office to sit a student down and help advise them into the proper courses to take! I mean common. DONT GO HERE! lousy tasteless college and staff. Should be closed down.

I think everyone is getting the wrong impression on reviewing the school based on the department services… this school is great, 3 campus in an ideal great location of TriBeCa, all the necessities are nearby such as banks, bookstores and eateries and you get a great view of jersey and the freedom tower. The prof I’ve had were nice, guess you guys have to do some research and overall clean school not to many disruptions with the exception of the lunch room and Fiterman is awesome!!!

Please Somebody close that school. Or fire all their employees!
The administration office workers are just awful. They are Lazy. disinterested, clueless and rude. You can’t get a hand of them when you need them. The VA rep (Padua) is nowhere to be found. I visited her office everydays for 2 weeks now, she is never there (on office hours). Please fire her!
People save your money or get good grades in high-​school, so that you don’t have to put up with that crappy school.