I've learned alot here, especially from my math and science classes. Well, all of my classes actually. The professors certainly know a great deal about the topics they teach, and since they're truly interested in it, they can explain it all really well, and even the students can relate to the stuff they talk about. The tutors at the MESA center and especially the ones from the STEM program helped me out a ton because they're always available.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I really enjoy being here because even though people just say coming here is not a good choice, I feel it was a great choice. There's so many opportunities here that I have to get me jobs, a high GPA, and diverse people to make friends with. Also it's very safe on campus, but once I walk off campus for a few blocks, there's creepy old Newark men who call out random things to me. But at least the bus stops are around the campus so I only have to walk for two minutes to get to the bus.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The tuition compared to other schools is really cheap. My spring and fall semesters were only around $4000 together, and I didn't have to pay for anything except for my $54 bus pass each month. Filling out FAFSA got me a $3900 Pell Grant, $800 from HESAA, and $1000 something from the STEM program here, so my tuition and books were pretty much covered. The books both semesters were about $400-500 each.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
It's a decent place to start at for a cheap price. If your GPA was bad in high school, you can start fresh here with a better GPA and then get into the honors program which pays for your whole tuition. The STEM program, pays for your math 100 class if you need to take it, and a science class; plus, it has really great tutors from the nearby college like NJIT and Rutgers to help out too. There's also math professor Carlos Castillo who can explain math especially well and can get anyone to understand math. He wont quit trying til you get it, so taking a math class from him is a really smart choice. For English classes, professor Acacia Cochise is great and all her students agree that she's one of the best. She keeps us interested in the class by telling us unusual facts about authors and having class discussions instead of writing essays. Also make sure to carry around your ECC ID, or at least remember it if you do decide to attend this college. There's random times where they'll ask for it at the entrances and you'll need an ID to enter. The lines for the financial aid office are almost always super long, so it's best to get there early in the morning or when it's not the beginning of a semester because the waiting time can be 30 minutes or up to an hour. The line at bookstore at the beginning of a semester is also extremely long, even to get in the store. The time in the book voucher line after you find the books you need can also be up to an hour so if you need a book between classes make sure you have time.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Essex County College is great for people who want to start off paying cheaply, or for people who didn't do well in high school and want to start off with a clean slate. It's also great for people who haven't been in school for a while and need to relearn a few things to start getting a degree.
I've learned alot here, especially from my math and science classes. Well, all of my classes actually. The professors certainly know a great deal about the topics they teach, and since they're truly interested in it, they can explain it all really well, and even the students can relate to the stuff they talk about. The tutors at the MESA center and especially the ones from the STEM program helped me out a ton because they're always available.
I really enjoy being here because even though people just say coming here is not a good choice, I feel it was a great choice. There's so many opportunities here that I have to get me jobs, a high GPA, and diverse people to make friends with. Also it's very safe on campus, but once I walk off campus for a few blocks, there's creepy old Newark men who call out random things to me. But at least the bus stops are around the campus so I only have to walk for two minutes to get to the bus.
The tuition compared to other schools is really cheap. My spring and fall semesters were only around $4000 together, and I didn't have to pay for anything except for my $54 bus pass each month. Filling out FAFSA got me a $3900 Pell Grant, $800 from HESAA, and $1000 something from the STEM program here, so my tuition and books were pretty much covered. The books both semesters were about $400-500 each.
It's a decent place to start at for a cheap price. If your GPA was bad in high school, you can start fresh here with a better GPA and then get into the honors program which pays for your whole tuition. The STEM program, pays for your math 100 class if you need to take it, and a science class; plus, it has really great tutors from the nearby college like NJIT and Rutgers to help out too. There's also math professor Carlos Castillo who can explain math especially well and can get anyone to understand math. He wont quit trying til you get it, so taking a math class from him is a really smart choice. For English classes, professor Acacia Cochise is great and all her students agree that she's one of the best. She keeps us interested in the class by telling us unusual facts about authors and having class discussions instead of writing essays. Also make sure to carry around your ECC ID, or at least remember it if you do decide to attend this college. There's random times where they'll ask for it at the entrances and you'll need an ID to enter. The lines for the financial aid office are almost always super long, so it's best to get there early in the morning or when it's not the beginning of a semester because the waiting time can be 30 minutes or up to an hour. The line at bookstore at the beginning of a semester is also extremely long, even to get in the store. The time in the book voucher line after you find the books you need can also be up to an hour so if you need a book between classes make sure you have time.
Essex County College is great for people who want to start off paying cheaply, or for people who didn't do well in high school and want to start off with a clean slate. It's also great for people who haven't been in school for a while and need to relearn a few things to start getting a degree.