Pace University
New York, NY, USA

Reviews

Pace University

Nichole from Brooklyn, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
Am learning a lot
Pace University has an amazing staff. Professors are dedicated to helping students during class and outside of the classroom setting. The class size is just right to be able to learn and focus.
Am enjoying being here
Choosing Pace U was one the best decisions I made. Not only are my classes fun, but there is always an activity on campus. Your never bored. There is something going on at all times. They do a good job at keeping not only residents but commuters involved on campus as well. One minute you could be in class and the next throwing a pie in someones face to raise money for one organization or the other.
Bang for the buck
Pace is pretty expensive but very worth it. The financial aid packages are very good and they work with you to try and find scholarships and student loans that are most appropriate to your situation.
Tips for prospective students
If your thinking of attending Pace I can promise it'll be a great decision. Whether enjoying the scenery in the Westchester campus or being a busy bee in the city that never sleeps it's a college you'll love. Make sure you visit the school before you make a final decision because you want to make sure you can adapt. Get to know some Pace students on facebook and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Maria Elena

a current student here
Categories Comments
Am learning a lot
I am a freshman at Pace and I feel that I have definitely learned a lot. Though I have been at Pace University for one semester so far, I am doing excellently, holding a GPA of 3.8. The teachers are extremely friendly and helpful and are very knowledgeable of their material.
Am enjoying being here
I love being at this school because there is always something to do. Whether it be a club event inside school or the thrill of city life outside of Pace's doors, you will never be bored. The university provides a friendly, welcoming environment that is definitely carried on in the classroom as well.
Bang for the buck
Pace is a private institution that is quite costly. What helped me to make my college decision was the amount of scholarship money I received. Pace provides 95% of its students with merit based scholarships and financial aid, so there is help in paying for school. Is it a bang for the buck? I would say so considering I believe it is a great school with numerous challenging courses that will help me to become a successful business woman.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus and take a tour. Imagine yourself as a student, walking through the hallways, eating in the cafeteria, sitting the classrooms, and reading in the library. This will help decide whether Pace is right for you!
Great for these types of students
Business, Theater, Psychology, Nursing

Betty from Bronx, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
Am learning a lot
Personally, if I get anything out of Pace it will be the ability to think critically. I have not even attended the school for that long and I feel like my mind has never been so stimulated. If you take the right classes, you will definitely learn a lot. It is important to take several classes outside your major and the Core Curriculum is designed to help everyone do that. It is not only to make you a well-rounded person, but to open your mind to different perspectives of seeing the world and inculcate in you the ability to think critically.
Am enjoying being here
Pace really goes the extra mile to make new students feel welcome. Orientation, for example, is a 2-day program with an overnight stay. They have workshops/presentations where they address all your questions and give you information on everything from financial aid to dorming. They divide everyone into groups where you can make friends even before school starts. They also plan fun activities such as a boat trip around Manhattan from Southstreet Seaport--and this was all on Orientation! Throughout the year, there are several activities and organizations to get involved with--information is sent to you weekly so you are aware. There is a mandatory University 101 class which is to help students with the transition from high school to college. There is always something to do here and there seems to be a place for everyone. Pace puts an emphasis on life outside the classroom as much as your classroom experience.
Bang for the buck
Pace is expensive and the better your academic standing is, the more scholarships and grants you will receive. They do try to cover all of your financial need but it has happened on a few occasions that some students get their financial aid package altered abruptly and this could cause them to pay more than they anticipated. This probably occurs in most colleges, not just Pace, so be sure to fill out your FAFSA as accurately as possible. There are many great professors here and if you make the right choices in terms of taking the right classes for you and doing your work, you will get the most of your education and feel that the money was worth it.
Tips for prospective students
During Orientation, try to interact with your group members and peer leaders and make as many contacts as you can. Networking is very beneficial and the best time to do that is before school even begins. Also, as a college student you must also be responsible for yourself and take the initiative in making your education worthwhile. So, if you need help in your classes, you should seek help and there are so many people to ask. Keep an open mind and just do your best.
Great for these types of students
Pace is a great school for anyone--there is no single nationality, personality type, or group you need to belong to in order to feel welcome here. However, the school would most likely appeal to students who are very social and enjoy getting out there and networking because there are so many opportunities to do just that and if you are able to take advantage of them, you will succeed.

Sasha from New York, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
Am learning a lot
I have only attended Pace for a semester and I already think that Pace has been a great college. The professors are very helpful and are always there to answers the students' questions. The variety of courses given at Pace give the students the ability to learn more outside of their majors and have more knowledge about other areas.
Am enjoying being here
I am a commuter but while I'm take classes at Pace and while I'm on my break, I do enjoy being at Pace. The faculty is really friendly. There are also many activities going on to keep you busy. You can always find something to do, whether it is to chat and eat with friends at the cafe or study at the library. Being that Pace is in the city there are many things to do around the area, such as, museums, parks, etc.
Bang for the buck
Although, I have received scholarships to help me financially at Pace, I still find it pretty expensive.
Tips for prospective students
A few tips are to tour the college to get a feel of what it looks like, speak to a few professors and current Pace students so that they can let you know what they really think about Pace and make sure to ask any question that you have in mind.
Great for these types of students
Pace is great for all types of students. It is great in diversity. Pace is also very good for business, theater and nursing majors. Overall, Pace is great for anybody.

Raina from Richmond, CA

accepted here and planning to attend soon
Categories Comments
In three sentences
Pace U is an institution with it's priority set at student interests. Many students may feel intimidated by the rigor and responsibilities that come with college life, myself included; however, one never has to feel this way at Pace. By going to orientation alone, confidence is insured by the well-organized and well-explained process of being a student here.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus and go to as many welcome events as possible. Unfortunately, I'm from California and could not afford the plane ticket and hotel costs. I didn't realize until orientation that I missed out on a lot of fun and a lot of information. If you cannot make it, don't worry, everything you need to know will be explained.
Academic Rigor
I've been told that the school is generally serious about academics. A full course-load is between 14 and 18 credits. I was informed by my academic adviser that the average amount of units taken is 16 (5 to 6 classes). However, there's no need to worry with tutoring services and study groups available. You also have the opportunity to be well-informed by students about managing time, stress, etc if you ask. They are very friendly and open to all questions, so don't be shy!
Dorm Life
Each prospective student has the opportunity to stay in the dorms (Maria's Tower) for a night at orientation. I've been told countless times about the sense of community in those dorms. I, personally, did not choose Maria's Tower as my first choice. Speaking of choice: there are many options given. Maria's Tower is on campus, there are a handful of others that are very close to campus, and the farthest one is in the Brooklyn Heights right over the bridge (which is the one I chose as my first choice). I recommend researching each on the Pace U website and asking around for details.
Food and Dining
I very much enjoyed the food. There were many options, including food that was considerate toward vegetarians, and none of it was incredibly unhealthy.
What to do for fun
There is always something to do when you're in New York City. Pace is just a couple blocks down from Chinatown and Little Italy. It's also just a few blocks up from the Statue of Liberty. With a subway entrance right around the corner at the New York City Hall, the entire city is as the will of your metro card. Plenty of places to shop, eat, and be entertained.
Bang for the buck
Although Pace is very expensive, I can't be mad about the financial aid packages. Mine was definitely a great help. I also realized at orientation that not a dollar is going to waste. With all they have to offer from really cool events to career-oriented classes, I know that it's worth every penny.
Great for these types of students
Great for independent, career-oriented, and fun-loving students. As long as you know how to balance work and play, you'll be 100% fine.
Greek Life
Greek Life doesn't interest me, so I didn't look into it much. I know that it definitely exists on campus. The only sorority I noticed was the AKA.
Campus Safety
Security is everywhere, and they don't play around. My father questioned my safety in that crazy city as we were flying 3000 miles and 6 hours from home. After our visit, he doesn't have a single doubt in his mind concerning my protection.

Nazary from Brooklyn, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
Am learning a lot
The teachers here are all professionals with terminal degrees. Most are very passionate about their subjects But as with all schools, a few are a bit stuck up and will need their egos stroked (mostly English department restricted)
Am enjoying being here
The NY campus is really convenient and compact - getting to classes is a breeze once you learn the layout. The RAs do a good job of trying to instill a sense of community in the dorms and there always a lot of fun events going on.
Bang for the buck
The education is top notch but the biggest draw is CO-Op. Pace places high focus on internships and earning real world skills while in college- to that end they help students every year gets internships across a wide spectrum of majors and companies - from lab work in pharmaceutical companies, to accounting at Madison Square Garden or even a research intern for communications at MTV, Co-Op is sure to have something for you.
Tips for prospective students
-Come focused, the more you put into Pace the more you'll get back
-Avoid Prof.Keating for Eng
-Get Prof.Demos for Chemistry
Great for these types of students
Driven and focused individuals, who may not have a clear vision of their future but are willing to work to get ahead.

a current student here
Categories Comments
In three sentences
Largely underrated school. Opportunity is nice and abundant if you are confident in yourself and are willing to put yourself out there. Can you really put a price on the fun and excitement of the city?
Tips for prospective students
Come visit, there are lots of open house tours that happen!
Academic Rigor
This depends heavily on the professor you have. As with any school there will be some professors that stand at a solid 3 on a scale of 1-10 while others will stand at a strong 9 or 10 even. The rate 3 teachers may only give you 2 1 page summary assignments during the semester. On the other hand, your rate 9 teachers may give you dense multi-page readings and summaries each class. Again, the rigor really depends on the commitment of your professor.
Dorm Life
Maria's Tower is the experience most freshmen have, I missed out on this, but I have friends who lived on these dorms their first year and are still very close with everyone that was on entire floor. By sophomore year, the social dorm life really depends on you. Most are RAs or have found an apartment in the city by their sophomore or junior years and beyond (which can be easier and more cost-effective than you may think.)
Food and Dining
We have something called flex dollars which is usually an average of 100 dollars through Pace to use at local eateries (which includes a local Chipotle if you're in to that.) That is pretty nice. Otherwise there is great variety in the caf including vegan and gluten-free options. There is a Starbucks in the caf that accepts your meal plan money. Caf food does get old and boring once you've been there past your first semester. HUMONGOUS downfall: the price of your meal plan options becomes a fraction of what you were offered in your freshman year once you become a sophomore and beyond--translation: apply to be an RA or get a job after freshman year unless your family is wealthy or you eat like a rabbit.
What to do for fun
There is always some student organization event or festival going on. There are also a lot of theater and performance art things happening. The city offers a lot of free and/or cheap excitement too. There is a movie theater in walking distance for a nice $13-$15 dollars a ticket. But for big movie premieres there are many orgs and professors that offer free movie tickets and stuff of the like to students throughout the year usually.
Great for these types of students
Proactive, multi-faceted, open-minded
Clubs and Activities
There is A LOT going on on campus at all times. There is a club for you. Our Student Development Center (which all student organizations have to go through for planning and funds) is good at grinding your gears and raising your blood pressure, so the best place to find out about campus activity is through word-of-mouth, the bulletin boards around campus, or just by roaming the halls and being in the right place at the right time. Also, departments and faculty/ staff are often hosting events or student groups as well.
Campus Safety
Friendly security at every entrance. They will even accompany you to the metro station if you are traveling late at night.

Javon from Dorchester, MA

a current student here
Categories Comments
In three sentences
Pace University is a place where people go to get their degree for what they want to become in life, but in pursuit they also find out who they are as a person. The atmosphere of the school is very tight nit and comfortable to the point it makes you feel as if you are still at home. The fact that the school is right in Downtown New York just makes it even better because of everything you can do in the area.
Tips for prospective students
Anyone coming to the NYC campus the only advice I can give you is to manage your time. If you can manage your time in the city you will be perfectly fine academically. There is always something to do so you will never be bored, but if you let that take over and forget about academics, you will not be happy at the end of the semester.
Academic Rigor
The school work is manageable as long as you manage your time. If you do not you will end up over piled with work because you decided to go out and party on a night you should have stayed in to do homework and study. A lot of the teachers also want you to do a lot of self teaching, so they will go over it in class but expect you go over it again alone to get a better understanding.
Dorm Life
In Maria's Tower the whole dorm is honestly like one big family. Majority of people keep their doors unlocked because no one is worried about anyone stealing something, and people are always going around room to room. Depending on how close your floor is, certain floors go out to do stuff together, and even still if your floor does not the study lounge is always filled with people.
Food and Dining
The first month and a half at school you love the food because of the variety they have. Then after a while you realize the menus don't ever change and even the food at the buffet, goes on a cycle of what is there. On weekends when the commuters are not attending and it's only the people that dorm around the area of the school, not everything in the cafe is open and they don't restock on their beverages. towards the end of the semester most kids find themselves not eating so much in the cafe and more so eating at places outside of the school.
What to do for fun
On campus the only things to do for fun is going to the gym to either play basketball or soccer, or even to workout. But outside of the school because of the location there are endless things to do. The school is located right next to the Brooklyn Bridge, so if you like running the Brooklyn Bridge is a perfect place to have a morning jog. If you enjoy shopping SoHo (the shopping area) is a 15 minute walk from the school, or one train ride.
Bang for the buck
Even though the tuition for the school is very high I personally feel as if you are getting your bang for the buck. The school provides multiple things that other colleges do not do, for example one of them being that if you don't have a laptop you cant rent one for free from the library for four hours. Also the school does have a lot of connections surrounding all types of backgrounds and degrees, so the internships that they have are plentiful. Also as long as you do what you are supposed to do at Pace you can guarantee yourself a job the first year coming out of college.
Great for these types of students
If you are the type of student that would rather sit back in the library and do work than going out and exploring or just hanging with your friends this school is perfect. The work is not hard at all the hard part is just making sure you give yourself the time you need to do work and not get sidetracked.
Clubs and Activities
There are plenty of clubs at Pace University, and one thing I like is that a lot of the clubs that they have are connected to job, so the clubs can help you find an internship or even a job. There is an activity at least once a week that people show up to, and are always fun to attend.
Campus Safety
I will say that security probably does the best job at Pace University. They are very strict on making sure that they see ID's or guest passes upon entering the building. As a guest you aren't allowed to walk around the building without the person that signs you in, so if you come in without them they will not let you go until the person comes to get you.

Loren from Cortlandt Manor, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
Academic Rigor
My professors are very knowledgeable and bring their real world experiences to the table. I am a student clinician at our clinic and I student teach. I have gotten hands on experience in my field.
Am enjoying being here
I lucked out with getting a good roomie. We have become good friends and we share a group of friends. My room is not claustrophobic. I am a member of the Honors College, which means that my hard work in high school got recognized.

There are a lot of clubs, speakers and events.
Bang for the buck
I got some great scholarship money from Pace. But it is still a little expensive.
Tips for prospective students
Add students from the school on facebook and ask them what they think of Pace.

Make a good impression on the faculty.

Have a good flow of communication with your adviser because they can help you drop classes that you don't like and they help you get what you need done.

Use all of the resources that are available to you.

Apply for outside scholarships too.
Great for these types of students
Like diversity.

Like being leaders.

Business students.

Environmental law students.

Nursing students.

Communication students.

Film majors.

Mike from East Northport, NY

a current student here
Categories Comments
In three sentences
Pace University is the place to go if you love living in a fast paced environment. We have campuses both in the heart of the city and also in Westchester for you to enjoy the stars and the quietness of nature.
Tips for prospective students
Grades aren't everything. Try the hardest you can in High School without burdening yourself. Have fun and treasure those years while you still have them. College is the real world and you'll have plenty of help once you get there, so enjoy yourself while working hard in school.
Academic Rigor
You are not going to drown but be prepared, you are not in high school anymore. The rigor depends on how you and your advisor make your schedule. 18 credits might sound scary but not if you are taking a mix difficult and easy classes. Take courses that you find interesting while at the same time fulfill those core requirements
Dorm Life
You live in the city; enough said. 24 hour everything, comedy clubs, 18+ night clubs, and amazing residence hall activities. Sign up for a theme floor if you can and live in Maria's Tower. Between all the free food and awesome trips you'll go on, once you come and experience it you will know you made the right choice.
Food and Dining
We use Chartwells Dining Services and the food is good. You will get tired of it after a while, but that even happens at home. The plus side to that is you get flex dollars to use at various food places in the immediate area of Pace, so you don't need to spend cash from your pocket.
What to do for fun
Go to school activities! Pace has so many different events from the students every single day; you just need to be willing to go out and experience new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try something you've never done before.
Campus Safety
We have 24/7 security wherever students are. You are required to show Pace ID in any building you walk into and we are a closed campus which means you either need to be a student, signed in, or you don't come in. Being in the city it is very nice to know that people who do not belong in our building will not be there.