<p>Hi, I read in the Good Standing Policy that “Students are not permitted to work during their first two semesters in the Honors College;” would there be any way to get an exception to this if I have no other source of income? Would there be any way to access money for food or other expenses without having to borrow? From what I’m reading, the dorms do not have any sort of meal plan, but if i were to refuse the dorm, I would receive a small stipend that I could then use sparingly, but I would rather not do that. Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>amoney3, thank you so much for answering my questions! We won’t be able to go to the Tuesday event, but can go to the Thursday reception. We’re hoping to learn more about the program then and are really looking forward to it.</p>
<p>If you have the time, I’d appreciate if you could answer a couple more questions!–I’ve seen a few people posting about the low level of ‘regular’ courses at Cuny (academics AND behavior). Have you found this to be an issue? If so, is there a way to avoid classes that are potentially lower academically/behaviorally?</p>
<p>Also, how has your experience been with courses? Have you been able to get the courses you need for your major(s)? Is your advisor helpful here?</p>
<p>Thanks for your valuable time! :-)</p>
<p>Anyone going to the Thursday reception? o.o</p>
<p>BTW is the 7500 renewable every year? or is it a total of 7500?</p>
<p>Total of 7500. And I’m going!</p>
<p>@ Significa</p>
<p>The program claims that you are not permitted to work, but it is not the law of the land. Working is just not advised until you have a good hold of things. If you, however, think that all will be under control, then you can find yourself a job. And I will be at the Thursday event.</p>
<p>@hoveringmom</p>
<p>The regular classes at CUNY are quite decent in terms of the work they dish out, and as far as behavioral issues, I have encountered none. And yes, you can avoid the regular classes by taking an Honors section in the class (all students are required to take at least 4 Honors sections).
My experience has be wonderful, and getting courses are not problem because Macaulay receives priority registration. The advisor I was assigned is marvelous! Very helpful and knowledgeable.</p>
<p>I see, anyway is the reception on Thursday for only Macaulay @ Baruch students or all Macaulay students?</p>
<p>@Significa</p>
<p>This coming Thursday’s event is for all of Macaulay. Next Thursday is Baruch Honors and Macaulay @ Baruch.</p>
<p>@amoney3</p>
<p>What’s on the agenda for tomorrow night?</p>
<p>@ Significa
I sent you a PM, if you didn’t notice it. Haha.</p>
<p>Ah sorry, didn’t notice it until now O_O</p>
<p>Anyway, I don’t think I’m going tomorrow. It’s suppose to pour and I’m in Staten Island >_> So it takes forever to get there. I might be there for the April 15th one though. Do let me know how the event goes though, and maybe have some pics :P</p>
<p>Just as a note:
You have a total of $7500 from the opportunities fund. But there is a limit for how much you can take out each year. As freshman you barely get to touch the money.
This is taken directly from the Macaulay Website:
“Freshmen may begin to apply for funding during the spring access period of their freshman year, for an advance only. These funds may only be used for activities taking place during the summer between the freshman and sophomore year.”
"You may access funds according to your yearly limits:</p>
<pre><code>* $3,000 — Sophomore Year
- $6,000 — Junior Year
- $7,500 — Senior Year"
</code></pre>
<p>Yeah I’m definitely not going. AP Calc/AP Chem test tomorrow -.-;
Leave some pics guys :d</p>
<p>@ Significa</p>
<p>Sorry to hear that you could not make it. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures. 
I was shuffling around most of the time, and it wasn’t really an event for pictures. Nonetheless, it was fun. Food wasn’t too bad, and hope you aced the tests!</p>
<p>I’m curious was students think of the “Night at the Museum.” My D was blown away and so was I. I was particularly amazed by the student panel. Usually it’s this formal part - the dean’s speech, the cherry-picked ‘perfect’ students - that bores me to tears. This time, I was SO blown away. And I loved the philosophy the school conveyed. Best of luck to all.</p>
<p>I thought it was very cool being in the Museum for the reception. It definitely left a good impression of the school with me!</p>
<p>Anyone have some interesting facts that you learned that you could share?</p>
<p>IM me. I sent you my aim SN via PM</p>
<p>Significa–Was it you who was carrying that AP test booklet to the reception? Or was that someone else? (Couldn’t see if it was AP CHem!) Hope it went well.</p>
<p>Interesting facts: I hope you don’t mind an adult answering. Here are my impressions: I"ve been to several ‘welcome’ receptions for colleges, as my D was actually accepted to several colleges last year, but ended up not going to any and working at home (many reasons) and my older S goes to a well respected college, so I actually went to this reception reluctantly. My D didn’t even want to go because of her experience with welcome receptions last year, namely that they have been, to be honest, bull****. </p>
<p>All the other ones I’ve been to (and I’m sure there are many that are NOT like this, this is just my experience), have been, 'Congratulations brilliant exclusive ones! You’re at our brilliant exclusive college! Look around you! These are one of the most brilliant exclusive students in the country! Pat yourselves on the backs! How lucky you are that you’re here! Give yourselves some applause! Oh, and your parents too! Yay! You’re going to love it here because you’re so brilliant!" Blah blah blah. THe student panel speakers then ramble on about how great it is to go to Brilliant Exclusive College because it’s so brilliant and awesome. </p>
<p>I’m not really exaggerating. So my D and I honestly thought it was going to be more of the same and that we wouldn’t learn a thing at the reception for Macaulay. We had planned to just come on a ‘real’ day, a day not meant to dazzle, and she was going to chat with actual students.</p>
<p>Then we had this reception. First of all, it was classy and nice. It was in the whale room, which is a really really nice touch. They didn’t stint on greeters and good food (I’ve been to many where the food runs out and it’s a mob scene)–in other words, it was well run and organized. This spoke well immediately of the school…</p>
<p>At the reception, student reps from each school were on hand to answer any questions. THey were regular kids, rather than Golden Students–just regular enthusiastic college students. That was a nice touch too. So my D talked with several for a good half hour. She’s in Hunter, so they talked about the dorm, and classes, and she asked about the stipend, but really all this info is on the website. We also talked to a student advisor. One thing we did learn was that if you go abroad, you can choose a CUNY or SUNY sponsored program and they will pay for your credits! So if you’re careful and frugal, you can go on two trips abroad, and maybe even three, since all you have to pay for are the incidentals and travel/food expenses. </p>
<p>Also, make sure to submit your FAFSA. This is a requirement, but also if you don’t have a lot of money, you can even get extra grants (or small loans if you want) that will help you stretch your money. </p>
<p>They are very, very into the internships, which is awesome because in the ‘real’ world, it’s the internships that matter the most, not the college. Many students don’t understand this. You can go to Third Tier State U, but if you land a great, competitive internship - a stint at Congress, say, or a Noble Prize lab, or a Wall Street Investment firm, or The New Yorker Magazine - and get that great recommendation, you go to the ‘front of the line.’ </p>
<p>That brings me to the student panel. It’s hard to convey how impressed I was. They were each just amazing students, in a real way, not a fake glittery way. Hope you know what I mean. Driven, goal oriented, very articulate. The dean said students are chosen for that special quality: “A fire in the belly.” She meant drive, determination (in addition to academics, of course). What I learned most is that Macaulay is VERY aware of life AFTER college and positions you to reach your goals. This is VERY IMPORTANT. MANY colleges live in this bubble in which they act like all that matters is your four years and you’re great just because you got there. Macaulay is really focused on getting you to that great grad school, with that great fellowship, or to that great med or law school, or that great political appointment, or that great business job, or whatever. Your advisors are really important there and they seem extremely personalized. They will help you with job interviews and fellowship interviews. They bring internships to your attention if they think you’re a match, or else you find them and bring them to their attention, and then you practice with them and send out applications. The student panelists had all done amazing internships, several. </p>
<p>You can start the summer after your Freshman year, as you are then technically a Sophomore. Many students did just that, and immediately took advantage of the internships. I’d say it’s this focus on the ‘real’ world - internships, fellowships, jobs, grad school - that makes Macaulay really really stand out. The Dean gave one example of a math kid who, by the end of his Freshman year, had outdone his professors–he was more advanced than any undergrad class. So they let him take grad classes. This impressed me–there wasn’t any connect-the-dots stuff; they seem very flexible. This kid went on to win $150,000 (I think) in an NSF grant by his senior year. Extremely impressive. </p>
<p>One student used his stipend in part for law school application fees–he’d applied to 20 law schools (got into Cornell), and that’s very expensive. He also used it for LCAT review, also very expensive. So he said he could just do this and not worry about the money, which is really nice. SO that’s another way you can use your stipend. Another student was doing an MD/PhD program at a top school. Another student was positioned to work at a business firm (forgot which), and another was going for his PhD in English, also at a top school. I can’t stress enough how different the focus was here than in all the other schools I’ve been to–here the focus is on reality. You are at college SO THAT you can move on to whatever your goal is. The focus is on achieving those goals. And they were very realistic also that many students have no clue what their goal is in the beginning, so they work on that with their advisors, who help them–also a huge plus. </p>
<p>Also, they are very into a global community and being aware that we live in one, technologically and so on. They are into contributing to society in a real way, and that’s another reason they do the Cultural Passports, to connect you in a hands-on way to NYC, which is sort of a microcosm of the ‘world’ (obviously not really; but there are many many connections you can make in NYC). This was awesome also because at many colleges the focus again is on this bubble, making students separate from the ‘real’ world, rather than immersed in it. This might be fun for four years, but then you graduate and where does it get you? </p>
<p>Anyway, sorry for the long response. I was really, really impressed, and my D was blown away. She felt she ‘clicked’ immediately with both the students and the philosophy of the program.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if anyone ever get in off the wait list? It seems everyone was offered a spot on the wait list, so it must be huge. The Hunter office offered no information.
I am moving on but still have a tiny hope…</p>
<p>hudson… same here… Do you know of <em>anyone</em> who got rejected?</p>
<p>For the people that got on the waitlist, how much money were they offered? Could that be an indicator of one’s “rank” on the waitlist?</p>
<p>@ hoveringmom</p>
<p>I am glad that you and your daughter were impressed and pleased with the reception. I was moving around the floor, so I may or may not have talked to you two. Either way, the whole event spoke for itself. Very happy to here the positive reaction!</p>