Spotlight On: CUNYs You Should Know About

We spoke with Hunter students outside the 68th St campus to get an insider’s view of the school. *Photo: Jayden Courtois*

By LAMEYA KABIR, ALEXA BARKER, JAYDEN COURTOIS, and XIANA BADIOLA

It’s your senior year, and everyone keeps asking the same question: “So, where are you going for college?” You scroll through school websites that all resemble the same concept, while flipping through colorful brochures filled with strangers, and you start to wonder what campus life actually feels like. You want a school that fits you.

In New York City, there are several affordable City University of New York (CUNY) options that might fit your list, four of which are the City College of New York, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, and Baruch College. All of them promise opportunity, diversity, and that classic “CUNY hustle.” But beyond the websites and rankings, what’s it really like to go there?

The gothic towers of City College, the first school on our visit list, rise over Harlem’s vibrant streets, blending historic architecture with modern city energy. Subway stations, street vendors, and a mix of old and new buildings surround the campus.

First year civil engineering student Nuha Taher said the campus quad is lively throughout the week. “All the lights turn on at night,” she said. “They look like fairy lights with the white castle buildings.”

Food options are plentiful around CCNY, with halal carts, pizza places like Fumo, and restaurants along 125th Street. “The halal food truck, 2 Grills, sells gyros for $6 including a soda,” William Chen, a third year business management student said. “That’s our go-to spot for a lunch break.”

Third year political science major Mikayla Saksonov was drawn to CCNY for its strong academics and diverse student body. “It’s not just a school, it's a community,” she said. “You meet people from every background, and it pushes you to think bigger.”

Chen also highlighted the SEEK program, which offers financial support, academic resources, and a built-in peer community. “It’s basically one big friend group,” he said. “The best part is that the program also provides a $1,000 stipend each semester.”

CCNY’s Grove School of Engineering and the Colin Powell School of Business are well funded, offering internships, fellowships, and strong alumni networks. “[The professors] care and are approachable. If you show effort, they’ll match it,” Saksonov said.

Admissions at City College are moderately selective, with about 60% of applicants accepted. “I personally had a decent GPA and a SAT score of 1470,” said Chen. The average high school GPA of accepted students is roughly 3.4.

The second school on our list, Brooklyn College, offers a green, tree-lined campus nestled in the heart of Flatbush just by Midwood, a leafy oasis away from the city bustle.

Freshman Arthur Koval described the school as a “jack of all trades,” perfect for students exploring different majors. Koval said, “I thought about teaching, and this seemed like a school where I could try a bunch of things before finalizing my decision.”

The campus is known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Nearby, students have easy access to a variety of food options that Hornets should be familiar with, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Chipotle, and other quick bites. “When the weather gets warm, you see students sitting outside with their friends after grabbing food from the Junction,” said Angelina Jones, a second year psychology major.

Jones described her classes as “challenging but manageable,” and praised the professors for being approachable and responsive.

Student life at Brooklyn College has a more low-key vibe compared to some other CUNYs. Clubs and activities exist, but students often need to take the initiative. “There isn’t a huge community automatically; you have to go make friends, but that’s kind of the fun of it,” Koval said. “Sometimes I invite friends from other schools to hang out, or just connect with people in my classes.”

Similar to CCNY, the college has an average admitted high school GPA of 3.3 to 3.5.

Moving on, we have Baruch College, near Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, known for its finance, business, and accounting programs, with a 50% admission rate and an average incoming SAT of 1310.

Malak Khalifa, a Midwood alumna currently enrolled at Baruch for marketing, said that, since most of the students are commuters, it can be hard to make friends. But by joining the MENA Society, a community for Middle Eastern and North African students, she’s been able to socialize.

While her time in Baruch has been limited so far, she said the school makes clear that “they really care a lot about their business students. They have so many outlets to find the opportunities you need to succeed.”

This is the third consecutive year that Baruch has earned the number one spot for “best value” in the Northeast region, according to The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper highlighted Baruch’s strength in promoting social mobility – helping lower and middle income students move up the economic ladder after college.

Adam Sheffer, the college’s computer science director, said, “It's the best college in the country when it comes to taking people from different, sometimes difficult backgrounds and getting them good careers.”

Finally, we visited Hunter College on Lexington Ave at 68th St on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, known for its medical, STEM, and education programs, with a 54% acceptance rate and an incoming SAT average of 1290.

Hunter’s interconnected sky bridges, which may remind Hornets of Midwood’s annex, link the college’s buildings, and the school’s ground floor staircase leads directly to the 6 train subway stop.

Shawn Mirza, a psychology major, recommended the school’s medical science, developmental psychology, and humanities programs. According to Hunter’s website, the percentage of its graduates accepted into medical school has been above 95% since 2018.

The school advertises a wide array of 130 organizations and clubs. Student Lizi Patterson said, “They have a really awesome ceramics program where they give you unlimited clay to sculpt.”

Luiz Martinez, another student, said, “There’s a bunch of tutoring centers dedicated to getting work done. There's a whole floor for math tutoring if you need it – you can just walk in.”

There’s also a writing center where students can submit their papers for feedback, Mirza added.

Whether its CCNY’s historic charm, Brooklyn College’s welcoming campus, Baruch’s career prospects, or Hunter’s specializations and supportive environment, these schools embody the spirit of NYC: ambitious, diverse, and full of opportunity.

So Hornet, remember to find what fits you, whether it’s amongst your CUNY options or elsewhere. And no matter where you go, Midwood will be with you.