STUDENT STORIES
Cem Bodur
Brooklyn College
Home Country: Turkey
Degree: Psychology
Neighborhood: Sheepshead Bay
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: $550/mo.
Commute to School: 20 min
Hello my name is Cem. I am a Turkish student, studying psychology at Brooklyn College.
CUNY colleges are great because there is a course of study for every type of student. When I started at CUNY, I wanted to study business, so I attended Baruch College. After a few months, I decided to change my major to liberal arts. For this, Brooklyn College had a good program, so I transferred through the CUNY system. Transferring was easy and helped me find the right program for me.
Brooklyn College has a great campus and many opportunities for study and work. When I'm not in class, I work in Brooklyn College's student center. I also have a job as a research assistant on a very interesting project.
I am from a big city, so I was excited to live in New York. However, the city still had several nice surprises for me. One is how diverse the people are. Another is how easy it is to travel from New York to other U.S. cities. There is so much to do here, so many places to go, and so many interesting people to meet that I know studying here was the right decision for me.
Fatoumata Ndao
Baruch College
Home Country: Senegal
Degree: Finance and Investments
Neighborhood: Harlem
Borough: New York
Rent: $650/mo.
Commute to School: 45 min
Mariana Manolaiche
City College
Home Country: Romania
Degree: Bilingual Education
Neighborhood: Sheepshead Bay
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: $300/mo.
Commute to School: 1 hr and 30 min
Hello, my name is Mariana. I'm a Romanian student at City College, where I study bilingual education.
I chose City College because it's a great value. It's a lot less expensive than other schools in New York, and the level of education is just as good, if not better. Plus, my City College bilingual education program is really amazing. I have a great relationship with my teachers, and everyone on staff works hard to make sure we do well. At times it's been challenging, but I know it's worth it because I've learned so much.
I also have an on-campus job at City College. I work in the Office of International Students, helping them organize events for international students.
When I'm not at school, I like to practice Sahaja meditation. This is just one of the many, many things to do in New York. Whatever your interests are, I'm sure you can find them here in this wonderful city.
Mariana Vasconcellos
City College
Home Country: Brazil
Degree: Master of Arts in Journalism
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Borough: New York
Rent: $900/mo.
Commute to School: 25 min
Hi I'm Mariana and I am from Brazil. I've been in New York since August 2009 and I attend the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. My graduate studies began two years ago in Paris. While I was there I realized I wanted to study journalism in New York City. I learned about CUNY's graduate school of journalism through the New Business Model for News Conference and I was really intrigued.
I've had an amazing experience as the first exchange student within the Graduate school of Journalism. The curriculum at CUNY is very diverse and it includes studies about interactive journalism, multimedia and web journalism. The professors in my program are really motivated to help us succeed. They coach us between classes, they support our interests and augment them through their experiences in the field. It is very easy for us to communicate with the faculty. The student services department is also great because the staff is helpful and they care about the students.
Additionally, The CUNY experience is amazing outside the classroom. Besides going to school, I intern in the multimedia department at the New York Times. My photojournalism professor is a senior editor at the Times and he encouraged me to apply. A classmate and I also won a grant through CUNY and we used it to start a business that functions as a platform for editors and freelance/citizen journalists to connect through story assignments.
I have learned a lot since coming to New York - it's an exciting place to be in!
Nanfa Samake
Queens College
Home Country: France
Degree: ELI certificate
Neighborhood: Jamaica
Borough: Queens
Rent: $600/mo.
Commute to School: 40 min
Nikito McFarlane
Kingsborough
Home Country: Grenada
Degree: Maritime Technology
Neighborhood: Flatbush
Borough: Brooklyn
Commute to School: 1 hr
Hello, I am Nikito, and I study maritime technology at Kingsborough Community College.
My grandfathers in Grenada were sea captains who traveled around the carribean trading cargo for merchants on small wooden ships. I became a sailor myself and worked many years before coming to the U.S. to pursue my dream of higher education.
Back home in Granada, everyone thinks New York is a beautiful place:.. a land of opportunity where anything is possible. So this is the place I wanted to come.
I chose Kingsborough because its maritime program has a good reputation. All my teachers here are very knowledgeable and supportive, and I really enjoy my program. Plus, when I'm not in class, there are many opportunities for me to volunteer with the Maritime Department.
When I complete my degree at Kingsborough, I want to continue my education by studying mechanical engineering in the U.S. Then I will return to Granada to implement what I have learned.
TingPing Ah
QCC
Home Country: Hong Kong, China
Degree: Liberal Arts
Neighborhood: Flushing
Borough: Queens
Rent: Live with relatives
Commute to School: 45min
Hello. My name is TingPing and I am a liberal arts student at Queensborough Community College.
When I first came to New York, I was a little nervous that I'd be lost in the crowd of people. But now that I'm here, I realize it's a wonderful place with many opportunities to study and learn new things.
My relatives in New York recommended Queensborough as a good place to begin my college education. It was a great suggestion, since Queensborough is affordable and has so many different courses. Queensborough is also an easy place to make friends and get involved. I work on campus as an office assistant and sometimes even volunteer at one of the art galleries on campus.
I've been so happy with Queensborough that, when I finish my two-year degree here, I plan to attend another CUNY college to get my bachelor's degree. For this, Hunter College and Baruch College are my top choices.
Once I finish my education, I'll return to Hong Kong to work as a speech pathologist or as a nurse. My education at CUNY will help me get the job I want.
Zejun Cai
BMCC
Home Country: Hong Kong, China
Degree: Liberal Arts
Neighborhood: Dyker Heights
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: Live with relatives
Commute to School: 1 hr
Hi my name is Zejun and I am a liberal arts student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). I began my education at Kingsborough Community College and when I finished my program, my cousin who was attending BMCC, suggested that I should apply to go there. So I mailed my application and transcripts and a few weeks later I received a phone call notifying me that I was accepted.
When I'm not in class I work in the admissions office as a student assistant. It's a great job because I get to help other international students apply and transfer to four-year schools when they graduate from BMCC. I also participate in the Chinese culture association when I have time.
Before moving to New York, I thought it was a huge metropolitan city filled with different cultures. When I moved here, I was not disappointed. I love culture and there are so many different types in this city. I also really like all of the museums and libraries that are available to the public.
This is my last semester at BMCC and I am transferring to Hunter College at the end of the summer. When I finish with Hunter I would like to continue to help people by either working within health services or becoming a teacher. My CUNY experience has been so amazing! The time I spent at BMCC allowed me to adapt to the American educational process and taught me how to be successful at a four-year school and I know my time at Hunter will teach me how to succeed after I graduate.
Cem Bodur
Brooklyn College
Home Country: Turkey
Degree: Psychology
Neighborhood: Sheepshead Bay
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: $550/mo.
Commute to School: 20 min
Hello my name is Cem. I am a Turkish student, studying psychology at Brooklyn College.
CUNY colleges are great because there is a course of study for every type of student. When I started at CUNY, I wanted to study business, so I attended Baruch College. After a few months, I decided to change my major to liberal arts. For this, Brooklyn College had a good program, so I transferred through the CUNY system. Transferring was easy and helped me find the right program for me.
Brooklyn College has a great campus and many opportunities for study and work. When I'm not in class, I work in Brooklyn College's student center. I also have a job as a research assistant on a very interesting project.
I am from a big city, so I was excited to live in New York. However, the city still had several nice surprises for me. One is how diverse the people are. Another is how easy it is to travel from New York to other U.S. cities. There is so much to do here, so many places to go, and so many interesting people to meet that I know studying here was the right decision for me.
Fatoumata Ndao
Baruch College
Home Country: Senegal
Degree: Finance and Investments
Neighborhood: Harlem
Borough: New York
Rent: $650/mo.
Commute to School: 45 min
Hello, my name is Fatoumata. I am originally from Senegal and now study finance at Baruch College.
I wanted to study at CUNY because it has a good reputation, it’s affordable, and I have a lot of friends who are CUNY students. Baruch was my preferred CUNY College because of its business school. However, when I applied to Baruch, my TOEFL scores were too low for me to get in. I asked my advisor what to do and he suggested I attend a CUNY community college for one year, and then I could transfer to Baruch. I followed that advice and now I am a very happy student at Baruch.
Studying in New York was the best decision for me. There is a large Senegalese population here, and there will be many job opportunities for me when I graduate. After graduation, I plan to work as a stock trader during my OPT, and then go back to Senegal. But right now New York is the place for me!
Mariana Manolaiche
City College
Home Country: Romania
Degree: Bilingual Education
Neighborhood: Sheepshead Bay
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: $300/mo.
Commute to School: 1 hr and 30 min
Hello, my name is Mariana. I'm a Romanian student at City College, where I study bilingual education.
I chose City College because it's a great value. It's a lot less expensive than other schools in New York, and the level of education is just as good, if not better. Plus, my City College bilingual education program is really amazing. I have a great relationship with my teachers, and everyone on staff works hard to make sure we do well. At times it's been challenging, but I know it's worth it because I've learned so much.
I also have an on-campus job at City College. I work in the Office of International Students, helping them organize events for international students.
When I'm not at school, I like to practice Sahaja meditation. This is just one of the many, many things to do in New York. Whatever your interests are, I'm sure you can find them here in this wonderful city.
Mariana Vasconcellos
City College
Home Country: Brazil
Degree: Master of Arts in Journalism
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Borough: New York
Rent: $900/mo.
Commute to School: 25 min
Hi I'm Mariana and I am from Brazil. I've been in New York since August 2009 and I attend the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. My graduate studies began two years ago in Paris. While I was there I realized I wanted to study journalism in New York City. I learned about CUNY's graduate school of journalism through the New Business Model for News Conference and I was really intrigued.
I've had an amazing experience as the first exchange student within the Graduate school of Journalism. The curriculum at CUNY is very diverse and it includes studies about interactive journalism, multimedia and web journalism. The professors in my program are really motivated to help us succeed. They coach us between classes, they support our interests and augment them through their experiences in the field. It is very easy for us to communicate with the faculty. The student services department is also great because the staff is helpful and they care about the students.
Additionally, The CUNY experience is amazing outside the classroom. Besides going to school, I intern in the multimedia department at the New York Times. My photojournalism professor is a senior editor at the Times and he encouraged me to apply. A classmate and I also won a grant through CUNY and we used it to start a business that functions as a platform for editors and freelance/citizen journalists to connect through story assignments.
I have learned a lot since coming to New York - it's an exciting place to be in!
Nanfa Samake
Queens College
Home Country: France
Degree: ELI certificate
Neighborhood: Jamaica
Borough: Queens
Rent: $600/mo.
Commute to School: 40 min
Hello, I’m Nanfa. I am a French student studying English at the English Learning Institute at Queens College. ELI programs help international students to improve their English language skills in order to prepare for a college degree in the United States.
When I first came to New York, I could not speak English very well, but now I am both speaking and writing in English, and I expect to go to college in the U.S. when I finish the program.
My uncle, who lives in New York, was the first to recommend the English Learning Institute, or ELI. When I researched the program, I saw it had a really good reputation. The process of applying was easy. I did everything online and got a lot of help from people at the college. My advisor was great and helped me get my I-20 Certificate & Eligibility in order for me to get a student visa.
I recommend ELI to other students who want to improve their English. It is a lot of work, but you learn so much and it is definitely worth it.
Nikito McFarlane
Kingsborough
Home Country: Grenada
Degree: Maritime Technology
Neighborhood: Flatbush
Borough: Brooklyn
Commute to School: 1 hr
Hello, I am Nikito, and I study maritime technology at Kingsborough Community College.
My grandfathers in Grenada were sea captains who traveled around the carribean trading cargo for merchants on small wooden ships. I became a sailor myself and worked many years before coming to the U.S. to pursue my dream of higher education.
Back home in Granada, everyone thinks New York is a beautiful place:.. a land of opportunity where anything is possible. So this is the place I wanted to come.
I chose Kingsborough because its maritime program has a good reputation. All my teachers here are very knowledgeable and supportive, and I really enjoy my program. Plus, when I'm not in class, there are many opportunities for me to volunteer with the Maritime Department.
When I complete my degree at Kingsborough, I want to continue my education by studying mechanical engineering in the U.S. Then I will return to Granada to implement what I have learned.
TingPing Ah
QCC
Home Country: Hong Kong, China
Degree: Liberal Arts
Neighborhood: Flushing
Borough: Queens
Rent: Live with relatives
Commute to School: 45min
Hello. My name is TingPing and I am a liberal arts student at Queensborough Community College.
When I first came to New York, I was a little nervous that I'd be lost in the crowd of people. But now that I'm here, I realize it's a wonderful place with many opportunities to study and learn new things.
My relatives in New York recommended Queensborough as a good place to begin my college education. It was a great suggestion, since Queensborough is affordable and has so many different courses. Queensborough is also an easy place to make friends and get involved. I work on campus as an office assistant and sometimes even volunteer at one of the art galleries on campus.
I've been so happy with Queensborough that, when I finish my two-year degree here, I plan to attend another CUNY college to get my bachelor's degree. For this, Hunter College and Baruch College are my top choices.
Once I finish my education, I'll return to Hong Kong to work as a speech pathologist or as a nurse. My education at CUNY will help me get the job I want.
Zejun Cai
BMCC
Home Country: Hong Kong, China
Degree: Liberal Arts
Neighborhood: Dyker Heights
Borough: Brooklyn
Rent: Live with relatives
Commute to School: 1 hr
Hi my name is Zejun and I am a liberal arts student at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). I began my education at Kingsborough Community College and when I finished my program, my cousin who was attending BMCC, suggested that I should apply to go there. So I mailed my application and transcripts and a few weeks later I received a phone call notifying me that I was accepted.
When I'm not in class I work in the admissions office as a student assistant. It's a great job because I get to help other international students apply and transfer to four-year schools when they graduate from BMCC. I also participate in the Chinese culture association when I have time.
Before moving to New York, I thought it was a huge metropolitan city filled with different cultures. When I moved here, I was not disappointed. I love culture and there are so many different types in this city. I also really like all of the museums and libraries that are available to the public.
This is my last semester at BMCC and I am transferring to Hunter College at the end of the summer. When I finish with Hunter I would like to continue to help people by either working within health services or becoming a teacher. My CUNY experience has been so amazing! The time I spent at BMCC allowed me to adapt to the American educational process and taught me how to be successful at a four-year school and I know my time at Hunter will teach me how to succeed after I graduate.
