CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Reviews

"I studied at John Jay College for both my Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. The faculty and staff members were helpful. I am thankful to the SEEK CD program at the college where the faculty and staff provided me tremendous support to succeed academically and professionally during my undergraduate studies. My academic advisor was supportive towards my endeavor and encouraged me to be involved on campus. Due to her advice, I sucessfully served as a club Executive, Honors Society Executive, Student Government Representative and Executive. After serving in student leadership capacities, I learned so much about myself and honed many skills such as time management, public speaking, budgeting, memo writing, team management, event planning, robert rules of order and many more. I formed lifelong friendships on campus.My involvement on campus gave me a sense of belonging where I continued to pursue my Masters Degree. I recieved support from the Qualifying Exam review center to prepare and pass the exam. After graduation I secured internships with Senator Leroy Comrie followed by Congresswoman Grace Meng. I also got admitted to CUNY Law Pipeline Program. If I did not study at John Jay especially the SEEK Program I would have not made this far. As a John Jay Alumni with a disability, I encourage prospective college or transfer students with disabilities to apply through SEEK CD program. The program provides extensive support to help Freshman or newly transfered students from underrepresented populations to help transition to a 4 year college program. If you want to be involved on campus, join club row where you could select a club(out of 70 clubs) that suits your interest. You could also talk to the club row staff about ways to be part of Student Government."

"I was really excited when I first started John Jay in 2019. I began school during the year Covid hit so unfortunately I wasn't able to experience beginning school in the actual building. Besides for being completely lost and being given no assistance, once school began in person it just got worse. First of all, the guidance is terrible. My counselor knew less than I did. I had to research intensely and pretty much figure things out myself. Also, if you have any learning disabilities or require special assistance, this is not the right place. I put a lot of effort trying to get special help because of my issues, and after all that, the school simply sent me an email and said if I needed assistance I could watch the video they sent on how to get help. They are very against actually sitting down with a student and trying to help. They will just keep sending you emails of other people to email. I'm in my third year and I don't think I'll be finishing here. I'd rather go to a smaller school where they care about the students, than a large school that cares only about their name and publicity. This is pretty much a school that will keep you sending you in circles just so each person who is supposed to do their job doesn't actually have to do anything. I met only one person out of the many I spoke to who actually did what their job title claimed. And their claims of financial aid - pretty much one big lie. For a big school with many offices and workers, it is very disappointing."

"When I first got into JJAY I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, over the last two years my entire understanding of JJAY was shattered. I'd seen reviews about disorganization and lack of guidance but frankly that's the understatement of a century. These are people that want your money and nothing more. Some of the professors are great but some of them are terrible but CUNY won't do anything about student complaints. I should not be writing a review sobbing on a Friday night because they told me completely wrong information that has made me have to add on an additional semester. There are no appeal processes. The director of the FMHC program told me I was "annoying" because I'd emailed her assistant (who it is literally her job to correspond with students) about switching into a class. The level of unprofessionalism is profound. This school will drain you of everything you love about working in mental health."

"Within this program I find that some teachers are rude and leave to fiend for yourself. It’s like paying the school to teach yourself but everyone doesn’t learn like that. I really wish some teacher would have more respect for their students and be clear about what they want. I will be graduating soon and hope to find a better school with more welcoming professors within forensic science"

"John Jay college despite being a city school where the campus isn't that big, was able to offer me everything I needed to progress and continue my education. I was able to take online classes when needed and in person when required. I can say that John Jay was very important in my life."

"John Jay prepares students to be fierce advocates for justice. Every major at this school has the justice theme embedded in their curriculum. No matter if you are an Economics major, Police Science, Forensics Psychology, and so on. I believe this is extremely significant and important as if you want to get involved with the law enforcement or any legal profession, your studies revolve around the common good, the community, and justice. The school has dedicated professors, tutors, mentors, and extremely helpful staff who help you in achieving your goals and help you succeed during your academic journey."

"Attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice was a wonderful experience. The on-campus events hosted regularly, provided students with an opportunity to make meaningful connections in the field that helped with gaining employment after graduation. John Jay College is traditionally known as a law enforcement school, but during my time there I can say that there is also a growing body of students who are formerly incarcerated and refer to themselves as "Justice Reform Advocates." It has been amazing to be a part of the culture shift within John Jay and to be a part of building community between students who want to enforcers of the law and those who want to change laws and have a different approach. While there were many reform-minded professors, in my opinion I wish there were more-- overall, John Jay College prepared me well for a career in the criminal justice research and policy world by providing quality education as well as many internship options throughout my time there."

"Out of all the CUNY colleges, I personally believe John Jay was the best. The faculty was the most amazing and were for the most part always willing to help you further your education. I have created more ideas and generated the best connections with people in this school. I have learned more about who I am as a person, and what I want to become as a person. When I started John Jay I really had no idea what I wanted to do but thanks to the faculty and the variety of classes offered in John Jay I was able to start a path to where I want to be."

"John Jay College is an excellent academic institution. I liked that it was in the heart of the city while at the same time in an area that was not extremely busy and overwhelming. There are a lot of activities and clubs and this is the perfect school for international students. The school is a great transition to city life because its not overwhelming. At the time, the classes were not extremely big so students received a lot of attention. I always thought the professors were quite helpful, competent and, most importantly, available. Overtime, I think the reputation of the school has grown and Im delighted to have obtained both an undergraduate and graduate degree from John Jay College."

"I was an international student in JJC from 2015 to 2017. The kwnoledge received in the clases, sharing experiences with other student -from the six continents- and the articles dicussed durign classes were exceptional. Actually, im very proud and happy for having this outstanding exprience in my memories. Now, from my country, i just want to say thank you so much JJC."

"When I attended john jay college from 2005-2010, it was a great experience. the professors were hands on and I gained a lot of knowledge from them.I  would recommend this school to anyone who is thinking about a career in criminal justice. this school is one of the top rated criminal justice colleges."

"The FMHC and Forensic Psych programs offer little to no guidance and connections for externship opportunities. Most of the faculty do not even work in forensic positions in the field. This is a deeply disappointing program that bills itself as a prestigious degree program. It's frustrating and stressful. Other programs, such as Columbia, NYU and Hunter have actual internship processes in place to connect students to interning opportunities. Good luck with John Jay. They barely have advisers or field contacts to place the many students who are required to complete fieldwork."

"College is a wonderful and delightful learning experience. The most of gotten from College was to overcome my fear of Public Speaking which is much needed in almost all fields of Business. I also appreciated the knowledge of my Professors and there willingness to share and engage with us all no matter what level of experience we were on."

"Attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice, right in the heart of New York City, was one of my greatest experience. I love all of my professors; they challenged me and their passion for teaching was obvious. They were always helpful and ready to assist me in office hours. In addition, the student community was very friendly, and there were many student clubs to join. Also, check out the Honors Program. It is great! Especially if you are passionate about social justice, I think John Jay will put you on the right path. I am happy to have received my undergraduate degree there and now I am attending law school. Go John Jay !!"

"I attended John Jay College and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree. Although I loved the professors, school location, and curriculum, I do not feel like my expectations after graduating from a well known school were fulfilled. It took me almost a year after graduating to obtain employment and I get paid close to minimum wage which makes me wonder if my degree was worth the time and money spent. I am not satisfied with my current pay compared to the loans I accrued while attending the school. I graduated with honors and consistently made it on the Dean's List but was never offered a scholarship or a grant from the school for my achievements. The school overall is great, but don't expect financial assistance, networking opportunities, or finding a job right after graduation."

"People often discredit CUNY schools but by far attending John Jay was the best decision of my life. Not only is it affordable, but the instructors are extremely knowledgeable, passionate and dedicated to their students. There are so many internships, fellowships and research opportunities that offer hands-on experiences that truly prepare you for the real world. Their student organizations also give you a chance to meet new people and gain lifelong leadership skills. Most importantly, my education has helped me obtain great employment opportunities and further my education! John Jay is a WIN-WIN university!"

"John Jay is as fun as you make it. Everyday the school has different activities dealing with justice and can really help when it comes to networking, Once you build that relationship, the staff are very nice and helpful and does not mind when dealing with the million and one questions you might have. Many resources to start you career. I love my time at John Jay and cannot wait to go back for my Graduate studies."

"I graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2013 and I cannot envision myself graduating from another school. I would recommend John Jay College to any student who are interested in pursuing a degree in criminal justice or forensic psychology. There is a large variety of courses to choose from such as juvenile delinquency to sociology of violence. Some of the professors are very knowledge and try to work with you. The location is very convenient and commercial. Tuition is very affordable around 2k a semester."

"John Jay College is a great college that offers various degree programs for all students. Currently, I am part of the BA/MA program and it is the best program because you can get your bachelor's degree and Master's degree at the same time. This program could save students a lot of money if they are interested in receiving a Master's degree."

"Professors are passionate about their work and giving students a real education. It is also an affordable option that allows students to gain their degree without going into debt."