John Jay College of Criminal Justice — Attraction in New York

Long review, read carefully! Great school, nobody is perfect. I attended JJAY for 2 1/2years from August 2020-May 2023. I only planned to do my bachelors on a full ride scholarship from high school track and field and JJAY sponsored my education full ride (athletic and educational scholarship). I can’t lie since i started during the pandemic I was nervous about online classes, yes it was difficult and challenging but that’s what advisors are for! If one doesn’t work out go to their office and demand to speak to their supervisor to request another one. I am always one to stick up for myself, so nobody can get over on me and I suggest that you do the same. Throughout my 3 years, I joined Black Student Union, and was their peer specialist in 2020-2021 when it started becoming more popular. While juggling 2 internships and having other activities, I still managed all while doing 5 classes each semester. In 2022-2023 I was the Graduate Student Representative and still managed a full time job with a non profit, and internship with pre law institute, while also being a church girl, Sunday school teacher, and studying for LSAT. JJAY has created MANY opportunities for everyone to grow at. You just have to find your scope! Closed mouths don’t get fed! Eventually my senior year as I was getting ready to end with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, I got an email that I was honored to join their BS/MA Combined Degree Program which I never ever knew about neither had I heard that a college had one. I simply denied because I was scared of the out of pocket costs, but they extended my scholarship to also cover my Master’s Degree program costs and as a result I ended up doing 2 Bachelors and 1 Masters in 2 1/2 years. 1 Degree in Criminal Justice, 1 Degree in Criminal Investigation and My Master’s in Criminal Justice Law. I maintained a 4.0 GPA since I started up until I graduated. I also assisted in the opening of African Student Association (ASA) in 2022 but could not maintain a seat due to hectic schedule, so I helped with assistance while also being on the Student Council Board Members 2022-2023. I honestly appreciated JJAY for everything from the experience that I shared with other students like myself to forming meaningful connections with professors who are also still assisting me with my Law School applications, and also writing my letters of recommendation. Although after I graduated, I became mentally overwhelmed that I decided to take 2 years to get myself together and take the LSAT and keep studying as it’s not an easy test and being a Black Boss Corporate Lawyer is my dream and God will make it happen. The only thing I wished was that JJAY had better prepared those that wants to do LSAT and go to Law School with free LSAT courses or better yet create a class specifically for that and it would have assisted students chances more. That was my only downside. The test has proven to be extremely difficult and important, this June will be my third time taking it, and I know by God’s Grace I will overcome. Anyone looking at applying, please do and don’t let anyone’s experiences doubt your abilities. Everyone is different and we all have different paths in life, don’t let someone’s mistake become your deterrence into achieving high with JJAY or any school for that matter. Also know what classes specifically you want to take and where you see yourself in the next 3-4 years. I Graduated without paying 1 cent in anything plus the school also funded me with mental health support 24/7. NEVER DROP A CLASS BECAUSE IT IS BORING OR A PROFESSOR SUCKS! If in that case stick it out and at the end dispute your grade 9/10 the school will always side with the students. Either turning that grade to a PASS OR FAIL, so that it won’t affect your GPA or go to the department and ask to be swapped to another class. Works like a charm! Be a true Bloodhound! Good Luck and God Bless everyone that is trying to make their lives better, we will overcome it. Know that with God nothing is impossible. I truly appreciate JJAY. I Love you all! My IG...

Coming here after receiving a BS at Purdue University and an MS at GWU, perhaps my educational standard was set high. I came here to get an MA/PhD in Forensic Psychology, and, having been a police officer for nearly a decade before my arrival, I was anticipating, as one person reviewed, "the premiere Criminal Justice college" in the US. Unfortunately, those days, if they ever existed, are long gone. I am approaching my last semester at the school, and can say without qualms, that this school functions less well than most inner city elementary schools. The atmosphere is, as another reviewer said, one of a high school; students sit on each other's laps in the hallways and make-out, scream and dance through the hallways as if the school was hosting Fame.

Academically speaking, you are getting a subpar education by top notch professors. I do not believe that I was once ever made to write a paper over 12 pages in my program. It is much much worse for undergrads, as they are rarely asked to write over a 4-6 page double spaced paper. One faculty member told me that she has to struggle to get her undergrad students to be even considered for law schools because "John Jay kids can't write."

Most of the educational experience is now online, through the use of Blackboard; however, very rarely will you have a professor that 1) knows how to use it properly, or 2) actually responds to emails. Forget about any academic advisement; I've been trying to contact the externship coordinator for 18 months and all my emails have gone unreturned. Professors, who demand that your email inbox be available to them and that you respond in a "timely" fashion, do not reciprocate this courtesy. Office hours are not conducive to full-time employed students, despite the school boasting that they have convenient schedules for those career-minded/adult students.

Administratively, you may as well try to talk to a brick wall to have your concerns heard. My first year, I had a professor arrive 1.5 hours late for a final which was supposed to take 2 hours. She did not give us the additional time to complete the exam. At the 45 minute late mark, I emailed the Dean of Students, explaining that she had failed to arrive; I followed up with an email after the exam to explain her actions. It's been 3 years, I'm still waiting for the response. This is quite typical of the adjunct faculty at the school/the administration's response.

As for actual faculty, it is amazing that the buildings are big enough to fit all their egos. I once had a professor, who is very well known in the forensic psychology field, tell my class that we would never be able to do what he does for a living, so we may as well just quit now. He also announced that he "never gives A" to any student. I received A's on my midterm, final, and final paper; he gave me a B+ as a final grade. An appeal to the Dean of Students went unanswered.

Yes, the new building is beautiful, but it came with a hefty price. One that the College now feels necessary to pay through the use of the building for film shoots. Good luck trying to get to class on time when SVU, Elementary, The Following, and Geico are filming in the building at the same time.

If you absolutely have to go to college, then by all means, come to John Jay. For in-state tuition, it's not too shabby. If you're looking for a great Criminal Justice/Justice-focused education, go elsewhere. Thankfully, the reputation of JJ is still high enough that having it on resume still means something in certain circles. It is only a matter of time before that...

After receiving my associates degree in computer information systems I decided to apply to John jay to get my BS in forensics and cybersecurity. I went during the time for direct admissions where you can personally go to the school and apply. It has been a run around from the start, which I feel is very unnecessary. On the first day I went I brought my high school transcript and my college transcript from the school I graduated from and was told to come back with the transcript for a school I went to for a semester before my graduating school. Which was understandable but when I brought that transcript I was told they can't do anything because the person that started processing me was not there. Which I thought was foolishness because there should be someone there to handle that persons work in case she can't make it for a while. But I said no problem and ask for the card to call the processor tomorrow when she comes in and I was assured that my transcript will be put in her mailbox. Tomorrow came and I called the processor, she did not know about the situation and I had to wait until the person I gave my transcript to came back from lunch, after 30 minutes I called back again and was told that the person who I had given my transcript to had said she never got my transcript. I was alittle irritated but I explained that I went in there personally yesterday and gave it to her in her hand. After waiting another 20 minutes she comes back on the the phone and says oh yes we have it here. Then goes on to tell me that I have to still fill out an application and I need to come in. I don't live in the city and for me to come I have to drive and pay for toll and parking and this is just inconvenient for me. Why was I not told when I went in there several times to fill out this form so when my transcript came everything will be completed. Very very disappointed and I'm not sure I would like to go to this school anymore because of its disorganization and how...