Elmira College Reviews

"For the most part, I really enjoyed my four years at Elmira College. It had the atmosphere I was looking for: small classes (even the introductory classes had less than thirty students); lots of individual attention if you wanted it; Greek life was non-existent, and a small but attractive campus with several magnificent, Hogwarts-esque buildings. I particularly liked Tompkins Hall. Even though it's a girl's dorm, I spent a lot of time there because my girlfriend (now wife) lived there for two years. Good memories. I went to Elmira knowing that I was going to attend law school after graduation. I felt like the faculty at Elmira prepared me well for that -- I ended up graduating from law school near the top of my class and have enjoyed a great career as an attorney. Other than saying that things turned out well for me, it's hard for me to comment on how rigorous Elmira is academically. Since I stayed there all four years, I don't have anything to compare it to other than law school (and law school is a world unto itself). I felt like I was working pretty hard to keep up with all the reading and all the papers I had to write, but I also had enough time to play club and intramural sports, write for the college newspaper, and spend time with my girlfriend. If you are the type of person that would get claustrophobic on a small campus, it's probably not a good fit for you -- especially if you don't have a car. The surrounding neighborhood is a little sketchy, but I've learned that's true for a lot of colleges and universities. You may also not like it there if you need a crazy party scene. The parties at Elmira can be repetitive and cliquey; it wasn't my thing, anyway, so I didn't care. Bottom line: Elmira is exactly what it appears to be on your first visit. Small classes, low-key sports and parties, and a sharp-looking but small campus. You just need to be self-aware enough to know whether that is the best environment for you."

"A great small college with many helpful professors. Even though the student population is small, it is a loving school where you get to know each one of your classmates personally. The staff is always friendly and they truly care about your well being. It was a pleasure to attend Elmira College."

"My college was amazing for me. I was a college athlete and a double major student. I had a lot of work and the school made arrangements and worked with my schedule. Staff is helpful and understanding. They want students to succeed and become successful. The student body is not very diverse. Most students come from the Upstate New York area. Racial diversity is slim. The surrounding city is not the greatest, but there are definitely a lot of things to do in surrounding cities. Overall, I would recommend this school for anyone who wants a close knit, family like, community setting for their four year college experience. The people here are loving and caring and will really push you to be the best you can."

"It was a wonderful school with amazing professors and a tight-knit community. I loved the small class sizes and that classes weren't taught by TAs, and I appreciated that there was no Greek life and a low emphasis on athletics."

"Elmira College is a wonderful school! The staff is incredible, I always felt they were looking to make better people out of all of their students."

"Way too expensive! Pretty campus and small class sizes. Hard to be a commuter student, it was geared for those who live on campus."

"Small school with small class sizes and teachers can give you one on one attention, but very expensive tuition."

"Tell us about your college experience.This school was a terrible fit for me. Due to finances, I had to commute from home. Approximately 99% of students live on campus. I was completely isolated as a commuter and was never able to participate in any clubs or develop any close friendships like you would normally get to do in college.Would you get the same degree if you could start over?I did go back to school and got another Bachelor's degree in 2000.What advice can you offer other students?Just get a liberal arts degree if you are not sure what you want to do with your life. Then go to graduate school when you have more direction."