Dutchess Community College

Teachers - Huge mixing pot. Some are great and help you any way possible. Others just do their job, get paid and move on. Others need to find another career because teaching is not their thing. Definitely research beforehand. Some are easy, some are tough and others are just downright horrible and won't give you anything better than a C. You get what you pay for.

Social Life - There isn't one. Most students are there to get their work done and head out. Since this is a community college, the students including myself, had other things to do whether it was work or something else. I was in flight training and working so you never found me at DCC longer than I had to be. The school is also very cliquey, most are fresh out of high school but still treat like they are in high school, although maturity is up a little but just a little.

Clubs - There are some but aren't very active, I was too busy to be in any clubs and I am sure others were too.

Dorms - They are new and I have graduated before the official move in and don't know anything about what it is like, etc.

This school bites off WAY more than it can chew with students. People are usually parking in the baseball fields because both parking lots are full. In the schools defense however, a lot of students bail out after mid terms for whatever reason. So it does get better. With the dorms going in, I have no idea how it will be handled. To avoid this take 8AM classes. That was my only salvation. 9am - 12pm classes, you will be hunting all over the lots for spaces and fighting others for them. Lock your doors too.

School - The school itself is very nice and well maintained. The maintenance faculty bust their asses to keep it that way. The surrounding area is safe. I never took night classes but apparently security does escort you to your vehicle. The town of poughkeepsie is nice but the city can be a little unsettled in the outer areas.

Food - Never had it. McDonalds and my house was cheaper. I did use the vending machines.
Bookstore - HUGE RIPOFF. Stay clear of them unless you have a voucher. Email the teachers EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED!! for their class. The bookstore sells (packages) but you only end up using the textbook. Wasted money spent. Shop on amazon or chegg. You will save half if not more than the bookstores cost. I bought an ipad for $530 and putting ebooks on that paid for the ipad itself the first year I had it. Kindles also do this at half the cost. I prefer the iPad for flight training.

Registration - They may try to only register you for 13 credits. DON'T FALL FOR IT. You will be there longer than you have to be. Register for AT LEAST 15 credits per semester if you want to graduate on time. The advisement staff is not very helpful and learning about the aviation industry was mostly from self research, they don't know anything about it except the once flight instructor there.Bottom Line - You get what you pay for. I got a general studies degree to save money and so I can easily transfer out when I was done. It is nice to be able to check the "College Degree" box on an application. If I had to choose all over again, I would still go, IF gas was cheaper. If gas stayed the way it was, I wouldn't go on the basis of gas being too expensive. Good Luck.