Alex Alvarado's Perfect College Choice
Alex Alvarado could have attended just about any college. The Huntington High School Class of 2012 member is that smart. He was accepted by many fine schools, including Cornell University, but turned them all down in favor of Macaulay Honors College at the City University of New York's Queens College campus.
"Everything is going great at college," said Mr. Alvarado last week. "After much deliberation, I eventually chose to enroll in Macaulay Honors College. The way it works is a little different than most colleges. As a Macaulay student, you must enroll in one the CUNY campuses around New York City."
The Huntington grad chose to enroll in Queens College. "So, come 2016, I will be graduating from Macaulay Honors College as well as Queens College," Mr. Alvarardo said. "Macaulay Honors College is located in Manhattan, two minutes away from both Central Park and Lincoln Center."
The teenager said his final college choice offered a package that was just too good to pass up. "Macaulay gave me amazing benefits," Mr. Alvarado said. "It was an opportunity that I simply couldn't reject, especially in this day and age. As a Macaulay student, I receive free tuition from Queens College. I also received a new Macbook Pro, a stipend of $7,500 for study abroad or unpaid internships, pre-registration privileges and a cultural passport that awards me free entrance into a handful of New York City museums and cultural centers. I am so relieved to dodge the notorious student debt epidemic that is affecting the country."
Mr. Alvarado has enrolled as a college psychology major. "I am very happy with this choice and I'm almost certain I will stick with it," he said. "Many people overlook the importance of studying the human mind. They often dismiss psychology as not being a legitimate science. Yet, it is a social science and it is one of the most important studies in existence. It applies so greatly to our everyday world, much more than people realize."
The Huntington alum is taking a full slate of classes, including psychology, philosophy, honors English, Spanish and pair of other courses required by Macaulay. "One of the Macaulay classes, called The Arts in New York City, has become my favorite," Mr. Alvarado said. "In this class we study contemporary and past art, from photography to theater to architecture. But, the best part is the trips we get to take. I have traveled with my class and received free admission to various productions and venues around New York City. I have been to the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Opera House and several other places."
One of the teenager's "favorite" experiences was going to the opera, "where we watched Carmen," he said. "I thought it was phenomenal. I had never been to the opera before and that was an amazing and eye-opening opportunity. I am particularly excited to attend a live recording of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on November 7."
Two months into college, Mr. Alvarado is pleased with how everything is going. "I feel that Macaulay Honors College has allowed me to experience New York City on an entirely different level," he said. "Even though I'm living in Queens, I'm in Manhattan at least two or three times a week. I'm learning so much and reading things that I normally wouldn't have picked up. I can thank Macaulay for rekindling my interest in art and giving me a greater knowledge of New York City's vibrant history."
Queens College, located off the Long Island Expressway, is considered a gem of a school by many, with a broad range of academic majors and activities and outstanding facilities. "Queens College also provides a nice, peaceful environment," Mr. Alvarado said. "The campus is aesthetically pleasant and the people are extremely diverse, which is one of the things I love about it. My professors are very intelligent and make my classes personal and interesting."
Most Queens College students commute to the school, so Mr. Alvarado is among the minority who live in a dorm there. But, he is not about to complain.
"Overall, my college experience has been far from ordinary, and for that, I am thankful," Mr. Alvarado said.