April 14, 2021Living on Campus

By Marissa Krasny

If you’ve ever gotten a tour at Ramapo College, you have likely heard about our famed residence halls. Niche.com has rated us as the best dorms in New Jersey for the past few years, and I can honestly say that I agree with their assessment.

I knew that when I was looking at colleges, I would be dorming at the school I chose in order to get what I felt was the full college experience. So during my college research I added comfortable residence halls and active student life to my parameters when looking for my school.

Ramapo College had the finest residence hall by far. For one thing, there are no communal bathrooms to be found on campus. This was a big plus for me as it insured a modicum of privacy. Every room or suite has a bathroom, having roommates or suitemates share the restroom instead of a whole floor. This is in addition to the amenities they provide once you pay for housing. Ramapo has air conditioning and heating in every dorm, campus-wide wireless internet, free laundry, cable, and a mini-fridge and microwave included in every residence hall on campus.

The nice facilities aside, you learn a lot when you decide to live on campus. I learned a lot of skills regarding time management and the responsibilities of living on my own. I had to learn how to schedule my personal time, study time, and my on campus job. Living on campus also allowed me additional opportunities to socialize with my peers at dorm floor events where we played games, made crafts, and got to know each other even more. If you decide to become a residential Roadrunner, you will gain so much more than four walls, a bed, and a desk. You will get a new life experience you will never forget.

Categories: RASA

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April 7, 2021Getting Involved at Ramapo

One of Ramapo College’s best qualities is our multitude of clubs and organizations. There are well over 100 different clubs that encompasses a wide variety of interests, from Super Smash Bros to Beekeeping.

When I came to Ramapo, I was a very anxious person who was unsure of myself and the role I would play on this campus. I knew my next step in adjusting to campus life was to take advantage of the Club Fair that Ramapo has once a semester. Each club and organization sets up a table and the members can share their experiences with prospective members! Ramapo has a lot of diversity within their club topics. We offer greek life, student government, honor societies, sports, art and music clubs. Certain majors even have clubs based around them, such as our Nursing Student Organization and the Literature club.

As I began to grow as a Roadrunner, I met new people and got involved in many of my organizations via word of mouth. I became a writer for the Ramapo News when a classmate invited me to write for them. A close friend joined the Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador program and I fell in love with the organization, which then allowed me to join the staff of the Admissions office as a student aide and give weekly tours to prospective students. One of my Professors encouraged me to revive a then-defunct American Sign Language Club, and I did so with support from my fellow ASL classmates.

Ramapo makes it very easy to explore things that interest you that other schools may not even think to focus on. The clubs are student based too, allowing students to form clubs easily and with minimal resistance. All you have to do is get 8 interested students and find a faculty advisor.

I can’t wait to see all the new faces joining our student organizations next semester!

Categories: RASA

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April 6, 2021A Walk Around Ramapo

By Marissa Krasny

I often get asked on tours why I chose Ramapo to be where I spent the next 4 years of my life after high school. My answer tends to list many separate reasons, and always among those reasons is the scenery.  I love the mix of modern and traditional buildings, the lush nature, and the glass windows found in great supply, and how it just evokes a sense of home. While I am a self admitted homebody, our campus’ beauty draws you out and makes you want to explore, so I often find myself taking walks throughout campus.

My favorite spot to start my walk once I leave my dorm is the Grove, which is the large sprawling field in the heart of campus. It’s surrounded by our academic complex and houses our famous Arch, Birch Mansion, and two statues! Students spend hours there when the weather is nice. The lounge chairs fill up fast, but that does not deter our students, who will complete their work sitting on the lush grass and enjoy the communal feel that Ramapo has in spades.

After spending some time in the Grove, I often walk around the corner and make a stop at our Dunkin Donuts, housed in our Adler Center. The Dunkin Donuts came to Ramapo about a month after I did and it quickly became a campus favorite amongst us Roadrunners. The up to date menu always promises new and exciting items for us to enjoy throughout the day. The fact that it takes our Flex Money from our meal plans is just icing on the cake (or the donut!).

After securing my Dunkin drink of choice, I go straight past the Anisfield School of Business and take the trail on the other side of the road. The trail is a hidden gem of Ramapo and will lead you past Mackin and Bischoff to the Sculpture Studio across the road. If you go off the beaten path of this trail, you can find small pockets of nature that will offer a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of college life. My personal favorite is a little pond of sorts that houses so many tadpoles it’s impossible to count.I discovered it my freshman year, and it’s relaxing aura made it a personal favorite spot. I hope when you come to Ramapo you can explore all we have to offer, and find your favorite spot.

Categories: RASA

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April 4, 2021Being a Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassador (RASA)

By Marissa Krasny

I knew Ramapo was going to be my home the second I stepped, albeit hesitantly, onto campus. After one campus tour I knew in my bones that this was the right fit for me. I was right, and after one semester I was having the most amazing time of my life. I knew that Ramapo could be home for a lot more prospective students. With this goal in mind, I joined the Ramapo Admissions Student Ambassadors (RASA) program. RASA is a volunteer student organization whose goal is to share our student experiences with prospective students. We do this by giving tours at events like Open Houses and Admitted Students Days, sitting on panels, and interacting with students in many other ways, like on social media or this very blog. One thing I love about how RASA works is that we share our stories, and not just facts and statistics.

Becoming a RASA was my first experience of being involved in a campus organization. I studied the handbook with all of the facts and details about Ramapo College, then I went down to the Admissions office and shadowed four separate tours led by tour guides at the Admissions office. I really liked this part, because I learned things about giving tours that simply couldn’t be taught by a handbook. Then I gave a tour of my own to our RASA coordinator, who determined I was ready. I was given my RASA uniform (a polo and a very comfy fleece jacket), and at last I was a full-fledged RASA.

Being a part of the RASA program isn’t just about touring or recruiting, it is about community and family. My fondest memories at Ramapo are with my RASA family, and I hope when you become an official Roadrunner, you will join my family too.

Categories: RASA

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