Student Testimonials

Laura Yacinthe, Chemistry
Leadership- Hollis 5th Floor
"I grew up mostly as an only child. Over the past few months, I have gained many brothers and sisters that have taught me so much and helped me experience so many things.  We have gotten lost going to see parades and trying to comeback and always ended up laughing about the entire situation in the end.  I like living on the Living Learning Community floor because we represent real life situations; we put our minds together to solve each other’s problems.  I know that their will always be someone around to give me the confidence I need to push through difficult tasks and always someone to have fun with or laugh with.  For my major, I had to take calculus for the first time and could not sit in with my professor regularly during his office hours because I had another class during that time.  One of the other members of the living learning community took the time out of their busy schedule to sit with me and help me with the difficult and frustrating tasks of calculus homework.  I like living on the LLC floor because of the support, friendships, and tutor I have gained."

Brian Murphy, Accounting/Finance
"I love living on the fifth floor of Hollis because of the tight knit community.  The feeling of getting off the elevator after a long hard day and seeing your friends with smiles on their faces puts you in the best mood of your life.  Not only do I feel privileged to be a part of this totally awesome family, I know that I made friends that will stick with me for the rest of my life!"

Kara Thomas, Legal Studies
"I think compared to other floors we have more unity. We're like a family; we all know each other, we all hang out and we’re there for one another. Recently, I made brownies and eight different people came knocking on the door. I don't think that would have happened on just any floor, but it’s a common occurrence on the LLC floor."

Tina Arancio, Communication Arts
"Living on the fifth floor of Hollis Hall has been an experience of a lifetime. I never thought that I would be fortunate enough to live on a floor where our community is so tight knit and I have never seen or heard about a floor as close as ours in this hall or any other. I love having the comfort of just being able to walk next door and feel as comfortable as I do in my own room. Every month or so, we all paint the glass windows in the lounge and I feel that this enhances all our relationships. Hollis Hall has changed my view of dorm life completely and I haven’t just encountered a new experience but I have made a new family."

Jessica Irwin, Speech Pathology
Leadership and Civic Engagement Floor
" I feel being placed on this floor gives us a completely different experience than others on regular floors. I like it so much because everyone can co-exist freely because, despite the diversity, there's a common thread we all share. Everyone who checked off that little box next to Leadership on the housing application all share a common drive and maturity(for the most part) that makes us so much closer than most other floors. It's the shared idea of wanting to be a leader and be the best we can be, whether we put it into action or not, that binds us all together. Not to mention the awesome RA's."

Emma Geiger, Undecided
"I think our floor is very different than other floors. The 5th floor definitely shows more leadership than other floors and we've also become more of a community. For example, we are always going to events in the building and we've also taken most of the major positions in Hall council. We're also the only floor with a Floor Council. I have really enjoyed my experience."

Pharmacy- DaSilva
"Living at St. John's University on the Allied Health floor had made it extremely easy to have people to study with because we are taking the same classes.  It is a great environment because I know that everyone is focused in studies."

"It was easy to find people with similarities because we're all either PA or Pharmacy. It made studying so much easier!"

“The LLC program has helped me throughout the year.  The ability to live with people who have the same major as me has allowed for me to excel in my classes.  By forming study groups for classes such as chemistry and statistics, I have been able to share the information which has been taught.  The LLC has also helped me meet new people and eventually become friends with them.  The initiative taken by St. John’s to establish this program has been a benefit both in my academic and social life.”

“Living on a floor with people of the same major has not only proved beneficial but extremely convenient as well.  Study groups, note sharing, and test preparation are only a few of the benefits.  Overall, because pharmacy is one of the most difficult majors at SJU, the LLC program has proven to be a helpful tool.”

“Living on a floor with people of the same major has many benefits.  There is constantly a sense of camaraderie because we all have to deal with the same courses and homework.  It is very advantageous to be able to study together and help each other with work that can be challenging at times.”

Social Justice- Donovan
“Coming into St. John’s was very challenging for me, as I am sure it is for many incoming freshmen. I’ve interacted with many different people from a variety of backgrounds. Living on campus has given me many opportunities to enhance my leadership skills. This is home away from home!”

“Living on the leadership floor is a great advantage. I have had the privilege of making great friends here and we are all very supportive of each other. It is a sisterhood!”

Honors Female
"(The LLC’s are) A once in a lifetime experience - new friendships, a development of independence, and a way to become more interconnected with the University. All in all, one of the best experiences of my life."

"There's a definite sense of community and family. We have so much fun. People sometimes don't expect that of Honors kids, but we really do. There's also a strong sense of respect for one another's academic needs and nothing beats the convenience of having most of your classmates living on the same floor. It's so easy to collaborate on projects and form study groups."

"If possible, students should take advantage of living in the Living Learning Communities. Not only will students learn to be independent, but they will have the opportunity to experience the diversity of St. John's University in a close-knit environment."

"The nice thing about living in the Honors LLC is that everyone has the same academic mindset. Everyone is so understanding of each other's study needs and schedules. It's definitely a great place to live."

"Living in the Social Justice LLC has always been amicable.  Everyone is treated with respect and we learn to respect others."

"There is a community in the Social Justice LLC, we are like neighbors.  Living in the Social Justice LLC has been an excellent learning experience."

"The Social Justice LLC opens your mind to things that you typically wouldn't know that's going on."
Honors Male LLC

“It’s pretty cool to see people with similar interests. It’s good that most honors students are involved in activities on campus and want to extend their college experience outside of the classroom.”                                                                         

“I feel that because we are all academically motivated we are better situated into accomplishing all of out academic goals. It’s very easy to form study groups because who are in my classes live right down the hall.”

“It’s a good experience. A lot of the people in my classes are in my wing and it facilitates studying”

“I enjoy it. It’s nice to meet people from all over the country with the same academic goals and interests as me.”

"It's nice to live with people who are willing to be rigorously academically challenged. Everyone seems to put academics at the forefront."