Hold the ivy. The most beautiful campus in the country is right in Brooklyn, according to a new national survey.
The Princeton Review’s 11th annual best-colleges guide ranked the Midwood campus of Brooklyn College – part of CUNY – the “most beautiful” of 345 colleges surveyed.
Vassar College in Poughkeepsie ranked second for scenery, and Wagner College on Staten Island came in fifth – putting three metropolitan-area schools in the top five. The ratings were based on students’ opinions of their own campuses.
It’s the first time that the Princeton Review surveyed the Brooklyn College campus, said editor Robert Franek.
“It’s a gem in the middle of the city,” he said.
Brooklyn College also ranked fifth for providing the “best academic bang for your buck,” fifth for diversity and ninth for having a “great college town.”
Brooklyn College officials were ecstatic.
“It’s fabulous. We ranked in the top 10 in four different categories! The beauty of the campus speaks for itself,” said college spokeswoman Alice Doyle.
Opened in 1930, Brooklyn College has seven Georgian-style buildings, not to mention a traditional, grassy and tree-lined quad – not to mention the IRT subway only a block away.
“The students at CUNY are smart. They know a bargain when they see one,” said CUNY spokesman Jay Hershenson.
Other city and metro-area schools were tops in a variety of categories – although some got dubious distinctions.
New York University was the arguably the best campus, ranking among the top 10 on nine different lists.
NYU was ranked No. 1 for “great college town” and for tolerance and interactions among students of different races/cultures.
It also ranked second for having a “great college theater,” third for “great college library,” fifth for most politically active campus and ninth for acceptance of gay students.
On the downside, NYU ranked first-worst for a lack of intramural sports, fourth for “reefer madness” and fourth for long lines and red tape.
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TOP 5
1. Brooklyn College,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
2. Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
3. Bryn Mawr College,
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
4. Rollins College,
Winter Park, Fla.
5. Wagner College,
Staten Island, N.Y.
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VOX POX
What do you think of the news that Brooklyn College has been named the most beautiful campus in America?
Jason Ferdinand, 20, sophomore, Brooklyn
“That’s incredible, because it’s such a small campus.”
Koren Ollivierre, 21, sophomore, Brooklyn
“I would never have thought it would be rated No. 1.”
Sarah Levy, 22, senior, Brooklyn
“I think it’s beautiful here. But if this is as good as it gets, I’m not going anywhere.”