I attended a conference at Simmons, and the campus had a typical college feel with tall concrete buildings. The event was held in the Main Campus Building, which has multiple floors to accommodate large number of people. One of my favorite things was the abundance of restrooms on each floor, and they were clean! I also appreciated the spacious seating area near the student aid office. It was quiet and comfortable, making it a great spot to get work done during down time. read more

The campus is stunning and has many amenities for students living off campus. The professors are insightful and I found the classes to be rooted in current events and practices. read more

A well maintained university. The staff is excellent. They have a parking garage for a cost. read more

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Truth: If you are Jewish, this school is not a safe environment for you. It's sad that I have to report this but it's an honest statement. Since the administration knows about this and does nothing, it's bound to get worse not better. Many Jewish students have already left as a result and if you are considering this place and are of Jewish lineage, be forewarned. read more

I went to this school for my masters degree in nursing. I enrolled in the family nurse practitioner program. I recently graduated in May 2021 and passed my boards. I was excited to start this program and felt that it was a good choice with my extremely busy schedule. I am a mid 30's, mother of four, and have a full time job. I chose the part time option knowing that it was costly but taking into consideration that it was going to be worth the extra cost. I was excited to start and pleased with the instruction at first but after the first year it seemed to go downhill. The instructors were knowledgeable but only lectured for class time and weren't available for extra teaching or learning. If I needed extra help, I had to find it myself. When it came to clinical rotation, I had to find my sites myself. Yes, we started a pandemic BUT if a service is lacking for any reason whatsoever, please do not expect the same compensation. You are a private college, you have the opportunity to modify your tuition based on the services, or lack of services, that you provide. Next, although I was able to secure my own clinical sites, the "legals" department wasn't able to do their job and forgot to renew the contract at one of the clinic sites that I was currently at!!! What the heck! Seriously, I paid almost $100,000 and you can't do your job? I had to rearrange my life after it was very strategically organized because it was a shit show already and now you, Simmons University, couldn't get your stuff together again. Please, what am I paying fir again? Oh yeah, a stupid, very small diploma. Lastly, I am applying to take my national board certification exam. I requested an official transcript to be sent to AANP so that I can schedule the exam. You would assume that this would be a very straight forward request but unfortunately, no. They failed three times to send the correct information. It cost me triple the price. I finally was able to take the exam but unfortunately, it happened again when applying fir my stare license. It delayed my license and again I couldn't get ahold of a person who could help me... Here I am now, still no license and waiting for someone to call me back and help me with my issue that Simmons caused. Please keep this in mind if you are applying to an ARNP program. There are less expensive options and I'm sure the student relations are much better than the horrible and quite sad student services at this horrible college. read more

I have a professor who is a state representative teaching my class. The professors seem very well regarded and knowledgeable in their fields. The students are very kind, understanding and supportive in my classes. read more

I'm biased because I go here (obviously!), but I've gotta hand it to John Simmons - the all-women's education is something that I never would have thought would benefit me in the long run. At first, I was so opposed to attending a single-sex college, but after visiting and doing an overnight, I was hooked. Don't be turned off by same-sex education; it's less of a distraction and you can concentrate on your studies much better than a co-ed environment (at least that's what I've found 99% of the time). Besides, there's opportunity to meet lots of people, considering that the college is 10 minutes away from Northeastern, and surrounded by Emmanuel, Wentworth, Wheelock, MassArt, and MCP. Simmons is definitely moving up in the world. No matter where I go, I've found alumna or people who've heard of the school. And those people will go out of their way to take care of you! It is a private school, so tuition is pricey, but it's not as bad as that of Bentley, BU, BC, Harvard, etc. I was able to get scholarships and grants for about 3/4 of my tuition (and luckily, I can afford to pay the rest by working a ridiculous amount of hours a week). As Vanessa said, make sure you keep a paper trail of everything so that you can prove whatever you need to prove in the future. Campus life is pretty good - there's an organization for everyone to join. The faculty are always available, via email, phone, text message, IM - you name it, they're on it. The staff are reliable and always willing to help you out if you need it. There's opportunities for service learning and study abroad, both of which I recommend doing before graduating. And what's better than going to school in Boston? read more

Graduating today after spending 2 years in the Library Science program and have had a wonderful experience. The teachers are great, very active in their fields and willing to help you/talk to you about things, the library is awesome (though people really hate it if you even make a little noise), and it is one of the best library schools in the country. I especially found it helpful that they find the internships for you and then you get to pick 3 out of a huge number (I think about 50-70). Great school! read more

I'm about to start my second year in the GSLIS (library school) program. After a terrible undergad experience at the corporation calling itself Boston University, I really do enjoy attending Simmons. The classes are relatively small, the professors are all very friendly, and the program itself, while not easy ( I go full time), is rewarding. I actually feel like I am learning useful things for my future career, unlike my useless undergraduate degree. Also, if you are in the graduate program, there are boys! haha. not many, but they are there. read more

Don't get turned off by the lack of boys here. You are paying for an education, not a frat party. I love all the professors here, they are very caring and want you to do well. If you have any difficulties, just talk to them and they will try to help you in whatever way they can. All the professors I have encountered here check their emails daily and the school is small enough that they will remember you. I love the new library. Its clean, nice, and organized. There is a quiet area and outlets on all the tables if you need to use your laptop. Even the students from MCPHS study at our library. Java City is always fun too. They have really good coffee drinks for when you need to study. I majored in Chemistry and minored in Biology and MGMT so I dabbled in a bit of everything here. It is a liberal arts school so you have to take one class from each dept to get that well rounded education. Take a class with Professor Liu (east asian studies) or go take their study abroad programs. They are WORTH IT! read more

From a parent: Dropped off my daughter for her first year. Simmons really has the whole thing down to a science. Plenty of volunteers helping, answering questions, etc. Boston is not easy to navigate. Especially, if you're not familiar with the area. They made it seamless. Bringing your walking shoes, though. Much easier to get around. read more

I attended online. I was lied to and manipulated into enrolling by my enrollment coach. I specifically asked if the courses were fully asynchronous. I was told they were. Only to find out that was a lie, and you are required to attend live sessions weekly. If you miss 2 it's an automatic fail. I live in a rural area with limited access to high speed internet. This is beyond my control. My internet is spotty and no accommodations were made for me. I was basically told to find somewhere else to go. I wasn't allowed to call in for zoom, I had to be there with my camera turned on, which many times would not work due to a poor connection. I wasn't allowed to attend zoom from the library or any other public place. This school lacks integrity. They only care about the money. They don't care that I was lied to. This is educational inequality, and a great example of unequal distribution of academic resources. Policies should be in place for students who are from socially excluded communities. read more

I went to Simmons for three semesters and decided to transfer. There was a lack of diversity in clubs and organizations and the school was very cliquey. Either you thought like everyone else or were judged because you had a different point of view. The academics are good but the facilities, food, and extracurricular activities offered are extremely subpar. In regards to transferring, all of my credits transferred but as electives. I have to retake 5 classes because the "English" courses offered at Simmons are not considered as English or writing courses at other schools. The science classes I took at Simmons I have to retake because they did not go in depth enough and do not count at other schools. Going to Simmons College was a waste of my time and money and I highly recommended going elsewhere for college. read more

Simmons has the usual quirks of higher education. The biggest thing I have learned is that one can not assume that administrative matters will be taken care of by faculty etc. just because the tuition is expensive. Stay on top of everything, ask a lot of questions (ask if you are asking the right questions even), and keep a paper/electronic RECORD OF ALL communications. read more

Simmons is a small private college. I expect its staff should be much much friendly than state colleges. But I am wrong! I tried to get into Simmons's GSLIS graduate program by writing to the Assistant Dean. I received the information and followed the "instruction" for my application. Guess what! The information I received is incorrect. In addition, the staff at GSLIS are not helpful (they are hopeless) - the coordinator of the program needs to learn how to speak "proper" English. I can tell her native language is NOT English over the phone. It wastes my time, money and energy. Keep away from this college, especially the GSLIS. I think htat's a reason why GSLIS is not one of the top ten schools!! I am EXTREMELY disappointed with GSLIS. read more

I got an email for the Carter fair but they didn't let me in. Are you serious ? Thanks for the wasting my time. Poor management .

After completing my bachelors at Mount Holyoke College in 2009 I attended the Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) from 2009-2012 and graduated with a dual master's in History and Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management. I have yet to find employment in my field. 2 years of job searching have revealed some startling deficiencies in my Simmons education. Since I genuinely enjoyed my classes and teachers at Simmons it is difficult to give them 2 stars, but despite this I feel the need to caution future student about staking their futures in Simmons' Graduate School of Library and Information Science. GSLIS has a lot going for it (small classes, attentive teachers who are very willing to share their networks), but this unfortunately does not compensate for the weak core of the program. The GSLIS dual degree History/Archives Management program does not give enough time to the changing role of archives. As businesses are downsizing their staff and looking for increased efficiency through software, all types of archives (academic, municipal, public or private) are being merged with records management departments. Often employers are looking for someone to fill both roles simultaneously in one position. Through informational interviewing, SAA networking, and visiting the onsite locations of potential employers I can not tell you how often I have had my CV reviewed and my fatal flaw revealed: a lack of records management experience. Despite this trend, Simmons only offers 1 required course in basic records management. The school is woefully lacking in its communication of the technological and practical application of common archival duties in favor of classes which are very heavy on theory and ethics. Despite the defense that Simmons is not a "technical school", it does have the responsibility to teach to the job market. If employers want practical experience, then the school must offer more of that. The other common problem for all grads with regard to this double edged sword that is "required practical experience" is as follows: you need experience to be hired, but that experience must be gained through internships/volunteer work with no guarantee of a recommendation or a job offer upon completion. When I went into the Simmons Career Center in November 2013 for my second of 3 free consultations available to alumni, I was told to stop volunteering my services for free. I was told that my cover letters were excellent and my resume already displayed the qualifications to be hired for an intermediate level position. When I told them that a gap in archival experience on a resume was viewed unfavorably by employers and other archivists who had said that it displayed a "lack of commitment", I was told that perhaps I should look to alternative means of employment. THINK AGAIN BEFORE GETTING YOUR MASTER'S IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE. I went into the History/ Archives Management program intent on working within academia or federal archives. I still maintain a genuine love of archives and their eclectic and historically valuable contents. After all, I imagine if you are enrolling in the dual degree History/ Archives Management program you too carry a passion for the intricacies of our pasts and the artifacts produced therein. I imagine that that passion has been growing ever since it first took root. Everyone is graduating with the intent of using their degrees to open the doors to employment. In a better economy an MLIS degree would be difficult enough to utilize. But when many places are in a hiring freeze and scrambling to restructure, it is next to impossible to find even part-time or temporary employment with a History MA and a MLIS with an Archives Management focus. If you come into GSLIS with years of prior experience in archives and are only looking to make connections within the archives world or take a refresher course, Simmons is an excellent choice. If you are fresh out of college and going straight into a master's program... unfortunately I fear you will regret it. It may be a useful education to have on your resume several years down the road when you are more established, but in the immediate future it is an out of date, out of touch curriculum that will drain you of thousands of dollars. Pile that on top of undergraduate debt and you have a frightening financial future. read more

I have one week left of my first graduate semester at Simmons University and I have been so happy with the experience. I love that it is a bit more difficult to get into than my local state school and I can take all my classes online. I am switching careers from an exercise science background to a social work/therapist future. Despite being a few states away Simmons has made me feel connected with many emails, phone calls from advisers who care and are interested in helping you succeed, and by the online learning format. I meet with my class on scheduled times every week using Zoom, provided by the university. My professors are extremely capable, experienced, and intelligent. Registering for classes is a breeze, and I order my text books online. I've never read more in my life, and I am a book worm. The students are professional and thoughtful. This is my first time piling student loans on (uh oh...) but it has been a really smooth process. Everything is just working out so seamlessly and my future is looking bright! Thanks, Simmons! read more

I transferred out of here after my freshman year, 2007. You love it or you hate it. You are lucky enough to encounter the right people for a great experience or the wrong ones for a poor one. I am, and always have been, extremely easy-going and get along well with most people I come into contact with. However my roommates frequently accused me of stealing and thought I was annoying, though I always minded my own business. I had a hard time making friends since the place was empty on weekends. I am a conservative Christian and didn't jive well with feminist liberals. Less distractions because of same-sex? Nope. I had a boyfriend at BU and it was too close to see him every day haha! But that was my fault obviously. The location is fantastic and you will never run out of things to do even if you are by yourself most of the time (which I was). The classes were easy to get A's, and the professors were all very interesting people and good teachers. I felt like I was guessing most of the time though and had no idea wtf I was reading but somehow made it with straight A's. I transferred to a Christian liberal arts college and I was much happier and thrived there. Simmons is either for you or it's not, and you will know in the first month or so. read more

eh, whatever. i was in the gslis program and i pretty much just slept and graduated in 1 year. just had to write a bunch of essays, which i recycled. read more

I was trying to hold an event at Simmons and I came across the most incompetent people! As someone who received her undergraduate degree at Simmons I was very disgruntled by the service, lack of communication, and knowledge by all staff. I ended up not even holding my event at Simmons because they were so disorganized I felt I could not trust them. I love my Alma Mata dearly and hope that it gets help in the area of administration. This could be real bad for the college. I hope that you do not judge the college based on the administration. The faculty and students are amazing; just do not throw an event at Simmons. read more

At Simmons there is no room for discussion or debate. If you have an opinion that differs from the faculty then you will be penalized in your grades. I once wrote an essay in which I suggested a differing point of view and the instructor actually wrote on the paper that my point of view was "ignorant." I left and graduated from another college with a 3.9 GPA and went on to get my doctorate. In my opinion they are just out for money and to promote their own political agendum. I consider myself to be quite liberal and belong to the Democratic party, but these folks make Barney Frank seem like a right-wing fanatic! They are also not "commuter-friendly." I had to rely on public transportation and had a grade lowered because I was late, to an early morning class, three times during the term. Only two of the students in the class were commuters. It was easy for those who lived on campus to attend during snow storms, but for those of us who had to rely on the "T," it was often a problem. In my opinion this is just a subtle means for Simmon's elitists (posing as left-wing idealists) to prevent those from less affluent backgrounds from succeeding. read more