Known as the largest public university in New Jersey by enrollment, Rutgers University is a college that many students at Pascack Hills commit to. It has three campuses: New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, with the former extending into parts of the neighboring town, Piscataway.

Hills senior Justine Marinkovic will be studying at the New Brunswick campus after she graduates from Hills. She explained why she decided to commit there. 

“They have such a diverse list of academic programs to choose from that not many other schools have,” she said. 

Marinkovic is entering the university as a pre-law major, and the program she will be studying allows her to earn a higher degree in less time. 

“Rutgers has a program that combines my requirements for my bachelors and my law degree in six years, which is shorter than the typical amount of years it would take to earn a Juris Doctor degree,” she said. 

Out of the three campuses, the New Brunswick one is the largest in size and student population. While there are different areas on campus for certain areas of study, each area is considered to be self-sufficient, one tour guide explained. This means that students do not have to leave their area to find resources such as a dining hall since each campus has one. 

A spot on the New Brunswick campus that many students purchase food from is RU Hungry, which is a sandwich shop on campus known for making sandwiches of several combinations based on students’ requests. 

Senior Dasia Jarvis mentioned that one of the things she is most looking forward to is “eating the good food on campus” from spots such as RU Hungry. She will be studying communications after she graduates. 

Kailani Perez, another Hills senior, will also be attending Rutgers after she graduates from Hills, but she will be going to the Newark campus. 

“The main reason I committed to Rutgers was that they offered me a full tuition scholarship. For my family, money was a large factor in where I could go since I will be paying off my college expenses without the help of my parents,” she explained.  

Perez also wants to go to medical school, and committed to Rutgers in hopes of attending theirs.

Senior Sonia Balani also decided to go to Rutgers because of the cost. She will be studying at the business school on the New Brunswick campus. 

“Many family and friends of mine have gone through Rutgers and I’ve heard great things about the school overall. It’s financially a good option, and close to home. Essentially it’s the overall accessibility and familiarity of it,” she said. 

Andrew Baskin, a senior who will be studying political science at the New Brunswick campus, said that he thought Rutgers offers several opportunities “for a great price.”

“You can take advantage of the great Rutgers academic departments, the Big Ten Sports, and the transportation access to New York City and Philadelphia for future internships,” he added.

Jarvis echoed this statement, and said that she “love[s] New Jersey because you’re close to a lot of things.” 

“There’s so much to do and so many places to go, and I feel like I needed that change,” she explained.

Most of the seniors said that they are looking forward to “meeting new people,” but they also shared other aspects that they are looking forward to once they start their freshman year. 

Marinkovic said that she is eager to “experience New Brunswick.” 

“I wanted a college campus feeling, but I also wanted to be in an urban environment. College Ave is a really urban campus, but it also has a college campus within the urban city so you get both,” she added.  

Perez commented on the independence she will have when at Rutgers Newark.

“I am most looking forward to the freedom I will have. Being able to choose what time my courses are and the actual classes I want to take is very exciting,” she said. 

Balani and Jarvis shared excitement over well-known college traditions. Respectively, they are eager to “experience the college spirit and social life” and “decorate [her] dorm.”  

Baskin added that he is looking forward to “trying new clubs and organizations, and studying [his] major.”

For more information, visit the university’s website.