Coneys Embraces Hunter’s Muse Scholars Program
Marie Coneys is a sharp young lady who is smart, well-spoken and wise beyond her years. The Huntington High School Class of 2012 member is in her first semester at Hunter College where she is studying in the Muse Scholars program.
“I have seen both the challenges and rewards of attending Hunter College this semester,” Ms. Coneys said. “Although it is a school with great academic programs, it is also largely a commuter school. This means that although there isn’t a dorm or specified area for students to live, it encourages so much more diversity.”
The Huntington grad decided to move to Astoria, Queens, where many other young people have also decided to live and work. “Astoria is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in all of New York City, as Queens is the most diverse place in the world,” Ms. Coneys said. “I have had so many opportunities to visit museums, see shows, walk around galleries and even start working in retail with my free time on weekends.”
The teenager has been busy balancing school, work and fun in her free time. “I think Astoria has been the perfect place to do so because it’s a mix of families and young people,” Ms. Coneys said. “While at Hunter I have met people from many parts of the world and been able to see performances with my scholar group that reflect the diversity of the school.”
The Muse Scholars program highlights the arts across many mediums and focuses on supplementing the typical liberal arts college experience with an artistic twist, Ms. Coneys said. She’s enrolled in a series of general education required courses this semester, including Calculus, English, Intro to Cinema and Explorations in the Arts, a class specific to the Huntington alum’s art program.
“My favorite, by far, is Explorations in the Arts,” said Ms. Coneys about her courses. The class has studied dance (students even took a dance class), photography (including field trips to the Met), illustration (students participated in a drawing class at the Society of Illustrators) and enjoyed dinner with award-winning author Colum McCann, who penned Let the Great World Spin. “Although it sounds like a lot for one semester, we haven’t even covered half of our curriculum yet,” said the Huntington grad about Explorations in the Arts.
While her current schedule has not permitted Ms. Coneys to begin taking art classes in her major yet, she will begin with various prerequisites in the spring semester, which will allow her to start building a portfolio to eventually use as part of an application to Hunter’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program.
“Clubs have played an important part in making friends on campus,” Ms. Coneys said. “Because of the commuter aspect, Hunter can be isolating if you aren’t proactive about making friends and finding activities. My favorite club, and also the most welcoming, is the Olive Tree Review magazine. We release one issue per semester as well as review artwork and poetry from other students. I am also a member of the new yoga club at school.”
College is a whole new world, especially in a big city, but the Huntington alum seems to be adjusting to her new life without any problems. “My friendships at Hunter are especially strong because of my block schedule, so I have been able to meet and get to know everyone in my Muse program,” Ms. Coneys said.
“I suggest to Huntington’s young artists considering art schools to consider Hunter above all others,” Ms. Coneys said. “Although there are very prestigious schools in New York, here’s a little known fact: Hunter’s BFA Fine Arts program is ranked No. 13 in the country, below Yale and a few Ivy Leagues. It beat out Parsons and other art schools and it offers in-state tuition that is really affordable. I think it is a great school for all types of students and I suggest applying either to the college or to the Muse Scholars program in particular. I’d be happy to talk to any students considering the school!”
Ms. Coneys is not the type of person to get too uptight about anything. She rolls with the punches and manages to find the positive in any situation. She’s loyal to her alma mater and thinks about it often.
“The one piece of advice I have for Huntington students is to appreciate the things Huntington has to offer,” Ms. Coneys said. “The curriculum will prepare you for any college, but the diversity will hopefully push you to consider schools with people from all backgrounds. I also encourage you to hold onto your friends, because especially at a commuter school, it can be difficult to find a niche and a simple phone call or visit to a friend from Huntington can turn a bad day into a great one.”