I'm a student that will be studying all of next ye...

I'm a student that will be studying all of next year in France and applying for the long sejour visa for students. Therefore, I can't speak for other visa situations, but I had a fine experience at the visa office. I appeared at the office precisely at my appointment time, 9:00am, and was let in with no problems. Note that for visas you must go to a building around the corner at 10 E 74th St (maybe .1 miles away max). I didn't even have my appointment form, but the man at the entry still let me in with a smiling face after verifying my passport. After going through security, you wait in a room upstairs with your number. Waiting times for this part are highly variable, as your fate is decided with a number given to you at the door. I had number 4 and didn't wait very long. Once called, I went to the window and gave a woman my documents. She was fine with speaking english, was in no way rude, and took my documents in a quick and easy manner. DONT TRY TO PAY WITH CASH. Many people were scrambling for exact change which they require (no more, no less). It's stupid, I know. Just avoid this bureaucratic idiocracy with a credit card, or come with a fifty, a ten and 20 ones to cover for the exchange rate. She then sent me back to the waiting room to wait for my interview. Maybe 20 minutes later I went to another window where I met a smiling frenchman. He saw I spoke french and we continued the interview in french. However, french was in now way a requirement for the interview. He took my documents, fingerprinted me, took a picture, and I was on my way. I even was missing a sheet and he supplied it. He even cracked a joke! Unfortunately, you do have to come back to get your visa. Overall, I met with one fine, straightfaced worker, and one jovial 45 year old guy. Maybe it was because I was a student. Maybe it was because I spoke french (I don't think so). Maybe it was because I was prepared (probably). Maybe it was because it was early in the morning. In any case, I had a fine experience at the consulate.

Tips:
Don't try to pay with cash. Pay with a card.
Have your documents prepared. Follow the instructions closely online for what you should bring. Bring extra copies and more than enough information. They didn't ask me for anything that wasn't on the list.