<p>So, I had posted earlier that I had a full scholarship at a state university in the US. While not what I had initially hoped for, the college (SUNY Buffalo) does have all the opportunities I'm looking for in my education- a liberal arts curriculum, study abroad, research opportunities, and all the rest.
However, the university is not very well ranked, and so I had doubts about it and whether I should indeed take up the offer. I do, however, now have my visa...</p>
<p>And while I have almost made up my mind... I have an offer from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (highly competitive, but based purely on exam marks)... which doesn't meet my needs in any way, except that- well, job prospects might be better.
However, in view of the fact that I want to go to grad school anyway, what do you think I should do?
Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>It depends on which country you’re coming from. If you’re from Western countries, the educational climate, competitiveness, no-grade-inflation of Singapore’s university will be shocking to you. They are really serious about education there. SUNY may be a better choice. Trust me, I have first hand experience. If you’re from Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea or China, you already know what it’s like—if you like what you’ve grown up with, Nan Yang is fine.</p>
<p>Just based on what you wrote, unless there is something about SUNY Buffalo that is a bust for you, it sounds like you should go to SUNY. Being at NTU for four years doesn’t sound like it appeals to you - that could be a very long four years you can’t get back again. Go for a bit of well-roundedness, which sounds like SUNY can give you.</p>
<p>I’m from Asia all right- and I hate, hate, HATE the crazy competiveness, learn-for-the-sake-of-jobs attitude I’ve seen in school… But I still can’t help going ‘what if I land up homeless, jobless and destitute?’
Yes, I’m leaning towards Buffalo- especially since its a free ride with no bond attatched to it (Singapore has a 3 year bond after I graduate).
But would I be able to get into a top grad school if I do really well there?</p>
<p>Um…really…you think you will be homeless if you go to a state university? You need a reality check. Yes - you can get into excellent grad schools from state universities. (and you might want to consider that you could change your mind about grad school as well). If you here in the US for undergrad, you will probably make more connections as well.
Find a financial calculator too and figure out just how much that 3 year bond from Singapore will cost you - and whether you have to start paying it back immediately (which will certainly make grad school harder to finance).</p>
<p>You should definitely go to Nanyang. I don’t even know why you applied to Buffalo since you seem to think it is the armpit of universities, whereupon after graduation you will be homeless, jobless and destitute, and probably have to turn to prostitution. Besides, you will starve and be really, really cold, 'cause it’s freaking freezing there. They don’t need people who think their school sucks, so go elsewhere. Please.</p>
<p>Okay- I’m sorry if I’ve offended anyone, but clearly I was exaggerating… I just meant that immediate job prospects might probably be better after Singapore…
Also- the bond is for working for 3 yrs in Singapore, not paying back any amount.</p>
<p>You implied that your primary goal was good employment, and you claimed that the University in Singapore would do a better job of getting you that, which is likely true unless you really want to work in the US. Almost any US university will do a better job of getting you a job in the US than almost any foreign university.</p>
<p>But that’s the point- my primary goal is not employment! I want to learn and experience a liberal arts education… and nevertheless, I can’t help be a bit concerned about a job.
So, my question, I suppose, is- how good is Buffalo for a rigorous liberal arts education?</p>
<p>UB is a highly regarded research university, very strong in engineering/sciences, with a fairly good arts program and many liberal arts program choices. It’s not a small, unknown school in the US but is not known as a LAC either - SUNY Geneseo would be more likely to fit the description of “rigorous liberal arts school”. My D is a science major at UB, so I can’t tell you in detail what the arts/humanities programs are like, but their courses in general are not “fluff” and students do work for their grades there. You might get more liberal arts student/parent responses by posting your question on the SUNY Buffalo forum (listed under Colleges -S). </p>
<p>UB is a very large school (25,000+ students) with many international (primarily Asian) students, so you shouldn’t have trouble fitting in! It’s comprised of many smaller “communities” - through honors programs, departments, living arrangements, etc. and the student body seems to be a pretty happy one overall. There are many grad students there, in all disciplines, and many of their undergrads go on to grad schools across the country. It’s likely you will encounter both highly motivated and party kids and everything in between as they are not super-selective in admissions to undergrad (that changes when kids start applying to majors though, as some are very difficult to).</p>
<p>I suggest you dialog via email with the department(s) you’re interested - all faculty and some of the PhD student’s email addresses are listed on UB’s website by department - and ask them whatever questions you have (identify yourself as a Presidential scholar). Our experience is that the faculty is very happy to answer questions, involve students in their research, etc. and you will have access to honors seminars and other opportunities as well. The honors college and international student affairs staff would also be of assistance to you and, at a large school like UB, it’s important for the student to take steps to make those connections - many will help and guide students, but few will seek them out! Good luck!</p>