<p>GC suggeted Alfred for D and it offers enough of what D wants to warrant further investigation. One of my concerns is the fact that Alfred is always described as "remote." CC posts suggest that the school sponsors sufficient programming to keep the students busy - - but one post said it would be difficult to find a grocery or pharmacy.</p>
<p>So just how remote is Alfred?</p>
<p>This school was on my DD long list for good art in a university. I saw it as a very creative based teaching school. It’s had to instill creativity especially in areas like engineering. But just think of what ceramics has been engineered into in the last decade. Remote or rural its the same. It’s not downtown. Google map the town of alfred and add search for pizza or groceries. I did the same thing when my DD decided on another small town school in the hinterlands. I was surprised. And how many miles is it to the nearest WALMART?</p>
<p>Well, it’s still within the continental United States … I think. (jk)</p>
<p>Alfred has a first rate ceramics program, one worth considering regardless of location. Go and visit. It won’t be a wasted trip regardless of whether your D decides to attend or not.</p>
<p>Alfred’s stated population is 5,000…not sure if that includes the college kids or not. Hornell is the next town about 10 miles away (20 minutes on rural roads) and has a Walmart, Pharmacy, Grocery store, Sears etc. If you’re from a small midwestern town…not so much a ‘shock’ to see farms, trees and no expressway for miles and miles but if you are from a metro/urban area with everything at arm’s length, fast food and public transport it’s a change. It’s worth a visit.</p>
<p>Since Alfred is also the home of SUNY/Alfred, if it does not have typical college student businesses such as a pizzeria and grocery, we should all invest in starting them, because they will be very profitiable!</p>
<p>^
I don’t know… Apparently, Storrs (home of UConn) still has pretty much NOTHING in the town, according to students and alumni!</p>
<p>"Since Alfred is also the home of SUNY/Alfred, if it does not have typical college student businesses </p>
<p>^^ I don’t understand the relationship b/c the presence of SUNY/Alfred and the absence of student amenities.</p>
<p>The point is that, with so many students from not just one but two schools, you would expect there to be local businesses catering to those students.</p>
<p>To be fair, though, the total student population of the two schools is only about 5,000, not really enough to support a lot of pizzerias, and not nearly enough for a Wal-Mart.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly there is a pizza joint, maybe 2, and a convenience store along with a coffee shop and a couple other restaurants and stores on the main street within walking distance for students without a car.</p>
<p>There is a pharmacy within walking distance, along with the pizza joint etc. Student ID entitles kid to free bus to Hornell (larger, Walmart, more of a town, etc.) It is really pretty. The school has a lot of activities – and I dont want my kid in a “busier” area.</p>
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<p>Even back in the stone age when I was there, there were at least two pizza places, a Subway, another sandwich shop/deli and a grocery store (IGA I think) within walking distance and even a movie theater, and I think a liquor store. And there was one pizza place/restaurant within a short driving distance that typically burnt to the ground every summer (the name escapes me).</p>
<p>Now the prices did reflect a captive audience, and there wasn’t anything there in terms of entertainment beyond Huskies, but NOTHING is a matter of opinion. </p>
<p>Beyond pizza and beer, what needs weren’t covered? ;)</p>
<p>Beyond pizza and beer, what needs weren’t covered? </p>
<p>I’ld a pharmacy and say you’ve got it covered.</p>