<p>I toured Union and didn't like it, but a friend really liked it and is applying there. I know different people like different schools, but I want to know what's so appealing about Union. Can anyone who goes there tell me the good and the bad of Union? (especially the bad so I can argue for my side)</p>
<p><em>hugs</em>LM</p>
<p>Not a student but a parent - son is a senior at Union. Positive things about Union include the food and the dorms, study abroad program, close interaction with professors, quality of teaching and proximity to Proctor Theater in Schenectady. Negative things include the neighborhood (not much there, a little sketchy), lack of depth of some departments and the tuition has gone up about 9% every year. What about Union turned you off? Not a small-school person or something specific to Union?</p>
<p>fiona, which departments would you consider lack depth? Son is considering Union. What's your son/daughter's opinion about trimester schedule?</p>
<p>thanks fiona.<br>
I really didn't like the neighborhood and the trimester scheduling, and I didn't get a vibe from the school that it was for me - it just didn't feel right, if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of the music department and some of the foreign language offerings when I talk about department depth. But any school will be weaker in some areas than others. We had no problem with the trimester; older child was also on trimesters, though a different calendar. Shorter term is supposed to be more intense but I don't think my kids felt overwhelmed. One drawback is son only spent a ten-week term abroad instead of a fifteen-week semester. I liked having him come home for Thanksgiving and stay through New Years. Not having to make the "return after Thanksgiving" and "pick up before Christmas" trips was nice. Although his winter break overlapped high school friends' breaks by only a few days, he was able to visit friends at other schools when he was off and they weren't (and vice versa). I was disappointed by Schenectady, but it hasn't been an issue for son. He's gone to NYC, Boston and Washington, DC with various classes, clubs and friends. There seems to be enough going on on campus to keep everyone busy and entertained. Overall, Union has been a positive experience for son. The college has been very cooperative and helpful whenever we've had questions or issues. Son has been impressed with the quality of teaching, and professors have gone out of their way to be supportive and give feedback, recommendations, etc. (When we were visiting during an admitted students day, a department head spent over an hour chatting with son about extracurriculars associated with that department - I was very impressed!) Hope this is helpful!</p>
<p>My son will be attending Union in the fall. I guess everyone likes something different. The campus is stunning and gives the impression of being bigger than it is. Schenectady is nothing beautiful and I do not think it would be wise to walk around at night by yourself (same at most urban campuses). However, quite a few eating places seem to have opened within the past year or two and a new movie theater is opening downtown, all within a 10 - 15 minute walk of campus. I do not yet know what he will think of trimesters -- I can see pros and cons. The school has an excellent reputation and my impression from speaking with many people is that the alumni network is very prominent, especially in the Philadelphia to Boston corridor, and the alumni reportedly care that they went to Union. He is into sports and having a Division I hockey team right on campus is very unique for such a small school. He will be playing a varsity sport at Union and the facilities are the best we have seen (for Division III). The housing options also appear to be superior. Most importantly, we know of many people who attend the school (or who have recently) and virtually all are reportedly quite happy. Union seems to attract what I would call pretty typical, mainstream kids, which is what my son is. He did an overnight at Vassar and while he liked the kids he met, he definitely stuck out like a sore thumb. That is not a value judgment in any way, just an observation.</p>
<p>All of that said, I could see where the school would be too small for some and for those who want a bucolic setting or a great college town or a truly cosmopolitan setting (Boston, NYC, etc.), Schenectady is not going to meet that expectation. The price tag is certainly steep, but really no more so than other private schools. Whether it is worth the money is a personal judgment. To us, at least on paper, it absolutely is. I guess we will find out the reality soon enough!</p>
<p>Thanks ThreeSons and Fiona - good feedback. Now we just have to wait for the decision.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son, altmom.</p>
<p>My oldest son graduated from Union almost three years ago now, and we toured it again with my h.s. senior son last summer. I just thought I'd throw out a couple of comments. </p>
<p>Our DS was an engineering student, and I thought it was great that he was able to get a liberal arts education, that included a writing focus, alongside all of his technical courses. Because of that, engineering students have to accumulate more credits than LA students in order to graduate, but it's well worth it. What was also special was that the trimester system let him do a term abroad, which he would have had a difficult time accomplishing at most of the other engineering schools that he was accepted to. He was able to spend an entire semester abroad thanks to going in the fall, and not having to be back in school until January. (He went to Greece in a non-engineering program, which was a terrific cultural experience.)</p>
<p>What I think is good about the trimester schedule is that typically students take only three courses per term, and IMO the shorter term encourages them to stay on task with each course--yet only having the three makes that not an overwhelming thing. </p>
<p>Someone above mentioned music being rather thin there, and I have to agree with that, although when we toured in the summer it seemed as though they were aware of that and were in the midst of building more music facilities. For that reason, though, my youngest son decided Union was not his first choice, as music is a high priority for him. </p>
<p>And despite the fact that Schenectady is indeed a bit "sketchy," as long as the kids follow common sense guidelines at night, they should be fine. Campus safety is very visible and accessible. </p>
<p>I think that the greater Albany area has a lot to offer (certainly compared to other more remote college locales) and there's plenty of shopping and lots of restaurants within 20 minutes or so--if you drive east toward Albany, especially on Rte. 5. But for freshmen without cars, it always seemed to us that there was plenty to do on campus. And as someone else said, it's very easy to do weekend trips to NYC or Boston, etc., if they want to.</p>
<p>We were impressed with what we learned about the new house system--which was only just being introduced as our son was graduating. </p>
<p>Lastly, I honestly think Union has one of the best admissions offices around. Having now done the college admissions thing with three kids, I have to say that we had some of our best and most informative admissions sessions at Union--just speaking in terms of learning about the admissions process generally, not just being "sold" on Union itself. They're great people there.</p>
<p>On the music front, see the attached two pieces on their new facility:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.union.edu/N/DS/s.php?s=6810%5B/url%5D">http://www.union.edu/N/DS/s.php?s=6810</a></p>
<p>I have a question about those who applied to Union College. Did you guys get any types of response from the college? Like emails or anything like that?</p>
<p>Just checked the folder - we got one postcard confirming the application was received. No emails. Significantly less correspondence than other schools.</p>
<p>Can you tell me what is the folder? I applied through the common application, but I haven't received anything yet. So, I am a bit worried. Can you tell me how long they send the post card after the application was sent? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>sorry - the folder is my own - we have folders for each school applied to. The postcard was mailed from Union on Nov. 3rd telling us they received my son's application. That's all we've gotten. They're surprisingly (or refreshingly) low key so far.</p>
<p>My son received a postcard telling him that his application had been received. He applied EDI and he received a thin envelope (two sheets of paper) telling him that he had been admitted (so a thin envelope is okay). He received no other communication in-between.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for sharing! I applied through Regular Decision, but so far they haven't sent me anything. I am a bit worried. Do you think I should call the admission office and ask if they have everything?</p>
<p>I cannot see where a phone call or email hurts.</p>
<p>My son was accepted last year and did not hear until very close to 4/1.</p>
<p>Did he receive a confirmation when he applied? Because, I applied through the common application, but not got the post card confirming the application.</p>
<p>"did not get the post card confirming that the application was received"</p>