<p>We are working with D to identify several SUNY schools (NY state residents) as financial safeties. We are planning to visit Stony Brook along with several other NYC/Long Island schools in the next month. </p>
<p>From what I have read, academically the school is sound, but it appears the social life is not there. I have heard that this can be considered a commuter college with kids going home on weekends. We are 7 hours away so that will not be possible here. D wants a traditional college experience not just great academics. </p>
<p>D is a quirky "indie" kid, into music, writing, the arts. She wants to major in journalism. We have visited a handful of colleges. She hated Geneseo- too rural and the Journalism program seemed underfunded. She has visited SUNY Fredonia for events and thought she would be happy there. I am not sold on their academics. </p>
<p>Is the social life lacking at Stony Brook? Are there things to do in town? Will she be able to attend parties on the weekend? </p>
<p>We live a few towns over from SB. It is a commuter school, but it is large enough that a “critical mass” of kids stay on campus so it does have a stuff to do on weekends. “Indie” it is not. Kids come here for bio, pre-med, dental, and sciences. It is a good, solid education, but not so much artsy or Indie. Sorry Too bad she didn’t like Geneseo. Maybe a school in the City?</p>
<p>Has she looked at New Paltz? It seems more quirky (and I mean that in the nicest way).</p>
<p>You might also want to go the “college” board and look and as on the Suny-General page. </p>
<p>I dont think of the CUNYs as “quirky” I think of them, especially Baruch and Hunter as for very focused kids. That being said, they have a great deal, financially if your kid gets into the Honors program, which can mean no tuition.</p>
<p>I don’t think she’ll get the traditional college experience at Stony Brook. A large bulk of students do go home on weekends. Many go home Thursday after classes (schedules set up so they don’t have Friday classes) and then they come back Monday morning for classes.</p>
<p>I would look into one of the other SUNY’s for a more traditional on campus environment.</p>
<p>Check out SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Oneonta, and even SUNY Plattsburgh (I really like this school).</p>
<p>Stony Brook is definitely a commuter school. I’m a NY State resident too, and my daughter wouldn’t even apply after we visited. Anecdotally, we know a lot (more than a dozen) kids who have gone to Stony Brook in the last few years and not a single one has been happy. Most have received an excellent education at a good value, but it’s become a place where it’s hard to be happy.</p>
<p>I agree with the New Paltz suggestion. Has an excellent, friendly, warm vibe from touring through acceptance and it seems a much happier place. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. That is what I feared. </p>
<p>For some reason D has said she is not interested in New Paltz,although it seems like a fit on paper. Looks like I may just have to push again for a visit. </p>
<p>Stony Brook is the states “flagship” journalism program which is the only reason we are considering it. </p>
<p>Her high school sends 30 or more students a year to Geneseo which may have also impacted her opinion of the school.</p>
<p>Academically solid…though it seems the strengths lean towards STEM/pre-med majors. Culturally, very pre-professional and yes, it is a suitcase school. The last bit is one big negative everyone I knew who attended Stonybrook talks about when reminiscing about their undergrad years. </p>
<p>For someone who is quirky, indie, and into the music and arts, have her consider Cortland or Purchase. </p>
<p>Moreover, one does not necessarily need to major in journalism to go into journalist field so long as they get the internships and work on the college newspaper(s) or other publications during their undergrad years. </p>
<p>Have a college classmate who didn’t major in journalism(our LAC didn’t have that major) and had no problems becoming a journalist or going to Columbia for grad school in Journalism.</p>
<p>Send a Private Message to Mythmom, who has written a lot about Stony Brook over the past several years. Perhaps she can advise you or post here.</p>
<p>She should def visit New Paltz, son graduated last summer(Acct) and my boss dtr grad in arts from there 2 yrs ago. Both enjoyed it very much. Nice town, very artsy surrounds campus, close to NYC by train or bus, best of both worlds. Nice size too not too big. Its a sleeper not to be under estimated. Agree with all re: Stony Brook</p>
<p>New Paltz, yes. Albany…not sure about that unless there was a drastic change within the last 6 years. </p>
<p>Albany tends to have the reputation of being the “party school” among the SUNY flagships and the last place anyone I knew who was “quirky” or “indie” would want to apply/attend. Instead, everyone I knew who went to Albany and enjoyed it tended to be those who went there for the “party school experience.” </p>
<p>Those who attended and found they hated the party school atmosphere/wanted more from their undergrad experiences tended to transfer out to the more academically reputable SUNY flagships or respectable/elite private LACs/universities.</p>
<p>Cobrat, I know a lot of people who went to Albany for political science – it is the state capital, and there are plenty of internships. I also know kids who went to the Honors program for accounting. None of these were looking for a party school. I have heard that the dorms can get out of control unless you are in an honors dorm. But thats OT for OP.</p>
<p>@cobrat That’s what I used to think. Someone I know well goes to Albany now. He is the definition of indie/hipster/quirky. He didn’t think he’d find a niche, but judging by what he’s said and his Facebook photos, he’s found a LOT of kids just like him. So yeah, not many people expect that at Albany, but apparently there are a lot of kids who fit that bill there.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, the youngest among the group who confirmed the previous “party school” perceptions from HS classmates/acquaintances was a poli-sci major honors student and found that atmosphere to be so ill-suited to him that he transferred out to an elite private university after his sophomore year. Graduated from college sometime in the mid-'00s.</p>
<p>I have a friend with a very goth daughter who is majoring in journalism at Purchase. I don’t think that would have been her choice if she didn’t think she could fit in.</p>
Too bad she didn’t like Geneseo. Maybe a school in the City?</p>