Any Union parents or students out there?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Union College - New York
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<p>My son has visited Union twice and will be applying there, he really likes it and it seems like a good match for him. I have a couple of questions, if there are any Union parents, students or alum with answers:</p>

<p>1) Union is beautiful, but 1-2 blocks from campus can get a little sketchy. Also, didn't see a lot of convenience stores, dry cleaners, pizza places, card shops, etc in the immediate area that students could use. Any comments on the immediate neighborhood (or Schenectady in general)?</p>

<p>2) We're still torn about the tri-mester thing. S will be home at a different time than most of his friends. He'd like a little more time off in Jan to ski, and I'm concerned that by not getting home until mid-June he'll have trouble finding a summer job. Also, is it hard to concentrate on studies in that 3rd term? And since Union's dorms aren't air-conditioned, does the weather become an issue in June?</p>

<p>3) S is very intrigued with the Minerva houses. He's a little shy, and this seems like a great way to get "plugged in" immediately. Do the Minerva houses live up to their billing? Have they reduced the alcohol level on campus?</p>

<p>Thanks for any and all input!</p>

2

<p>DS is a senior at Union - I'll try to answer your questions.
1. Yes, the area around the campus is pretty sketchy, but if you go about a mile or so down Union Street (away from Erie) you will hit all the convenience stores, restaurants, etc. There is a shuttle to the mall in Albany, also. I don't think DS left campus too often when he was in the dorm. Anyway, he never complained about it! (I was pretty disappointed when we realized there is "nothing" near campus, but he hasn't seemed to mind.) There is a small convenience store attached to the bookstore.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I'm not a fan of the trimester, either, but it hasn't proved to be too much of an issue. DS was able to work between Thanksgiving and New Year's, had more trouble finding work in June, though it all worked out for him. I don't think lack of air conditioning is a problem - it's still not that warm in June. Never heard any complaints about concentrating third term (at least, no more than any other term!) One thing that did happen - because of their different schedules, son visited (and was visited by) friends when one was on break and one wasn't.</p></li>
<li><p>DS lived in a Minerva House during the first year of the program (beautiful!) Don't know if program has changed the campus much, but rather has added to available activities. I would think it would be a good starting point for an unsure freshman. As far as drinking, I think alcohol use is probably comparable to most LAC's, i.e. it is pretty common. DS is not much of a drinker but I don't think it ever was much of an issue for him. Though he is not a frat-party kind of guy...</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Union has been a good experience for my son. He has gotten to know several professors on a personal level, did a term abroad, and has gotten involved in a few clubs/groups on campus. Housing and food have been above average. Hope this has been helpful. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you, it was very helpful!</p>

4

<p>Do you know what what the differences are between Union, Trinity, and Hamilton. I visited are three and really liked what I saw. I am leaning toward Union but Trinity and Hamilton have much better academic reputations.</p>

<p>I didn't like Skidmore, Connecticut, or Colgate.</p>

<p>What are your thoughts.</p>

<p>Thanks............</p>

5

<p>Don't know who you were asking, but I'll put in my two cents! Son also looked at Hamilton, Connecticut and Colgate. He hated Hamilton (had a terrible guide our first tour, didn't like the two campuses), was ambivalent about Conn, started application to Colgate (at my request) but didn't finish it because he didn't want to write the essay. (Also looked at Middlebury, Kenyon and Dartmouth.) Honestly, we were looking for merit aid, so son was aiming a little lower: Dickinson, Wheaton (MA), Dennison. (Also U of Rochester.) Ended up going to Union because they gave him the most money. Once he got there, I think he had a few pangs of almost regret - maybe he should have aimed "higher" and figured out the money part later. (Felt that perhaps some of his classmates did not have the same academic abilities or drive as he did. Perhaps part of that "academic reputation" you alluded to.) But his overall experience at Union has been very positive. He is applying to grad schools now and is definitely going for the "best" schools he can.</p>

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<p>Looking back -- if he could do it over and money was not an issue -- do you know which schools would be his first choice.</p>

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<p>IF he had it to do over and money was no issue, I would guess my son would have liked to have gone to Middlebury or Dartmouth (didn't apply to either so who knows...)</p>

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<p>But you said he's had a good experience at Union, and he's looking at top grad schools, and you saved some money, so on the whole I'd say things turned out alright.</p>

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<p>Yes, he has had a very good experience at Union. And the price was affordable for us. No one is complaining! But there is a small sense that a compromise was made...</p>

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<p>mnozzi, what did you like better about Union compared with Hamilton and Skidmore?</p>

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<p>My son and I visited Union last week. We were there during a weekday, in daylight. We came in off of I-890 and left via Union Street going east and we drove around the area a little, including downtown. Overall, we both thought that it looked much better than we expected.</p>

<p>Coming in off of I-890 is not scenic, but it is not bad either. The street facing the south of the campus is just fine. About the only thing you can walk to in less than 10 minutes going that way that we saw was a Friendly's. Again, nothing beautiful but it looked okay.</p>

<p>To the west is Union College's College Park area. The houses they have refurbished right across from the campus (Seward) are beautiful and the street they are on is quite nicely done. The neighborhood behind those houses looked okay on a quick ride through. The converted Ramada, now a residence hall, is sort of in no-man's land -- not much there (I think they want to build on the vacant lot across the street, including a new home for Union's affiliated graduate school). The area around it looks like it would be pretty well lit at night. There is a synthetic turf field with lights right next to the residence hall and a pathway through the Seward houses and across to the campus.</p>

<p>The area to the north of the campus looked the sketchiest to us. There appear to be a few stores there.</p>

<p>To the east of the campus is a beautiful area of big, older houses. If you continue east along Union Street, you get to a little downtown-looking area (kind of like a Main Street) with lots of stores and places to eat, including places that college kids like (Quiznos, McDonald's, Subway, etc.). This strip is very nice and is about a 5 minute ride from campus.</p>

<p>From what we could tell, the campus is pretty much gated on its north, south and east sides (with several places through which one can enter the campus). The west side looks wide open.</p>

<p>We also drove around downtown Schenectady. It (like much of what we saw) has real potential, but here are many empty storefronts. However, the architecture is quite nice, there was some construction going on (I think they are building a movie theater and a hotel) and it was not a "dump." The area around the courthouse actually looked nice, with a park across from it and a new office building on the other side. Again, we were not walking around there at night, just driving through at perhaps 5:30 p.m.</p>

<p>We both thought the campus was beautiful, exactly what you imagine a small liberal arts campus should look like. The bells from the large church directly across from the main gate are audible on campus and add to a bucolic, collegiate atmosphere.</p>

<p>For what it is worth, I asked our tour guide whether she felt safe on and off campus. We were alone with her and it turns out we knew some common people, so I think she was leveling with me. She said she definitely feels safe using common sense precautions she would use anywhere (do not walk around at midnight by yourself, etc.). She said security is quite visible around the campus in the evening and that she was unaware of any of her friends feeling unsafe. I also asked a group of three freshmen boys if they felt safe and they said absolutely yes. Again, this is just for what it is worth.</p>

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<p>My son also loved the campus at Union. He is a long distance runner so the drawback was where to "run" around the community. He also liked Conn College. He'll be on the running teams wherever he goes,doesn't drink and is kind of quiet. The Minerva house system appeared to be a nice social option. ANy more comments about either one of these schools?</p>

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<p>maiby -- how about the streets east of the campus at Union for running? They looked very nice and pretty quiet. I am sure the track team members could tell you what they do (at either school). Union College or Connecticut College -- how wrong can he go???</p>

<p>My son is also looking at athletics and we thought the facilities at Union were the best we have seen at the DIII schools we have looked at. For example, Union has two lighted synthetic turf fields, whereas most comparable schools are lucky if they have one. This is important in a cold, snowy location. The main football field is a very nice size for a small school and the setting (close to everything else on campus, the hill on the side for excess seating, the frat house across from the stands, etc.) is excellent. It looks like a mini version of a real stadium, as opposed to just a field with bleachers. Union also has a very nice workout facility, although I think this has become very common at small liberal arts colleges.</p>

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<p>The workout facility at Union was very impressive!! Lots of machines and flat screens! Interview for Union is next week (off campus) so maybe he'll think of some more questions.</p>

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<p>Downtown Schenectady is five minutes walk in the southwest direction (and perfectly safe in the daytime--somewhat deserted at night, as many downtowns are.)</p>

<p>Some parts of downtown Schenectady are depressing and rundown BUT other parts of down are quite charming--and there is a general upturn in Schenectady. (Their bond rating was the lowest in the state a couple years ago, but the new mayor has really turned things around. And if, as expected, the governorship of NY changes parties next week, things should be even more promising for Schenectady, since the city and county leadership is Democratic (which has made them something of a stepchild under the Republican governor.)</p>

<p>Anyway, here is a guide to some charming parts of downtown Schenectady five minutes walk from the southwest corner of campus:</p>

<p>There is a pedestrian mall downtown with a several nice cafes and a small but excellent independent book store (which includes a card and gift shop). The bookstore's website has a drawing of the pedestrian mall which conveys some of its charm:
<a href="http://www.opendoor-bookstore.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.opendoor-bookstore.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>(There are also several eclectic used bookstores in the downt direction within five minutes walk of campus as well as an excellent downtown public library, which is about to undergo a major expansion.)</p>

<p>I'll post more about down later--there are some gorgeous landmarks and historic areas near campus.</p>

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<p>My son also loved the Union campus and is intrigued by the Minerva houses, as he is also somewhat quiet. I wasn't concerned about the neighborhood at all until we were on our way home from our second visit. I don't know which direction we were heading, but we left campus and came to an intersection that wouldn't let us turn left, so we went right (along the perimeter of the campus) and then I turned a block away from the campus, to go around the block and turn around. Well, the main drag was pretty, historic houses, but one block behind them were row houses that looked pretty sketchy. Lesson learned - when you want to check out the neighborhood, get a block or two OFF the main roads.</p>

<p>That said, Union seems very nice and I wouldn't worry about my son's safety there. I just find it odd that someone hasn't put up a pizza shop and a 7-11 next to campus, seems like they'd make a fortune. Most other colleges seem to have those type stores nearby. Since frosh can't have a car, he would seem to be hostage to the prices at the campus store!</p>

<p>At least Wisteria said there are some stores a "5 minute" walk from campus.</p>

<p>Our family really likes Union, but we crossed Trinity off the list due to concerns about Hartford, so it only seems fair to check out Union's neighborhood as well.</p>

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<p>More stuff near campus:</p>

<p>Within an easy 5 minute walk of campus is the Mohawk-Hudson bike-hike path, a 40-mile trail for running, hiking, biking, or rollerblading along some of the most gorgeous and scenic river views in the state:
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/mhbway/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.geocities.com/mhbway/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Within a 10-minute walk WEST down Union Street (opposite direction from the neighborhood Three Sons discussed) is the beautiful historic Stockade neighborhood. It's got beautiful preserved and cared for historic homes dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. (The Dutch originally settled it in the 1600s.) The Stockade has several inexpensive and charming cafes, including one with open mike poetry. Also in the Stockade is the Van Dyck restaurant, renowned for live jazz performances.</p>

<p>Within five minutes walk of campus is Little Italy, which has Perreca's Italian Bakery (totally amazing bread!) and a great spumoni place.</p>

<p>Downtown Schenectady has the Electric City rock-climbing gym. It's a commercial facility that normally costs about $12 a visit, but a Union student started a rock climbing club which the college subsidizes, so it only costs a student $2 per visit to climb.</p>

<p>Then there's Proctor's Theater, a gorgeous restored theater that attracts national travelling versions of Broadway shows and acts like Peter, Paul & Mary. They are renovating Proctors and putting in a 3-d "Extreme Screen" movie theater. Again, Proctor's is just five minutes walk from the southwest corner of campus.</p>

<p>Admittedly, there are parts of Schenectady which are still rundown and depressing, but the city is definitely turning around. (And the municipal bond rating agencies have taken note and raised the city's rating substantially in the last year or so.) </p>

<p>Union College's partnership with the city has been an important part of that turn around. The college has a big emphasis on community service and has invested a lot in turning around the worst neighborhood adjacent to campus.</p>

<p>There used to be a dilapidated bar and grill on a corner near campus. The college bought it, renovated it, and turned it in to a beautiful community outreach center, where Union students now run afterschool enrichment programs.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.union.edu/Community/Community_Center/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.union.edu/Community/Community_Center/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I agree on checking out the neighborhood. The reason I wrote about the surroundings is that I had concerns before we visited. No doubt, there are areas near the campus that are questionable. From what I could tell, it is mostly north of the campus that is sketchy a block or two in. Let's face it, being in Schenectady is more dangerous than being in a rural area or in Saratoga Springs, for example. However, it did not seem as bad as I expected. Quite frankly, I doubt Union is any more dangerous than BU or NYU, but we like NYC and Boston so we do not think about those cities in that way. There have been incidents on Union's campus and it is an open campus, meaning the public can come and go as they please.</p>

<p>Wisteria, are you a student or do you live in Schenectady? Maybe you can tell us more about actual threats vs. perceived threats.</p>

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<p>Lafalum84 is right--there are sketchy neighborhoods very close to the nice neighborhoods and you do want to be careful which way you turn in Schenectady!</p>

<p>As far as pizza places near Union College, there is at least one pizza place directly across Nott Street from Union College called Gepetto's. I don't know if it's any good, but it's certainly convenient. </p>

<p>Also, immediately north and west of Union is a very Italian section of Schenectady (known as Little Italy) and I'm sure there are a number of pizzerias a bit farther away which deliver to campus. Plus many upperclassmen have cars. </p>

<p>Here's a page from the college website with a dining guide to nearby restaurants:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.union.edu/Visitor_Center/dining.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.union.edu/Visitor_Center/dining.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There are at least 25 places on the list above within a 10 minute walk of campus. (Though admittedly, it can take another 10 minutes if you happen to be located on the far side of campus from the nearest point to a particular restaurant. And also, some of these walks are not ones I'd recommend taking at night. But for lunch or even dinner in daylight savings time parts of the year, walking with a friend should be fine.)</p>

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<p>Union's location is actually one of its great benefits. The Albany airport is just minutes away, making the campus as readily accessible as any in the country. The city of Albany presents myriad opportunities as well. Saratoga is thirty minutes away. It has been a magnet for Union students for generations, perhaps a bit less so since the advent of coeducation. One can be in the heart of the Adirondacks in less than an hour. Lake George is a fun destination in the Spring. Driving time to Boston and New York is less than three hours. Colgate and Hamilton, not to mention St. Lawrence and Hobart are so much more remote.
Schenectady, former home to G.E., has arrested its decline and is very much and up and coming situation. The G.E. plot contiguous to the campus rivals West Hartford or Roland Park in Baltimore. The alliance of the college and the city continues to foster improvements in every category.
The suggestion than Union is a downtick academically from Trinity and Hamilton is simply not accurate unless one is A U.S. News victim. A Union education rivals the so called best colleges in America.
Athletically, Union hold its head very high. The football team has been one of the most successful DIII programs over the last twenty-five years. DI hockey is is very popular. Women's teams regularly vie for league championships and inclusion in NCAA playoffs.
The Union campus is arguably one of the most beautiful anywhere. It is very intimate and charming. The Nott Memorial, affectionately known as "The Nipple" stands prominently as the focal point of the campus.
Admission to Union is very competitive but less so than the Little Three making it a very attractive destination.
Union grads are prominent in every profession, Goldman Sachs partners, a recent Merck c.e.o., Wachtell Lipton partners, entrepreneurs, and a Nobel winner, just to mention a few.
The new president of Union, Stephen Ainlay, is one terrific individual. Union's profile will definitely ascend on his watch.</p>