<p>My daughter is considering applying to Geneseo She previously ruled out BU because of the distance (we eastern NY), but now may consider it. It just seems SO big and overwhelming! She went to a small hs (130 in class). Does it feel impersonal? Is campus walkable? The premed/bio program looks great- that part we like! ANy advice?</p>
<p>I’m from eastern NY as well going to UB, but from a graduatiing class of about 1000. Considering the cost of tuition, room/board, and their great programs i think you’re in a win win situation. Yes campus is huge and you will get lost, but i think she’ll get used to the size by the first 2 weeks. There are campus shuttles that run throughout north and south campuses every 2-3 min so that doesnt mean you have to walk everywhere. Besides, as a freshman all of her classes are gonna be on north campus. Yes UB may be the biggest university in the SUNY system, but i think she’ll adjust to it pretty quickly. You have to keep in mind that any school she’ll attend she’ll have to adapt to its size either way.</p>
<p>My D is a rising soph at Buffalo, doing very well and happy with her choice. There were 40 in her H.S. graduating class, so she was making the leap from VERY small to HUGE. She has had no difficulty making the adjustment, and there are a variety of structures in place that help make the big UB environment smaller: the dorms, for one. Also, if your D is competitive for Geneseo, she may likely be a candidate for the UB Honors College, which is another way the school creates a smaller community within a larger one. The main UB campus (North) is very walkable, and most of the academic buildings are connected (called “the spine”) which makes things much easier in the depths of the Buffalo winter! (We are also eastern NY btw – Albany area – and have found the drive on the Thruway fast and easy. Almost too easy, the flat, straight roadway can get a little monotonous…)</p>
<p>My D, an incoming freshman, also thought UB was too big at first. After the second visit it didn’t seem so intimidating and by the time orientation was over even I could navigate fairly well! I think that one of the things that attracted her was the number of smaller groups or communities UB offers like the Honors College, health professions LLC, undergrad academies, etc. as well as the variety of activities and clubs. Lecture sizes were also a concern but most of her large classes also have a recitation section and current students reassured her that there is ready access to professors and TAs as well as the study/tutoring centers located in the dorms. </p>
<p>The campus is walkable and it seems that most kids walk from Ellicott to the Academic Spine (about 10 min, no hills). Governors is very close so definitely walkable. Or they can wait for the shuttle bus in a protected area just outside the dorms. As o-mom said, the main academic buildings are connected by second story walkways. Compared to many of the upstate schools, it would be a breeze to navigate UB in the dead of winter!</p>
<p>I know it’s a long trip for you but revisiting on an open house day - I think there’s one in November and March/April - would probably be beneficial. My D doesn’t like huge crowds and we found that these worked out well as they divided everyone into their intended majors for the tours and Q&A and then we were on our own to explore, take a bus to South Campus, tour Ellicott, etc.</p>
<p>I have gone through two years of science prerequistes and have to say that the big classes can be scary at first. I know a few people from my town who heard UB was huge and immediately wrote it off as too impersonal. But the larger classes I have been in all have a multitude of TAs available to help you, in addition to the professors themselves. Small colleges tended to make TAs out as the bad guys, but really I have never seen the problem with them. Sure, some of them have poor interpersonal skills, but I would say 90% of them are helpful, work with the professor closely, and are much more approachable than a professor.</p>
<p>That was a bit of a tanget, but overall, I would say UB hardly feels impersonal. The campus is big and there are massive amounts of students, but with the big size, it becomes easier to find your own little niche within the thousands of people.</p>
<p>Buffalo does seem HUGE at first. When I first began visiting schools, I had visited Syracuse, Geneseo, and Buffalo within 3 days. I liked Syracuse and Geneseo for different reasons, but did NOT like Buffalo at all. I had basically said I wasn’t even applying there. Well, I eventually did apply, I received a full scholarship from Buffalo and decided to take it. After learning more about Buffalo, you realize it’s not as huge as you think (I know that doesn’t seem possible and you think well 28,000 undergrad/graduate is still 28,000 kids…HUGE). but there are TONS of programs that will help make it smaller. I am in the honors college which has 325 students in it from each class. Definitely apply for this and scholarships. Freshman are able to live in special housing that has just honors kids in the dorm. The honors college also has a lot of unique things that they do (this Sunday is the first Sunday and they are taking us out to dinner and a tour of Buffalo). So yeah, it seems huge now, but once you really start looking into it, you’ll realize there is A LOT to do, it has A TON of clubs, activities so you will not be bored, and it’ll just provide a great atmosphere. it’ll take some getting used to i’m sure, but you willg et used to it</p>
<p>A school is only as big as your network of friends.</p>
<p>I went to a huge (45,000) student school and it did not seem big at all, other than a huge campus. Had my great group of friends, kids I saw in classes and even those I passed every day on the way to class (strangers) that always said hello.</p>
<p>We got a great feel at UB. Students seem super friendly so don’t let the apparent size throw you. the undergrad population will be your focus. </p>
<p>(By the way, son picked UB over all the schools he applied to, was accepted at all with varying merit awards, SUNY’s, privates and OOS publics. You must visit and get a feel. Don’t be swayed by prestige, etc. See what feels good to you!)</p>
<p>By the way, of the 28,000 students, there are 19,000 undergrads.</p>