Deciding on a College

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I'm trying to make some decisions for my education. I'd appreciated some feedback about these schools. I've weighed the negatives and positives of each one.Just so you know, I am an UNDECIDED MAJOR so I need a school with a lot of guidance and a lot of classes and majors offered! I live in Westchester County in New York, so all the ones I applied to are in the northeast.</p>

<p>The ones I've been accepted to so far:</p>

<p>SUNY Oneonta - Will be the cheapest. They gave me a $6000/year scholarship, which is a big tuition cut, considering the school is already cheap. However, out of the seven schools I applied to, they probably have the lowest ranking, and I don't want my education to suffer. I've also heard they don't give the students a lot of guidance, and I really need to decide what I'm going to do with my life!</p>

<p>Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY - Looks very nice online! I also recieved a $16,250/year scholarship! However, I've heard the dorms aren't very nice. I haven't visited yet, but I am going to their open house on April 3rd. Some of the positives are that it is close to the city, so there is plenty to do, but that could also get distracting. Also, it is a, hour and a half train ride away from my house, in case I'm homesick, or need to go home for a weekend, it's convenient. </p>

<p>Stony Brook University - Also a SUNY, and a pretty good school at that! I've heard good and bad things from people who went there though. my brother's friend went for a sememster. He didn't like it because there were a lot of commuters. I really do not wanna go to a commuter school because feel like there wouldn't be a lot to do on weekends. I also have not visited this campus yet.</p>

<p>Binghamton University - Great School, and it would be fairly well priced. However, it is really big, and I'm afraid I would sort of get "lost" in the crowds. I llike the idea of small class sizes, and I've heard the classes at Binghamton are almost all huge lecture halls with 100 or more students. I would prefer to have smaller class sizes.</p>

<p>Quinnipiac University - This is a really good school, and the campus is gorgeous! I love this school a lot and it is one of my top choices. The dorms are really nice and there However, if I'm not mistaken, I believe it is a school that is heavily science-oriented. I'm not so interested in science, but am not totally opposed to a major in it either. Other than not really knowing the strength of their other majors, there is no problem with it. It will be expensive, but I got an $18,000/year scholarship, so it won't be so so bad. </p>

<p>Schools I have yet to hear from:</p>

<p>Marist College - Marist is in Poughkeepsie, and is probably the closest to my home, about an hour. Just slightly further than Manhattan. However, I believe the only way to get home is by bus, but that's no big deal. The campus is gorgeous and the class sizes are small. I haven't seen any dorms, but I'm sure they are nice too. I haven't heard a decision from them, so I don't know if I will get a scholarship. The most I could get is $12,000/year, and if I get that then the price will be a similar price to what Quinnipiac will be.</p>

<p>SUNY Geneseo - Great School, and it is also small, so I expect that the classes will be smaller than the other SUNY's. I haven't visited here yet either, but I HATE the cold, and I know that it's really far upstate, and would be really cold.</p>

2

<p>Please apply to a real school like NYU. Nobody knows these small “crap schools.”</p>

3

<p>I can’t tell whether chiclanda is being sarcastic or not, but I’m pretty sure most people who go to college go to random no-name schools.</p>

4

<p>So picky.</p>

<p>Science -> go to Stony Brook.
No science -> Binghamton.</p>

5

<p>Depending on your academic profile, standardized test scores, and extra-curriculars I would go for NYU.</p>

6

<p>For future reference: if the OP ever mentions money, NYU is too expensive to consider.</p>

7

<p>If you’re into science, go for Stony Brook. I’ve heard good things about its science programs. The rest I don’t know, as I am from California. :{</p>

8

<p>Sorry Chiclanda is being an idiot. I’d just visit Stony Brook and Binghamton and go to the one you like more out of those two.</p>

9

<p>Wow, some of these replies are harsh. I’ve actually heard of most of these schools but haven’t researched them in depth.</p>

<p>I would come up with a system where you could rate different aspects of the school (cost, academics, dorms etc) and then give them different weights based on priority. For example rate academics and dorms for a particular school each out of 10, multiply academics by 3 and dorms by 1 (because academics are more important) and add. Do it for every school and compare scores. You can adjust the criteria and weighting based on what you want in a school.</p>

<p>Another good idea is to talk to your parents. They will have insight on costs and will also know what will benefit you in the long run.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Sent from my VM670 using CC</p>

10

<p>What chiclanda doesn’t understand is that these schools are very well-known within New York…</p>

<p>Anyway. You applied to most of the schools I have! I think it all depends on your major. If you are more liberal arts, then Quinnipiac, Oneonta, Marist and Geneseo are good schools. Stony Brook is more science-y. You should visit the dorms at Manhattan College. Don’t go by what you’ve heard from other people because often what they find annoying about a school may not be what YOU find annoying, ya know what I mean? But either way, I’m sure you’ll make a good choice because these are all great colleges! :)</p>

11

<p>Thank you for the replies everyone! And yes, I agree that NYU is waaaayyy too expensive, thanks for all the help :slight_smile: I’m really excited to start looking at all these schools!</p>

12

<p>I agree with the rest of the answers! If you want to know about oneonta feel free to PM me! I visited last year and remember a lot lol</p>

13

<p>Visit.Visit.Visit. </p>

<p>Attempting to select a college online or with anyone’s advice will do you zero good when you show up on the first day and wonder what were you thinking. My daughter is a good student, president of her class through high school, in varsity sports and in all the theatre productions. Her personality is outgoing and she is well liked. She knew she wanted to be within 3 hours of home and a small school of about 5000 students. She did not want urban, rather a safe feeling, a nest of a campus. She visited 7 out of the 12 she applied to and selected the one she visited and felt connected to early on, SUNY Fredonia. She was accepted at 11 out of the 12 schools and all the private universities gave her scholarship money with her acceptance letter. </p>

<p>I can not tell you how many people reply they are “surprised” she selected Fredonia. I find it completely baffling that they would assume they know better than she does. The community we reside in is affluent and has a perception that higher cost = better product. In reality, after the scholarship money, both private and public schools were on par and finances were never a part of her decision process. Do not listen to what people think you should do, educate yourself, which includes a visit, and then do what suits you. You will know best.</p>