I got accepted to both FSU and Albany. I liked both of them. No, overall they are not equal in every category. However, for MY specific major they are both the top schools. So do not say to me something silly like “FSU is so much better than Albany” or vice versa because I have got that. And I have considered that and rank does not matter to me.
However here is what does:
-FSU gave me the full OOS tuition waiver plus a $2400 per year Scholarship which can be used for anything. Albany gave me a small presidential scholarship too, so they are roughly the same price.
-I visited FSU (once) and Albany (twice). I loved FSU the minute I stepped on campus, while Albany took a little seeing to love.
-FSU would require a plane ride and then a two hour drive. We would hopefully use the scholarship for that. However, I would have to do it several times a year. Albany is 3-3.5 hours away by car and I would get to come home for small holiday breaks.
-I really loved FSU. I don’t want to burden my family with the transportation though. My mom says it’s all my decision but she gets to put her two cents in, which I understand. However, I almost feel like she’s steering me towards Albany. She gives these subtle jabs. I am torn. I don’t know if it’s my decision. I love he idea being able to come home once a month but I loved everything about FSU. Help! Ask for more info.
A vote for FSU here. Stronger university overall, more accomplished student body, livelier campus, much better weather, and a beautiful campus. What’s not to like?
You’ve expressed an interest in meteorology in past posts; FSU has an edge in oceanography and atmospheric science.
It’d be much better to fly directly into Tallahassee. Many college students don’t go home that often, at least after the first year. In any case, $2400 is definitely enough for several flights during the year.
FSU up by 20 at the half.
Oh wait, never mind.
@warblersrule I agree, and FSU is building a new building for the Meteorology department. However, Albany has partnered with a Media school for broadcast meteorology.
I also think that $2400 is enough for a few flights during the year. I’ll have to convince my mom to let me fly to Tallahassee, I would love to. Advice for convincing her? 
FSU all the way. I think you’d be shortchanging yourself if you choose SUNY Albany.
Penn State is better than FSU in Meteorology. sorry just had to say. I also pick FSU if i were you. A
@jdschooled5 advice for convincing your Mom to let you go out of state to FSU (over SUNY Albany), which clearly you are excited about, as well as you should be: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” That’s a quote attributed to US Navy Admiral Grace Hopper.
I don’t understand why it would be a two-hour drive to the campus from the airport. Can you clarify that? Or did you mean that your home is two hours from the nearest airport?
Trust me, you will not be coming home once/month, even if you go to SUNY Albany. You’ll probably fly 4 total round trips: Start and end of the school year, Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break. Throw in one more just for good measure, and one round trip per year for your mother to visit you. That’s six round trips. Figure an average of $300 RT Tallahassee/NYC (just using NYC as an example). That’s $1,800. A little extra for transportation to/from the airport.
Sign up for alerts from Airfare Watchdog http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/ for your route. You’ll be amazed at the bargains that can be had!
@NASA2014 Penn State is also $50K a year and give crappy scholarships.
@brantly I would fly to JAX. Flying to TLH is too expensive. Tryig to convince my mom to use the scholarship to fly to TLH though.
FSU vote here too. That being said, I know nothing about Albany.
I would also vote for FSU.
FSU is much cheaper than Penn State.
FSU would be my choice for a million reasons. Back in the day, I visited a friend at Albany, and I found the campus to be depressing due to all the cement and let’s not forget the weather. You can go anywhere in the country and they will have heard of FSU, but not too many people know of Albany outside of NY. Good luck.