Help me decide between Stony Brook and Buffalo?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Buffalo - SUNY
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<p>So, the two colleges I am deciding between are Stony Brook University and University at Buffalo. I just wanted your opinion to help facilitate my decision. :)</p>

<p>The financial aid is very similar (I would have to pay around $12k out of pocket for both colleges), with SB offering a $2.5k scholarship/year and Buffalo offering $3k scholarship/year.</p>

<p>I was offered a place at the Honors college at Buffalo (which means priority registration and research grants). I was not accepted into the honors college at SB and I have not been notified about university scholars yet, so I guess I did not get in there either.</p>

<p>Now this is where it gets nitty-gritty. I want to eventually apply to med school so I will be taking premed courses at either college. However, at Buffalo I applied to major in Biomedical Sciences (basically a premed major that lays a foundation to get more schooling, be it med school or grad school). At Stony Brook, I applied to major in Biomedical Engineering (unfortunately I did not take AP physics in hs, so my admission into this major will be dependent upon my grade in physics and calculus; I need a combined 3.2 gpa from both of these classes).</p>

<p>I have heard that med schools look for diverse majors, so I am leaning on BME (Buffalo does offer a BME major but it was only established 3 years ago and I am not sure about the curriculum and reputation of this department at Buffalo). I have also heard the BME department at Stony Brook is in good standing among graduates and companies that hire biomedical engineers. However, I feel I would best perform in the biomedical sciences major because this major is heavily science based so I would not have to worry about the math based BME major. The biomedical sciences major also provides most of the premed courses and the some of the other recommended ones (such as biochem and physiology). The BME major from SB only provides the necessary premed courses, so I would have to take other courses such as biochem separate from the major.</p>

<p>Location wise, of course my parents want me to stay close (SB is two hours from home, whereas Buffalo is 7 hours away). But my parents have said they are willing to send me to Buffalo if they feel I would perform my best there. I have been to both colleges and I love them both. Buffalo is huge but offers numerous amount of opportunities. Stony Brook has that home feeling to it but is also a train ride away from one of the most diverse and cultural cities in the world, NYC (I live 45 min from Manhattan).</p>

<p>So, I think I have said everything I wanted to say. What do you think? Where would you attend based on my circumstances? What are your opinions on each university? Each major?</p>

<p>Thanks (I am posting this to Stony Brook, Buffalo and College Admissions forums).</p>

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<p>Hi! I saw no one had responded to your post yet and so I thought I could say a few things…first, my sister is a undergrad student/nursing at stonybrook. I attend UB as a undergrad-social sciences interdiscriplinary major. I will tell you that my sister LIKES Stonybrook while I LOVE UB. The worst thing here is the constant snow/cold weather but I believe there is no greater state school than UB when it comes to medicine and research. </p>

<p>Because you said you have a bigger scholarship from UB and they have the program you want, I say go for it! The fact that the program hasn’t long started shouldn’t deter you…</p>

<p>I am just a junior year student in a joint degree program myself, not an admissions advisor…I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. </p>

<p>Good Luck and congrats on your scholarships…your parents must be proud!</p>

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<p>If they cost the same, go to UB. I was planning on enrolling before my first choice (surprisingly) accepted me. Stony is great in the sciences and medical field and all, but if you are choosing your school by it’s overall package and not just academics, UB is for you. Their engineering department is superb (I was going to do engineering there), so don’t worry too much about the BME age. It’ll be 7 years old by the time you graduate, and I’m sure it’ll take off by then.</p>

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<p>My dtr loves UB too and is a freshman in honors program for Chem Eng and she is very happy there. I have to say UB was never on my or dtr’s radar before she was accepted there but since she has been there whenever people I know here she goes there they tell me of someone else whose kids went there and loved it. The BME program is good but when med schools say diverse majors I think they mean less science focused. Whatever major you just have to do really well. I also know someone who went undergrad to UB and is now in their med school and still remains a big UB fan. Either way you have great choices.</p>

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<p>"The BME program is good but when med schools say diverse majors I think they mean less science focused. Whatever major you just have to do really well. "</p>

<p>Yes, that’s what they mean. I remember an admissions officer at Stony or UB (don’t remember) saying how a lot of music majors going to med school were accepted. Interesting.</p>