<p>Hi everyone, this is my first post but I've used this forum quite a bit in the last few months ( when I wasn't registered) to help me with the college process. Now I really need your help. I am waitlisted to my top choice university, and while I have a few good choices, the financial aid packages just were not enough. It looks like I will be attending University At Buffalo in the fall. I've been researching it more and trying to get myself excited for it. I would like you all to post what you think is best about UB, why it is a great school, how the people are, etc. I really want to be more excited about the school so please respond. One of the things I am concerned about is travel expenses. I live in New York City, so it must be pretty inconvenient to travel all the time. What are the best ways to travel? and are there any student discounts for traveling into the city? Thank you everyone!</p>
<p>My son just decided on UB and is now getting psyched.</p>
<p>He applied to and was accepted at all 15 schools he applied to. Various privates, OOS publics and 2 other SUNYs. Due to his major, 1/2 those schools are now off the list anyway as they did not have the major. HE had gotten lots of merit $ from many of those.</p>
<p>Anyway, UB seems like a good fit for him. Cost in this economy was important.</p>
<p>My older son (in college now) has many, many happy friends at UB. Everyone seems to love it.</p>
<p>I noted on the UB website today that the student population is about 24% from NYC metro area. Plenty of downstaters and certainly, plenty from the rest of the state. I expect the kids to be nice and friendly. </p>
<p>We live on LI and I suppose my son will be flying into JFK, LGA or Islip. Buffalo airport is close to the university and there are numerous flights each day. If you google the airport and check departing flights, you’ll get a list of carriers and destinations. It seems very easy to get up there and back. </p>
<p>What are your other choices?</p>
<p>My D is a freshman and very happy with her choice of UB. She had some amazing choices last year, including Brown, Penn and UMich – and decided that UB was the best fit for her. Many of her friends/dormmates are downstaters as well; there are a variety of tranportation options: many drive back and forth at breaks (carpooling with a group of kids from the same general area), a few fly, I think there are also some bus options. We’re in the Albany area; Amtrak is our friend :)</p>
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<p>My D is in the same situation - many private school acceptances with scholarships, one waitlist for her program at her top choice. UB was her academic and financial safety but, after visiting twice, talking with her advisor and other faculty and students, it became her favorite. Last weekend I reminded her to contact waitlist school to see if she needed to do anything else to remain on the list and she informed me that she won’t go there even if offered! Her reasons…UB has one of the best programs in the country, she will have 1/2 the debt or less upon graduation, and UB offers so many more things to do and be involved in than many of the other schools.</p>
<p>My favorite saying is, “Wherever you go, there you are”. In other words, college will be what YOU want to make of it. Be glad for the opportunity to have a great university education that won’t leave you buried in student loans and give yourself a pat on the back for being more financially savvy than many of your peers!</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your responses!</p>
<p>Crazed, thanks for the tip about the airport, I just checked the fares and it doesn’t look too bad! Glad to see that your son is excited about going to UB, I’m starting to as well =) My other choices include Boston University, NYU, St.Johns Doctor of Pharmacy Program,U.Mich, and waitlisted at Cornell =( </p>
<p>orchestramom, thank you for telling me about your D, I will look into Amtrack as well! =D</p>
<p>sk8ermom, my parents tell me the same thing too, that college is what I make of it. I’m gonna try and get out of this waitlist rut I am in ( waitlists are just hell >=O), and start to be thankful for the places I did get into. Thank you for your advice =D</p>
<p>Thanks again everyone 
and if you have anything else to say, post away ^_^</p>
<p>^^ Gonna<em>Go</em>Krzy,
UB has a fantastic pharm program, from all I’ve heard. Also, if you are exploring Amtrak, they offer discounted fares for students through the Student Advantage discount program.</p>
<p>GGK, saw your acceptance to SJU PharmD - are you going to be pre-pharm at UB?</p>
<p>sk8ermom, yes I will be pursuing pre-pharm at UB =)</p>
<p>Hey I live 10min from UB and I can tell you its definitely a good school + I think the people in Western New York are really nice and really down to earth</p>