Is Albany a fit for me?

<p>I wish Albany didn't have such a bad reputation at my high school, just because it's not so nice looking. I have a 3.3-3.4 GPA, 1870 SAT, can I get in?</p>

<p>The bad reputation is not deserved. Albany ranks highly in some rankings and not it others, but the rankings are controversial. I actually think the campus is interesting. As I’m sure you know it was designed by world renowned architect Edward Durell Stone. In any case, don’t let what other people think bother you or stop you from getting what you want.</p>

<p>Your stats should get you in with no problem. I understand that UAlbany had their admission stats go below 50% this year, which doesn’t happen very often. In any case you can always call their admissions office, and they will advise you…short of any guarantees.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>You’ll most likely be accepted.</p>

<p>I was accepted this year with similar stats, but EA:</p>

<p>3.2 GPA
1880 SAT (720/520/640) (12 Essay)</p>

<p>I’ll actually be attending SUNY albany this year! Chose it over New Paltz, which was a bit to hippy for me. I liked Fordham also, but at 50k…no way! For the record I actually liked the architecture, although many people hate it.</p>

<p>It certainly has a party school rep, but don’t let that discourage you. If you plan to be serious and motivated then the school has much to offer you. If you don’t plan to be, then you could just as easily become a party animal at some first tier school as well.</p>

<p>And of course, if you do want to come for the partying aspects (I don’t know if you do or not! Then there is much to be found, and at a lower price than private schools.)</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advise. I liked Albany much better than New Paltz also, too much a commuter school, I heard there’s not enough to do, but nice area for mountain climbing. Good to know it’s not all party people,( Fountain day looked insane). I like to have a good time, but I want to do well.</p>

<p>I got in with similar scores and I am attending Ualbany Fall 09. I thought the campus looked pretty nice and some of the academic programs there are good. I also got in oswego, New paltz, and Oneonta but I thought Albany was the best for my major (accounting) so I decided to go there. Its also only about 5 hours from where I live (Long Island), and the price is reasonable.</p>

<p>The middle 50% percentile GPA is 88-94 (B+ to <em>low</em> A) and your SAT score puts you at around the 70th percentile of admitted students so I’d say you have a very good chance as long as you are taking a solid college prep curriculum. Albany has some very good departments and for a university that has that “party school” rep it has more success in graduating its students than most of its SUNY peers. It isn’t a pretty place but there is a lot to do in Albany, a large student population in the metro area (Union, RPI, Skidmore, St. Rose, Siena) and, if things get too dull, Manhattan is only 2 hours away by Amtrak. It’s funny, when my sister went to Albany years ago it was regarded as the top SUNY by many people and she used to go over to RPI to party.</p>

<p>I hear mixed reviews about Albany wherever I go. I know they have good programs there, they have what looks like a pretty good journalism program, and I’m sure there are good internships in the capitol. On the negative side, I hear the food is awful, the dorms are old and small, (I saw),and when you’re ready to move off campus, the nearby area looks like a ghetto,(I saw) and is not so safe. It’s the only Suny that makes sense for me, I think, and I definitely don’t want a large loan when I graduate, so I’m trying not to private or out of state options.</p>

<p>If you think the area surrounding SUNY Albany looks like a ghetto then you have lived far too sheltered a life. The main Albany campus is surrounded by commercial strips and middle class neighborhoods. It gets a little sketchier down by the College of St. Rose, where some of the older Albany dorms are located but even this area is not a real ghetto. As at any urban university be alert when you are out and about, travel in groups at night and lock your doors. Simple precautions and an alert attitude will keep trouble at bay 99.9% of the time.</p>

<p>Why is the Suny graduation rate, Albany in particular, no higher than the national average which is about 65% for 6yrs.? Is it because kids can’t get the classes they need when they need them, or is there a lack of student advising? Is it a less competitive atmosphere? They say the average student has a 3.4/ 1800 SAT, but why do other state schools like Penn State, or James Madison have graduation rates in the 80%?</p>

<p>I’m surprised to hear the preference for UAlbany over New Paltz. NP seems to be a much more up and coming school with a better location, great college town and fun and down to earth population. It’s not a commuter school at all and while the area does attract a hippyish population, the students are more artsy and creative than hippie. I think the population is changing as the school gets more competitive and the academic reputation keeps rising.</p>

<p>My son is a transfer student at NP and has never had any trouble getting the classes he needs and got to choose his adviser - he picked the head of his dept, and is getting all the advising help he needs.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you wherever you have decided to attend school!</p>

<p>There has been alot of discussion about graduation rates on the boards…so do a search and read about. There should be no problem getting the classes you need at UAlbany. Take a look at the course listings for your areas of interest. Also take a look at the MAP for majors that interest you. Many programs can be done in 3 or 3/12 years depending on how many classes you take, AP credits and so on.</p>

<p>I can’t stress enough your need to contact advising or a professor at UAlbany or any college, and speak with them directly. I think you’ll find they are more than willing to spend time with you and answer your concerns. Forget about the rankings and all that. The food for example is fine…</p>

<p>The SUNY system is wonderful…I think all of them are good schools…it’s a matter of fit. What is right for you may not be a fit for another person. I doubt when your finished with school and employers review your qualifications that the topic of 4-6 graduation rates will be discussed. In the SUNY system, the graduation rates are more about the students than the schools. So it follows that your success will be more about you than where you went to college!</p>

<p>I just want to make sure that I can get out in 4yrs, if I’m doing my part. I think you’re wrong about the food, I have a few friends that go there, it’s not Albany’s strong point.</p>

<p>One of my friends’ son, a junior, just had his housing assigment cancelled by mistake. They had his depoit. Just lost track of him. Now they say, they’ll find him a room somewhere. Comforting – not.</p>

<p>You may have a treat in store re:food. There’s a new cafeteria
[UAlbany</a> News In Photos - University at Albany - SUNY](<a href=“UAlbany News In Photos - University at Albany - SUNY”>UAlbany News In Photos - University at Albany - SUNY)
I just ate there yesterday. Fresh, healthy, tasty. Take a look!</p>