This has gotten me very frustrated as of late.
I looked up the school and it seemed to be fairly good, so I noted it for my college list. When I visited the campus I absolutely fell in love with it (I can’t believe people would call it ugly, it looks amazing!) Not only was the campus fun to walk around, but the staff and students were so lovely to me. Everyone was friendly and did their best to help me out, which I greatly appreciated.
They talked about all the different opportunities they offered at the school and I was pretty much sold on the school, but when I got back I did a little more research and saw some mixed reviews on the school. I knew about it beforehand (I asked a student about it and she said the frat boys usually stayed in their dorm or out in the town), but it is getting me worried.
Is the school still a party school? Is it just as bad as it was before, or has it improved?
Please, I need to know because I don’t want to waste my future because of a mistake like this.
Also: are the teachers good? Are they supportive? Are they helpful?
If not, can you direct me to a school that is more academically focused with great teachers?
@gbooper I am the father of a son who is a sr in high school and is applying to the suny schools. I have done a ton of research on the schools so here is my take. My son is applying to Albany, Bing, Buffalo, Geneseo, and Buffalo.
We have gone to some of the Albany open houses. In fact, we just went to one this past weekend. Albany back in the early 80’s was right up there with Binghamton. Albany is still a very good school, however, it has slipped over the past 25 years. Albany did have a party rep going back 7 or so years, but that is no longer the case. Sure, there are always students who will party but you will find that at all schools. I do not care if you go to Albany, Geneseo, Binghamton, etc etc. There will always be partying. But, if that is not your scene, you can always avoid parties.
My son wants to go into accounting/business and Albany has an excellent business school.
Binghamton is the most prestigious SUNY. I would say it has students with the highest gpa’s and test scores but Albany has bright students as well.
What you have to do is visit again and just see if the school feels like home to you and go with your gut. Also, if you go to any school and you find that you do not like it, you can always transfer. Believe me, it is not a life or death decision.
Albany is excellent for accounting. While Bing school of management is really awesome and PWC salivates all over Bing students, I know tons of kids who were B to B+ students at high school, went to Albany for accounting and have done really well for themselves, we are talking mid six figures compensation.
Here’s the thing: it’s college, so parties are inevitable. Can you avoid them? Yes, by not going to them. Seriously though, even if you go to an ivy league university, expect partying to occur.
That being said, UAlbany’s party scene is NOTHING comparable to what it once was, in that it has calmed tremendously. I am from the area and I go to UA; I’ve seen it back in its “prime partying phase” to now.
If you love the university, go. I highly suggest it. I LOVE UAlbany, and I think you will too
SUNY Albany is a very good school at a great price! Binghamton may be ranked higher and harder to get into but I would much rather live in Albany thank Binghamton.
SUNY Albany followed a trend that some other SUNY schools adopted earlier of scheduling spring break to include St. Patrick’s Day, which has decreased its party rep.
When I was in college, Albany was a top school. At that time, Bing and Geneseo were the party schools. Things change.
S17 has several friends at Albany and I have friends who have kids there. All are happy with the school. We looked at it for my middle son, but he hated the campus. He also hated Stony Brook. He wound up at Plattsburgh, which tells you his taste is more towards classic, older buildings.
