<p>Can anyone tell me what the academics are like at Ithaca college? Also, how are the programs in Exploratory, Anthropology, Business and Photography? What is life like on campus, etc? My daughter is considering applying there and besides their website, we know little about the school.</p>
<p>Just a little info here: my son & a friend visited Ithaca a few weeks ago. Both liked the 'bohemian' feel to the campus and the friendliness of the students (they were asked to join in a hacky-sack game as they passed by a group).</p>
<p>Sometimes it's timing; though...a dad I talked to said his son visited & there was no one around (of course, it was 9 am on a Saturday...!).</p>
<p>Not known in the west ...</p>
<p>pamelab, I happened to notice that there is a trip report on Ithaca that was posted just in the last couple of days. You may want to check it out. </p>
<p>A friend's son is starting there in September. His family was disappointed - they wanted him to at least consider that larger, better-known school in Ithaca, but he had his heart set on Ithaca College. Good for him! It sounds like a great school to me.</p>
<p>We visited last summer. If you can get past all the identically hideous 1960s buildings, it seems like a very good school with lots going on academically. I seem to remember some excellent facilities for the business school. Performing arts were emphasized. D was interested in health sciences, and the facilities for PT were nice as well.
Seemed much more isolated from the town of Ithaca than Cornell does -- the walk down South Hill seems like it would be really long. But maybe I'm wrong about that and someone with a student there will correct me.</p>
<p>Your info about Ithaca College is really helpful. I think we'll take a drive up there and check it out. It is one of the few schools in our area with an outdoor recreation leadership degree and photography--both fields my daughter is interested in. THANKS!!!</p>
<p>pamelab,
You might want to look at SUNY Cortland when you go to Ithaca since it is only a few miles away. It is widely known for it's recreation major. I don't know about photography.</p>
<p>Pam - i am a 1983 grad - as far as academics it was rated very high - its premier program has always been communications - Radio and TV but the Photog dept. has always been strong - know they have a great recreation dept too. if you are going now you are in for a great ride - beautiful area in the summer - brutal in the winter though. Plus Ithaca is a great place for college kids - two major schools double the size of the City when school is in and they really welcome and cater to the students. Hope this was helpful</p>
<p>As silvervest said above, SUNY Cortland does have an outdoor recreation program. I do not think they have photography, but there is a media production minor within the Communication studies department and there seems to be interesting classes in digital video production, animation etc.
My kid is a sport management major at Cortland, so I am familiar with the school. Cortland and Ithaca are less than 40 minutes away (I've done the trip many times as d # 1 was at Cornell.) So I definitely think it worth your while to check SUNY Cortland too. OOS tuition is under $12,000, so if finances are an issue, you definitely may want to check out the campus. I've heard Ithaca is somewhat generous with merit aid but I'm sure the tuition at Ithaca is will above Cortland's.
if your d's main focus is photography and communication, you may want to add syracuse U into the mix but I do not think they have an outdoor rec program.<br>
The drive from Ithaca to Syracuse via Cortland (using route 81) is about 1 1/2 hours with Cortland being right in between.</p>
<p>Pam- I just checked out another program housed at Syracuse U.
This is going to get confusing so I'll give you a starting point-</p>
<p>There is a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry which is on the Syracuse U campus. It has a Recreation Resource Management program within the BS degree of Natural Resource Management. You pay SUNY OOS tuition and you can still take Syracuse classes too, so it may be a way to incorporate both areas of interest.
You need to check the program out through the SUNY ESF site and not Syracuse U. I'm real familiar with SUNY websites, so if you need a bit more direction on navigating into the program, I'll try to help. I think you can link to the school<br>
SUNY-ESF</a>, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry</p>
<p>I think if you're heading out that way to see Ithaca, then it's definitely worth it to try to squeeze in visits to the other schools (I especially agree with the SUNY campus at Syracuse). We visited Ithaca for both daughters, but neither one went there; one was interested in communications, but chose Syracuse; the other was interested in performing arts, but did not get in. One of my concerns about Ithaca (which won't necessarily be an issue for you) was the almost impossibility of flying in and out of there with any reasonable fare, since we are from the Chicago area. Syracuse, although still not easy, had many more options, including Amtrak.</p>
<p>As a town, I fell in love with Ithaca. And unfortunately, once you see the Cornell campus, Ithaca's buildings just don't compare; but the views are incredible.</p>
<p>Not for the OP's D, but is Wells worth looking at if visiting Syracuse, Cortland, or Ithaca? What academic area is Wells known for? I always wondered bc it is such a tiny school.</p>
<p>Hi Northeastmom- it's been a while. I'm not real familiar with the academic programs at Wells but this is what I know--
it's a small liberal arts college in Aurora NY that just went co-ed in the past 2 (?) years. There is a connection and cross registration is allowed with Cornell and Ithaca college. I think it is very limited and may be based on one's major. I know I have seen a Wells van at Cornell. My d did her study abroad semester with a program through Wells. I was very impressed with the Wells coordinator for my d's program.<br>
One of my co-workers graduated from Wells many years ago- they seem to have a proud and strong alumni base. I read a few articles about Aurora NY in the NY Times recectly. (I really do follow upstate news alot as both girls went to school in Central NY.) Seems like they are trying to make the town a bit more upscale and apparently the locals are not thrilled with the idea.<br>
You can probably travel from Ithaca-Aurora-Syracuse within 90 minutes but you'd bypass Cortland with that itinerary.<br>
Haven't made it up to the Aurora Inn yet, but it is supposed to be real nice.
This year's summer plan is to explore Keuka Lake. I'm becomming a real Finger Lakes maven!! I Don't plan on checking out Keuka College- but yes, there is another NY school in the Finger Lake area.</p>
<p>Hi Marny, and thanks. Anyone else with any knowledge about Wells (other than the fact that they are now coed)?</p>
<p>Back to IC. The academics are quite good. Faculty are top notch and well connnected. Students are diverse and talented and not likely to slack off. Many are involved in activities in the community, parlty because IC is so strong in theatre and music. Students often add their talents to local productions and performances, and seem deeply committed to making a difference in all that they do. Ithaca itself is a rich environment for practically any kind of endeavor. All in all, a wonderful place to spend four years of college. . .just come with an open mind.</p>
<p>It's a lovely, little, campus on a beautiful lake (Wells College, I mean, located on Cayuga Lake). Not really sure how the change to coed is going (i moved away several years ago) but I think it got off to a rocky start. Other than that, it provides a wonderful learning enviornment. . .at least this is what I always heard will living in Ithaca.</p>
<p>pamelab, Ithaca is a good little college. :) In the range of competitiveness, it's about in the middle. For those guides which use the range of competitiveness which goes Most, Highly, Very, Competitive, Less Comp., Uncomp., Ithaca is placed in the Very range. Acceptance rates are in the 70% range. It's small, and, as someone else said, is fairly isolated from Ithaca itself. Beautiful area but extremely cold and snowy winters. And Teri is right, transportation could very well be an issue.</p>
<p>two sayings about Ithaca. . .'it's centrally isolated' and 'ten square miles surrounded by reality'</p>
<p>i think it's a great place to explore ideas, but both Cornell and Ithaca College are very serious and practical when it comes to career placement.</p>
<p>cold? buy a long parka and gloves. simple as that</p>
<p>silvervestersmom-- thanks so much for the recommendation to check out SUNY Cortland. I'm not at all familiar with the SUNY system, but will definitely check it out now. (fascinating screen name you have, btw)</p>
<p>cfeeley610--your insight was most helpful as a former IC student, particularly about the photography and recreation departments. Thanks!</p>