<p>I'm pretty interested in SUNY Albany but after reading several posts on various discussion groups online people seem to hate Albany. Can a current or recent grad please tell me the truth about Albany!!? Thank you!</p>
<p>I transferred in and am now a senior at SUNYA. I don't think it's that bad. When I first got here, I hated how all the buildings looked the same; but now I know my way around just fine. It's not the prettiest campus and not everyone is friendly, but I'm kind of a loner and I have made friends. Especially in the department of your study, you will get to know your Professors and fellow students as friends. There's a beautiful fountain in the center where students relax and plenty of green fields where students relax too. It does get very cold in the winter but their is an underground tunnel system that runs below the classes that many students use in the winter. The prices are pretty cheap compared to private schools. SUNYA is known for the criminology and the sociology programs. If you have a car (and some bus service is free if you flash your student ID), there's things going on in downtown Albany (e.g. ballroom dancing, open mics, lots of bars and some dance clubs, etc).</p>
<p>Isn't Albany usually high on the lists of drinking schools? That might be where the negativity is coming from.</p>
<p>SakuraSakura-thanks for your reply! Bad weather isn't a problem for me..I'm from Buffalo. I don't mind if EVERYONE isnt friendly but you didn't have a hard time making friends,right? I like having fun but is it true that everyone at Albany are huge partiers. I've heard that its not the prettiest campuses but as long as I like the people, the education is good, and there are clubs and stuff to do that doesn't matter to me at all! Im going to visit in September so we'll see if its a good fit!! Thanks for all the info feel free to share more:)</p>
<p>SUNYA was voted as the number one party school in some survey. In the school paper, many people wrote in saying the survey results were unfair and untrue. From my experience, during the Fall semester, you see himbos/bimbos on campus rarely carrying books but walking around more to be seen. From what I know, off campus, in downtown Albany, there are a lot of meat market bars where students get really drunk and wind up in some sort of trouble. As the school year leads into the Spring semester, I don't see most of these himbos/bimbos anymore. I guess they failed out, etc. In the dorms, I've heard some students smoke and drink, etc. Some of the RAs are strict and some don't care. I lived off campus with my b/f so this didn't bother me at all. </p>
<p>I think they give you a survey when you come in to try and match you up with the right roommate (unless you get a single).<br>
If you choose conservative answers, you probably won't wind up with a party animal. I can't remember if freshman have to live on campus the first year or not. Anyways, it'd give you a chance to meet people and choose the right people to move off campus the next year. Seem like there are a lot of places to rent from. When the semester is towards the end, you'll find ads up around the campus center "roommate(s) wanted". In most of my music classes, students were hardworking and dedicated. In one of my music classes that was open to all students, some of the non-music, liberal arts students seemed liked slackers that the Professor struggle a little to keep motivated and do the homework. The music department is small but it has some great Professors. It's not hard to get to know them and other students in the program. </p>
<pre><code> But like I said before, you'll always get a few sour or rotten apples wherever you go. I went to Schenectady County Community College and to SUNYA Plattsburgh before. My sister went to University of Buffalo and to various colleges in Miami Florida (bimbos and himbos galore...she'd see people in bikini tops and short-shorts going to class...and very humid. She rented a room from some elderly man that she found out later was a pervert. She moved out fast!) and in California (my dream would be to go here but she said all the students in the math department are all obsessed with math and very clicky and competetive. And she said it's too hot all the time her skin feels like paper and the grass is brown--this is at University at Davis). When my sister originally went to University of Bufallo (she lived on and off campus) she was so depressed there by the environment and other students. And she hated all the snow. She had trouble finding a place to park her car and some snow plow pretty much destroyed her car. She also drove in some really bad neighborhoods by making a wrong turn or two. Sorry I got off the main topic. I guess I was just trying to point out that all schools have pluses and minuses, and it really depends on the person and to some extent, what your major is.
From where I came from, SUNYA seemed really big. I almost never see the same people twice at any of the cafeterias. But when I'm in my departments building, I see people I have classes with all the time. Since you're coming from Buffalo, I don't think the weather here would be worse at all. I don't think Albany's weather is as bad as Bufallos. You guys are legendary with the amounts of snow, right? Campus not being the most beautiful is not a big deal. Everything looks alike at first (all the brick buildings) and it will frustrate you mixing buildings up; but it doesn't take long to figure it out. Then you start to notice the beautiful things on campus. There's this one area where they have cherry blossom trees all over. When they are in bloom, it was so stunning. Also coming from Bufallo, the size and drabness of the buildings there, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
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<p>On campus, at first, most people feel a little lost and insececure (except people who are returning or who made a lot of friends at orientation and kept contact or are jsut really social people), but this gets better and probably within a month or less, you'll feel like you belong too. On campus, I have seen posters for free movie nights, yoga, bellydance, etc. They schedule buses for a small fee to go to a casino or to NYC. You can buy bus tickets right on campus. The school often brings in guest speakers, musicians, comedians, authors, etc. The library is nice and big with lots of areas to study. I like the food court. I didn't relly feel strange when I first went there and sat alone at a table. Nobody cares and others sit alone too. There's a cool mall "Crossgates Mall" just down the street. Their are free public busses that come in and go back and forth between the college and mall. I have seen in the dorms nice exercise rooms with over a dozen pieces of equipment. There is a big gym with a lot more equipment but this I didn't think looked all new. There's also a bubble with indoor tennis (but you have to call and see when this is available to use). There's an indoor pool (though it's a little on the small side). There's also some dance studios. Either online or on fliers, at the begining of the semester, you can find out about these clubs. You choose an experienced choreographer and he/she teaches a dance and you guys get to perform at the end of the semester. There are various singing groups (e.g. Serendipidy, Chorus, Chamber, a gospel group, etc)! I guess there are various athletic things going on but I never got involved. I would say get involved in doing things you like. Consider getting a small work study. Don't make your schedule too full/difficult your first semester in while you adjust. I like the school. When I trnasferred in, they took all my credits and all I had to do was take music courses for two years for a BA degree. I fought for some of my credits and I won! I wish parking was less of a walk. </p>
<pre><code> A great free local paper to get is called "The Metroland" It lists all the events going on in the area. You can check their website out but it's easier to see all the listings of what's going on in the paper www.metroland.net. Search through all the different things on the website and you'll find really cool places and things to do in Albany. Sunya not too far from downtown Albany (just a straight drive/bus ride down Western or Washington or Central Avenue about 5-10 minutes. There are a lot of white people from Long Island, there are a lot of African Americans, and a lot of Asians on campus. It's a mix of everyone and everything. You have many young students as well as a minority of older returning students and handicapped students.
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<p>The many bad comments you read, is that from students who just passed through SUNYA on a campus visit or was it from actual students?</p>
<p>WOW..thanks for telling me all that. What do you mean when you said work study? Well the bad comments that I hear are really never from any current students..usually from people who have visited. Just wondering..why did you transfer so much and did u not like Plattsburgh?</p>
<p>Another quick question..it isn't that important but are there some religious groups on campus? Does religion seem important to any students?</p>
<p>Work Study=when you get a part-time job on campus (e.g. putting books away in the library) to make some extra money and meet people. I think on the finanical aid application, where you chooses if you want loans, you can check a box that you want "work study". I worked a weekend mornigs for a few hours at one of the dorms mail room at SUNY Plattsburgh. I made some extra tax-free cash and I met more people. You can probably apply for part-time work without having to check the work study on the financial aid application anyways.</p>
<p>When I first went to SUNYA Plattsburgh, it was a real culture shock. My mom was kind of a psycho and she wouldn't let me study music. People were nice there but damn it got cold (my face would turn all red and burn on some days in the winter)!!! There didn't seem too much to do up there. I thought people seemed to party even harder up there. I think the bar situation was smaller than Albany and across from my dorm was a frat house. So I'd sometimes hear loud music and on some weekend mornings, I'd see toilet paper on the trees out front. Other than that, it was a nice college. I was homesick for a guy I was seeing. He was going to school in NYC. I left school for awhile and lived with him for a few years in NYC. He was an artist going to Pratt Art Institute. It was just the break I needed for awhile to find myself.</p>
<p>After some years, I decided to go back to school. I was living near Schenectady with someone else. I heard Schenectady COunty Community College was not only cheap but had a good but rigorous music program so I decided to do study what I've always wanted to study...but waited too long to do...music!</p>
<p>After I finished SCCC, SUNYA was the next closest and affordable college to continue on to get a BA. They have a small music program but I liked the reputation of SUNYA's excellence in education (besides the party school label). </p>
<p>Feel free to ask me more questions!</p>
<p>Religious organizations:
Albany Pagan Society; Angelic Voices of Praise (sacred music); Campus Ambassadors; Campus Crusade for Christ; Hamagshimim; Hindu Student Association; Impact Christian Fellowship; Indian Christian Fellowship; Hillel; L'Chaim Lotus Group; Muslim Student Association; Newman Association; Protesant Campus Ministry; Ruach (weekly Reform Shabbat services); University at Albany Christian Association; Upside Down Club
I think there is a lot to do with Jewish Studies and life too. I never realized too much of a presence except for the singing groups...but then again, I commuted. I prefer more space and privacy even though you have to make sure you can juggle your bills. With enough roomates/loans/parent's help/part-time job, I don't think it's too costs much more.</p>
<p>allot of asian indians there?</p>
<p>There are a significant number but not the majority. There was a girl from India who had been a small celebrity. I think her name was Bindia? And she was a great Classical Indian dancer. She taught dance to children at the hindu Temple on Albany-Shaker Road in Albany, NY. I think that is the street name. She was studying "Accounting" at SUNYA.</p>
<p>Hey sakurasakura, I was reading your posts about Ualbany and your experience there - it sounds like you had a pretty nice time there! </p>
<p>Hope ur still reading this since ur last post here was in oct Lol.</p>
<p>Ive been concerned too abotu albany and all the bad rumors but Im glad that Ill be able to find people like you who actually do the work and appreciate the campus and its people/professors.</p>
<p>I guess by now you've already graduated but I was wondering if you knew anything about the honors program (i was offered $3500 in scholarship to albany) - Im thinking of attending the honors program at albany.</p>
<p>Thanks a TON for all the advice you've already given on the forums - hope you're enjoyin ur years outa undergrad =) Best of luck to your current and future endeavors!</p>
<p>Hi, I just PMed, but I'll basically repeat what I wrote for anyone else in the same boat.</p>
<p>My time there was pretty good. I spent more time off-campus, since I have an apartment (15 minutes away), that I share with my boyfriend.</p>
<p>I wouldn't want to live in the dorms. Hear they're overcrowded, etc. Yeah, I don't read this board much, but it let me know I had a message.</p>
<p>There are alot of hard workers, and an equal share fo students who are more lazy and spoiled (as one of my Professional likes to call them). I guess it depends on your major. If you are majoring in math or science, etc...you aren't going to find too many party people in your class. I like some of them in my class, because it makes me look even better to the professor, heh-heh! </p>
<p>I hear the honors program is great! They have alot of functions and celebrations for you guys. Congrats on the scholarship! Can't hurt to try and learn, you never know.</p>
<p>Thanks for your positive feedback. I am in my final semester at SUNYA. I thought about taking some grad courses, but I'm tired of school. I don't really want to work yet either. I'd like to soak some sun up (with a good sunscreen, of course) while sipping REAL fruit smoothies somewhere nice!!! Oh yeah, beware of the smoothie stand at SUNYA. The orange juice base they use must have alot of preservatives/acid in it. I always have a coughing fit after I order one, so no more for me.</p>
<p>As I type, it looks like Albany is going to the NCAA Tournament. They're beating Vermont by 24 points with less then 10 minutes to play. Go Great Danes!! (what a name). Big day in Albany.<br>
We're thinking of going to the Open House for Accepted students on 4/1. Anyone else planning to go?</p>
<p>Game Update-- Albany won!!! They're going to The Dance. They'll be partying in Albany tonight!!</p>
<p>basketball big there?</p>
<p>now it's pretty big...........ualbany is playing against uconn in philly tonight</p>
<p>OMG! Fifteen minutes left in the game, and Albany is up by 7. If Albany pulls this off-- Major Upset!!</p>
<p>UCONN woooo</p>
<p>If you are from Buffalo , you will like Albany ( minus all the ethnic food & late bars )</p>