<p>Student is looking at SUNY schools but may fall just below admissions stats for most. Are there other state campuses such as Kutztown or Millersville that might be a good fit? Are those schools suitcase schools?</p>
<p>Would a student from out-of-state feel out of place at such a school? (We're not talking about a Penn State sort of school where students come from all over.)</p>
<p>Student wants a campus life.</p>
<p>Possibly schools in NJ, CT, NH or VT?</p>
<p>Finances need to be kept at about the prices of SUNY tuition.</p>
<p>SATs are just below 1000 on the old scale.</p>
<p>Looked at Fairtest schools; a school like Hartwick could be an option but is expensive.</p>
<p>Hartwick and SUNY Oneonta are right across the street from each other. I agree with the OP that Hartwick is pretty expensive...</p>
<p>Assuming that the student is a NY resident from being interested in SUNY schools, two PA publics worth looking at are Bloomsburg and Slippery Rock. My brother went to Bloomsburg as an NJ resident, and it was more reasonable that Rutgers (at least at the time)...</p>
<p>Suny prices are going to be tough to beat, but here are some other options anyway: Touro (reasonably priced), Champlain, Sacred Heart (probably not pricier than Hartwick), Hofstra (also probably not pricier than Hartwick).</p>
<p>possible NJ state schools: Richard Stockton, Montclair State, Ramapo College, Rutgers (not NB campus, and other campuses are not in the best areas of the state, and they are easier to get into than NB), and William Paterson. Also expensive, but just to throw it out there, there is Fairleigh Dickinson, Iona College, and Le Moyne.</p>
<p>Frankly, I have read some nice things on this website about Millersville, and have heard nice things about Kutztown.</p>
<p>The schools in the Pennsylvania state system (Kutztown, Millersville, Bloomsburg, West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Clarion, Indiana University of PA, Edinboro, Mansfield, Shippensburg, Lock Haven, California U of P and Cheyney) have slightly varying degrees of acceptance but generally SAT's of 900 - 1100 will get you in. The honors programs vary alot with the one at Indiana University of Pennsylvania being very well thought of. Since 90% of the kids come from PA and most attend one of the colleges within two hours of their home, they are sometimes suitcase schools. BUT, I don't think freshman are allowed cars on any of the campuses and if they get hooked on their schools freshman year perhaps they stay around more.</p>
<p>Most of the kids I know that go to Millersville really like it and do not come home on weekends. Kutztown is alot closer and most of the students that I know who went or are currently attending, often come home.</p>
<p>I can add that I know of two students at Kutztown from OOS, and obviously they do not go home. I have been in touch with one parent, and their son is very happy at Kutztown.</p>
<p>Also, have they considered the State College system in NY? Schools such as Buffalo State, Fredonia and the others are terrific options for those kids who fall just below the University system stats. Buff State in particular has a pretty vibrant campus life and its right on a terrific strip very conducive to college life (Elmwood Avenue).</p>
<p>Yes, they have looked at Plattsburgh as well as a few others. They loved Plattsburgh and would be thrilled with an acceptance. I agree that Buff State would be a perfect match and am crossing my fingers for that. </p>
<p>Also, this student prefers a city nearby rather than being in a completely rural area so that would really work.</p>
<p>Yes, I was going to suggest looking into Buff State and Fredonia. Buff State is in a really vibrant area of Buffalo. The campus itself is fairly small and no great shakes, but the area around campus is great -- lots of students and 20-somethings, lots going on. Fredonia is a nice, isolated community. I don't think it's much of a suitcase school because it's too far away from anything.</p>
<p>Here in PA, I do think kids like Millersville and Indiana U of PA. I haven't heard much about Kutztown. Plenty of kids from Philadelphia go to both, especially Millersville, and I don't think they come home much.</p>
<p>Also, how about West Chester? It's more suburban, and definitely something of a suitcase school, but it has a real campus and my impression is that a lot of kids hang around. I don't know what the admission standards are, but it's pretty popular with kids around here.</p>
<p>Ooops: Cross-posting. Fredonia, Millersville, and Indiana would be kind of out of the picture, I guess, if you want a city nearby. But West Chester could work -- easy public transit into Philadelphia, and West Chester itself is big enough to have things going on.</p>
<p>Hi Twinmom- we were in a similar situation last year. Kids SAT's about 960 but her ACT was a bit higher at 23 which is like 1060- so you may want to consider ACT test. With those stats and an 89 average my kid got into all the SUNY's she applied to including Albany and UB- so you may have better luck with SUNY admission than you think. As an "absolute safety" my kid applied to SUNY Delhi- it's near Oneonta and the campus was pretty nice- so if you need a real safety, you may want to consider that too. The only school my kid was rejected from was West Chester- so I don't think admission to WC is any easier than the 4 year SUNY colleges. We also looked at the campus of Eastern Connec U. which is very close to U Conn. It's a very nice campus- but I don't know how it is on week-ends.
My d is now a soph at Cortland. She's a heck of alot happier than I thought she'd be- considering she said she'd never go to an upstate SUNY school as it is "too cold" but she adjusted.<br>
Other schools that she was admitted to with her ACT/SAT scores was Towson-George Mason- and Temple.
Based on my "Memory", I think Buff State had the lowest SAT scores- so you really may want to apply there- but the SUNY application is really a breeze- I think you can apply up to 7 schools on one application. Of course, you have to see if there is a supplement for the individual school- but you can probably devise one or two essays and cover all the variables.</p>
<p>Hi Marny - Thanks for your words of encouragement. This student (not one of my own kids - a friend's kid that I am helping out) did not do well on the practice ACT so is not taking it. Her GPA is not at the level that your daughter's was - thus my concern.</p>
<p>I looked at Towson - scores seemed too high, but I will give it another look. Will also check out George Mason and Temple. I think they'd be thrilled with Cortland or just about any SUNY ... they have been visiting. They did love Plattsburgh.</p>
<p>I've been encouraging her to apply to most of the SUNY colleges but am trying to find some backups as well.</p>
<p>So glad you daughter is enjoying Cortland ... and how nice that she's close to your other daughter!</p>
<p>We visited both Towson and Millersville last week. Honestly, neither my DD nor I liked Millersville. It was in the middle of nowhere (Amish country). The campus looked like all the architecture was 1970's Brady Bunch style, and the grounds were not well maintained. I wanted to like it since it is in-state for us, but it was not impressive.</p>
<p>However, we both loved Towson. It was in a great area with a lot to do. It was clean and safe. It is definitely on my dd's short list.</p>
<p>My son, with GPA somewhat below Hartwick's average but SAT scores well above their average, discovered that they offer a bunch of $8000/year Regional Alumni Scholarships (renewable for four years) if you interview with them before 12/1. They explained that this is neither merit nor need based, rather they offer them as a discount off the tuition in certain geographic areas. You do not have to be related to an alum to receive one, just apply and do the interview. I do not know what criteria they use to determine who gets them, but we were told after submitting an application but before the interview that, if he was accepted, he would definitely get the $8000 and would still be considered for the additional merit scholarships and need-based aid. If you were looking at full sticker price at Hartwick, this could make a big difference.</p>
<p>Bassdad, We received mailings about those alumni scholarships. My understanding is that it will be awarded only if the student does not receive merit aid. In other words, it is my understanding that you would not get both, but I may be wrong. You might want to check, if interested.</p>