I’m a student entering her senior year of high school who’s looking for colleges to apply to. The problem is, I’m kind of limited to where I can go. Financially, I’m probably going to end up either at a state school, or a private college that’s under my academic level where I can get scholarship money. I also have to stay in New York, as my parents don’t want me anywhere too far away (even so, about less than four hours from around central New York, so even colleges in places like New York City are out of the question).
Basically what I’m asking is, do any students attending New York colleges have any first hand experience with the LGBT community or overall attitude toward LGBT individuals? It’s one thing to say a college is inclusive and accepting, but another to see what an actual student has to say. Right now with only location, grades (around 3.5 gpa and 32 act score), and tuition considered, I’m looking at
SUNY Geneseo
Rochester Institute of Technology
St. John Fisher College
SUNY Binghamton
Nazareth College
SUNY Brockport
However, if you have any other recommendations or personal experiences at other colleges not listed, feel free to share.
Is there a reason why your parqn A have that limit on location?
My parents want me to be closer to home as they worry about something happening to me. They also do it simply for convenience sake (coming home for holidays and such). I’ve been unsuccessful in trying to convince them to go much farther.
While I don’t have any first-hand experience, I would say generally most colleges that aren’t extremely religious are LGBT-friendly and will have an active LGBT community (through clubs, etc.) I have friends attending basically all the colleges you listed, and have never heard them say anything about it not being inclusive. Nazareth was founded as a religious college, and the people I know attending it are fairly religious, but it no longer has a religious affiliation.
Are you a girl? Women’s colleges tend to be very open and friendly toward LGBT individuals. In New York, you have Barnard, which may be too far for your parents’ liking, and Russell Sage College, which is closer. Though not in New York, Smith College and Mt. Holyoke are only about 4 hours from Central New York (depending where you live – I’m basing it off of Ithaca, which is where I am) and Bryn Mawr is about 3 and a half hours away.
Can only speak for Binghamton but is overall very accepting, multiple lgbt clubs, nobody blinks twice.
Have you considered Purchase? It Has a very strong LGBT support, with the biggest event of the year ,Fall ball, being a drag show. But I don’t know what you want to major in
Definitely consider Hofstra on Long Island - very LGBT friendly and also a great residential life.