If you have no scores yet, then I would do as much research as you can from websites to find schools that match your academic and theatre/music interests.
Then in spring of next year, after you have taken PSAT and SAT, a more targeted list can be made.
The net price calculator can tell you if you might qualify for aid. It usually asks for parent income, household size, savings other than retirement accounts, also student income and savings.
SUNY Geneseo actually has a LOT of green! The fairly traditional campus overlooks rolling hills and green fields. While it’s situated next to a small town (town of Geneseo), I have heard students comment that it feels too rural for them. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Rochester. Geneseo might not be right for you for other reasons, but google some images and I think you’ll see it’s quite green.
Each of these SUNY’s listed in your list and the OP’s, some have a VERY different feel between each. You might be able to get a good idea from doing some research here,before visiting, since some are very far from you. New Paltz and Stony brook are like night and day, we have visited both, let me know if you have any questions-feel free to PM . My s is a junior and just began his search this summer.
I think Geneseo probably has the best reputation on your list and I think if being near a great town is important, then New Paltz has the nicest
Great advice given already! I also agree with seeing of any of your friends are visiting these schools, and see if you can tag along. My S did that for a few that I just couldn’t seem to manage to get him to.
On the ones that your mom will go see with you, really try to involve her in the day. Ask her for her opinions, try to encourage her to see stuff that has caught your eye- “hey mom, come check this out”. Perhaps if she sees this as a fun, bonding experience that you WANT her to be a part of, she may decide to go see more.
Good luck!
This is what US News had to say with respect to SUNY-Geneseo:
“Walking on Main Street in [the town of] Geneseo is like stepping into a vintage postcard. The 19th-century architecture of the storefronts, in an area designated a National Historic Landmark Village, seems to meld into the 220-acre campus of SUNY-Geneseo . . .”
Last year, we stayed overnight in the town of Geneseo and it was absolutely beautiful. On the way to town, tons of farm and green land then town was a quaint village. I also see geneseo is a nice size for a state school.
I agree that Geneseo is quite a pretty village. I go to my orthodontist there! Another thing though as I’ve seen passing through the college campus is the amount of hills that I would have to walk up on the way to campus. Pair that with the fact that they don’t necessarily have what I want in regards to classes, and Geneseo is pretty low on my list.
And I’ve looked at almost all the SUNYs (including Binghamton, Buffalo and Stonybrook) and I’ve narrowed them out in some way or another. Stonybrook is out because I feel that it’s a bit too far away, and I forget the reasons Binghamton and Buffalo were out, but it was probably having to do with not having quite what I wanted major-wise.
For your academic interests, Ithaca College would be good. Syracuse would be as well, but is in a mid-sized city. Supporting scholarships may be available depending on your achievement level and other circumstances.
The next few months will be useful to find out financial realities, can your family contribute to college costs with your sister in college as well? Does family income qualify for Pell grant, NY state grant? What EFC does your sister have, what aid does she get?
And do test prep, take some practice tests. Kaplan has free PCAT prep I think and Khan academy partners with Collegeboard for SAT prep.
You need to know these to know which schools might be matches, safeties, reaches.
You will apply in late summer/fall of senior year and the FAFSA will be available to file around October 2017 as well. 2016 income will be used, tax returns should be done by that time.
But net price calculators can be helpful for early estimates.
I’ve looked at Ithaca and Syracuse for other interests in the past, but I’m not currently interested in them now. I have my list of schools that I’m currently interested in (subject to change, of course), and I was trying to figure out ways to learn more about each school without visiting, and advice on how to visit these colleges. But thank you for the suggestions, @merc81 
If your family is low income and qualifies for free/reduced lunch at school, you can ask your GC for SAT fee waivers.
My parents won’t pay for any part of my college education, which is the same situation with my sister. I need to work through college to be able to go in the first place, which is why aid is a significant factor for me. My parents are only willing to fill out the FAFSA, and not contribute any money themselves. And I don’t know what the EFC for my sister is, but she only applied for one scholarship and ended up not getting it, so she applied for a federal loan to help pay for college. But she is commuting, whereas I want to live on-campus, away from home.
And I’ve definitely been doing test prep, through Khan Academy and also from the official SAT prep book from College Board. I’m working my tail off so that I can get good merit aid to maximize my opportunities!
@mommdc Unfortunately, we make just enough money to not qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, but not quite enough to justify paying boatloads for college, multiple SATs, etc.
If your family is lowish income, I understand why your mom doesn’t want to visit colleges. If you can’t afford them, there’s no point.
After you get your Oct. SAT scores, start running schools’ Net Price Calculators (each website has one) to see if they’re affordable. You can only borrow ~$5500/year. Unless you qualify for TAP and Pell, or have very high stats, getting enough money to be able to dorm will be a challenge. Apply to Brockport as a safety.
I would still try running some net price calculators with your psat score to at least get an idea. Private schools that use the CSS profile might end up giving you a decent amount of both gift and merit aid…you can search here on CC for places that offer the best merit. It seems the general advice is to find places that you land in the top 25% to get the best chance of merit offers.
Thank you everyone for giving me such helpful information! I appreciate it a lot!
With no parental contribution other than being able to live at home and commute, finances will probably be the more important factor in your college choice. Run the net price calculators on your colleges of interest to get an idea of what may or may not be affordable.
If you have high stats, you may also want to try for large merit scholarships:
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ (if National Merit)
When my D was applying, we visited SUNY New Paltz, which she hated, and Stony Brook, which she also hated. We didn’t go to Plattsburgh until after she was accepted. We never visited Cortland, Geneseo or Oneonta, the other schools she applied to. She was not accepted to Geneseo but did get into the other two.
If you are interested in music management, Oneonta has a good program. My friend’s D is in it and likes it. I am not sure if non majors can do theater.
Some SUNYs give merit scholarships. My D and S both received merit money at Plattsburgh and were in the honors program. Oneonta, Oswego and Cortland also give merit money. Geneseo gives a small amount to the tippiest top students who could probably get into an Ivy but fall in an income category where it just isn’t doable. New Paltz does not give merit money.
If you are interested in SUNY’s, you should attend a SUNY only college fair.
@ucbalumnus Thank you so much for those scholarship links!!! So far I have pretty decent stats (close to 4.0, lots of APs and college classes, etc), although the PSAT and SAT will determine the rest of my stats.
@techmom99 I’m not very interested in music management. I’m interested in being a social media manager or consultant, probably to the self-published writing community or the nonprofit sector. But thank you for the tips about the SUNY schools and merit! They are really helpful! I’m also looking into lots of outside scholarships, but scholarships from the institution are definitely a perk!