<p>D1 was admitted to Geneseo and New Paltz. We have been to NP twice (not wowed, but liked it well enough) and plan to visit Geneseo week after next. However, she is having second thoughts about going to school so far from home (6-7 hours). As a parent I would not let my own qualms about distance interfere, but will respect her decisions re: what she's comfortable with. We have seen kids go far away and thrive, and others end up back home at the CC, so know it can go either way.</p>
<p>Distance issues aside, my question is this: does anyone feel there is a big disparity in the quality of teaching and academics at the two schools? Geneseo is ranked higher, but is the actual academic experience really all that different? One of the issues complicating the decision is that D. is completely undecided when it comes to potential major - she's interested in everything from English Literature to Biology to Environmental Sciences, and at this point has no idea which direction she'll take.</p>
<p>Adding an FYI -- she LOVES Bard. She was admitted with decent FA, but unfortunately it's just too steep :( She def. leans a bit left, and likes a laid back atmosphere. She is not into heavy partying, drinking, sports, or a prevalent Greek scene, if that helps. </p>
<p>Let her choose the campus where she feels most comfortable. Yes, Geneseo is rated higher, but there is so much more that goes into picking a school than rankings.</p>
<p>We visited Geneseo and New Paltz a few years ago with our youngest son. He hated Geneseo. The main lecture building looked so much like his Elementary School that it made him laugh. On Sunday, the businesses (which aren’t many) on the Main St. off the campus were all closed. There weren’t many places to go to within walking distance.
It felt very remote and when he imagined himself stuck there during the typical Geneseo weather, he didn’t want any part of the school. </p>
<p>Many people love Geneseo. After our visit, it was obvious that our son wasn’t feeling the love. </p>
<p>I’ve heard from a lot of people about Geneseo that when you visit, you know if it’s for you or not. For me, while researching colleges, I “knew” that Geneseo was the school for me. I considered the whole college visit road trip a formality because I was going to Geneseo. However, when I got there, I was not feeling it at all. I wasn’t clear from your post which school is the one that’s 6-7 hours away, but if it’s Geneseo, it’s the same distance for me. I was kind of paranoid about going so far, and I think that fear was amplified because Geneseo is a very very small town and it could be easy to feel trapped there. I think your decision will be easier once you actually visit.</p>
<p>We’re actually leaning towards New Paltz but people are telling us we’re crazy. I was just wondering if there was really THAT big a difference between the quality of education from one to the other. We talked about it tonight and the issue now is that she’s not sure she even wants to visit Geneseo due solely to the distance. I would like for her to be able to compare the two, but on the other hand, the distance issue is not going to change…</p>
<p>Thanks, Rebecca–
If we took away the distance issue, she’d have seen Geneseo already. It would certainly make my life easier if she went to NP, and the option to come home for a weekend (if she ever even wanted to) would be there as well.</p>
<p>I’m just wondering if we’re crazy to take Geneseo off the list without even visiting. I’d love for her to be excited about a school, rather than just resigned due to having to say no to Bard because of finances. UMass is a possibility too, but she found it overwhelming.</p>
<p>If she likes New Paltz, I would give her a big hug, congratulate her on her choice, send in the deposit and forms, and let her sit back and enjoy the rest of her senior year. Then, I’d order her a nice SUNY New Paltz hoodie and let her start bonding with the idea of going away to college.</p>
<p>mom of a New Paltz grad here, son grad last summer with degree in accounting and had a great time there with nice friends, supportive faculty and the location is a nice area and distance for us on LI. My friends dtr grad a few yrs ago with her degree in art and is doing well. Geneseo is far and remote so a totally different feel/ experience vs NP. I think a happy and motivated student will get an excellent education at either school.</p>
<p>As a community college teacher, I place kids in both schools. Geneseo is ranked higher, but I don’t think the quality of the education varies all that much. New Paltz keeps improving, and the atmosphere is much closer to Bard than Geneseo’s. Geneseo has been known as “the teacher’s college” for quite a while. I think it is breaking out of that pigeon-hole a bit, but New Paltz is still more freewheeling.</p>
<p>I know that both my kids would have preferred New Paltz, though I’ve known many kids who loved Geneseo.</p>
<p>I think you can feel comfortable letting her make her own choice.</p>
<p>We have mulled over this, and she just feels more comfortable with New Paltz, so that’s good enough for me. She was not aware of the distance when she applied, and said if she was going to go that far, she would have applied to Macalester and other far away schools.</p>
<p>That said, before final decisions are made, it looks like we may take one last peek at UMass. It seemed way too big and impersonal at first glance (and it still may), but we’re keeping an open mind. One of her brothers did a complete 180 and ended up attending a school he hadn’t liked at all on first glance.</p>
<p>When we were visiting SUNY schools, my son didnt want to visit Geneseo because he thought it was too far away – even from Binghamton, where we were the day before. I insisted we go since i thought it was important for him to see all of his options. Needless to say he stepped out of the car and immediately knew it was the place for him. Yes, it is a small town, but it is beautiful, safe and filled with friendly people. If your son or daughter has a car (or a friend with a car) there is a larger shopping area a mile or two down the road complete with Wallmart, Wegmans, Wendy’s, and more. Although I do know my son spends some weekends at the local night spot, at least its within walking distance in a very safe place. There’s a bus service that leaves campus at midnight on holiday breaks and arrives at various stops on Long Island the next morning so travel during breaks doesnt have to be horrible. We’ve also discovered some great places up there during our visits with him. We have rafted and hiked at Letchworth Park which is 20 minutes away, and enjoyed an amazing meal at the NY Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. There is also an outdoor performance arts center (CMAC) in Canandaigua which offers top line performers in a breathtaking venue. Not to mention Rochester is not that far away and offers more arts and entertainment opportunities. I would say “in the middle of nowhere” is a really great place for them to be!</p>
<p>Sounds like your decision is made, and I don’t think you or your daughter will have regrets. I have 2 daughters at New Paltz, freshman and senior, both bright hardworking interesting people but not virtuosos at anything. Both happy there. I think they’ve had some very good profs (and a few lemons, of course) and as much help/mentoring/attention as they wanted to seek out. I’ve seen Geneseo and knew a few kids who went there. Lots to recommend it, but I don’t think it’s so vastly superior as to overcome your d’s desire to stay closer to home. Mine felt the same way. New Paltz is probably a bit closer to Bard in vibe as well, in a more economically down-to-earth way.</p>
<p>My sister is graduating from SUNY New Paltz this year. the campus isn’t the greatest in her opinion, mainly some of the buildings definitely need renovating, however she loves the vibe from NP and the surrounding town. There aren’t too many great choices for living in off campus apartments, although they are pretty cheap. </p>
<p>FWIW if your daughter is the type that likes to party more than never and smokes pot, then NP is the right place for her :p.</p>