<p>Just my opinion but students turning down the Ivy college in favor of a SUNY was probably accepted to the IVY by accident anyway and should probably be at the SUNY. Great that your son likes his housing at SUNY. Cornell is a world class, highly ranked, outstanding national university. Going to Cornell will open doors in a way that SUNY won’t. Cornell students come from every state in the country and have outstanding credentials. The students at Cornell and at SUNY differ a lot. That means that the level of discussion and the opportunities differ a lot. People used to say the SUNY was a safety for those that did not get into Cornell. I don’t think that is as true any more. I think the overlap has declined considerably with the expansion of SUNY Binghamton. Kids coming from less rigorous high schools or with poorer academic skills may be better off at SUNY so maybe that was true for the 2 students you describe as struggling. They won’t struggle at Binghamton. That is probably true. I’m not sure that is a positive comment about Binghamton though. It is important to be honest so students make informed choices. Binghamton is not well known even in NY but once you leave NY people are likely to think you are saying Birmingham.There are many positive things about Binghamton. For a medium size state university if offers a lot of good things but it is not in the same league as Cornell. It simply isn’t.</p>
<p>You are entitled to your opinion, but let me say that if you think Cornell can open doors that Binghamton cannot, then I would say the PERSON matters more that the SCHOOL in the long run and you can’t put a price on happiness.</p>
<p>I attended two colleges and two universities on the way to paying my way through college and then I paid my way through graduate school on top of it all. After all was said and done, I concluded that what you get out of school is based on what you put into it as a person. Nothing more. </p>
<p>Now decades after graduation, nobody, I mean nobody I know gives a rat’s ass where anyone went to school. If you want to believe the branding pitch, go ahead. After all, you’re paying for it and that’s exactly what they want to you to believe.</p>
<p>I agree totally with you when you say Binghamton and Cornell are not the same schools. At Cornell, you expect people to open doors for you. At Binghamton, you learn to open the doors for yourself. You learn quickly at Binghamton that the world doesn’t wait for you just because you have an ivory tower up your ass.</p>
<p>Redsrule and Stateissue are completely off-base and seem to have some sort of axe to grind with Binghamton. It is a vibrant and dynamic place and there are plenty of students who chose it over other prestigious private schools because of finances. And no, when you’re family income is over 80 -100 grand, you won’t get anything but huge loans to ivies let alone other private schools. If you’re from NYC or the suburbs, your family is not living the high life on 100 grand a year to be able to take out such huge loans. Binghamton has a road map plan where it’s slightly increasing student body with accompanying faculty hires, academic facilities, and residences. It will remain a medium-sized institution. The faculty, students, and community spirit are all great. You will get a fantastic education with plenty of research/academic opportunities, excellent recruiting, stellar med/law/grad school acceptances and you won’t be in burdensome debt. </p>
<p>I chose Binghamton over Cornell. My husband chose Binghamton over Penn. I could go on and on. Many of our friends have gone on to great success in life and we all received wonderful educations and were very happy there. Shall I tell you who my successful, investment bank Managing Director husband just hired to be his secretary? She is a 3.7 Cornell ILR Econ major who just spent a year living in her parents’ basement and working retail to pay off her student loans. Now we are graduates some years out, but I am an active alumni volunteer with the Foundation and Admissions, and the quality of current students is really terrific. They are bright, creative, and engaged. It really angers me when people bash Binghamton based on some ridiculous bias against public schools or preference for “name” schools but no actual experience or data. While I grant that Binghamton might not be well known by all outside the region, people in the tri-state all know it well. I worked in academia and people at universities and companies around the country know and respect it, as well.</p>
<p>I’m not a PR person; just an alumna. I believe I did enumerate a number of strengths. What exactly is your proof of an “intellectual climate” that does exist at Cornell but does not exist at Binghamton? Binghamton is a public school and thus has a different mission and limited resources compared to some of the big endowment schools. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a dynamic, growing place with “intellectual” discourse. Why do you keep going on about graduating quickly? I believe it’s pretty rare. And last time I checked, most schools are accepting AP and IB credits, including Cornell. I don’t know why you think the facilities are so bad. There are many new academic buildings, including the new Engineering center (forgot what it’s called), and a new Science 5 and High Tech Incubator being built. There are new dorms, gyms, and other facilities. Binghamton does have a wider range of students than some ivies given its public mission, but they are still bright, engaged students that add to the diversity of the campus. I never said it was an ivy but it IS an excellent school with many benefits and a pleasant quality of life. There are many factors in choosing a college besides having been part of an athletic association many years ago. What is being misrepresented exactly?</p>
<p>Thanks. I know now what a BSing degree from Cornell can get you. Keep drinking that Kool-Aid, bro, because you’re paying for it! LOL</p>
<p>Fine article here about an unemployed Cornell graduate with TOP GRADES who can’t sleep because of her LOAN DEBT:</p>
<p>[It?s</a> no Wonderland - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Community Perspectives](<a href=“http://www.newsminer.com/opinion/community_perspectives/it-s-no-wonderland/article_fb003936-9dbd-11e2-aa3f-0019bb30f31a.html]It?s”>http://www.newsminer.com/opinion/community_perspectives/it-s-no-wonderland/article_fb003936-9dbd-11e2-aa3f-0019bb30f31a.html)</p>
<p>Great article here about how Cornell Law School is doing so well in comparison to its peers in (not) placing students:</p>
<p>[Which</a> Top Law School Has the Highest Percentage of Underemployed Graduates? « Above the Law: A Legal Web Site ? News, Commentary, and Opinions on Law Firms, Lawyers, Law Schools, Law Suits, Judges and Courts + Career Resources](<a href=“http://abovethelaw.com/2013/04/which-top-law-school-has-the-highest-percentage-of-underemployed-graduates/]Which”>Which Top Law School Has the Highest Percentage of Underemployed Graduates? - Above the Law)</p>
<p>Finally, here are some pictures of the “intellectual” atmosphere you can expect to find at Cornell:</p>
<p>[Cam</a> Girl Pleasures Herself In A Top Law School?s Library « Above the Law: A Legal Web Site ? News, Commentary, and Opinions on Law Firms, Lawyers, Law Schools, Law Suits, Judges and Courts + Career Resources](<a href=“http://abovethelaw.com/2012/10/cam-girl-films-herself-masturbating-in-top-law-school-library/]Cam”>http://abovethelaw.com/2012/10/cam-girl-films-herself-masturbating-in-top-law-school-library/)</p>
<p>YippeeSkipee, you’re not doing Binghamton a favor by bashing Cornell. redsrule, your claim that nearly every Binghamton student would wish to transfer to Cornell is completely inaccurate. I’m not sure where you got that from. But toots13 really does have a point: You have some personal vendetta against Binghamton. It’s really odd. Just for kicks I looked at your other posts, and pretty much every thread involving Binghamton you discourage anyone from going there. “Reds Rule”: We get it. You like Cornell.</p>
<p>Metroid9824, thanks but defending is not bashing in my book.</p>
<p>Yea, I’d like to know redsrule’s rationale for his hatred. He devotes so much time just to be pessimistic for some school and he only targets that one school.</p>
<p>Redsrule is either having some fun pulling peoples chains, or a Binghamton reject, or someone trying to rationalize why it’s ok to completely overpaid for a college education. </p>
<p>I dont think many people would disagree that Cornell is better academically than Binghamton. The question is it worth the significant added cost, especially for an undergrad degree.</p>
<p>Right now the cost of a SUNY instate resident living on campus is about 20 K a year while Im sure Cornell is approaching 60 K. You could do the math but for a 4 yr undergrad degree (assuming you get out in 4 years) the delta cost is 80K to 240 K. In addition it is not uncommon that you may have to get a graduate degree so now youre talking real money. All for the privilege, if you are lucky, of getting a low paid starting salary with no benefits and working for a boss that you hate that graduated some 3rd tier school you never heard of.</p>
<p>All SUNY schools including Binghamton have been getting more competitive, not less, in recent years for one simple reason. Most people simply cannot afford a private school education like Cornell. Furthermore Ive known people who could afford it and whom may have in the past not thought twice about sending their kids there but instead encouraged them to go Binghamton (at least for the undergrad degree) due to the significant cost difference. </p>
<p>In tough employment times the prestigious private schools used to gave you the edge, over the state schools in opening doors and networking, now that advantage is not as prevalent. And as more and more people are finding out you can have an equally difficult time getting a job out of Cornell as from Binghamton. The question you really have to ask, is really worth going to Cornell over Binghamton for your undergrad degree. My advice it best to go either to Community college (2 yrs) then/ a state school for your undergrad degree.</p>
<p>I am a new member here who just wanted to say that the “overselling” we have witnessed from Binghamton is what has turned us off a bit from an otherwise great institution.</p>
<p>I really don’t see a reason to compare Bing vs. Cornell. I also see no reason in condemning someone who prefers to pay more for higher ed. Spending more is not necessarily being wasteful.</p>
<p>By the way Bing is 23k for an in state student. We have received FA packages from private institutions that are not that far off from that estimate.</p>
<p>If you don’t see any reason to compare the two schools, then don’t. But such is the natural course of things is one is considering both. Kinda the same deal when you are shopping for anything, especially if you are on a budget.</p>
<p>I may have missed something, but I didn’t see anyone here “condemning” you for anything.</p>
<p>NeverLater is right. Estimated cost for 2013-2014 Bing, is 23k. Cornell is 60K.</p>
<p>Since most recent graduates, and that includes all the top schools, are not getting hired post graduation, (if that is ones goal) doesn’t make any sense to incur debt.</p>
<p>86K is going to be much easier to pay over 4 years than 240K.</p>
<p>You are right, samiamy. </p>
<p>In deference to Cornell, they have FA to make it more palatable to many.</p>
<p>But you have to do the math on any debt for sure, especially now since the interest rates on student debt is so high relative to everything else.</p>
<p>Yippee: I was not really talking about our situation nor do I think I am being “condemned” over anything. My comments were more in response to the overall concept of going for the cheaper alternative, which seems to run abundant in cc, and with reason. These are tough economic times and most families are facing incredible hurdles to pay for their children’s education.</p>
<p>I just think that is very narrow minded to just simply say, go to the state school because is cheaper. Cheaper does not necessarily mean better. There are many other things that should be considered: Student’s goals, personal fit with the school, access to oportunities etc. Also, some state schools are not really “cheap” at all. Binghamton is $100,000, all four years, if I account for projected tuition increase for years 2-4.I don’t really see where the bargain is there. </p>
<p>Most private schools would offer some financial awards that might make them reachable for the person, who thinks can only afford a state school.</p>
<p>My daughter decided to stay home and commute to a top 50 private school. With the grant received from the private school, we are actually paying less than Bing. It will also allow us to finance a year abroad, which could have been out of the equation had she chosen Binghamton.</p>
<p>Re. Comparing Cornell with Bing. Some people want the Honda, some people want the BMW. Am I going to talk down the BMW buyer by telling them the Honda is just the same thing? No. </p>
<p>I think the same concept applies here.</p>
<p>By the way, I still believe Bing is a remarkable institution. My daughter did not see a personal fit there, that is the main reason why she decided against it. She also wants to intern during the school year and she thought her opportunities could be very limited there. Other than that, we really see no difference academically speaking between the school she chose and Binghamton.</p>
<p>Also, I was personally very turned off by a student at Bing’s admitted students day, who flat out told us that she turned “down” Cornell to come to Bing and that she saw no value in going there.</p>
<p>Also, the tour guide just flat out told the students, " I opted to come here because the private schools just want your money with nothing to show for it".</p>
<p>I was there to find out more about the school… Not to be talked down on privates or Cornell.</p>
<p>It felt like a huge sales speech and I am very eery of those.</p>
<p>Did that affect my daughter’s decision? No. Bing is still a really amazing school.</p>
<p>In a word, “yes”.</p>
<p>I know kids who have turned down highly selective schools to go to Binghamton instead. One student I know had a real hassle with her high school because she was ED accepted to a private school, the aid was just barely affordable–really, it was not, and when Binghamton processed her application even though she withdrew all apps, she decided that the honors college there would be just fine and would make things a lot easier for her family, as the cost was half, and she would not have to take out loans either. </p>
<p>Right off the bat, I can come up with a dozen kids who turned down other schools for Bing. It seems to be happening more and more as the costs for private colleges have soared over the $60K mark. Several of my neighbors have kids going to the SUNYs, Bing and Geneseo, in particular. </p>
<p>Some of the programs at the SUNYs and CUNYs are ranked way up there, by the way, and getting into them is not easy</p>
<p>NeverLater</p>
<p>You make good points, some great points, and it sounds like you made a good decision for you and your situation. But I don’t see why you were turned off by a student’s thinking process as it applied to their situation.</p>
<p>You say: “Most private schools would offer some financial awards that might make them reachable for the person, who thinks can only afford a state school.” </p>
<p>In my experience it is some schools but not most and it really depend on the situation of the student.</p>
<p>You say: “Cheaper does not necessarily mean better. There are many other things that should be considered: Student’s goals, personal fit with the school, access to oportunities etc.”</p>
<p>Great point.</p>
<p>You say: “Also, some state schools are not really “cheap” at all. Binghamton is $100,000, all four years, if I account for projected tuition increase for years 2-4.I don’t really see where the bargain is there.”</p>
<p>You gotta compare apples to apples: all schools are likely to have tuition increases over the next four years so dressing up Bing. as more expensive in the future is not fair as this is the same applies to any school. Now a 5% increase is a larger number when it comes to a more expensive school. Also, Bing, is $92,000 for 4 years, not $100,000. </p>
<p>You say: “My daughter decided to stay home and commute to a top 50 private school. With the grant received from the private school, we are actually paying less than Bing. It will also allow us to finance a year abroad, which could have been out of the equation had she chosen Binghamton.”</p>
<p>Sounds like you made a good choice with your daughter so long she is okay with staying home. I have seen many kids forced to stay home and that will not work smoothly for four years if that is the case. </p>
<p>You say: “Comparing Cornell with Bing. Some people want the Honda, some people want the BMW. Am I going to talk down the BMW buyer by telling them the Honda is just the same thing? No.” </p>
<p>Well, a BMW and a Honda both get you from point A to point B and so they are the same thing in some people’s thinking and situation and there is something to be said for that point of view. </p>
<p>BTW, Bing, has intern opportunities but I can’t say if they are better than what you have found.</p>
<p>Yippee: You are right on the $92K. I had included the partial cost of a car for years 3-4, which should not be part of it, at all.</p>
<p>Honda vs. BMW, yep, you make a great point there.</p>
<p>About staying home, that was not something she initially wanted to do. I think she just happened to find great affinity with the school she ended up choosing, and that school happened to be local. I think she also traded 4 years of dorm experience for 1 year of studying abroad experience. Regarding internships, we just looked from the geographical standpoint, with Vestal and Binghamton being smaller towns.</p>
<p>To be honest, I was very hands off with this, since the choices were in the same price range and of similar academic quality.</p>
<p>BingUStudent: I did see your IM but I cannot respond because I am new here. To be frank, I really don’t want to go into further detail on it. I would hate for someone to be held accountable for their “personal” opinions. Yes, I found it in bad taste, but it is not uncommon nowadays. We did witness the peer university bashing at another school too. I am thinking a general mention would suffice. Again, I still think very highly of Binghamton and I would consider the school again, if I had more children. You are part of a fine institution and should be very proud of it. The commentary was a small black spot in an otherwise pristine canvas. I am sorry if I over highlighted the issue.</p>
<p>I work with several colleagues who are Bing grads and I only hear accolades from them. We also know several families with kids currently enrolled. Everyone is very happy with their experience there. We are also very grateful that the school offered my daughter a place. I know the school is becoming more and more competitive.</p>