Overview of my visit to Syracuse

<p>My s just started at Syracuse, but I have to say that I have been impressed by almost everything about this school from the start. He received a phone call (every other school just sent letters) when accepted for Musical Theatre, and from the time he definitely committed to the school he received almost DAILY communications from them, as did we, his parents. Their emphasis on making first year students feel welcome is tremendous. The dorm situation is the only thing he is having trouble with - because of the "overacceptance" he is in a 6 person suite that is supposed to be for 4 people. We do feel that this situation will be temporary, and since he has been making friends and has a "ton" of work to do, it is not TOO big of an issue. Yes, one of his teachers is difficult to understand, but having spoken to many students over the past few years, this seems to be the norm at many schools, and is not something you can avoid. As far as the comment about the American Indian emphasis - Syracuse is basically IN the Onondaga nation territory and is close to others - seems to make sense to encourage this enrollment. We are middle class and I have to say that he received a good financial aid package - Syracuse was the most expensive school he applied to, but after scholarship and grant money, it came in at or below any other school. He LOVES cold weather, so that should be ok (I myself would cross it off my list for that reason alone!) Overall, so far, so good - I'll comment again after some time has elapsed and I have additional info.</p>

<p>Thats great that you made such a super match! My older D. is at UMD and absolutely loves it.
The younger wants to go to CA or NY (wants to be a pop singer) ...and we plan to look at Miami also.</p>

<p>What do they plan to do to relieve the housing situation?</p>

<p>As far as improved housing goes, basically, they feel that once the usual number of dropping out occurs, etc., everything will be OK. They can request changes beginning in October, and I would think students who are living under the cramped housing would get first dibs. Syracuse was also one of the first colleges in the country to offer students displaced by the hurricane admission, so I'm not sure if that will impacts things, which of course would be understandable. My s has a friend who is a sophomore and is in a campus apartment already, so at least by next year things should be much better.
Glad your kids seem to be happy with their circumstances, too. I have heard about many kids who are already homesick, etc., so I feel lucky he seems to be feeling somewhat comfortable so quickly.</p>

<p>I agree that I wouldn't focus on the weather. I do believe that Syracuse is an up and coming school. I can see the rankings of Syracuse rising over the forthcoming years. They do have potential considering they are currently ranked in the top 50 nationwide by US News and World Report for schools with doctorates and are in the top 100 schools as far as endowed assets.</p>

<p>i took some classes at Syracuse, but i wasn't impressed. Classes were at least 300 students, and were taught by TA's. I elected to take more classes at the local community college. Smaller classes, better students, and the presence of SU and LeMoyne professors. (to clear things up, i was enrolled in two colleges last year, racking up credit after credit). It was rather odd running into one of my SU professors at the community college. </p>

<p>I grew up in Syracuse, so i know what the weather is like. Depressing at times, but beauitful at other times. </p>

<p>The mean reason i wanted to transfer out of Syracuse was the students. The party scene was way too big, and I wanted to be at a place that put more focus on academics, rather than just social reasons. I didnt really realize how important the student body is to making a University when I applied to colleges out of high school. There's nothing like having an intellectual conversation where you learn loads and loads of cool stuff with your best friend. </p>

<p>SU is wonderful for some people, but it just wasn't for me. I'm glad I left and have found the place where I want to stay for my undergraduate years (and hopefully masters' years as well). I'll miss SU basketball, however. </p>

<p>As far as selectivity goes, i have no idea what to say. I know some very smart people who were rejected (one is at NYU), and some complete idiots who were accepted. By idiots, i mean C average in HS, sub 1000 SAT. I dont get it! Many people from my high school end up going to Syracuse (since my high school is just outside of syracuse). Honestly, write great essays, have good teacher recs, and anybody will a decent gpa, SATs will have a shot. </p>

<p>If SU is the type of school you've been looking for, you'll have a wonderful time.</p>

<p>As far as weather at SU goes, to quote SU basketball coach Jim Boeheim:
"Hawaii is just Syracuse in July." and tbh I dont think the winters are all that bad, however I grew up an hour and a half north of Syracuse so maybe I'm just used to it.</p>

<p>its so good to read all of this. i was just accepted early decision at syracuse. im from atlanta georgia so its never really been that cold. people keep saying how cold it is but i really want to go there so i think i can handle it. when tax said anything other than communications and art isnt that good i got kinda worried. im goin to lc smith for computer science. as for the mixing of the races, im guessing i can handle it. im the type of person that likes to talk to everyone no matter what color they are. idk about the rich kids. ive never been around rich kids at all. theyll probably annoy me. i realized im part of the over acceptance by 400 students class. i hope i dont get a cramped room like the guy with 5 roomates. but thats college. syracuse did give me a good financial aid package. i also got accepted at the university of georgia. my mom really wanted me to go there bcuz it was way way cheaper. but bcuz if su's package. its actually cheaper for me to go there now. i just dont kno how were gonna handle the 750 commitment fee. thanx for your comments. bcuz i live so far away i have no way to really get a feel of syracuse but you guys have really helped.</p>

<p>Melo, if Syracuse is cheaper than Georgia, you should go there. I never said that majors other than for art, communication and maybe the Maxwell school aren't that good, I did state "not that good for the money invested." I do think that the other programs are good, just not necessarily much better than that of state schools. However, if you got a great financial aid package than attending Syracuse shouldn't worry you at all. It is probably a lot more nurturing and fun to attend over University of Georgia. Syracuse staff must take smile pills because everyone is very nice and helpful, unlike the uncaring bureaucracy found at most state schools.</p>

<p>Be advised, however, Syracuse is in a very cold climate and most students are from the northeast. Because you are living in a southern state, this could result in a bit of culture shock for you. However, I think it will expand your horrizens over attending the University of Georgia, where most kids are southerners. MOreover, I don't know the effect of the large number of kids who accepted Syracuse last year. I can't evaluate how overcrowed the university will become as a result of that problem. However, I would bet that Syracuse will handle it well.</p>

<p>tax youre great. i knew syracuse would be a culture shock which is actually what im looking forward to. ill love it there.</p>

<p>Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write this! It's funny because the only two schools I have considered at SU are Newhouse and VPA, yet, I keep hearing such negative things about...well, such things you discussed. The spoiled rich kids that paid their way in, the horrid weather, and the expensive costs...of everything. And I cannot believe the costs!!! One website I checked (said it was updated) said that the tuition, room and board, and everything entirely...was a little over 33,000...and come to find out it's practically 39,000!! That's a huge difference. I don't think their programs are worth that much</p>

<p>(not trying to convince you, but it may help others who read this thread)
They're pretty liberal with the scholarships. I'm finding Newhouse to be very worth my while. I just finished an interview with a former editor of the magazine in the midwest for which I'd like to work. She mentioned that she knows my advisor. I also got to meet a graphics editor from the Chicago Tribune and a former Newsweek graphics worker (not sure what his position was). The connections make it worth it as much as the facilities, resources, and classes.
And if it helps, none of my friends are spoiled. We're all on some sort of scholarship.</p>

<p>Yes, Syracuse gives out a lot of scholarships, and a fair number of kids do get some form of scholarships. However, if you are not one of the ones who get some money, such as what happened to my daughter, it does leave you with a bad taste to be one of the few who are asked to pay full tuition.</p>

<p>Those guys work for Syracuse</p>

<p>which guys?</p>

<p>About the Arts there - my D's freind transferred out of SU to Tufts because she found the program not up to par ( she was a painting major ) .</p>

<p>I didn't think that Tufts has a good art program. They do, however, have a joint program with the Museum School of Fine Art. Is that where you are taking your courses?</p>

<p>Northeastmom,just for the record my daughter got nothing. I even called them up to see if they would come close to matching other comparable school, which they didn't do. Suffice it to say,she didn't go there.</p>

<p>just because someone says that SU is generous with scholarship doesn't make them a university conspirator...SU was only an option for me because of the amount of (merit) aid I was given and yes, I will speak well of the school that was so good to me...that doesn't mean I'm getting paid for it!</p>

<p>SU stat--about 75% of students are on some sort of aid. I don't know the total validity of this, but at CAS convocation they asked you stand up if you were getting scholarship (not work study or loan), and the majority of students did.</p>

<p>about the spoiled rich kids thing--yeah, they exist, but they're more or less focused in the frats...some house fees are pretty high and so become more exclusive...but the general SU student? middle class. Don't worry if you can't splurge on everything; that's what Waterloo is for (designer outlet mall within 1 hour of 'cuse)! =p</p>

<p>any questions (CAS student), feel free to PM.</p>

<p>taxguy,</p>

<p>Interesting lowdown on Syacuse. One thing, for the record, though is that SU did have a medical school, but sold it to New York State in the 1950's, I believe, where it became what is now as the Upstate Medical Center/University.</p>

<p>While in SU's hands, the medical school had a damn fine reputation. It used to be known as Geneva Medical College (founded BEFORE SU) in its own right and has the distinction of graduating Elizabeth Blackwell about mid-1850's, who was the first woman to receive a medical degree in this country. SU purchased Geneva in the mid-1870's to save it from going under, due to mismanagement or what have you.</p>

<p>Around the turn of the 20th century, the medical school's dean (a very progressive sort) remolded the school's curriculum around the German model (I do not recall his name but it is interesting to note that the dean was of German stock himself!), as German medicine was at the cutting edge (pun intended) in those days. Subsequently, Syracuse became one of the premier medical schools in the USA and was on par with Harvard, Penn, Yale and Johns Hopkins </p>

<p>One or two of my family attended SU Medical College three or four generations ago but that colors its estimation only by a little... don't know why it was sold to the state.</p>

<p>Hi!
I have a question about Syracuse, since I am a big fan of having at leat a 2 majors(in Architecture and Fine Art) and 1 minors(Film Production). And the minor could a major,too.
So I just wanna know if you think it will be a good place to go compared to SAIC, Pratt, RISD(I know that they only allow single major, which makes me wonder about the Dual Degree Program between RISD and Brown) and CMU.
And I am also an international student from China. So are there any scholarship for non-citizens?</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>