<p>Hi there, I am currently up in the air of whether I should continue college or not. I am looking for advice on what to do exactly...let me begin.</p>
<p>I went to community college studying liberal arts for two years. Couldn't wait to transfer out of the area and have the real college experience. I transferred to SUNY Albany majoring in public policy. My experience wasn't so great in Albany. Academic wise, the performance was poor in my point of view. Besides the large lecture classes filled with kids entertaining themselves with laptops, the classes with fewer than 40 kids were okay. In these classes, exhausted teacher assistants taught the class and made it clear they weren't making a modest living. Social wise was okay, but not the place for me. I made a few good friends, but honestly it seems like the majority of students are there just to get wasted. Too many memories come to mind about the craziness that went down in Albany, wow lol. Also, IMO the campus is an aging ugly block of concrete, with construction right and left, invested in neuroscience and business(neither benefits myself). </p>
<p>So, here I am back at community college..finishing out the semester to receive my associates in liberal arts.I am leaning on moving out of state to start my life...or continue college and receive my bachelors. From what I have read, a liberal arts degree wont get you much anywhere...which is why I consider moving outta state, instead of investing in a worthless piece of paper(not worthless, but not promising)....but at the same time I want to just finish my bachelors while I'm still somewhat young(21), and have a good college experience...also to note, Albany and Cortland are the only SUNY colleges I visited. Oy. I need to make a decision sooner than later. Application deadlines are going to be coming up. </p>
<p>If anyone has any advice/suggestions, I would love to hear them!</p>
<p>What would your potential major be? What is your GPA? You should probably start with a program search on suny.edu to get input on which schools have the program that you’re looking for. Then try to narrow it down by the size and reputation of the school/department (class sizes usually get much smaller once you’re beyond the gen eds but you’ll certainly want to ask about that), focus on important things like faculty, placement rates (either job/grad school), and then do some visits while classes are in section and try to sit in on a few. I know that’s hard when you’re also in school but I’ve noticed that the calendars aren’t uniform so there may be a some days when you’re on break but others aren’t.</p>
<p>Please note that not all of the SUNYs use TAs to teach classes and it’s probably more common at the research U’s than the smaller schools. At UB, my daughter has always had profs and guest lecturers teach and either TAs or the professors run lab/recitation sections. It was definitely a question we asked before she made her decision 3 years ago and they answered honestly.</p>
<p>Appreciate the responses- Yes, a smaller campus may be ideal…I plan on visiting SUNY Plattsburgh this Friday. A bit weary of living in a small college town in the middle of nowhere though…</p>
<p>Sk8r- I would like to continue the liberal arts direction so I can finish in two years. My GPA is fairly well, around 3.70. I am looking into environmental science, where at Plattsburgh, they offer several environmental degrees in the arts. I took barely any sciences in both high school and college(deeply regret not engaging in math/science in high school). Though, career-wise I would love to work in the outdoors, perhaps as a park ranger(though salary isn’t great). This is where I consider moving out west for the field experience though I wouldn’t be heading back to school til I get granted residency. </p>
<p>I would also really like to major in political science/sociology…though from what I have researched, those fall under the “useless” category…unless your planning on attending law school or public office. I am hesitant on investing in a bachelors of arts being I know quite a few recent college grads that can’t find a job anywhere, so they’re currently working retail or fast food…however I looked into being a claims-adjuster which requires a 4 year degree, not specified in anything…so this makes me question whether I should just go for the bachelors and studying something I find intriguing. hmphhh</p>
<p>Oh…just noticed you’re tired of living in the middle of nowhere. Maybe a year in the North Woods wouldn’t appeal but that is often the life of a ranger!</p>
<p>Appreciate the replies , I drove 5 hours to plattsburgh Friday, met with an advisor and went on a tour. I liked iit up there. Considering it…kinda wish I transferred this spring like I had planned a few months ago, but oh well. And yes sk8r, I enjoy being outside but not in frigid weather for a fourth of the year. It was beautiful up there just fearing the winter… Im still in the air of moving or staying to attend school due to that. So over the depressing winters here. If I moved, it would be a place with even greater outside recreation opportunities but with nice weather.</p>
<p>I did look into ESF. I spoke to them a few times and was informed I’d be basically starting off as a freshman… go to the ranger school then to esf to start my major…which comes back to me regretting not taking math and science in high school. Im trying to get my degree here in NY and get the heck out as soon as possible… However the reputation of the school is great, along with partnership with Syracuse. </p>
<p>If I go to plattsburgh , I would take either environmental science or environmental studies… where my title would be junior. If I go the studies route, I would be there for 4 semesters, and I think 6 for the science. Hmm</p>