Soon-to-be graduate, any questions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z SUNY at Geneseo
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Hi sorry I’m a bit behind on this thread, it’s been a busy couple of weeks.

@hava939 As an accounting major, the program is no joke. The introductory courses aren’t bad at all, professors are accessible, tutors are available (I am one currently for intro to managerial). Where it gets really tough for most is Accounting 302 (Intermediate Financial II), and Accounting 270 (Managerial I). They are time consuming, stressful, and extremely difficult to grasp for many. Everything is manageable, the professors look out for you, as long as you are willing to show effort.

The intro classes will be roughly 30-40 students, I haven’t seen any larger. The only classes I’ve taken above 50 students are my gen-ed classes (Intro to theatre, astronomy, bio, etc.).

If I had the absolute interest in studying broad there was more than enough opportunity to do so. Many of my friends have gone to very cool places (Germany, Nicaragua, Greece, etc.). If you have interest, do it! I regret not doing so.

Mentioned earlier, the professors are good with helping you out and there are tutors available for every accounting course (I believe). Again, I am a tutor for 103 (Intro managerial).

It is perfectly acceptable to not join a sorority. There has been a shift towards greek life since the closing of the IB, it’s not like greek organizations are the only social group. I have friends both in greek life and not in greek life. If you are worried about social life, join a club. Many clubs are great outlets for making new friends (varsity sports, club sports, service orgs, etc.). You won’t be frowned upon for not pledging.

I would definitely recommend Geneseo, I had the exact same approach in looking for a school. Geneseo is relatively small, very “home-like” feel, great alumni connection (the accounting network is GREAT), and tutoring is available. I also applied to Siena and Bonaventure, presidential scholarships from both, it actually would’ve been cheaper to go to either one of those schools but I chose Geneseo after visiting.

Please let me know if I answered everything! throw as many questions at me as you’d like.

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@bhappy2 I can’t say much towards the Edgar Fellows Program or the honors program, as it was not too relevant to my intended major (Pre-accounting). I do know people who did the program and enjoyed the challenge and honor. In terms of Dante House, it is just as any other dorm I’d say (outside of Monroe really), except more centralized towards the students in the ‘same boat’. It’s not like the Dante House is secluded from campus or anything, all the dorms are grouped close together to each other. I spent most of my time across campus in a different dorm instead of where I lived, so where you live isn’t a huge deal.

I’d say most of the classes at Geneseo are discussion based and smaller, with the exception of the gen-ed courses that your daughter would need to take. (I.e. Sciences). That all of course, depends on the credits she comes in with. Once you start focusing on your major I’d say almost every class is smaller, especially English (~20-30 per class).

I can’t really answer how the English department is, maybe someone else would be able to answer that with a more educated opinion.

The environment at the school is friendly, regardless of who you are associated with, who you are friends with, how you identify, etc. (Outside of occasional ‘beefs’ between organizations, but that’s pretty normal for most schools I’d say). There is strong support for the LGBT community here at Geneseo, we really do stress being open and accepting. There are gender-neutral bathrooms in almost every building (I think? Don’t take my word for that, but I’ve seen many around. I don’t spend much time outside of one building, really).

The campus is very safe, I don’t ever feel unsafe. The blue light system is available everywhere (I think there’s one small stretch of walkway that isn’t blue-light visible but it’s an alternate route through campus, so there are other choices).

I won’t lie, but the hills and winter suck haha. I am not in the best shape of all, so I probably have a slightly biased opinion. The hills can get tiring (there’s ways to avoid them for the most part). In terms of winter, we had a pretty mild winter minus one rough snowstorm (16+ inches). Outside of that, just expect it to be cooler for a longer period of time. There are tons of different clubs and intramural sports to participate in. Many dorms run their own intramural teams, and I know many people on club sports (lax, hockey, soccer, baseball, so on). There’s certainly no shortage of that.

Let me know if you have any other questions! Sorry for the delayed response

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@Odinize that’s a tough question, really based on what you’re looking for in a dorm.

I personally lived in Suffolk Hall freshman year (suite), and really enjoyed it. I got to know a lot of people through my suite and it helped out a bit. If you don’t wanna risk being in a suite with 3 (or 5) other strangers, do a corridor style.

Onondaga is the largest freshman residence, most end up living there. It is corridor style, and I do know it gets kind of rowdy there just cause of all the freshman being freshman!

Jones hall was single, but I think it might be open to freshman as normal rooms again. It is the closest dorm to the academic buildings (pretty much dead center of campus), so you can roll out of bed and get to class that way. I was pretty jealous of friends who lived in there…the walk from south side was long!

Monroe is the nicest building by far (newest), pretty much like a hotel. that’s the dorm the tours show you typically. It has some space open for first year students (I think only for Tesla House students, you can google more about that).

Hope this helps!

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Hey, I have a question! I wanna go to Geneseo for my MS in accounting, but housing in an issue. Do they have graduate housing? I was originally told no, but now I am seeing on their website that they offer the townhouses to grad students? Can you verify?

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@uauknow, I was just curious. I know you love the Albany accounting program so why do you wish to go to Geneseo? Again, Geneseo is a fine school, but is it really rated as high in business as Albany? Also, you know some of the professors already and I am sure they know you so wouldn’t you feel more comfortable there? Both schools will prepare you well for the cpa exam but it would be less expensive for you since you are from Albany. Good luck in whatever you do but I was just curious. Did you apply to Albany or any other grad programs?

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Of all the SUNYs Geneseo is probably the strongest for college students. Albany probably offers the best city experience as it is in the capital and it is not isolated and economically depressed like some SUNY cities and many upstate communities. But its business school does not have a great reputation. Stony Brook is probably the best academically and for most departments but more for STEM than other areas,less for accounting-but at least the business school is rated better than the business school for the other SUNY Centers.

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^LOL okay @lostaccount, I am so done with you. Are you like the president of Stony Brook or something? They have NOTHING on UAlbany’s business school - nothing. We don’t have a great rep? Are you serious? Big 4 recruiters are on campus ALL OF THE TIME! Stony Brook’s business school does not come close to Bing, Albany or Buffalo… sorry. SUNY schools have their specialties and Stony Brook’s is in science. Please just stop posting. We are accredited in BOTH accounting and business… is Stony? Oh wait, no… along with like 90% if business schools in the COUNTRY. Stony isn’t even accredited! Here’s your proof:

http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accredited-members/global-listing

Anyway, @euve69 , my reasons are silly for wanting to go to Geneseo. Truthfully, I just want to go to a different school for the h*** of it; different atmosphere, new people, new experience, etc. However, I most likely will be going to UAlbany as we have AN AMAZING BUSINESS SCHOOL (cough @lostaccount)

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Congrats. Just curious. Did you have to take the gmat for Albany and Geneseo? Also, were there any other schools that you applied to? Good Luck!!

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Yes, Albany requires students to take the GMAT even if we were undergrads at UAlbany for accounting. I applied to Albany, Bing, Buffalo, Geneseo, LSU, Michigan State, Rutgers, Syracuse and University of Rochester. I didn’t get into Michigan State but I didn’t really expect to go there unless I got some crazy scholarship

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That is interesting. I think it sucks that you have to study your ass off for accounting classes in your sr yr and have to take the gmat as well. I can understand if someone goes for a general MBA and the school want you to take the gmat or gre, but if you are an accounting major and are just looking to get the 30 extra credits AND you are already showing that you are doing well in an accounting program, I think it is absurd to have to take a GMAT. I know you cannot fight city hall but when in the hell to students have time to study for a gmat while in college?? After college during the summer, yes, that I can see, but during college?? Who knows, maybe alot of students do not study for the gmat, and just wing it the best they can. Anyway, best of luck to you. One thing that I am seeing in terms of trends is that more folks taking the 30 credit accounting masters are taking their time and doing it in 18 months or even 2 years. Reason being, is that 5 heavy duty accounting courses in a semester is not easy, as you well know from your undergraduate career. Students seem to want to take 3 courses a semester, one in the summer and spread it out a bit. Maybe that is not necessary but it seems like more students are doing that as well. That is not to say that it cannot be done in a year, but it does seem to be alot to handle in just 2 semesters.

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There is also another option for accounting students. I was not a big fan of this originally, however, I have come around to embrace this. First, I love the Albany business school, as well as Buff Bing Geneseo etc. However, Oneonta has an interesting option. They have a BS degree in accounting that is 150 credit hours over 5 years. I forget the specifics but the courses in accounting are spread out in such a way that you are not cramming 10 courses of graduate level courses in one year. Again, I do not know the specifics.

The negative that I saw with this program is that you do not get a masters degree. You graduate with a BS in accounting but you can now sit for the cpa exam since you have your 150 credits. In researching the program Oneonta has the big 4 recruiters as well as small and midsize firms recruit up there. Now, I am not saying the recruting is as good as Albany, Bing, Baruch, NYU etc but the top students do get internships at various accounting firms.

The other advantage that I see is that you do save money since graduate credits are more than undergraduate credits. Also, in the end, all that matters is that cpa designation. Believe me, EY, Deloitte etc do not really care if you have a masters, they care if you are able to pass the cpa exam.

Now I am playing devils advocate to a degree here because I

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Sorry, got cut off. I know I am playing devils advocate because I do believe that it looks better to have a masters degree than not having it, but I was curious as to what you think of this as an option?

I am leaning for my son to go for a 4 plus one program, but this other program is an interesting option. You save some money, no gmat, and you do not have to cram 10 courses in a year, it is spread out.

Oneonta is a good SUNY school as well. Again, it is not suny Albany or Bing in terms of the business school, but if you do well there, like any other school, you will get an internship.

Also, in the end, if you get the 150 credit hours, and go on to pass the cpa exam, isnt that all that really matters in the end?

Again, if I am off base, please let me know. Thanks!!

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@UAUKNOW Sorry I completely forgot about the thread, but yes, you have townhouse options as a grad student (more expensive than regular dorms). I would recommend off campus, plenty of houses and student apartments to choose from, and they are cheaper than living on campus. Off campus housing is still more than close enough to walk to get to class.

While I am biased, and I do have my own preference (obviously), both Geneseo and Albany have great business programs (both accredited). I had nearly a full ride to Albany, but I chose Geneseo. My father used to be a senior manager for a B4 firm in NYC & on rotation in the UK, specifically told me if I wanted to go into accounting, Geneseo would be the better option. (At the time the new business building wasn’t completed). Note that I have many friends in the accounting program in Albany. From what I have seen (I’ve physically compared material from both schools in the equivalent courses), and again, I am probably biased, Geneseo is more difficult (mainly due to one professor in particular, who truly takes ‘struggling’ to a whole new level). Does that mean Geneseo is better because of it? No.

I do believe has a slight edge over Albany only for one reason, which could be seen as negligible. The Rochester accounting scene is huge, and not really comparable to other cities nearby Albany, including Albany itself. While yes, I know Albany has a great business school and lots of recruiting from B4 firms, you simply have more options coming out of a school that is 30 minutes away from Rochester (and less than 1.5 from Buffalo). A lot more firms are willing to invest time into Geneseo because of the students and the proximity. There are just so many firms in the area.

If you disagree, you disagree, I can’t argue with you on that, nor do I think it’s really worth the time.

@euve69 To answer your question regarding 150-credit hour programs, Geneseo’s MS in Accounting fulfills the 150-hour requirement (main goal usually), you receive a masters, you don’t have to take a GMAT (if you graduated w/above a 3.2). That is why it is so enticing to me. I know the professors already, I know the people in the area, I get the 150 hours, the M.S. is a bonus in the end, and I don’t have to take the GMAT. It’s a no brainer for me, but most other 4+1 options will get you through, it’s all a matter of preference.