I was accepted to both Binghamton & Stony Brook. I am planning to go pre-med and will be choosing a science major. I am hoping to get some insight on which you think would be a better choice and why.
I did get a scholarship from SB which has me leaning that way, but I have heard it feels like more of a commuter school since many students go home on the weekends.
@SchoolisOut I think that for pre-med both have fine programs–go to the place that is affordable and where you feel most comfortable/where you see yourself fitting in. Med schools won’t distinguish between these two schools–so go where you think you will do best academically. My daughter is pre med and considered both schools. In my opinion I would choose Binghamton because I think it has a more residential college feel (hardly anybody commutes, unlike at Stony Brook)–and Binghamton has several brand new dorms where you can live in a double. In contrast, Stony Brook has less dorm space and freshman have to be in triples --at least that’s what they told us on our admissons tour last year. That was a turn off. The dorms at Stony Brook are old and they need more dorm space to accommodate the student population. Bing has a freshman research immersion program, and has good science course offerings. I also think Bing is less intense than Stony Brook for per med. (But see the College Search & Selection thread “Delaware vs. Binghamton” where others chimed in that Bing was more intense than a Delaware for pre med. So it depends which schools you are comparing, everything is relative). The only advantage for Stony Brook is that it has a hospital medical center right on campus which may provide more research and intern opportunities than at Binghamton. You should inquire as to the research and intern opportunities at Binghamton.
Two new residence halls Tubman and Chavez were completed last year adding over 750 beds and the older dorms such as H Quad are in the midst of a renovation. This shows the strength, popularity and need for students who WANT to live on campus. Stony brook has 83% freshman living on campus. Yes there are commuters but the majority of the population dorm. Because Stony Brook is located so close to NYC and is in Long Island there are students who go home frequently on the weekends but there are also kids who hate going home and rather stay on campus. It’s entirely up to you who you want to surround your own social circle with. I terms of premed. Both schools are challenging and there is no advantage in picking one over the other. It’s going to be hard to get that 4.0 gpa regardless of which school as there are brights kids in both schools as well.