SUNY Geneseo V.S Nazareth College

Good morning everyone, I am having the hardest time deciding between these two universities. I have an okay shot at getting into both, but since I am applying to spring, the application is not available as of yet.

I am applying as an Adolescent Education Social Studies major, But I am finding it hard to weave through all the propaganda and conflicting advise on the web and in real life. So I was hoping someone with some knowledge could help me in my decision.

Geneseo, is one of the best SUNY’s and known for their education dept.

Just my opinion.

Good luck !

Why not apply to both and see which one is the best value?

You don’t need to decide yet. Visit both of them, speak with the department you would major in, and visit the career center to tine out where their graduates get jobs. Apply to both. See where you are admitted and what your aid packages look like.

Do you live in NY?

Geneseo is one of the best SUNY schools… especially for education. Keep that in mind… but at the same time apply to both, compare offers, and see which one is the better fit.

I do live in New York, Rochester to be exact so both schools are within 40 minutes. I am planning on applying to both, but the main issue at the moment is I need to choose classes for my last semester at another College, which would result in two much different schedules. I have also spoken to both, that is the issue, they both sound well enough. Geneseo is known for their education program, but Nazareth has Special Ed dual certification. Nazareth is closer and in the city, well Geneseo is very rural. The value is not a real issue, I feel no matter where I go the scholarships and such will cover most of the cost, at least I hope this is the case. But going to the career center is a good idea. I just do not wish to make a wrong decision, meeting with people from both, they tell me stories how they just knew their university was the one and I just don’t have that feeling with either one yet.

Geneseo is stronger academically.
You can’t expect costs to take care of themselves - they rarely do.
Do both colleges require different classes for you to transfer?

Will you get scholarship money as a transfer? I would check that out and see if they are both affordable- I am not convinced that both of these schools will cover most of your costs with scholarships. Will Geneseo allow you to do a dual certification?

If you intend to work in NYS, you have five years to get your masters. You could always do your undergrad in Adolescent education - social studies and get your masters in special education. Does Geneseo have a 5 year program that allows you to come out with a masters?

I live in the Rochester area too. There are plenty of teachers at the area elementary, middle and high schools that have gone to Naz and Geneseo and all love their experiences and would recommend their schools.
I personally would go by cost, but if that truly is not a factor, go by which campus you prefer and other personal intangibles that no one here can give you real advice on.
I haven’t been to Geneseo but have been on the Naz campus a few times and thinks it’s a really pretty campus.

Are you planning to commute? Tuition to SUNY is about $8500, while tuition to Nazareth is a lot more given that it’s a private school ( unless you get money). The cost of SUNY tuition can be covered through a student loan and a part time job. If you are looking for scholarship money then I assume cost might be an issue. You are very fortunate to have such a strong SUNY school ( SUNY has reasonable tuition) within commuting distance.

I will get at least the merit and needs-based scholarships, along with I think it was 6k a year from phi theta kappa if I go to Nazareth. With the rest coming out to 3-6k a year for Nazareth (Price Calculator) If I am able to keep my grades well enough I should be able to afford Nazareth.
The schools do require different classes, Nazareth more PSY and ENG well Geneseo more History. But I should be able to transfer with max credits to both.
Geneseo only offers Dual Special Ed for Elementary Educators, well basically every other school, such as Nazareth, offers it for Adolescent as well, I know Geneseo is ranked high for their elementary education program but I am unsure for Adolescent.
I am planning to commute if Geneseo is the school I end up in. They do have a 5-year program for masters I think, but I might be mistaken. I know Nazareth spoke to me more about this than Geneseo.
I wish the choice was more clear, some sites put Geneseo rank 56 out of 153, below a large number of schools I have already crossed off the list, well putting Nazareth 26, up toward other great schools such as RIT and UofR. Another site named Princeton review put it in the top 356 schools in all of America well not even placing Geneseo on the list. Some put Geneseo up top for education but I fear that is for Elementary education.

Geneseo is better. Apply to both and compare costs, fit, etc. However I do think the dual regular ed. and special ed. major is very important. If Geneseo doesn’t offer that, to me, that gives Nazareth a leg up. I would also suggest choosing your undergrad somewhere you can just continue on with your masters. It’s nearly impossible to get hired in NYS as a teacher without one.

Geneseo is one of the most selective universities in the SUNY system. Classes are taught at a depth and pace appropriate for students who were top 10% in high school. It’s widely recognized by graduate schools as a very strong college academically across the board.
See if you can get the Special Ed concentration for your Master. Then both are similar and can be compared.
But apply to both and decide once you have your offers.

Are you planning to stay in the Rochester area after graduation?
If so, the ranking differences are pretty meaningless. Naz is as well respected as Geneseo within the Finger Lakes area. I’m not sure if you live in the city or one of the suburbs, but Naz is much closer if you are in the city, close to it, or on the east side. The daily commute to Geneseo would be a lot dicier in the winter, I think. It would be worth it if there is a big financial difference, but otherwise not IMO.

I called today and Geneseo said they do not offer special ed for adolescent ed at any level. I live 10 minutes from Nazareth and 45 from Geneseo. I plan on going where ever will hire, be that Rochester or Woodstock. I just don’t wish to ruin my future by deciding to go to a school much closer and I don’t wish to be looked down upon by going to a school seen as less academically rigorous. I feel Nazareth really has a leg up being they have special ed. At the undergraduate level there won’t be too much of an issue, but at the graduate level, after they cut state aid to me being I now hold a degree, then it gets a little weird but hopefully, I would have a job at that time.

With an education degree from NY, along with a willingness to go anywhere for a job, it’s really not going to matter which school has a higher ranking. They really are both good schools. It’s not worth paying significantly extra for one vs the other, and it’s not worth super inconveniencing yourself for one vs the other.

You need to prioritize, I think. My own would be:
Finances—the significantly cheaper wins
If roughly equal— convenience wins
If you don’t mind the drive—personal preference wins

I see the merit of attending Geneseo, but the fact I could get the special education degree, it is much closer on a busy portion of expressway (Don’t want to die in the winter) and the cost would be basically the same on the undergraduate level. It has been comforting hearing I wont be barred from jobs if I attend Nazareth so I have decided that I will focus my efforts on them and if need be I will leave them if I don’t think it is a good fit as I attend. Both universities felt right and I enjoyed so I would not mind transferring if it does not feel right at either one.