Hi everyone! Soon I will applying to different colleges, one being SUNY Geneseo (either for education or speech pathology.
For those who attend, what is like? Additionally, is it very Jewish? I know that’s a weird question, but my parents want me to go where there is enough Jewish people like ourselves (not specifically religious but just like Conservative/Reform).
Thanks!
5 years ago I was looking at Geneseo for speech pathology and Jewish life! They actually got rid of their speech path program, but I believe you can just take the pre-reqs and seek out a masters somewhere else.
The Jewish thing ended up being the dealbreaker for me. I grew up conservative and figured it wouldn’t be a big deal as long as there was a Hillel I could go to, but I was wrong. The Jewish life there is minimal. They don’t have their own building, it’s shared in the interfaith center, and I think they only do shabbat dinners like once a month. My parents warned me I wouldn’t be happy with that, and they were right. I ended up at Binghamton where Jewish life is huuuge and it made all the difference. It’s amazing having a vibrant, Jewish community, meals every week, kosher food availability, holiday events, a built-in social group, etc. Monthly meetings of a handful of students in the interfaith center wouldn’t have done it for me. That’s me, though.
Thank you-this is so helpful!
If your first priority is jewish culture/jewish life, you really can’t do better than binghamton for the reasons rebeccar outlined. Unfortunately though binghamton does not offer an undergraduate education major while geneseo’s is really good. Geneseo does have a hillel on campus and there are a good number of jewish students so you won’t be alone. Although if jewish life is really your first priority you are much better off at binghamton. There are kosher food options on campus, a large and active hillel and also you have chabad as well near campus. I would visit both and see what is a better fit.
Thank you so much! Even if there was not a Chabad I would feel fine as long as there is a solid Jewish population. Either way I will check both schools out.
Thank you so much! Even if there was not a Chabad I would feel fine as long as there is a solid Jewish population. Either way I will check both schools out.
If you have the grades and can afford it (or qualify for financial aid), check out Brandeis.
Oh- I just realized you want an undergraduate major in speech pathology. Sorry. Brandeis does not have that.
Let me know if you have questions about pursuing education at Binghamton (I’m a teacher now)
Hi! If I were to pursue teaching at Binghamton, what you recommend me majoring in since education is not a major? I know there is a minor for education.
If you plan on teaching middle or high school, you might want to major in the subject area you would like to teach. For instance, if you want to teach HS social studies, major in history, take an economics class or two, as well as some writing classes; If you want to teach science or math, do the same.
I know this isn’t your question, but have you looked into the 5 year program at SUNY Plattsburgh? You can get an undergraduate degree in education and a masters in just 5 years. You apply as a second semester freshman and if you get in, you are set (assuming you keep your grades up), which means you don’t have to apply to a masters’ program because you are in one. You can also start taking grad level classes as an undergrad, at undergrad tuition, which is an additional savings.
In New York, you need a masters to teach, so it doesn’t really matter what you major in because you’ll need the masters anyway. Like techmom99 said, if you’re aiming for middle or high school, you’ll want to major in the subject that you plan to teach. For elementary, something like psychology is always good, or English. You have more options.