<p>Since New Paltz doesn't have it's own thread, I am posting here in the hopes that someone can tell me about the school. Anyone at this school who can give me the inside scoop? Thanks!</p>
<p>Many students I've known over the years have gone to New Paltz and overall the experience has been positive. Kids love and campus and the town and the school as well. It used to have the reputation of a big druggie school, but that has probably changed over the years.</p>
<p>Comfortably between a LAC and a small university it is an intimate environment that still has a breadth of course offering.</p>
<p>My D is interested in New Paltz and the other smaller SUNYs; I don't know how forums for them can be established...I assume there would be a lot of overlap with SUNY Albany. I'm worried the apps will be way up b/c Newsweek decided it was a "hot school" this year.</p>
<p>Muffy333 - try sending a message to the administrators at collegeconfidential. I have been trying to get them to start a SUNY New Paltz forum and I was told that the more people that request one, the greater chance they will start one.</p>
<p>There is a good chance that NP will get more selective as the applicant pool expands due to the Newsweek article. That is a good thing for those considering the school. </p>
<p>mythmom - thanks for your reply. I have also heard most students are very happy at NP. I was a little concerned about the druggie reputation, but am hoping it has changed over the years. Can anyone shed light on this?</p>
<p>Hey there -
My daughter is a senior at SUNY New Paltz. She LOVES it and so do we! It has the feeling of Church St. in Burlington VT or Main St. in Lake Placid. Very laid back and funky. </p>
<p>Why we like it:
- A wide variety of programs...something for everyone.
- Known as the "Language School" in the SUNY system. (Many study abroad programs.)
- Renovated dorms with new furniture.
- A great new gym
- Close proximity to NYC (She catches a bus from NP or a train from Poughkeepsie into the city to see Broadway plays)
- The safest SUNY campus
- Diversity
- Very politically & ecologically minded people
- Fantastic hiking nearby in the "Gunks"
- Wineries nearby for parent weekend : ) I like Rivendell the best.
- Good faculty/student ratio, very caring people
- Orientation is well planned...better than any other we've seen with other ones we've attended
- Good music scene (her bf in a band & they have gigs all the time).
- Campus is easily walked
- Nice KOA near campus
- Cafeteria offers choices of food stations for dinner...ethnic foods served, too
- Right off I-87, between Albany & NYC
- You are a person, not a number...you can get to know the profs
- Nice library
- History @ Huguenot Street</p>
<p>Negatives:
- Chain hotels and shopping in Poughkeepsie, about 10 - 15 minutes from campus. (The distance is not a problem for us, but some families don't like it. We've also camped & done B&B's, which we enjoyed.)
- Train in Poughkeepsie, not NP (bus right in NP, though, within walking distance to campus)</p>
<p>WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU CHECK OUT NEW PALTZ!</p>
<p>That's reassuring. We just sent deposit for my freshman son for Fall 2008. Always nice to have our decision reinforced. One question, how hard is it for high average kids to maintain a good GPA at New Paltz. I hear, say at Geneseo, it is really hard for even the brightest students to maintain a high GPA. I want my son to be challenged, however also want him to be able to have some down time for other things besides studying.</p>
<p>Congrats on your son going to NP in the fall! I hope you are able to go to summer orientation...I had a blast (and so did my daughter). </p>
<p>My daughter, who was a good student in h.s. and is a hard worker, has been on the Dean's List all but one semester. She is graduating with double major. She had time for a social life, played in the orchestra, and did a work-study part-time job on campus. </p>
<p>Her boyfriend struggled with his gpa his sophomore year (premed), but quickly figured out how to juggle his band and his studies. : )</p>
<p>So yes, you can have some fun and still do well. Neither my daughter or her boyfriend are big drinkers/partiers, which is a big problem with some of the Freshmen I've taught in the past.</p>
<p>UpstateNY-hi. Could you explain why it is a problem not being a partier for freshman? Is it because they feel left out at parties and such if they do not party with the group? Maybe it takes a few months to find a similar group of friends that are interested in the same activities.</p>
<p>Why is New Paltz "known as the 'language' school in the SUNY system" when it only offers three foreign language majors and doesn't sponsor as many study abroad programs as albany, brockport, geneseo, stony brook...etc.?</p>
<p>Hi ddotjon - sorry if my post wasn't clear....I meant to say my daughter and boyfriend aren't big on drinking or other drugs, unlike some of my freshman students who spent too much time in those pursuits. That is probably why they have high gpa's. They have many friends, just not bar hoppers. I've known too many kids who start out in college, drink too much, and then don't spend enough time doing school work & miss class due to hangovers. (NOT the majority....just something students should self-monitor & limit.) Again - sorry for my lack of clarity.</p>
<p>Hey wdrmhbs - The "language school" moniker was something I saw in a brochure. They run a special summer language program that is well know by my friends who are profs of language & who told me it is highly regarded. Since my daughter has one of her majors as Spanish, the school was recommended to her for that. Also, NP has over 49 different study abroad programs. Perhaps this is less than others and they are trying to put themselves into that mold, I am not sure. I'll ask my language friends and see if they know...</p>