<p>Okay, we have done college visits to all of these. Any opinions either good or bad about the schools. The only thing my son has said is that Fredonia "doesn't look like there is much to do in town".</p>
<p>People have been asking about Oswego on the SUNY-General forum. Maybe you could stop by and let them know what you thought during your visit. I don't know much about these schools personally, but know a number of students who attend Buffalo and like it very much.</p>
<p>I graduated from Fredonia in 1986. I'm sure things have changed in 20+ years, but I really liked it there and the education I received has served me very well.</p>
<p>When I was there, your son's perception would have been correct. The only thing I remember going into town for was to visit the bars! (The pizza and wing places delivered to campus -- no need to walk to town for snacks.)</p>
<p>Buffalo offers a great environment for college students. It's a neat town - there's a nightlife, pro sports, cool ethnic neighborhoods, etc. Fredonia has a good reputation in our upstate NY area, but definitely seems isolated. When we drive past on the Thruway, I always wonder what the town offers the students. One of my d's best friends is quite happy at Oswego, which offers a particularly good ed program. But when that lake effect snow season kicks in, I don't think it's possible to get out of town until late March. :)</p>
<p>D is a freshman at Buffalo and really likes it a lot. She is in the Honors College, which offers the additional perk of a small-feeling group within the bigger university. She loves the diversity of the student population (ethnic, socio-economic, interests....) and she says everyone she's met is friendly and down-to-earth.</p>
<p>I'm also a Fredonia grad ('84). I steered my kids away from my alma mater when they were looking at schools. It does offer a reasonably priced education, but there is very little to do outside of a lot of partying and barhopping. If you are looking for interesting things to do off campus, I'd look more closely at Buffalo than Fredonia. Can't comment on Oswego.</p>
<p>kschmidt, do you know whether Oneonta is a school to consider?</p>
<p>I grew up in Buffalo, and took classes there a zillion years ago. My mother was a professor there for the last 15 years of her career, and my parents' social circle includes lots of faculty and administrators. My late brother got his undergraduate degree there in the 70s.</p>
<p>I think Buffalo is similar to lots of other sub-Berkeley-quality state universities: lots of world-class nuggets scattered throughout the institution, solid practical options, and lots of ways to drift and go nowhere if that's how you are wired. The suburban main campus is a little soulless and isolated, although some of the more recent constructions have improved it alot. The city of Buffalo is not a bad college town at all, although it takes some effort to get in there from the main campus. (The area around Buffalo State and Canisius, and the downtown area are the places that offer the most fun.) Generally, it's a fairly depressed community, but that means housing and entertainment are fairly cheap, and there are lots of free or cheap cultural opportunities.</p>
<p>I had a friend who went to Oneonta and enjoyed it there. But, I also think it suffers from the same problems that Fredonia does. It all depends greatly on what kind of school your son is looking for. I also live near Buffalo now, and can tell you that there is a lot more going on there than at any of the other places you mention. But, maybe he wants a more rural atmosphere. Maybe he doesn't care about shopping, or internship opportunites near campus, or any of that stuff. I know there are plenty of kids who find ways to keep themselves busy. But I also know that a lot of my d's friends who went the SUNY route come home a lot on weekends. </p>
<p>If you plan to visit Buffalo, let me know and I'll give you some great dinner options!</p>
<p>You can't minimize the cold factor. Dead serious FREEZING COLD. Definitely visit in January if you've never been. But once you've established you're up for that kind of thing, the upstate SUNYs are an amazing value!</p>
<p>kschmidt, We are not going to look at Suny Buffalo bc son is looking for a small to medium sized school. Thanks though!</p>
<p>Muffy, I know that it is freezing cold, but we need a couple of financial safety schools outside of our instate public options (SUNYs are OOS for us).</p>
<p>Son does not care about shopping, but would like access to bus, or college shuttle/van to get to a movie, restaurant, or mall on occasion. Internships can be had over the summers, so this is not as important to us. S has a place to stay over the summers in NYC if needed for internship opportunities.</p>
<p>S is interested in humanities, specifically, English and history. It is hard to pick out a couple of Sunys to see. We were thinking of Oswego bc of the OOS merit scholarships. Any other Suny suggestions? If it helps, he would probably prefer the smaller Sunys with decent English and history departments.</p>
<p>As far as 2 NY private colleges, I have a couple of questions about Hartwick and Elmira. I noticed that both have smallish endowments. Are these schools in danger of closing doors, or they financially healthy enough? Does anyone know about these schools? Feel free to send a PM, bc I don't want to go off subject and hijack this thread.</p>
<p>How about Oneonta? The area is very nice and the school well-regarded.</p>
<p>zoosermom, Thanks for joining in! Yes, I am considering Oneonta too. Do you know much about it?</p>
<p>Well Oneonta is in a lovely area right near Hartwick. Several of D1.s friends attend and love it. The town is supposed to be a nice college town and it seemed so to us. Oneonta will be one of the two SUNYs D2 will apply to, the other being Binghamton. We visted Bing and Stonybrook last week and as a result she has taken Stonybrook off her list.</p>
<p>I agree with ZM about Oneonta, and have heard good things about it. I had a very smart intern from Oneonta a couple of years ago (communications major). If you are looking at financial safeties, I'd think Oneonta is a better bet than Hartwick, unless there's an opportunity for mucho merit $$.</p>
<p>Remember that there are both SUNY Buffalo, one of the four SUNY "flagships" (the others are Stonybrook, Albany and Binghamton), with 19,000 undergrads and 9,000 grads, and Buffalo State, with 9,000+ undergrads. I don't know much about them, but I assume they offer different educational environments in the same city.</p>
<p>Occasionally, kids from this area's schools go to SUNY Buffalo, but I don't know anyone at Buff. State.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input, anyone have any knowledge about Geneseo?</p>
<p>Geneseo has become the most competitive of the SUNY 4-years. It bills itself as a LAC. Both my kids applied - it was a financial safety - so I've toured it twice. </p>
<p>Many talented kids, perhaps not quite at the top of their classes, from our not-so-good public HS in upstate NY have attended and the reports are pretty favorable. I think there are a lot of smart, involved kids there.</p>
<p>It's a pleasant campus in a very small, isolated village. Definitely worth a look if the location is acceptable.</p>
<p>My son was accepted at oswego and fredonia. He is interesed in a prelaw program. Any feedback on these schools? Are there any restaurants or shops nearby?</p>