<p>I was recently accepted to SUNY Stony Brook and SUNY Albany. These are my top two schools and I can't decide on which one I would like to attend. If anybody can help me with some information that may help me decide, that would be great! </p>
<p>My major will be undecided, however I am interested in Psychology.
I live in Westchester, NY.</p>
<p>stony brook 1000% percent. You would miss out on a lot if you decided to go to Albany for that-- which is still a great school . .</p>
<p>If you're interested in psych, Stony Brook would be a great choice--we have a fantastic department. Lots of opportunities for research in both the cognitive and clinical sides of things, lots of people doing interesting interdisciplinary work, and many of the great research professors are also great teachers.</p>
<p>You'll probably be more comfortable in Long Island. Albany is a huge difference from Westchester. Even the drive up there is like..."This is still New York? Seriously? What's with the cows?"</p>
<p>In defense of Albany, it's downtown. I'd bet there are cows closer to our campus than there are to theirs.</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>How is undergraduate research at Stony Brook compared to Albany?</p>
<p>well SBU is a research university…</p>
<p>if youre going for pysch, sbu’s the place to be</p>
<p>I can’t believe this is even a question to be honest. Though if you’re looking for a more rural atmosphere, and perhaps less academics… then I’d go to Albany. But if you’re serious about psychology, Stony Brook without a doubt.</p>
<p>I thought Albany and Stony Brook were both research universities…</p>
<p>At the moment Stony Brook and Albany are the two schools i’m most interested in. I heard that Stony Brook is a grade killer. I also heard that Albany has more social life and athletics/school spirit but Stony Brook is more academically sound from the information that I have found. Is it true that the Stony Brook campus is bare on weekends? I visited both in the summer so both campuses were empty when I was there. Also, my guidance counseler(guidance counseler has also proved to be a morone multiple times) told me that Albany was more selective than Stony Brook but from what I have found Stony Brook is more selective…so I am officially confused.</p>
<p>I’m interested in something in the physical sciences.</p>
<p>The selectivity of Stony Brook is all relative, heck from my school 387 applied and out of that 274 were accepted. For Albany 155 applied and 112 were accepted. Overall grades were in the 87 area for both and around 1800-1900 average. Think Stony Brook is the most applied to school from my high school(Brooklyn Tech), the class size usually being around 1000, though its increasing to 1200+.</p>
<p>Though the funny thing is, some I know who had a 94+ average, captain of swim team, part of student government and even a NHS member was rejected. I had none of that and a bit lower average than that and got in.</p>
<p>Honestly, the grade killer thing is overdone. If you’re a smart kid who can put in some work (it’s not a crazy load of work, but it’s really what anyone who goes to college should expect: go to class and take notes/pay attention, do your homework, ask questions, etc.), the grades should be fine. Some majors are certainly more difficult than others. We’re also quite good for undergrads who want to do research right away (some private schools stick to grad students in their labs) as long as you ask nicely and do your homework beforehand.</p>
<p>I can’t say about weekends, because I’m a commuter (rest assured that I don’t run home after class, unlike the stereotype… if you take the train you often have to, but if you’ve got a car staying after isn’t a big deal). Just check the events calendar. 
I know for the start of the semester we definitely have weekend events, so if you go to those and meet people you’ll likely be able to find out about future weekend events. We’re not always sports-crazy people, but that’s not to say we’re not proud of our school!</p>
<p>Both good, but different. Pro and Con both sides. You need to speak with people in the department you are interested in…either by phone and/or in person…also speak with advising…they are there to help. Visit the schools and see what you like. Read the student newspapers, look over the course catalogs, the meal plans, the dorms, and so on. Forget the ratings and reputations and all the negative crap…these are great schools, but maybe one is a better fit for YOU.</p>
<p>I have been a student at both colleges. I finished my BS in physics at Albany, and now I am working on my masters in secondary education at Stony Brook. Both schools are research universities. I feel the academics are on par with each other. Class size, laboratories, recreation facilities, and educational opportunities are also similar. Neither school campus is particularly attractive, but Albany’s is kept up nicer.</p>
<p>The social experience between the schools is very different. Stony Brook is more of a commuter school. The educational experience outside the classroom is very limited. It lacks school spirit. There is no college bars in the area.</p>
<p>Albany is a college town. In fact there are several colleges in the area. Therefore, there are many bars and music venues to choose from. There is good school spirit, and the basketball and football games are well attended. Every night there is some educational outside the class room experience (speaker, lecture, film, theater, music, etc.) offered either at the university or a near by college. Unlike at Stony Brook, you get the sense that you are in a college community at Albany. </p>
<p>I also think the surrounding area in upstate NY is much nicer than Long Island. While LI beaches are great in the summer, in the winter it seems that LI is nothing but strip shopping malls. North of Albany is the beautiful hiking and skiing areas in the Adirondack Park. South are the Catskills, and to the east is the Berkshires and Boston. NY city is actually about the same traveling time from both campuses.</p>
<p>Overall, if you want to strictly focus on academics without outside distractions, maybe Stony Brook would be the better choice. If you want the full educational experience, I would choose Albany hands down. Either way - good luck!</p>
<p>Stony Brook Football makings strides. Since everyone already commented in the academic part. I’ll put my two cents in the Athletics/school spirit you wanted info on: </p>
<p>Stony Brook is in the same conference than Albany (America East Conference for every sport except football). As a result we are rivals and often compete very well in the same sports (Lacrosse, Men’s basketball, soccer, etc). Stony Brook has a 8k stadium (Albany does not) and SB has become a force in Division I-AA football (#22 in the 2011 final rankings) and the top team in the Big South Conference for football. Interestingly enough. Stony Brook will host Albany this weekend (11/26) in the First round of Division I football Championship. Stony Brook is in an athletic high and I think no other school in the conference has been doing what Stony Brook is doing today. We have a ton of newly renovated facilities (Joe Nathan Baseball Field, University track, and Tennis Courts, Recreation Center on the way, A newly expanded Stony Brook Arena in early renovation stages) and our athletics are being more successful. As a result, SB has more school spirit today than ever before. We drag 5-6k to fooball games with recent sellouts which is a lot at the Division I-AA level in the Northeast</p>
<p>Want to check out more on school spirit? Come to the NCAA Division I Championship First Round this Saturday against Albany. We will most likely roll over them as predicted by many… Packed house!</p>
<p>Jaycee, I doubt you truly been to both schools. You dont have any idea in what you are saying. Stony Brook has much higher attendance levels for Football and lacrosse which is the main sport in both universities. Albany has higher basketball attendance Because we play at the pritchard gym (1,600 in capacity) while the 5k arena gets renovated. Heck, Albany doesn’t even have a respectable stadium yet. they are currently trying to build a new one. What the hell are you talking about?</p>
<p>You are either a Albany student, or lack any knowledge of Stony Brook athletics and spirit. You can check when was the last time Albany got 8,000 fans into their football field. Never, they dont have one…</p>
<p>Also, the Long Island vs Albany comparisons are very biased. Albany is not a college town, its a city, the capital of New York State. A city by definition cannot be a college town. Which also confirms that you don’t know what you are talking about.</p>
<p>Yes, Stony Brook is not a collegetown either. It only has two or three bars next to school. One last thing. New York City is not at the same distance at all. One is 60 miles away (SB) the other is more than double the distance (UA). What the heck are you talking about my friend?</p>
<p>Again, I get the impression you are an Albany student. Just the fact you only have one post confirms that.</p>
<p>Also, Since i have knowledge of America East athletics I can say Albany tends to be more successful in Women’s athletics while SB has been generally been recently more successful in the men’s side (Men’s soccer 2009,2011; men’s Lacrosse 2009,2010,2011; Baseball 2010, 2011; Football 2009,2010,2011, Women’s XC five straight years).</p>
<p>…still can’t believe how biased is Jaycee… Makes me think that life at Stony Brook is pretty different when you are a graduate student… Or maybe you not part of the university at all…</p>
<p>Also, in academics:</p>
<p>Stony Brook is better ranked in almost every major ranking listing</p>