<p>-I am a Syracuse Alumni class of 2004. I am from the Syracuse area and I am number 7, that's right, SEVEN in my family to attend this fine institution. My family members attended the school from 1965 + and are now in the medical field, communications, geography and business and STILL live in the Syracuse area. I myself attended the Maxwell School undergraduate and graduated with a BA in geography and international relations. I am now attending the University of Virginia School of Architecture and finishing my Master's in May.</p>
<p>I am disappointed by the negative posts about application essays, dorm food, yada yada. It is appauling to see how many mothers on here are were not favorable of the school. Let me tell you... Syracuse is a strong name and a HIGHLY impressive school all around the country. </p>
<p>Alumni connections are extremely strong with SU. We are some of the happiest alumni in the country. Since living in Virginia, I have run into more alumni in the DC area. </p>
<p>My favorite part about the school were the friends I made, the incredible academics with top professors and learning about myself at the same time. SU is a balanced school- politics don't run the campus, there is time for basketball and sports, but academics are a priority no questions asked. I learned things at SU my sophomore year of college that most of the Master's students at UVA didnt know and we were in the same field! </p>
<p>As far as the school being safe... what college campus in a city is SAFE?? Ask the students at NYU...Miami...LSU... I bet you a million that they will agree that the campus is "not safe". Here's the catch, SU is a safe campus, but you just have to be smart about it. Dont walk in an alley by yourself at 2AM. Not smart. </p>
<p>Last but not least...the application for SU is rough, but there are reasons for it. They have up'd their standards 150% of who they'll accept. They don't take just anyone, and those that show effort in their application and display their passion to attend will be given high consideration. It's as simple as that. College essays arent just something they want to make you suffer through, they are an important part of who you are and if you through crap together you definitely don't deserve to be at Syracuse. </p>
<p>As an alumni I can optimistically say that you will never find another school like SU, and should you chose to go, it will be the best four years of your life.</p>
<p>Jonich01, thanks for your wonderful review. My daughter will be applying there.</p>
<p>I have to admit that as a parent, I was put off with the $15 lunch charge and $17 dinner charge. Check out UVA or any other school near you, and ask what they charge guests for lunch or dinner? This was also doing a parent visiting day! However, I am not going to let the food charges interfere with our judgment about the school.</p>
<p>As far as having numerous essays, I agree with your statement about this. However, even top schools don't normally require more than one essay, and they too are hard to get into and get lots of applications.</p>
<p>However, I agree with your comment about SU being a fine school.</p>
<p>Jonich01, Thanks for coming here and telling us a little bit about Syracuse. There are many things that I have read that I really like about SU. Perhaps you could answer some Qs that I have. I was wondering how the career center is upon graduation and for internships (esp. in NYC)? S is interested in business. Are there frats and how involved are students in them? How large do the freshman classes get (worst case)? I know that most classes are small esp. for such a large school, which I like too. Thanks in advance for any information you can offer.</p>
<p>I'd be glad to answer ANY questions regarding the university. The career center is wonderful- in fact, there is more than one. There is a career center within each college as well as one for the entire university, so there are myriad resources. They encourage students to start working with the career center early in their education (sophomore year). It's OK if a student doesn't know what they are interested in- it's the process of exploration that is encouraged. </p>
<p>SU has an internship program that helps place students for summer programs. Also, the alumni connection is strong so students often go through the Alumni pages to help get summer internships. NYC is SU's mecca- we have the Lubin House which is located in downtown Manhattan that is SU's campus away from home (we also have the Greenburg House in DC). </p>
<p>I had incredible internship experiences. The summer before my junior year I studied for a month with the DIPA (Dept of International Programs Abroad) in Australia and got a scholarship to go. That fall semester I spent a semester in DC with the Maxwell Undergraduate Program in DC and interned at the Washington Int'l Trade Association. I applied to that internship on my own without internal help from the university. My boss was an SU alumni. </p>
<p>Regarding frats and sororities- they exist like any university. BUT, the percent of students involved is around 15%. They are a nice part of the atmosphere, but they don't consume the social life of students by any means. I wasn't involved with social frats, but I was a part of the geography academic frat. Academic honor frats (coed) are becoming quite popular. But it's a choice- if the student wants to be involved, that's OK. The university doesnt discourage or encourage it, but it is important to remember that academics do take priority regardless.</p>
<p>Freshman classes (you're asking me to think way back!)- my largest was 105 in a intro geography class. The largest worst case scenario would be 400- that's the intro to psychology. Otherwise, after freshman year the classes are significantly reduced to about 30. The awesome thing about SU is that ANY class over 50, students are required to attend sections outside of class that basically are review sections where the material is covered again. They are helpful and those are run by a TA- often a graduate student. It is SO important to note that classes are taught by PROFESSORS, NOT TA's. TA's in the geography department are PhD students and some Master's. But full faculty teach the courses. I never had a TA teach the course. This may not always be the case, but almost 98% of the time. But classes are small- and majors are always guaranteed into required classes. By senior year, my class size was around 6. It was the best learning environment. </p>
<p>Taxguy- I've spent more money in Charlottesville on food than anything else! I am paying the same amount for my graduate education as undergraduate because I'm out of state. At SU, at least everyone paid the same. SU was much more generous with financial aid than UVA. I don't know about undergrads here, but I guess I'm just stressed with my work load! </p>
<p>Please feel free to throw any other questions my way!</p>
<p>-Everyone at the university is required to take liberal arts courses. Because the other colleges are "trade" schools, their core courses won't be as extensive as say someone in History or English. Students are required to take both math and language (that requirement just changed, it used to be one or the other). They are also required to take social, natural and humanities, but the number of courses differ depending on the program. Students have all four years to complete their liberal arts core.</p>
<p>I'm glad to announce that almost every year, SU is voted #1 for "Most to Do on a College Campus". There are over 300 clubs and activities on campus- from cricket club to singing groups to international clubs. If you haven't figured it out by now, I was a part of U100- a distinguished group of approx 100 students on campus chosen to represent their home college by working for admissions. We gave tours and worked in the main office with prospective students. I spent my entire 4 years working with prospective parents- and students! haha
But anyways, try this link:</p>
<p>It is a link to all the activities on campus. The school encourages students not to spread themselves too thin- it's really easy to get involved in just about anything. Sports are a nice part of the atmosphere, but there are only so many games in a semester! </p>
<p>I call my professors by their first names. In fact, they are still my references to this day. I was considering going back to Maxwell for my PhD and interviewed there last spring, but I think it's time to work! They are required to have office hours, and most the professors hang out during the day in the department and around campus. They encourage students to contact them by phone, email (very accessible) and in person, even for coffee. It's important to note that they don't run to the students, the student has to be willing to access them. But I loved my professors, and my department was extremely tight. I can't say every department is like that, but I can say with confidence that the College of Arts & Sciences is.</p>
<p>I'm sorry the link did not work, but it was from the <a href="http://www.syr.edu%5B/url%5D">www.syr.edu</a> website under students & activities... just follow the links and it lists all the activities and clubs on campus!</p>
<p>Jonich,
Thank you for the information. About language, do you mean foreign language? If you mean foreign language is that a core requirement now at the business school-Whitman School of Management (not for international business majors)?</p>
<p>Yes, foreign language. It is definitely a requirement for A&S students, but because I've been away from the university for a couple years now, I'm not completely sure which school is doing what. I would check with the admissions office for more details about requirements!</p>
<p>Actually, I did check w admission yesterday. The fl requirement does not apply to the School of Management. It applies to any BA degree, but I do not which other schools now require foreign language because admissions transferred the call to the School of Management. Thanks.</p>