If I haven’t annoyed you with my constant threads/postings, then I definitely have now…
All self-deprecating jokes aside, I was talking to my GC today (we have to report college acceptances in-person, to verify for Naviance and HS stats), and I learned that she is convinced that I’ll get into ESF and UCONN. She suggested that I start comparing schools now to prevent being swamped in April. Sounds a little weird, but to be fair, Naviance is showing a 60-70% chance at ESF and a 50-60% chance at UCONN, so she’s not totally wrong.
I’m comparing these two schools (and not any others) for a few key reasons.
SUNY-ESF is heavily affiliated with Syracuse University—so in an co-curricular and social sense (and maybe even an academic sense), I’m comparing Syracuse vs. UCONN.
Both are very similar in tuition cost. UCONN would be instate rates, and ESF has low OOS states (even with room and board). Approximately 35-37K for each school.
Both have (IMO) great campuses. ESF feels a little…hidden about behind the Dome, but the SU campus is pretty neat. UCONN, even though it’s somewhat isolated, also has a decent campus (and lovely surroundings).
Here’s where it differs:
UCONN - has my preferred major (Geographic Information Science/Geography). Would be able to switch academic disciplines.
ESF - Landscape Architecture or Construction/Forest Management. (LandArch is 5 years, btw). Limited range of majors.
UCONN - Grad school advising is not great if you’re outside the Honors College. Limited advising, and I worry that I would not be noticed by professors (even if I reached out). This gets even tougher, since I have another school (Clark) that would probably have stronger advising).
ESF - Possibly better advising; more likely to work with professors.
It’s a lot of small issues, but they’ve all been occasionally coming up during the application cycle. Does anyone have any insight to these, or should I just stop asking questions and start waiting for decisions?
I love ESF. Great bargain. But if UConn has your preferred major and it’s a better deal financially, that would seem to be the logical choice. And there is the flexibility of switching majors. Choosing ESF means that you have to be sure that’s what you want.
Although the difference in cost isn’t great, $5K per year is still $20,000 over 4 years. Is that significant to your family?
Clark is a great choice for what you’re interested in. That option would depend a lot on cost.
As always Bill Marsh gives sage advice. I would add that I wouldn’t let perception of grad school advising have any impact.
If you go to grad school right after, and many today don’t, you will figure it out. You don’t need a counselor for that but I’m sure they’ll have resources if you want.
I’m an SU grad. I knew ESF was there but didn’t know anyone, no clue where the campus was or is. It’s 30 years ago but I do not see ESF as well integrated. Perhaps it is but I have / had zero clue then.
My S21 is graduating from ESF this year (Sustainable Energy Management). He loved his time there. ESF students can socialize with SU students as much as they choose. S says he went to quite a few SU parties but didn’t use their recreational facilities or libraries all that much. He only took one class on SU’s campus even though ESF students can take up to 16 credits there. My impression is that SU’s presence alone gives ESF a more fun and lively vibe than it would otherwise have. But I agree with Bill Marsh – if the major you want is at UCONN, then that’s probably where you want to be.
I don’t meant to revive an older thread, but I was just invited to the Honors Program at ESF. Once again, UCONN definitely has more options, but I wasn’t invited to honors. Does this change any opinions?
What do you get from being in Honors and is that more important to than anything you’ve already decided upon? For some schools Honors is meaningful. For others it’s a marketing ploy.
Knowing everything u know about the two schools what’s more important to you ?
In the end, you want to (for now) study GIS. If you can’t do that at ESF, not sure why you’d consider it at all.
Also you mention major changes…would ESF have enough variety if you wanted to change? Variety that would interest you ?
Things like advising…. Not really a reason to pick a school. It’s a nice to have. And you are ‘assuming’ ESF is better. You don’t know.
Based on what you previously wrote I’m not sure why you applied to ESF. Seems to me just based on your academic desires UCONN us a better way to go.
You’ve talked about your intended major but not about your career aspirations. Elaborating on that might help.
Lacking any further information, I still favor UConn. Landscape Architecture or Construction/Forest Management, the majors at ESF, simply are not Geographic Information Science/Geography, which can offer a potentially bright future.
ESF has as the reason for its existence the focus on understanding, management, and sustainability of the environment and natural resources. This is deeply embedded its DNA, going back well over a century. It was not created in response to a trendy environmental movement. It’s roots are in the 19th century in a movement which led to the creation of the Adirondack Forest Preserve where ESF still operates academic and research facilities to this day. That’s who they are.
Geographic Information Science/Geography is a great choice of majors. It offers lots of possibilities for a future career. I wouldn’t worry about the ability to connect with professors at UConn. GIS is a small department with only about 10 professors, some of whom will be primarily dedicated to their research and work with grad students, but there some who should be available to connect with undergrads.
You clearly are tempted by the offer at ESF. From what I read, the Honors Program comes with tangible benefits. It is a great opportunity for the right student. But if your primary interest is GIS, then it doesn’t seem that you’re that student. For this to be the right opportunity for you, your interests have to align with what they do, which is all about sustainability and resource management.
Now I may be wrong. If you really want to know for sure, then you need to write down specifically what you want to get out of your college major. You then need to find a faculty member or department head at ESF with whom you can communicate. You should then send him or her what you wrote and ask if you can learn these skills and knowledge by attending their program. It didn’t matter if they call their major something else if you can learn the GIS skills you’re looking for. But if you can’t, you’ll be wasting your time by attending there.
If ESF was already an appealing option, Honors makes it somewhat better. It gives you support for substantial independent projects that you could tailor to your interests. It also comes with the chance of more merit money, which could help to tip the decision.
What are you thinking as far as majors at ESF? Are you willing to put in the extra year, and studio work, for a LArch degree? You could potentially do a Geography minor at SU Program: Geography Minor - Syracuse University - Acalog ACMS™ and come out with a really great skill-set. But LArch is a lot of work if you really just want to do the kind of GIS work that you wouldn’t need the LArch piece for. Likewise, while Forestry is a 4 year degree, it’s not necessarily something you’d do just as a program shell for GIS - it’s more appropriate for someone who’s truly interested in that field. For a general degree that you could tailor toward a focus on GIS, you’d be better off with Environmental Studies or Environmental Science, which are pretty flexible and could definitely be weighted toward your desired path. There’s also Environmental Resource Engineering, which is a much more STEM-rigorous, ABET-accredited program, but has a GIS focus as an option; that department houses the grad programs in this area https://www.esf.edu/ere/graduate/gisce/ Could be worth asking about possible paths to a BS/MS (i.e., would you need to do the undergrad engineering program in order to add the Geospatial MS, or could you combine it with a different undergrad degree?)
It really depends. If there’s a much-better-fit option for you at UCONN, that may still be better. If you are genuinely interested in the specialty programs that ESF is strong in, like LArch or Forestry, then that may be better, and you’ll have plenty of options to fill in the GIS piece. For a more general degree like Enviro Studies with a GIS focus, either school would probably be fine, and other factors like cost and social fit may take precedence.
I’ll just add that the opportunity to do research that comes with the ESF Honors Program won’t be of value to you if it’s research in a field that’s not of interest to you or aligned with your long term goals. Most likely you’ll get research opportunities in areas that are of interest to your profs, which is great for them but not necessarily great for you.
BTW, congratulations on both of these acceptances. I live in CT and know that UConn has become almost impossible to get into. And ESF Honors is . . . well, an honor. Great job!!!