Union College and Geneseo.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I just found out Union took me off the waitlist and offered around 36K a year in scholarships. I was 100% set on Geneseo which was my top choice but now i'm not sure if I should take Union up on the offer or not.</p>

<p>Current pros/cons.</p>

<p>Geneseo</p>

<p>Pros
-My best friend is going/others I know
-Amazing science program
-Beautiful campus
-Rural location (I much preferred the valley and isolated setting)
-Close knit student body
-Well known in NY state
Cons
-A couple hours from home
-Incredibly rigorous
-Tough pre-med program
-My parents will need to stay in state for the next four years</p>

<p>Union</p>

<p>Pros
-20 min. from my house (i'll live on campus anyhow)
-Close to lots of hospitals
-Strong pre-med
-Small class sizes/student body
-Tuition will remain same no matter where my parents go
Cons
-Nobody I know is going there
-I don't think i'd fit in with the student body too well (from my visits)
-Not as known for sciences compared to Geneseo
-It's in an urban environment</p>

<p>I really am torn because both were schools I liked alot. Financially Union is "slightly" better but I felt like Geneseo might have something more to offer.</p>

<p>If anyone could tell me anything about either of the schools please do. I loved both and did not expect to get accepted to both of them like this. I was mentally set on Geneseo and i'm still leaning a bit towards it but Union is being very generous for me off the waitlist. </p>

<p>I plan on doing pre-med and majoring in Bio but my back up plan is to go into sciences and do grad school work.</p>

2

<p>If you feel like Geneseo might have more to offer, go to Geneseo (especially since it’s a state school and its only slightly better financially), also as I’m sure Geneseo is in a better setting than Schenectady, new York (I’ve visited Union too so I know haha)</p>

3

<p>You definitely sound like you prefer Geneseo. If you already were set on Geneseo and you don’t think you’d fit in at Union, I say definitely stick with Geneseo. Two great choices though!</p>

4

<p>Union has a very good reputation, especially in NYS. S was very impressed by quality of classes and also the small size. Union, I think, has a beautiful campus. Geneseo has also developed a good rep in recent years, though back in the 80’s it wasn’t a top state school, if that matters. One important consideration is that Union is on a trimester with classes starting later and ending later than most colleges. Some people like this, others don’t. For the same money, if I had to chooses, I would definitely pick Union. However, you need to go with your heart on this one. If you have a good feeling for Geneseo, go for it. Can’t really lose in either case.</p>

5

<p>
[QUOTE=pierre0913]
If you feel like Geneseo might have more to offer, go to Geneseo (especially since it’s a state school and its only slightly better financially), also as I’m sure Geneseo is in a better setting than Schenectady, new York (I’ve visited Union too so I know haha)

[/QUOTE]

Haha you’ve been there too. xD Though Schenectady didn’t appeal to me I really liked how they closed off this beautiful little campus. I actually really liked the Union campus but I don’t know if i’d be stuck in there since walking about the city probably isn’t the best option. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE=collegelookin]
You definitely sound like you prefer Geneseo. If you already were set on Geneseo and you don’t think you’d fit in at Union, I say definitely stick with Geneseo. Two great choices though!

[/QUOTE]

Hmmm…it’s hard to explain I honestly loved both schools. Like when visiting I could see myself at each. Only since Union waitlisted me I completely became accustomed to the idea of Geneseo and was really prepared for it. I have a gut feeling about Geneseo but i’m not sure if I should trust it just yet. Especially since the last time I visited Union I felt very comfortable and at home.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE=jillyo]
Union has a very good reputation, especially in NYS. S was very impressed by quality of classes and also the small size. Union, I think, has a beautiful campus. Geneseo has also developed a good rep in recent years, though back in the 80’s it wasn’t a top state school, if that matters. One important consideration is that Union is on a trimester with classes starting later and ending later than most colleges. Some people like this, others don’t. For the same money, if I had to chooses, I would definitely pick Union. However, you need to go with your heart on this one. If you have a good feeling for Geneseo, go for it. Can’t really lose in either case.

[/QUOTE]

I like the way you said it at the end,though it’s unclear which is best for me I can’t make a wrong decision. =]</p>

<p>I read up on the trimester and it goes into my initial pros/cons. It would offer more courses/options for someone with pre-med requirements and I get a nice break mid year. However I don’t like that my vacations will be timed differently from my friends at other schools. </p>

<p>For a pre-med and bio major and someone like me, Union would be perfect. It has the small atmosphere, a chance to know professors, opportunities at hospitals and I know the area well. I’m definitely more likely to succeed and get into med school through Union.</p>

<p>Logically speaking, Union is probably the better choice for me but I feel like I might be drawn to Geneseo for “less logical” reasons. The student body seemed to fit me well and the idea of being in a rural location sort of appealed to me. Also Geneseo was a little bit more selective this year and I was ecstatic to hear I made the cut regular decision. </p>

<p>Thanks for the replies guys, any more info or advice is welcome. Until then I guess I have to choose between my gut feeling and my logic.</p>

6

<p>I don’t see any cons, the fact that the pre-med program is Geneseo is rigorous is actually a positive because it will prepare you well for whatever is ahead in your life. Having a challenging program is better than going somewhere where you’re not going to fit in. I still say Geneseo</p>

7

<p>Go to Union! You only have 4 years of college to remember for the rest of your life. You don’t want any regrets years from now. If Obama’s universal health plan comes about your life in medicine will probably suck. Grab your next 4 years and don’t ever let go!</p>

8

<p>pierre0913 that is actually one of the reasons I was so set on Geneseo, at first it intimidated me but a program like the one at Geneseo would make me a better med student after college. Only I don’t know if Union’s program is really worse…just less competitive…still Geneseo was always what I wanted. </p>

<p>Union was a close second though…and with the scholarship being offered I might need to seriously consider the school. </p>

<p>What bothers me though, is that everyone is telling me Union will have a more well known name and that med schools and grad schools will probably recognize it and hold it in higher standing. When Geneseo is the one with the incredibly rigorous program and slightly more selective admissions.
I had to work really hard to get into Geneseo and I feel like i’d be letting that go to a waste if I picked Union. Yet Union still makes more sense from a logical perspective. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys, i’m making a visit to Union tomorrow to get a feel for the campus, hopefully i’ll get something from it and realize which school is or isn’t for me.</p>

9

<p>Do what you think is best. I will not say that you should go to Union, but pesonally… I would. With that being said, I would tell you to look at your pros and cons over again. I think you should reasses what is actually good and bad about both.</p>

10

<p>^ Hmm…very good point. I’m still seriously considering Union but i’m not quite sure what pros and cons to go by. Did a visit today of their science department which was really good but didn’t do much for me. I don’t know how big they are in science, the program was really good but Geneseo got this new science building and everything, so they made a little bigger impression on me. </p>

<p>The professor mentioned a ton of research opportunities though, which is great. I’m gonna call some med schools tomorrow and see how my second visit goes but i’m starting to consider Union more seriously.I just wish it wasn’t in Schenectady, all other things are starting to appeal to me alot.</p>

11

<p>Yea, it’s a tough decision man. Honestly as a possible pre-med student myself at Rutgers, it’s a tough road that I don’t think everybody can travel. Maybe even after BIO101 you might say, eff pre-med! Then what? What I am trying to say is look at the situation as a whole. What would be the best overall fit for you would be the best selection.</p>

12

<p>Here’s another thought since you are considering premed. Check the CC med school forum, but I know with Law school that it’s the grades and the LSAT scores that the schools really look at for admissions. The rep of the school may be factored in to some degree, but it is not as critical a factor. That being said, I would pick a school with a decent rep (either one) where there will be individual help if you need it and where you think you will excel. Good luck and where ever you end up, don’t second guess yourself. That will be the right decision.</p>

13

<p>
[QUOTE=HahahaI’mback]

Yea, it’s a tough decision man. Honestly as a possible pre-med student myself at Rutgers, it’s a tough road that I don’t think everybody can travel. Maybe even after BIO101 you might say, eff pre-med! Then what? What I am trying to say is look at the situation as a whole. What would be the best overall fit for you would be the best selection.

[/QUOTE]

That is a very good way to look at it, I should pick the school for other reasons and not just pre-med. In the case I guess Geneseo.
BTW how are you doing in a state school as a pre-med? From my own visits state schools didn’t seem to give as much personal support to students compared to the small privates and stuff. Are you doing fairly okay? Like getting research opportunities and things? </p>

<p>I visited Union today and the counselor was telling me about how personal the professors and advisers are with their students due to the small class sizes and student body. Lots of internship and research opportunities are openly offered to students which seemed nice.<br>
The Geneseo professor told me i’d pretty much be on my own in terms of finding help from faculty. </p>

<p>
[QUOTE=jillyo]

Here’s another thought since you are considering premed. Check the CC med school forum, but I know with Law school that it’s the grades and the LSAT scores that the schools really look at for admissions. The rep of the school may be factored in to some degree, but it is not as critical a factor. That being said, I would pick a school with a decent rep (either one) where there will be individual help if you need it and where you think you will excel. Good luck and where ever you end up, don’t second guess yourself. That will be the right decision.

[/QUOTE]

Well Union seems to have a little bit more name recognition from all the people I talked to, but in terms of sciences both seem to be very strong. I’m very glad you gave that last piece of advice, it is really reassuring. Everything happens for a reason and neither will really be wrong for me. I could flip a coin and never look back and still be fairly happy I think.</p>

14

<p>So I pretty much decided on Geneseo, I wish I could have made one more visit but my parents wouldn’t drive that far. Union had so many great qualities but a walk through the dorms and I just couldn’t see myself there. </p>

<p>Only later at a dinner when I mentioned that I picked Geneseo over Union almost 20 different adults out right told me I made a bad decision. =/ </p>

<p>I know I shouldn’t let others alter my opinion but I don’t get why so many people (up to people with connections at other colleges) are big on Union but refuse to see Geneseo as a good option…maybe they know something I don’t?</p>

<p>These forums are the only place where I found some support for liking Geneseo, but everywhere else i’m getting a lot of pressure for my decision.</p>

15

<p>After reading through your forum I completely understand your dilemma. I am actually choosing between Geneseo and Union right now myself, and I don’t think that either would be a bad choice. Just wanted to give you that support.</p>