I’m torn between both schools. I want to study the environment in college and am pretty sure I want to do environmental engineering specifically ( in the UR program that would be a section off of the general Chem E program) and aspire to go to a decent grad school after undergrad. Both schools would cost basically the same. I liked ESF food and dorms and social environment better butttt was wondering if i should go to UR cuz of its better rep for grad school apps. afterwards, and more challenging academics. Help would be appreciated!
If you are a resident of New York State, then the smart choice is SUNY ESF. Rigorous program, access to Syracuse University, relatively low tuition costs.
If, as stated, costs are the same, state of residence would not seem to matter.
Look at what the profs at each school are specialists/researchers in and see which appeal to you more. If the costs are similar, then it’s really a matter of where you see yourself fitting in better. Profs/projects are good thing to look at for someone wanting grad school afterward.
I’d argue that for an environmental major ESF would be seen as just as good as Rochester if not better. What do you want to go to grad school for? If it is an environmental related degree the schools will know ESF. If you want to go to law school then maybe not. The issue with ESF is it has a very, very narrow set of majors. So you have to be sure what you want, because if you decide you want to major in economics or mechanical engineering you are out of luck. If costs are really the same I’d be inclined to recommend Rochester just because of the broader range of majors.
However I should note that when my oldest faced a similar choice she bypassed ESF for the school with the broader range of majors. Then she ended up transferring to ESF for her last 2 years because it turns out she couldn’t get the intense focus on the environmental issues that she really wanted at the school with a broader range of majors.