<p>I am in need of advice. I am an older student (36yrs), and I have a set life on Long Island. I am getting close to graduating with my A.A. in early childhood ed soon. And I need to find a college/university to continue with my degree. I am not sure if I want to go upstate to go to college. HELP ME!</p>
<p>Most of the smaller SUNYs should have decent education programs. New Paltz and Oneonta are further downstate, and both offer degrees in Early Education(Birth-2) and Childhood Education(1-6). I’ve always heard nice things about their education departments. Have you looked into the CUNY system? It may to easier to figure out your exact geographical constraints and go from there. </p>
<p>Here’s a listing of all SUNY programs/campuses:[SUNY:</a> Program Search](<a href=“http://www.suny.edu/student/search_programs/currfd_oas_main.cfm]SUNY:”>http://www.suny.edu/student/search_programs/currfd_oas_main.cfm)</p>
1 Like
<p>nybmc:</p>
<p>I did search on the SUNY site. This is what it gave me:</p>
<p>SUNY Potsdam: WAY too far away
Buffalo State: Still too far away
SUNY Cortland & SUNY Oneonta: About the same distance away</p>
<p>I have my heart set on Oneonta. But I heard it’s a big party school. And being on “older” student I would rather not have the looks from the other students. <em>shrugs</em> Not that it really bothers me, but if I do choose a school upstate. I will have to room there, either on campus or off.</p>
<p>Ok, I see, you’re looking at a combined Early Childhood/Child Ed program! </p>
<p>I wouldn’t give up on Oneonta. It has its reputation as a party school, but living off campus should remove you from the bulk of that. I’m sure Oneonta has some type of program for its adult learners to help with the adjustment too.</p>
<p>Thanks Nybmc</p>
<p>Does anyone else have any opinions?</p>
<p>I would go with SUNY New Paltz…as an older student you may be more comfortable there since there seems to be a real mix of ages. My son is a transfer student there and lives off campus with all different age groups. Everyone fits in well and the town is walking distance to the school with community and students mixing very well. It’s well worth going for a visit and see what you think - it’s a fun place to visit either way. 
If I can answer any questions for you feel free to ask. We are Long Islanders too.</p>
<p>I am currently going to a local community college (Nassau Community). And have a current GPA of 2.59, this upcoming semester will change that.
Would that change anything about getting into SUNY Oneonta?</p>
<p>LilyMoon:</p>
<p>New Paltz didn’t even come up on any searches I have looked into. I will be talking to my guidance counselor to see a better perspective on my options.</p>
<p>Plus I have relatives near Albany area. I have ruled out Albany as it doesn’t have the major I want</p>
<p>SUNY New Paltz is very strong on education…it is their #1 major. I believe you need at least a 3.0 gpa but they do take other factors into consideration. Not sure about Oneonta.</p>
<p>time to bump</p>
<p>[Childhood/Early</a> Childhood Education Department](<a href=“http://education.cortland.edu/cec/index.html]Childhood/Early”>http://education.cortland.edu/cec/index.html)</p>
<p>Cortland may be another option for you.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cortland.edu/[/url]”>http://www.cortland.edu/</a></p>
<p>New Paltz and Cortland are fantastic.</p>
1 Like
<p>Oneonta’s party school reputation is from years ago. More recently it has become a much more selective, USNews Tier 1 ranked school. It has many non-traditional students that have no trouble fitting in.</p>
<p>Do not give up on it if your heart was set on it.</p>
<p>TY All for the advice!
I have yet to talk to a counselor at my current college but I think I am going with SUNY Oneonta.
Now comes another problem:
I am a divorced mom of a young S (he turned 12 on Aug. 14th) He is really having a hard time about me (for the most part) moving 4 hours away from him. I also have vindictive Ex’s, they will tell my S that I am moving away just to get away from him.</p>
<p>Either take your son with you or stay where you are and go to school. He really needs you right now and that may be more important than where you go to school. I don’t know where on Long Island you are, but there are many choices to continue your education right there. My Mom got her Masters degree while I was growing up at CW Post. There is also Hofstra, SUNY Old Westbury, SUNY Farmingdale, Adelphi, SUNY Stonybrook and others.</p>
<p>That important bit of information changes my original advice regarding looking into Cortland. Please, don’t move away from your 12 year old son to attend college. I’ve raised two boys (both are now in college) and I can tell you that kids need their parents more than ever during Middle School. You should work around what is best for your son. Although you may want to go away to college, there are opportunities right here on Long Island.</p>
<p>I don’t have physical custody of my son, it’s joint. I am not thinking about going upstate just to go away for school. I have been looking for the best education I can get, so I have a better chance of a better life for myself & my son. My ex is thinking about moving out of state to Virginia and if I have a better job by then I can appeal to keep him in NY.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter where you get your teaching degree. You will make the same amount of money whether you attend a college on LI or upstate NY. Your pay will be based on the “Step” process within the teacher’s union. For the degree that you’re hoping for, attending SUNY Oneonta isn’t any better than attending a LI college. The only thing you have to do is be NYS Certified in order to teach in NY.</p>
<p><a href=“http://education.adelphi.edu/curriculuminst/earlychildhood.php[/url]”>Ruth S. Ammon College of Education and Health Sciences | Adelphi University; (early childhood education)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.oldwestbury.edu/dept/teacher_ed/majors.cfm[/url]”>http://www.oldwestbury.edu/dept/teacher_ed/majors.cfm</a> (childhood education)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.dowling.edu/academics/becedu.shtml[/url]”>http://www.dowling.edu/academics/becedu.shtml</a> (early childhood education)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sjcny.edu/Academics/About-Child-Study/221/[/url]”>http://www.sjcny.edu/Academics/About-Child-Study/221/</a> St. Joseph’s College</p>
<p>I agree that the 12-year old is the priority. How soon might your ex move to Virginia? If this is likely to happen soon would you consider relocating to Virginia also? Outside of NOVA, Virginia is a heck of a lot cheaper to live in than Long Island. Virginia also has an excellent system of public colleges and universities. If you went to school in Virginia and decided to move back to NYS in the future all you’d need to do for your provisional NYS certification would be to take the test.</p>
<p>suny oswego, many education majors here.
if you love winter weather oswego is perfect</p>