Which SUNY....?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm planning on going to law school and I'm going to be transfering to a SUNY school for my junior/senior year. I'd love to go to some other more expensive schools, like Michigan, but it's really not worth it in the long run I guess because of all the debt I'd probably get.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm a psych/english major and I'm torn between which SUNY to attend. </p>

<p>These are the schools I'm mainly thinking about:</p>

<p>Geneseo
Binghamton
Stony Brook</p>

<p>Geneseo is a bit small, but it'd be something I'm used to (from tiny town), and I'd just make sure to get involved with things and bring a car. The academics are supposively great and they have some interesting courses (even one on screenwriting, which interests me, although not somethin necessary). However, I'm not sure how it is in those departments.</p>

<p>Binghamton I've heard nothing but bad things about. However, these things usually deal with the atmosphere and experience, not the education. So, for the money, it might be a good education, but I'm hesitant to go there because of the horrible social environment. I've also heard that it is stronger in the social sciences, rather than physical sciences (which Stony Brook is better for). I know it's a good school in general, but in my specific majors, I'm unsure.</p>

<p>Stony Brook would be much like where I'm going now (Hofstra), which is a downside because I don't like the commuter thing here. I'm leaving for CC (financial reasons) now, and if I did go to SB after CC, I'd at least have two friends of mine who go there. However, I'm not sure I'd enjoy anything else considering I'm not a huge fan of the commuting LI atmosphere of Hofstra. I do know that SB is great for psychology (or at least I'm pretty sure about it), but not sure about their english department. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm just looking for a good education and at least a college experience I can enjoy and not regrettingly force myself through. I'd also like the school to push me to learn and prepare me for law school. I'm looking to do psychology because, well it really interests me, but I'm interested in criminal law and I think it could be somewhat applicable. With regards to english, I just enjoy writing and feel that having a second concentration in english would be helpful in ALL fields. </p>

<p>I'll hopefully be visting these colleges (and maybe others) over the summer and then will be applying this fall. If anyone could help me through my decision I'd really appreciate it. I just don't know which would be the best choice for me, or if (maybe) there is another school I should look into.</p>

<p>Well, I'm sorry this post was so lengthy and somewhat dragged out, but hopefully someone is able to help. And for those who bother to read all of this and even help me out, I'm VERY grateful. Thanks. :)</p>

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<p>Help me, please...</p>

3

<p>I am not a fan of bumping posts... but no one has replied :(</p>

4

<p>Here is my advice: I believe college is a time to go beyond what you know. You already know the small town and the Long Island commuter school environment so go to Binghamton.<br>
This, of course, is advice for non-academic concerns. I am sorry I am not too familiar with each school's academic particulars.</p>

5

<p>NY mom here- born in Brooklyn and went to SUNY Oswego- It's a big adjustment. If you already have reservations about Bing and Geneseo, I think you should listen to those concerns. Kids from my d's LI HS seem to like SUNY Buffalo and Albany as they too are not thrilled with the atmosphere of Bing and Geneseo and they want to get further away from home then Stony Brook- so I may suggest you check out Buff and Albany too. Buffalo probably comes closest to the big U. feel and Albany has a great criminology program and would be good for internships. Academically- they are probably close enough that it may just be personal preference to the campus atmosphere that may help you decide. Good luck.</p>

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<p>^Yes, those actually were the next two schools on my list. I definetly think academically they are all relatively close (my top 3 usually thought of as slightly better, mainly gen and bing), and it's probably going to be about campus.</p>

<p>Now, Buffalo is daaamn far, and geneseo is pretty far too (both 5+ hours). Albany and Bing are less than 3 hours away, and SB is less than 2. It would be nice to be closer to home at SB, but as I said, the commuter thing wasn't for me (I do have my 2 friends there though).</p>

<p>I guess I might have to visit the campuses and see. I will say one nice thing about Geneseo is that there are more girls than guys :) ha, I'm serious too, plus (I know not a good place to take this from) on studentsreview.com everyone seemed to love it. It's 5,000 or so kids, which is a bit small, but it'll get me hopefully closer with everyone and if I feel trapped in the rural location I can go to Rochester (but how is it there??) in my car. </p>

<p>I guess it could be up to the locations and atmospheres, although the academics are important too, so the criminology thing at albany sounds good. </p>

<p>Ahhh... hard choice. :(</p>

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<p>Do some careful research to check out the psychology and criminology programs at each of the top SUNY choices. I went to SUNY Albany many years ago (as a psychology major). Classes were big and I never really got to know my professors (although I must say I didn't try). Part of my problem was that I minored in business and ended up taking a bunch of intro courses in my junior and senior years. I DID have a lot of fun at Albany. It was very much a party school (and still is from what I understand). Downtown campus has good off campus housing and lots of bars. Food was pretty bad. Campus was depressing and gray in the winter - but came alive in the spring with the big fountain. LOTS of LI and NYC students. I have some friends who went on to their law school and did well. I would check out each campus and the programs and see what you like.</p>

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<p>I would go to Bing or Geneseo...probably Bing.</p>

9

<p>I'd go to buffalo or geneseo over any other suny. Geneseo has great academics, and buffalo also has great academics in a wonderful city.</p>

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<p>This is such a difficult decision :( Although I do think I have on of them out of the way: Stony Brook.</p>

<p>I've already had this commuter thing going on and will even be at home this coming year. So, I think it'd be nice to get a good college experience without everyone leaving left and right. Also (which is more important), I don't like their english program. It's 54 credits, which is a hell of a lot and most are added literature courses. I would enjoy many of the courses, BUT I want to double major and that many credits makes it somewhat out of the question. Plus, added literature courses doesn't benefit me as much as CW courses would (because I'd rather take CW courses). So, I think SB is outta the question, although it'd be nice having 2 friends there and being closeish to home.</p>

<p>Albany is still an option, but there website sucks and has nothing about their requirements, so I'm clueless. If anyone can help me out with that and gimme a link to english and psychology requirements, it'd be helpful. Once I see how their programs are, I'll decide there.</p>

<p>Binghamton and Geneseo both have the best programs I've seen so far (both being doable). They both have a fair amount of creative writing courses (bing even a spec in it) and roughly the same layout of course types. With psych they are similar too, both having 45 credits to fulfill, but Geneseo having more psych courses needs, while Bing you need a bunch of (4-6 courses to be exact) math/science courses. </p>

<p>Buffalo... I've yet to look into it. Edit* I've looked at the program, it's basically all literature, which, as I stated above, is not what I'm looking for. Since there isn't much CW within the program, I'll pass on Buffalo. Plus, it's the furtherest away and snows like crazy supposively. How is the town though? I'm curious...</p>

<p>As of now Bing and Geneseo are definetly my top choices until I find out how Albany courses are and find out about Buffalo's courses and location.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyones help, and further help is still welcome :)</p>

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<p>And I think Geneseo, class-wise, is the best choice for me. Not only do I have the broadest range of electives for both psychology and english, but they also have more interesting writing classes as well. They have journalism, writing for TV, writing for film and others that I can take as a part of the 6 courses I need for electives. Also, as opposed to having to take 4-6 math/science classes, I only have to take biology. In return, I'm taking a lot of psych electives, rather than the strict required courses at Bing (both same creds towards major).</p>

<p>Plus, I've heard more bad things about Bing than good also... </p>

<p>Hmmm... seems like through some research I'm leaning towards Geneseo. It's nice to at least have a sense of where I think I'm going to go.</p>

<p>You guys think with a 3.89 (and hopefully keeping my grade around there for the year I'm at CC) I can get into Geneseo for junior/senior year? I'l be adding to my ECs this coming year if that matters, and hopefully will write a good essay and have good recs. We'll see...</p>

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<p>Oswego has a "creative Writing" major offered through the English department.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/english/degree_programs/other_programs/writing_arts_minor.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/english/degree_programs/other_programs/writing_arts_minor.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/english/about_us/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/english/about_us/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>
[quote]
Not only do I have the broadest range of electives for both psychology and english, but they also have more interesting writing classes as well.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>just a word of warning -- not saying this about geneseo in particular, but for ANY school anyone looks at --</p>

<p>don't just look at what courses are listed in the course directory. look at what courses have actually been offered over the last few years and whether they close out!! and look at how often courses you think will be interesting are actually offered!! it is not uncommon for college bulletins to list some great sounding classes that may be offered only once during your four years there (if at all), or which may be difficult to actually get in to.</p>

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<p>Another vote for doing very careful research on offerings. Websites aren't enough. See if you can visit the campus and set up some time with someone in the departments that you're interested in. Sit in on some classes. Make some contacts and email them with questions. If you don't get much response, take it as an indicator of what it will be like when you get there. Take your time and do your homework to avoid unpleasant surprises.</p>

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<p>Yes, I definetly realize that, thank you for the heads up though.</p>

<p>Well, other than classes, the actually program requirements make a big deal. I'm not about to go to SB because I need 54+ credits in english and almost none of them could be creative writing. So, not only would it not be what I'm looking for english-wise, it also hurts the chance of getting a double major as well.</p>

<p>Geneseo has the best requirements IMO, only 1 science class and more electives for psych (so much more freedom). English is the same; I have more freedom in that department as well. Also, even if some of the interesting courses aren't offered, it still beats out, say, Binghamton. Binghamton for CW only has intro CW, intermediate CW, advanced CW, and then some other general advanced CW courses that are at Geneseo as well. So, even if some of the more interested courses are taken out, I'm not left with something I'd regret.</p>

<p>However, I still am going to check about when those classes are offered to see if I'd have a chance to actually get in them if I were accepted.</p>

<p>The only other school program-wise that seems reasonable is Binghamton.</p>

<p>-SB, as I said has too many English reqs, and none being CW.
-Buffalo is the same, I have only 4 electives and I'm not even sure if I'd be able to take CW courses for them
-Albany I'm actually not even sure of yet, because I haven't found anything on their website. However, it's known as a huge party school, and that's not exactly for me. </p>

<p>So, I don't think I'll regret thinking about Geneseo. Hopefully I can get in and my next choice will be Binghamton... we'll see what happens.</p>

<p>Thanks for all the helpful replies everyone, I really appreciate it.</p>