<p>I'm cross-posting this here because no one ever seems to visit the Alfred University forum.</p>
<p>I'm hoping to get some insight into why Alfred is #19 on the Princeton Review's Least Happy Student list. I've had a hard time finding good information on the quality of life at Alfred, but those few people I have heard from have made it sound very pleasant. Is it just the isolation?</p>
<p>If you are or know an Alfred parent and can offer any insight, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see if you get any responses. Frankly, when we visited for a weekend, the students we bumped into were very happy with their choice. On Saturday there were many kids and profs in the engineering labs. All were outgoing, friendly and seemed in good spirits. Friday night there were kids coming and going and walking in the tiny downtown area. Saturday afternoon, kids and profs at the coffee shop in town. There is also a state school on the opposite side of the main street so some of the kids/profs were probably from that school. You absolutely have to visit this school I think. The college and town need to be seen and experienced. I imagine that certain kids might not spend enough time experiencing this aspect and could potentially not be “happy” with the tightness of the community and want more diversions or an ability to “get away” from the school. My son left liking the college itself quite abit but was concerned about the larger “community” of the area, it will be interesting to see if he completes an application next month.</p>
<p>Thanks, that is consistent with what I’ve been hearing. Hardly seems like it should equate to the 19th least-happy student body in the country! But then maybe I’m giving to much credit to the validity of the Princeton Review survey. For all I know, they only asked one student, who happened to be a malcontent.</p>
<p>You have to take the Princeton Review survey results with a HUGE grain of salt. They are VERY unscientific and often are reflective of nothing.</p>
<p>Case in point: A number of years ago I worked at a university that was ranked the MOST unhappy school in the whole nation. A small group of students decided to change that. They organized other students to send in the surveys and the very next year, the same university was ranked #3 (or was it 4?) on the list of happiest students. Did the school or its students change dramatically in one year? Of course not. Just shows how silly the Princeton Review survey really is.</p>
<p>I can only suggest this, living as I do in Western New York State. The weather here is very difficult and tiresome in winter. At least students in upstate medium-sized cities, such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany can build a well-rounded winter by using both university and city resources for a change of scene. If all you see is dorm buildings and classrooms from December-April, it can get depressing. Those who can rely on their own inner emotional/intellectual resources or make friends and socialize, do fine and survive every winter handily. </p>
<p>At schools like Alfred U, or Fredonia of the SUNY system, perhaps the students face the winter weather witthout as much benefit of alternative activities off-campus. You have to really like your program, friends and stay positive once it hits March and winter has dragged on a long time.</p>
<p>Lake effect snow is a big dump, not quite as charming as a New England snowfall. The midpart of upstate NY is very gray (ask anyone from Ithaca College or Cornell to bear this out). </p>
<p>It may depend on prior expectations and personality, but to be honest, it takes a lot of strength to stay positive in upstate New York without being able to run into a great urban or suburban indoor venue for change-of-pace, as students can in our upstate small cities. </p>
<p>That’s the only thing I’m thinking might be discouraging at Alfred U, and surely many students overcome it, just as there are Fredonia students so encouraged with their excellent programs in (for example) music or education that they stay
positive all winter.</p>
<p>Seasonal Affective Disorder (curable by lightbulbs…) also has a community impact, as one person gets depressed and feeling “cabin-fever” so brings that gloom to the next person (I’m talking about adults, here). I think the best approach to winter is to find a winter sport so you look at each snowfall as a blessing, not a curse. Some examples: skiing, ice skating, wildlife tracking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing. </p>
<p>Some students also add to their own misery by refusing to wear a hat or scarf, due to vanity and bad hair days. Much better to enjoy the season by dressing for it. </p>
<p>All this is EASY to write as we’re now basking in perfect summertime upstate NY weather, which is our reward and something not all students see, either.</p>
<p>If you get a chance to take a course or workshop in something like: identifying
trees in winter, wildlife animal tracks…those are things that engage a person to see the outdoors, and not just shudder at it. I find that helps, too. Also: hot chocolate.</p>
<p>I can’t speak about Alfred but I CAN speak from experience about upstate NY weather. I attended a small SUNY in a small town and recently attended my reunion. Many of my classmates wrote in the reunion yearbook that their favorite memories included the snow, Winter Carnival, climbing the hills in the dead of winter, skiing, etc. It was a long time ago and I didn’t participate in winter sports except for hill sliding on trays borrowed from the cafeteria but I really have no memories of weather being a minus. Almost all our fun centered around the campus since downtown there were just a couple of bars.</p>
<p>For a while I worked in Ithaca during the worst snowfall seasons ever. Then too we just adapted. Scarves, gloves, boots and warm jackets keep the weather at bay.</p>
<p>Might be. We’re in the western side of Michigan and a rather hearty lot. The sun rarely shines in the winter and we get dumped by snow off from Lake Michigan. Second maybe only to Buffalo with regard to lake effect I do beieve. My oldest just hated the lack of sunshine and went somewhere that is bittery cold and very snowy but has more sunshine. If you are not from winter territory then yes, that must be considered for Alfred. If you are from winter territory then the small town and no by bigger town needs to be considered.</p>
<p>Hey - they seem happier than the students at all the military academies.</p>
<p>As an Alfred parent I asked this same question in the email Parent to Parent Group. The administrator’s answer was that the surveys are not filled out frequently enough & many of these lists in the Princeton Review are based on surveys from 4 years ago. So, indeed, do not put much faith in these PR surveys and lists. I have also read there can be a lot of ballot box stuffing at schools across the country. </p>
<p>Every student I encountered at AU seemed very happy & my H & I chatted with quite a few of them. We feel that our D will thrive at AU and it was an excellent choice.</p>
<p>I graduated from Alfred and I gotta tell you, the place is cold, isolated and dreary. The Village of Alfred is shabby and run down and the dorm rooms are about the size of prison cells. With so many choices, as to climate or better/more interesting locations, I can readily understand why Alfred students are so unhappy. I spent four years there, but I was probably too naive to know there was something better out there. The school used to be more main stream, but now seems to feature a pretty weird mixture of students, sort of a Bard College West, but without the academic reputation. I wish I had spent my college years elsewhere.</p>
<p>The comment about Alfred being “Bard College West” is intriguing. I was thinking it might be a combination of Bard College West and RPI Lite, since the academics seem to be primarily either artsy or techy.</p>
<p>Kevin Dailey, how would you say your fellow Alfred students felt? Do you think they shared your feelings about the place?</p>
<p>Hard to say. I don’t know of any of my contemporaries that have anything at all to do with the school, sort of unusual for a private college, where the Administrations usually go to great lengths to keep the alumni involved. It’s quite a distance for most folks to travel (and in the most economically depressed area imaginable) and the alumni events I have attended in the past don’t draw well. I would say that most alumni lack affection and commitment to the school. Personally, I devote more of my time and effort to my local community.</p>