sorry for jumping in again :P but this is such an interesting question, so hard to resist !
Since I am probably one of the most undecided student there (I changed my major at least 6 times, and about 10 times with my major...most registrar officer know my name by heart now), so I think I know how you are feeling.
You just try out lots of courses, and in fact, this is what most Union students do. Someone here told me that this is the only school she knows of where students just goes and try out classes which have nothing to do with their (intended)major(not just because of the required general educaiton). For example, a history course can have econs, engineering, arts etc students. By trying out many classes (mostly in the first year), you can know the school better, have a strong background knowledge and decide what's best for you. I came in as a prospective Computer science major but still open to try out and guess what, now I am an East Asian studies major! The other source is professor. Even if already know what you would major in, you should still try to create a good connection/relationship with professor. They are great source of information, they saw a lot and they can give you good advice Union also have a couples of major options like a ID (inter-departmental) or OT (organizing theme/self-design). Anyhow, you should be able to have an idea sooner or later. So don't worry too much Just open to new ideas and you should be fine. Generally here student would declare their major as early as the end of freshman year or sometimes in sophomore year.
Actually the more I stay here, the more I am happy with Schenectady. It is true that there is nothing much there yet to do, but they are trying hard and hopefully there should be something new soon. I wouldn't call it a really "down side" since you would become more active in campus activity and also in building the community around. I got acquainted with quite a few of nice families in this small town so I always have places to visit and new people to talk with. I learn great lesson of adaptation and adjustment here even though I was born and grow up in a big city. Believe it or not, there are kids that admitted they miss Schenectady after the long winter break...
Otherwise, if you like some city atmosphere, Saratoga Spring and Albany are fairly closed. Once in a while, Union also have free trip to Boston/NYC/Montreal and that helped to change the air.
So a fit or not...you decide Maybe you should come by, sleepover night, audit some classes and see if this is what you want. Cheers!
hey manwich, or bixcha, or anyone who currently goes to Union. Do you guys know any transfer students there? I just want to know how competitive it is, and the financial aid...if they give generous (though generous is very relative....) aid to transfer students
They give about 5-7 spots for transfer students every year. It would be tougher for transfer student but there is financial aid available. Transfer is always very competitive since they review your application after they admit the freshman but if you like Union, do apply!Good luck.
I'm currently a Freshman at Union (typing live from the Schaffer library) and I am really enjoying it here.
I was reading over these posts quickly just now and I have a problem with the preppy image. I've been on campus for a few months now and sure, there are preppy kids, but it doesn't dominate the campus. There are people who care about what they wear, but there are many who don't.
Albany Med School/LIM (Leadership in Medicine) is very difficult to get into.
Great faculty to student ratio at Union, no TAs= awesome= profs really get to know you/care about you/very accessible
Students at Union study, but also know how to have a good time...I wouldn't say frats dominate the campus, but they play a big part. With the Minerva system (I can explain that if anyone is interested), there are plenty of things to do at Union. There is something going on all the time--plenty of clubs/religious groups/social activities/intramural sports, etc. You cannot rush/pledge/whatever frats/sororities until fall of soph year.
To be honest, as an international student on campus, I don't think the campus is as diverse as it could have been. However, the admission office is working very hard on bringing diversity on campus. This says, not just in term of geographic or race but also opinions, interest and so on.
For me personally (I suppose I am consider a minority? Asian/international?), even though I "stick" with my international students friends but I still have so called "white friend" or American friends...whatever. It really depends on the students, how open you are. Say, if there is students who is not international student/ not minority would like to be my friend, of course I wouldn't say no! but I think minority students tend to stick together because they understand others' situation better. You would certainly see Asian/European hanging out with Caucasians and reverse. The only thing I can complain is that after the first term of freshman year, it is a lot harder to make friends since everyone already has their "group"(and I think this is seen in lots of other campuses as well) but I don't say it is impossible to make new friends, it really depends on how much you branch out.
So I guess I stopped getting emails when people replied to this thread, though it seems like it has been kept alive, which is cool.
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Originally Posted by boston_man_2009
I wanted to know how is diversity on campus? Do the minorities tend to stick together or do they hang out with the white students as well.?
While there is definitely some interplay, I'd say that the different minorities on campus, on the whole, keep to their own groups. There isn't a whole lot of diversity on campus in general, so I feel like the minority students stick together mostly because the campus is clearly very white. I wouldn't say there's really tension, just that the different groups stick to themselves.
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Originally Posted by benje309
I was reading over these posts quickly just now and I have a problem with the preppy image. I've been on campus for a few months now and sure, there are preppy kids, but it doesn't dominate the campus. There are people who care about what they wear, but there are many who don't.
There is also more to the preppy/new england atmosphere on campus than whether or not people care about what they're wearing...there's, for example, the fact that an large, -visible- portion of the school comes from suburban Boston, Westchester, Fairfield County etc. The school costs $50,000/year, even with financial aid you're going to have students from a wealthy segment of society and that's reflected in the clothes, cars, attitude and lifestyles of the students here...if at the very least much more visibly than, say, at a major state university.
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Students at Union study, but also know how to have a good time...I wouldn't say frats dominate the campus, but they play a big part.
While frats might not dominate the campus overall, I would definitely say that the dominate the weekend social life. They're the key meeting point/party place Friday, Saturday and typically Wednesday, and pretty much the only real events taking place on campus between 11pm and 3am on weekends. I'll also clarify that that I love these fraternity parties and that Union might not be the same for me without them. The social 'scene' at the U definitely focuses around these parties on the weekend, whether it's sorority mixers or big open parties people go out to see other people and to be seen out.
How is there bio program there? Ive been around campus a bunch of times and It seems like a nice college... only thing is its so cose to home and Id rather get away.
Hi M & B, I want to know something about the graduates, will they go to graduate/professional school or directly go to work?
I can't cite direct statistics from the college, however as a Junior right now I know a decent mix of people from both sides...some of my friends are planning to try to work right away, some are planning on going directly to grad/business/med/law school, and some are planning on working for a while and then going for a further degree. A lot depends on what kind of career path you're looking at and how much education it requires.
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Originally Posted by tinyhe
When did you guys get your admission results? Is it true that Union release the result quite early in March (about March 12-13 I suppose)?
I know that joeuhc above posted that they'll be out by early April, however I have heard some rumors that some colleges are posting admissions decisions earlier this year to try to build loyalty/attract students at a time when people may be scared off by the high sticker prices.
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Originally Posted by Ivybound3
How is there bio program there? Ive been around campus a bunch of times and It seems like a nice college... only thing is its so cose to home and Id rather get away.
As far as I understand the bio program is very good. It's a quite large program here and there are some really interesting study abroad opportunities, along with research opportunities with faculty members.
Also I do feel that going away to college is beneficial...for me it's a big part of being 'at college'...I actually live on campus and don't have any reason or excuse to go home on the weekend easily, it's pretty far away. Students here are very much around on the weekends...I wouldn't want to have to deal with my parents wanting me home for the weekends when I knew that everyone sticks around campus for the weekend.
first of all, thanks a lot for sharing the information, and i want to ask if you know some infomation about rochester institute of technology(RIT) which in NY, how about it's academics and opportunity to find a job after finishing master, any aspect of it will make a big help to me.
first of all, thanks a lot for sharing the information, and i want to ask if you know some infomation about rochester institute of technology(RIT) which in NY, how about it's academics and opportunity to find a job after finishing master, any aspect of it will make a big help to me.
Union also have a couples of major options like a ID (inter-departmental) or OT (organizing theme/self-design). Anyhow, you should be able to have an idea sooner or later. So don't worry too much 
