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Planning a visit to SUNYs

bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
in Parents Forum
My youngest and I... and probably one of her friends... are thinking of visiting 3 SUNY campuses next week. Right now, I'm thinking of it this way:
1. Drive Long Island to SUNY Cortland.
2. Visit Cortland. Drive to Buffalo, see Niagara Falls. Stay either Niagara Falls or Buffalo.
3. Visit Buffalo State. Drive to Freedonia. Stay either location, 50 minutes apart.
4. Visit Fredonia.
5. Drive back to LI, possibly visit Bro-in-law near Binghamton.

My daughter is a rising Junior. She's thinking possibly Elementary Ed, possibly Graphic Arts or photography, possibly stage construction. She's a hard worker who has Auditory Processing issues, GPA probably around 85 or so. No SAT/ACT scores yet. She wants SUNY.

Any suggestions/ hotels/ whatever?
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Replies to: Planning a visit to SUNYs

  • cptofthehousecptofthehouse 30444 replies59 threads Senior Member
    I would squeeze in a visit to RIT. It’s not a SUNY, but they do give out a lot of financial awards. They make it easier than most colleges on accommodations for disabilities. They also have great tech there
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  • sylvan8798sylvan8798 6953 replies143 threads Senior Member
    I don't know the tour schedules, but you might be able to see Buffalo State and Fredonia in the same day. If you plan to cross into Canada at the falls you will all need passports. There is a huge outlet mall in Niagara Falls (American side) and the Galleria Mall in Buffalo if you want to shop. Canalside is popular for walking, eating, seeing the river, etc. Buffalo State is just north of the Elmwood Village area - also very popular for the students, so should definitely check that out. Parking can be an issue.
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    Thanks!!
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  • twogirlstwogirls 7774 replies7 threads Senior Member
    We always stayed at the Hampton Inn in Cortland. It was very nice, clean, and convenient.
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  • sylvan8798sylvan8798 6953 replies143 threads Senior Member
    I don't know what your Hotel budget is, but if you want a different sort of experience, check out the Hotel Henry, which is adjacent to the Buffalo State College campus.
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    Thanks. If she ever decides who is coming, I'll start to plan and look at it.
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    OK, so we finally have a date (next Sunday) and have appointments at 2 schools-- Fredonia and Buffalo State. Cortland has zero openings for tours for the rest of the summer-- so either they're really all booked, they're not offering summer tours, or the website is glitchy. I signed us up for a waitlist and we'll see how that one plays out. If not, we'll just get there at some point in the next year or two, possibly combined with a trip to my husband's alma mater, Oswego. I'll tackle hotels later.
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  • cypresspatcypresspat 628 replies11 threads Member
    @bjkmom my husband is a SUNY Oswego alum too! He loved it there. Back in the covered wagon days. My grad school roommates went to SUNY Cortland. Love those SUNYs. So well run and still a fantastic option.
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  • EmpireappleEmpireapple 2255 replies28 threads Senior Member
    For SUNY and education you might want to check out SUNY Plattsburgh. Buffalo is huge and Plattsburgh is more known for education than BU. As you drive through Albany you might want to check out the College of St. Rose. It is private but will most likely give you good assistance and is strong in elementary education.
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    She's thinking Buffalo State (8000 kids) not Buffalo University (21,000) kids. That could change, but I'm not sure she'll have the SATs for the University.

    Plattsburgh is on the list for another trip. I'll look into St. Rose... we're still in the very early stages of this college search and these will be the first 2 she's really seen. (Hanging out one night in her sister's dorm for a few hours, and going along when we picked up her brother don't really count,lol)
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  • indeestudiosindeestudios 140 replies6 threads Junior Member
    If your D is leaning toward graphic arts, photography or, especially, stage construction, you should plan a visit to SUNY Purchase. (They have excellent programs for all three, but don't have an education/teaching program at all.) The arts programs are a tough admit, but much more portfolio based than grades/test scores and they are very accommodating with learning differences.
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  • jagrrenjagrren 124 replies2 threads Junior Member
    If she is interested in elementary ed, have her continue with stage construction as much as she can. In many districts, having a skill like this can get you the job over other applicants. In my school, many of the elementary teachers go to the high school after 3:00 to coach or run a club.
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  • Erin's DadErin's Dad 34135 replies4918 threads Super Moderator
    New Paltz has teaching, theater arts, photography, and graphic design. Very pretty area too. My SIL went there for education.
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  • TheodenTheoden 254 replies8 threads Junior Member
    My son visited Plattsburgh and really liked it. In addition, I've heard that SUNY Oswego is very supportive of the students and have a solid alumni and career services office. Plattsburgh isn't as highly ranked as Oswego overall, but it has some excellent programs: nursing and environmental science and geology. Also, both of these schools are pretty heavy on the focus on *undergrads* with very small graduate programs.

    For arts/graphics, I'd think SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Purchase.

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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    Purchase, Plattsburgh and New Paltz are all on the list. But these are the 2 furthest from home; I figured they would be the toughest to crank out during the school year. Also Oneonta and Oswego. And also community college for two years. I want her to explore the options and give it all some thought during her Junior year. Then next summer she'll figure out just where to apply.
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  • TheodenTheoden 254 replies8 threads Junior Member
    Yup Oswego and Oneonta are very well rated.
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    LOVED Fredonia. Probably won't apply to Buffalo State-- it's a bit too urban for her suburban tastes-- she wants more grass and less concrete. But it was a great trip, with a great stayover at Niagara Falls.
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  • Jcc1964Jcc1964 22 replies2 threads Junior Member
    NP alum here. It’s true NP is strong in all of those areas, but it’s gotten much harder to get into. An 85 GPA might be a big stretch
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  • MYOS1634MYOS1634 43278 replies471 threads Senior Member
    What's the Fredonia campus like? Nice buildings or blocks of concrete?
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  • bjkmombjkmom 7948 replies160 threads Senior Member
    Absolutely gorgeous!! Tons of trees and green space. Very welcoming, very homey. Great architecture. Very walkable-- the class buildings are central with lots of fields and parking on the outskirts. And it's about 4 miles from the shore of Lake Erie, so we drove there.
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