Binghamton, Syracuse or Pennstate?

Jackman
Fri, 08 Apr 2005 03:10:55 +0000

I’m a Bing student. I will try to give you the most honest information I can. Binghamton can be hard to ajust to for some at first. The city is usually not even worth the $2 cab ride. If you really look, you will be able to find very few interesting places. A very great place in the city is the “Lost Dog Cafe”. There are a few art Gallery’s, again, not much. On campus there is definatlly stuff to do. Many clubs and sports to play, some music and such. If your D does come. Try to get into MountainView or CIW. Mountainview is very nice, but a little too nice. Like a hospital, not very social but good for studying and huge rooms. ( I live in MV) CIW is very social, and alot of people love it there. It is a lot more loud and not as good for studying. But they have their own library which is a good place to study. There are alot of people here from Long Island, and if you know the type, that is generally the people you will see the most of. There are also lots of other types, but much fewer than the LI people. Frat and SOR are present and in the spring your will see a lot of people doing strange things while pledging. I had a very hard time adjust and often did not like the school. I am trying to put my finger on why. I think everyone at somepoint feels a bit depressed here and at other times feels good. The last week or two have been very very sunny and beautiful and many people have been playing outside. The weather can make it hard sometimes, and make you feel down, but we also how sunny days, its not like it is cloudy all the time.
Academically, I feel like I am getting a goo education here. There are good programs in many subjects. Some TA’s (especially in chem) who have trouble with english, but thats at every big school I would think.
If your D will take any science or Calc 1, there will definatelly be large lectures with 400-500 people. For Harpur student (liberal arts) there also nice sized classes 20-35. I dont know much about Penn or Syr, But to be honest I would go with Penn if the price is good. Bing is a school for smart kids who want a good education but can not afford other schools. Many, many kids here got into great other schools but came here for the price. But I think that you pay for it by it somtimes not being all that great. The best thing that I can say is visit all the schools and let your daughter go to the one that feels right to her when she is on campus. Make sure that she feels right there. I did not feel right when I visited here, but I came here for the price. I have adjusted somwhat and see great things in being here as well as not so great thing.
I hope I was able to help.
The best of luck, and remember that you can try a school and always transfer if it is not right.
Again, good luck
JAck