[College Decision] Skidmore vs. Bard vs. St. Lawrence Univ. vs. RIT vs. UB vs. ESF for Biology or Environmental Science or Studies

[knowmore]

I like to hear some more advice from all of you CCers for my S.
He got accepted into the schools as follows: Skidmore, Bard, St. Lawrence Univ., PSU, RIT, Hofstra, UB SEAS, ESF, and Albany Honor, along with all CUNYs.

Waitlisted at CWRU, Syracuse, and SBU.

Visited Bard a half day months ago for the interview.
Visited SLU a week ago for the accepted student event.

Like my D, my S did not yet receive most FAs from most accepted schools, so it is not easy to compare COAs too. As of now, he got full-ride offers from Bard and Skidmore; 30K/yr merits only from SLU; 31.5K/yr merits from Hofstra; 21.5K/yr merits from RIT (14K COA); 20K/4yr merits from Albany Honor; 12K/4yr merits from ESF.

He took a 4-year PLTW biomedical track in high school, so he applied to schools for either a biomedical-related major - biology or biomedical engineering - or environmental-related majors - environmental science or studies.

While I first leaned toward ESF for an environmental science major, I do recommend LACs to my S for close-knit relationships with professors, student-to-teacher ratio, and many other opportunities such as 3+2 dual-degree, research chance, or study abroad.

He now leans toward SLU, Bard, and Skidmore. While waiting for accepted student days, he and I want to hear more valuable information about schools.

Thanks in advance!

p.s. Getting off from waitlisted might be great, but I see it less likely.

[murray93]

Wow! Congratulations on the full rides. Is there a reason to consider any colleges outside of Skidmore and Bard? You mentioned he had been to Bard, what did he think? Will he visit Skidmore?

[ColdWombat]

I think ESF sounds like a great option. It’s strong in all the majors of interest. It’s a small and tight-knit community and is actually kind of LAC-like. I’ve heard people say that it’s like getting to attend Syracuse for a much cheaper price, since ESF students share so many Syracuse resources. Is it affordable for you?

Buffalo is great for engineering but will be much bigger than ESF. RIT is another good fit for majors, but it seems much more costly so not worth it.

If the student is interested in engineering, I’d avoid 3+2 programs. Skidmore, Bard, SLU, etc are fantastic, but they are not places to study engineering.

[tsbna44]

You have bio, env science - and then env studies - so none of the three will have great outcomes in aggregate.

You have another student - so a lot is going to depend on budget. Having two free rides though is incredible - even if you can afford full price, in theory that’s up to a $700K savings.

Your list is so diverse - with large, medium (Hofstra - who gives big merit), small.

The ESF is almost a sub for SU - they eat with SU students, join their clubs, even graduate with them. So if the SU WL was a huge bummer - it’s not a back door in - but it’s a back door in.

What does the student want? Do they like the three LACs or find them limiting?

Since you say they are leaning toward the LACs I assume that’s already been answered, I’d choose one of the freebies - full ride as in everything - and not look back - especially given the majors.

Now - you note biomedical engineering - and if he has any acceptances, the answer might be different.

One of the lower paid engineering majors but the outcomes will likely be far better than the three majors you list in the subject line.

[knowmore]

Thanks for all the commentators here, @murray93, @ColdWombat, and @tsbna44

Since COVID-19, I could perceive how important self-sustainable living is. This triggered my search for colleges and majors with practical research possibilities in biology and tree-related fields. And I found ESF meets our financial circumstances.

My S applied to EA in November and got admission in early Dec for Environmental Science.

Below is the excerpt from the school email.

"Congratulations on your admission to ESF! I want to make you aware of a unique academic opportunity ESF offers that may be of interest to you. It is possible to complete both a bachelor’s degree at the Syracuse campus and an associate degree at the Ranger School campus in just 4 years. Completing both degrees provides you with the technical and professional expertise that is very attractive to employers in the sectors recruiting ESF graduates. We call this our 1+1+2 pathway:

• Year 1 is spent at the Syracuse campus to complete first year requirements common to both the BS and AAS degrees.
  • No action is required at this time. During the fall semester there will be an information session for students interested in this opportunity.
• Year 2 is spent at the Ranger School in Wanakena, NY to complete the requirements for the AAS degree, some of which will also apply to the BS degree.
• Years 3 & 4 you return to the Syracuse campus to complete the BS degree requirements.

You have been admitted to one of the bachelor’s degree programs most often combined with one of the associate degrees in Environmental & Natural Resources Conservation, Forest Technology or Land Surveying Technology. If you would like to learn more about the 1+1+2 combined BS and AAS pathway, please call the number or send a message to the email address listed below.

We hope to see you at one of our upcoming Syracuse Accepted Student Receptions and invite you to attend the Ranger School Open House on Sunday, April 28th to learn more about academic and student life and the combined BS & AAS degree pathway."

Although my S has 4 years of PTLW biomedical track, I do not want him to get into the pre-med program directly. At least he needs to convince himself about the program he likes to do.

I see this combined BS & AAS degree pathway as practical and interesting. In addition, I found ESF provides a SEA Semester program for the marine science minor.

" The Sea Education Association (SEA) offers a unique experience in which students live, work, and study on board a tall ship! Students start their studies in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, then set sail on voyages traveling in the Caribbean, New Zealand, Polynesia, and more. Students conduct all the duties of sailing the ship, standing watch, collecting samples, and working in the shipboard lab. ESF students have sailed in the Caribbean, New Zealand, and Phoenix Islands. Visit their website to see all available voyages. Students who complete a semester program with SEA Semester can earn a minor in Marine Science (contact Kim Schulz at kschulz@esf.edu for more information)."

To my guess, ESF’s SEA semester is a real program I recommend for my S.
Other than these, ESF’s regional campuses seem great for taking a semester or participating in bio-related research.

These are some of ESF’s benefits, making me lean toward ESF over UB or all other schools he got admitted to before mid-March.

My D and S participated in ESF’s and UB’s reception day for accepted students in NYC. I even went to Albany’s local reception day. My D said ESF’s alumni seemed outstanding. She added, “It is unlucky because ESF has no related major for me.”

From St. Lawrence University,
I found the Adirondack semester, the environmental scholars program, the living lab, FYP, and SYE.

From Skidmore,
I found the Seamester, FYE, ESS, and Off-campus study and exchanges.

From Bard,
my S got admitted into Biology; I found here Bard-Rockefeller semester and health-medical related research programs.

It is so hard to choose one among all great schools and programs.

[tsbna44]

Like going to a restaurant - and the menu is yum. But what you order will still be great - even if you can’t sample the rest at this time…as long as you can pay the bill!!

My daughter has a friend at semester at sea at charleston so not sure a sea mester is that rare. It can possibly be done at the others as a study abroad. It looks like Skidmore is running theirs through U of South Florida.

Good luck.