<p>Cherryhillmom, as I said in my PM to you, I really think that you should take a look at the SUNYs. I am by no means an expert, but this is what people around here talk about:
Stonybrook is great for science.
Geneseo is the in-state LAC, kind of like a little honors college.
Binghamton is great for liberal arts and business.
Purchase is great for performing arts, especially musical theater.
New Paltz is great for the arts.
Albany is the state capitol and so is good for political science and internships with government.
Buffalo is good for engineering and medical fields.
None are good for rah-rah atmosphere or sports.
There are more of them that I don’t know about. Like Plattsburgh - all I know is that it is cold and snowy!
Who else can chime in here - please correct me if I am wrong about any of this!</p>
<p>Oh- and Cortland is great for physical education.</p>
<p>I’d add that Oneonta seems like a smaller, less competitive version of New Paltz, located further a way from NYC, not quite as far as Cortland, about midstate. If the location isn’t a problem, Oneonta is set in a charming and beautiful part of NYS with a nice, small college town. Hartwick, a smaller private LAC is also located in Oneonta.</p>
<p>suny’s – couple of comments –
new paltz has been rising in stature and selectivity – wouldn’t say its just for arts anymore. appeals to students who want a smaller suny school than the university centers, but don’t want to be in as remote an area as geneseo. new paltz isn’t right near nyc, but close enough that a student can take advantage of nyc. and new paltz is probably a more interesting town in its own right than geneseo is.</p>
<p>binghamton also has an excellent nursing program.</p>
<p>cortland used to have the reputation of being where phys ed teachers went – its trying to shake that as its main reputation, but i don’t know how successful it has been.</p>
<p>CHmom: move in is August 26th…still haven’t done a thing; I gave her till after July 4th weekend…then we have to start cracking…</p>
<p>great news Rodney!!</p>
<p>Wow! It just took me an hour to catch up on this thread. I spent the past few days at orientation at Boston University. My daughter had a great time, and is even more excited about starting college in the fall. She got her housing assignment a few days before orientation, and got to spend some time with her roomate. She’ll be in a traditional double in a huge concrete tower, but she’s very happy with her roomate and dorm. Students registered for classes at orientation, and there were faculty and peer advisors available to help them out. At my suggestion, my daughter researched her options before orientation, so she was able to quickly lock in her choices. She said that some of the other students didn’t get their first choices on sections, but most people got the classes they wanted. </p>
<p>There was a separate parents orientation program that was very informative. My husband and I stayed in a luxury student apartment with a great view of the Charles River. I was very impressed by the charismatic deans, school spirit and overall support for students. Not to mention all the great shopping and restaurants in Boston! </p>
<p>For those of you building your college lists, I recommend considering BU for B+/A1 students interested in a large city school.</p>
<p>Renmom: Welcome to this thread. A lot of our children are similar to your. I still feel that the best advice I got on CC was to “love the kid on the couch, not the one you wish you had.” It helped me apreciate and encourage my D2, even though she is very different than her older sister.</p>
<p>RVM: I think that it’s a good idea for you to consider USC for your son, if he likes the Southern, rah-rah vibe. A lot of kids from my area are very happy there. One of best D’s best friends will attend this fall, so I’ll have more to report later on. They are extremely generous with merit aide for OOS students. </p>
<p>MDCISSP: I’m sorry that you are frustrated with the red tape at Towson. It can be difficult for freshmen to get the courses they want at a lot of large schools, but it usually gets easier later on. I think that it’s a good decision to give Towson a try first semester. I have a good friend whose son graduated a year ago, and I’ll ask if she has any advice on navigating the process.</p>
<p>Linymom: My D1’s friend had a tiny single in Rodney freshman year also! It worked out fine, and she’s a very happy rising senior at UD.</p>
<p>Rodney: I’m glad that your D is happy with her housing.</p>
<p>Samtalya: Have a great trip! I’m jealous.</p>
<p>MCH: The University Studies undecided program sounds great.</p>
<p>ST and Choc: It’s funny that your D and S are in the same dorm. My D and I met a very friendly Tufts student at a store on Newbury Street yesterday. I thought of you guys.</p>
<p>Umich and choc: I’ve seen a lot of boys improve their GPAs during HS. Sometimes it takes boys longer to learn how to “play the game.”</p>
<p>Spot on descriptions of the SUNY’s. Right now, Binghamton is the “hot” SUNY and there is increasing “rah rah” spirit there.
I agree with LINYMOM, that as the flagship SUNY’s gain more cache around the country, New York State should gain the benefit of additional OOS tuition dollars.</p>
<p>Hi momjr - great report on your BU experience - sounds fabulous - and I am always impressed when a larger university manages to pull off a smooth experience. I would appreciate any USC updates you can provide in the fall. It is a school I looked at and decided not to pursue earlier - but getting in-state tuition puts it in a whole new light. One of S1’s friends from hs - not Jewish - is there - I may give that mom a call just to see what she thinks.</p>
<p>S2 - probably under the influence of narcotic pain meds - has agreed to have a lengthy discussion this coming week about various colleges on and off his list and really go through it - figure out where he does/does not want to apply - where he is willing to visit in the fall - and really wrap up this stage of the process. I explained to him that while we have had numerous 3 minute conversations - I need a decent block of time to handle the topic thoroughly so that I can feel we have completed the conversation in a meaningful way. So - there is an upside to having his wisdom teeth pulled!</p>
<p>rvm – another toy :-)</p>
<p>I entered Virginia Tech since, as I recall, there was a wager or two placed on it.</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/search1b.aspx?institutionid=233921]College”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/search1b.aspx?institutionid=233921]College</a> Results Online<a href=“you%20can%20switch%20to%204%20year%20grad%20rate%20at%20the%20top,%20too,%20if%20it%20brings%20up%20the%206%20year”>/url</a></p>
<p>Samtalya: here’s to a wonderful trip; so envious!!</p>
<p>RVM: get well to your son on his wisdom teeth; we have escaped this with both girls but I’ve been told that this will soon, too, come to an end…yuch…</p>
<p>momjr: So happy BU orientation went well; very close friend going to the next session…I look forward to her experience…</p>
<p>Welcome to all our new members…</p>
<p>collage1: did you guys get roommates yet? etc…keep us posted…know a bunch of kids going to your d’s school…</p>
<p>btw, so interested to hear about the VaTech developments; it is SO not on the radar here (maybe because of the lack of transportation options? like JMU, I think this is a “driving only” school)…would love to hear more feedback from current parents about the comfort level for NY/NJ kids…also, what % is OOS?..have always known about the strong academics, etc, but have never explored fit…</p>
<p>This link gives a good overview of demographics, admissions data, cost, etc. </p>
<p>[Factbook:</a> Student Overview | Virginia Tech Home | Virginia Tech](<a href=“http://www.vt.edu/about/factbook/student-overview.html]Factbook:”>http://www.vt.edu/about/factbook/student-overview.html)</p>
<p>It is about 1/4 OOS - with the top states being MD, PA and NJ. I really have no idea how NJ/NY kids would go back and forth - for us - it is a nice drive along Rt 81. S1 takes RT 81 to and from Wake - he literally passes right by VT and JMU on his way. Which would be awfully convenient (as would Elon) for the year they overlap in college. Not a determining factor certainly - but of some interest.</p>
<p>Last year - our hs had 34 apply - 28 accepted - and 7 matriculate.</p>
<p>I have a friend with quadruplets - yes - quadruplets - they just finished their freshman year of college - and they go to 4 different schools! They live in Wisconsin, and the colleges are all in either Ohio or Indiana, but still, the logistics boggle my mind!</p>
<p>Thanks for the link Deborah - will have to play around with that.</p>
<p>pretty good wrap up of SUNY schools- but just to add most of the SUNY colleges (not the University centers-buffalo-bing-albany and stony brook) started as “Normal” schools- meaning they have teacher education. I believe that holds true for just about all SUNY college today. So if your kid is interested in being an education major, the SUNY colleges may meet your needs. And yes- there may be a bit of a stereotype for the individual colleges like Cortland for phys. ed or sport management vs. New Paltz for the Arts vs. Oswego for communications and business.<br>
–also don’t forget about Envionmental science housed on Syracuse U campus. SUNY tuition/syracuse lifestyle. Not a bad combo!! [SUNY-ESF</a>, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](<a href=“http://www.esf.edu%5DSUNY-ESF”>http://www.esf.edu)</p>
<p>rvm- i know you are thinking about York. we checked out campus a few years back. My d wasn’t too impressed with the area or school. She didn’t even apply. Obviously you’ll form your own opinion, but I think the campus was kinda underwhelming. In comparison with Towson, I don’t think York is going to offer any more than your instate public U.
also just curious (and this may have been addressed- this thread is way to long for me to follow) did you rule out Ithaca solely because of distance? They really do have a solid sport management and business program. Good networking and I think they could be generous with merit scholarships for the right kid.</p>
<p>Hi marny1 - thanks for the input on York - which has been pretty consistently “meh”. I would still like to see it though. The pictures on the website look nice - particularly the rec center and the performing arts center - but of course, photos can be deceiving. Ithaca was ruled out for weather - S2 refuses to head into NY. But otherwise - it would be on the list.</p>
<p>funny how kids make decisions- mine ruled out New Jersey. Drove to see Rowan campus after we toured Temple U (liked their sport management/business program) My kid didn’t even want to get out of car as she said she wasn’t going to school in Jersey!!</p>
<p>My husband grew up in Buffalo - we have family in the Buffalo/Rochester area - S2 has heard too many snow/gray weather horror stories - and DH wants him to head south as well - it’s all about golf, ya know. :)</p>
<p>[Blacksburg</a>, Virginia Golf Courses](<a href=“http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.aspx?dest=blacksburg+va]Blacksburg”>7 Golf Courses near Blacksburg, VA - Reviews & Ratings | GolfLink)</p>
<p>Hello all,
Just want to know when you don’t check in for a day and read 5 pages, do you remember who said what and what to comment on, or do you write it down? I am getting too old to remember!</p>
<p>RVM-keep him drugged until you finish the college talk and make him his favorite milkshake! I too am betting on VT, but for selfish reasons want him to favor Elon. :)</p>
<p>Sliveytov–very funny. </p>
<p>Deborah T-of course we need to find the things that we like wherever our kids go to school. That is most important.</p>
<p>Momjr-glad BU has been a good experience thus far. Please keep us posted throughout next year. D is interested in school in Boston and that will be high on our list. She is just a freshman, but never too early to start learning.</p>
<p>Cherryhill-when you look at liny’s great list of SUNY schools, it is depressing what we have here in NJ. Good luck, keep looking and I think some of us have already suggested College of Charleston. Check it out.</p>
<p>Socal best wishes for your next set of visits.</p>
<p>Off to the BBQ. enjoy all.</p>
<p>“S1 takes RT 81 to and from Wake - he literally passes right by VT and JMU on his way”…
guess that explains all the Hokie flags we saw on cars/trucks/busses when we drove back from Elon last September; didn’t realize it was on the way…</p>