My child is trying to make a final decision between UAlbany, Oneonta and Syracuse University. She is not into the party scene, and I think this is why she’s having a difficult time with this very important decision. Her high school graduating class included roughly 560 students. I would greatly appreciate any feedback on any of these three schools. Thank you in advance.
I’m a little confused. The date one was supposed to make a matriculation decision was May 1.
How is it that your student is mKing this decision…now?
I have the same question. How is your daughter able to choose now?
Are finances a concern? What is her major? She will experience the party scene at all 3 schools, but will find her niche of non-partiers.
If you are instate for NY…oneonta and Albany will be far less costly cost of attendance than Syracuse.
But really…the matriculation choice date was May 1. Did your kiddo ask for an extension at all THREE of these schools? If not, you may find that her spot is no longer available.
Personally… I would choose Oneonta… It’s a nice little school. But… I am not your daughter and I don’t have any details.
My concern would be that she will still be able to get housing at the school. And get her aid all set up.
My D’s school sends out bills for fall in a few weeks.
Are you instate for U Albany and Oneota? Do they have majors that she is interested in? Has she visited both and does she prefer one over the other?
Syracuse is private and expensive, so it will most likely cost a lot more.
Has she accepted any school yet? Unless these are waitlist options, if she hasn’t filed an SIR (Statement of Intent to Register), she may no longer have a spot to accept. Colleges tend to take the absence of a response as a “no.”
If she accepted more than one school and they find out, she can be rescinded from all three. Spots at the colleges a student won’t be attending should have been available to them to offer to someone else in May. If that’s your situation, you really need to help her make a decision and contact the other 2 schools. If it’s a waitlist situation, she still needs to decide so she can get registered for classes. Freshman orientation/registration at the SUNYs is happening now. The longer you wait, the fewer course options she’ll have.
If these schools are still open to her, then intended major, finances, and personal fit matter. Oneonta is on a hill in a small town. Getting to anywhere is going to require transportation. They probably have a public bus that stops there, but then you have to pay attention to how late they go back to campus. Albany is larger than Oneonta, more urban, and easier to get around. Syracuse is larger still, but I remember it as being in a more rural part of the state. Which of those environments will she thrive in?
Are costs an issue? The SUNYs are much more affordable than Syracuse. If money matters, then her choice is between Oneonta and Albany. What is she studying? Has she looked at the classes each school offers for her major? That might help her decide.
Is your daughter transferring to These schools from another college? Or is she a 2017 HS graduate?
Yes, my daughter is transferring from a community college.
Ah…thank you. Transfers so have a later date for acceptance of admissions.
Are finances a consideration? What is her intended major?
Has she already applied to and been accepted…or is this for 2018?
Ok so … she already applied and was accepted to all 3 schools as a transfer student? I have the same questions as thumper1… what is her major and are there financial constraints? Those questions are more important right now than the question regarding partying… all 3 schools will have students who party… and students who don’t.
Syracuse has a big sports culture. The other two don’t.
My personal choice would be to attend one of the SUNYs, but I need more information.
Ok…here is my free advice. And I realize you are nervous about this.
Presumably, your daughter applied to all three schools for a reason. And they are all affordable. If that is the case…just sit back…and let her choose. I know that isn’t easy to do…but she is the one who needs to own this decision.
One would hope that she did some sort of due diligence before she applied.
I agree… if all 3 schools are affordable then your D has to do her research and decide. Keep in mind that Syracuse is very different than the other two.
For the record, my husband and I have no intentions on making the decision for our daughter. I just thought I would ask for some feedback from other parents. My daughter has decided to go to Oneonta.
I don’t think anybody thought you would be making the decision for your daughter. Oneonta is a wonderful school. Congratulations to your daughter!
If all the schools are affordable, I’d try to visit each one, and the surrounding area, so she can get a feel for them. If finances matter, look into what classes transfer. The SUNY schools may take more courses from the cc than Syracuse. Could you afford an extra semester at Syracuse? If not, I’d probably pick a SUNY.
What is your daughter’s career goal? Albany has a new(ish) science center. The daughter of a friend just graduated from there and loved it. My son was accepted to Hartwick (also in Oneonta), but felt the area was too remote. He chose a SUNY with a student body of ~5,000, so Syracuse would’ve been too big. If finances aren’t an issue and the programs aren’t different enough to matter, then visit the campuses.
Does she have aid packages from all three? Can she live on campus at all three?
Since she has selected Oneonta, it must have her major. My friend’s D is going into her junior year there and enjoys her program.
Good luck to her.