How good is Binghamton University?

SeekingPam
Thu, 14 Apr 2016 00:48:35 +0000

@“Erin’s Dad”

While not an option for us, I have lots of friends and family in downstate New York, most people I know would not go to Buffalo over Binghamton unless they got money at Buffalo and money was a very serious concern or they wanted one of the unique programs at Buffalo such as pharmacy. Most of their kids who attend Binghamton seem to really like it, the area is fine even if the town is depressed. They have spent a lot on new dorms in the last decade.

Stonybrook is known for Computer Science and life science. However most people that I know in state will choose Binghamton for straight engineering (other than CS) even if they are premed (unless accepted to one of Stonybrook’s special programs). I think this may be a bias against Stony’s former reputation as a party school in the 1980s as opposed to Binghamton’s public ivy reputation. Since parents are helping with these decisions, this may have some influence in terms of their perceptions. Also most people I know are downstate and they want to be AWAY for college. If you can get there by the LIRR, it is not away, according to their kids.

While I am not certain, the perception is that Geneso is more liberal arts and New Paltz is more artistic.

All of the SUNYs and CUNYs now have a STEM scholarship available for the top 10% of in state high school students which provides free tuition. Not much is known about it and you have to apply.