An update. Thank you very much for your great suggestions. We visited SUNY Buffalo and despite horrible weather, cold, wind and rain we surprisingly loved it. Professors were very enthusiastic, talked about the great opportunities and research that are done now, facilities looked new, with cool engineering labs. Students that we saw seemed to be very happy and loving the school. DS also got into the Honor college where they only accept about 300 kids and there are additional perks that come with being in the Honors. like personal adviser, priority registration for classes ( actuality they are the first to register), additional scholarships… All honor kinds leave together in the dorms that located few minutes from the academic building on the North campus. And we really liked these dorms. They are perfectly designed with lots of common spaces for kids to collaborate, gym, cafeteria and newly renovated laundry room and restrooms. All were very clean and nice.
To be honest we went with the thought that we will not like it and have to see it just to make our self believe that there is no other way but go to NU or RPI and take loans, so UB was total surprise, My son loved it even before us. When we came in the morning there was a marching band planing and he said that this is the first decent band he heard from all other visits, for someone who is currently participates in 4 different bands that was a good start of a day.
Now my only concern is the rating of UB being so low compare to his other choices. I hunestly do not understand why it’s even rated below than Stony which is in my opinion is less attractive. Als DS goes to the specialized public school which is among the national top and in the first 3 of the NY state. Most of his friends go to IVYs or equivalent and if he goes to UB it sort of feels like a step back.