Syracuse University

[Anonymous]

What do you think about Syracuse? Did you consider it when you were applying? Did your kids? Why or why not in both cases? If you have direct experience: what is it like?

[Anonymous]

Specialized programs like Newhouse are excellent. General program is like an overpriced average state school. Lots of rich kids from Long Island named Jared who are pretty bright but didn’t try that hard. Kind of a poor man’s Tulane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Specialized programs like Newhouse are excellent. General program is like an overpriced average state school. Lots of rich kids from Long Island named Jared who are pretty bright but didn’t try that hard. Kind of a poor man’s Tulane.

Spot on.

[Anonymous]

Also similar to BU with worse location but better sports.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never met a Syracuse graduate that doesn’t have a deep affinity for the school. SU has an incredible network of loyal alumni. I think the campus is pretty, students are smart and friendly, there’s plenty to do, great programs, nice size that’s not too big or too small, and Syracuse isn’t a bad little city (big investments are coming with the new Micron plant and HQ). The university also seems to be investing in a lot of student housing. We are on campus after a tour and food options were good, plus decent restaurant options in the surrounding area off-campus.

The harsh winters are the main downside, in my opinion! They got 120 inches of snow last year (it just doesn’t fully compute for someone not accustomed to that).

[Anonymous]

120 inches of snow sounds like a lot, but the way snow falls makes it not as bad as it sounds. Syracuse gets a lot of lake effect snow which in Syracuse means many nights will get an inch or two of snow. Most of the snow falls at night. They are really good at snow removal.

The other types of snow storms are the same ones that can hit the DC area and give a little snow or a lot.

The snowiest months are December, January, and February. Students are gone for a good portion of December and January.

It's definitely colder and more overcast than the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Declining college in a very tough location. Look at the animosity directed towards the previous president and what happened with SAT scores, GPA, etc.

[Anonymous]

Oh boy, every time Syracuse comes up, there are comments like the above. Obviously not a DCUM fave.

I went there in the 1990s and had a great experience. I was a dual major with journalism and public policy -- a popular combination and both good programs. I had excellent internships every summer and I've had a good career.

Syracuse was very good for me, but I must admit that without EXTREMELY generous merit aid, I couldn't have gone there. My kids will probably visit, but it's unlikely that they'll go there unless they get good merit (and unless they got into a great program -- not worth it to be a psych major there!). It's just too expensive today.

For me, it was a nice size, plenty of diversity, decent balance of Greek and non-Greek, lots of highly motivated kids, excellent opportunities for students who sought them out, and it was fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Specialized programs like Newhouse are excellent. General program is like an overpriced average state school. Lots of rich kids from Long Island named Jared who are pretty bright but didn’t try that hard. Kind of a poor man’s Tulane.

With $56K tuition, it does not seem like a poor man's anything.

My high stats kid applied to Maxwell and was rejected. Architecture and broadcasting programs are very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Declining college in a very tough location. Look at the animosity directed towards the previous president and what happened with SAT scores, GPA, etc.

Can you elaborate please? I've never heard this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Specialized programs like Newhouse are excellent. General program is like an overpriced average state school. Lots of rich kids from Long Island named Jared who are pretty bright but didn’t try that hard. Kind of a poor man’s Tulane.

With $56K tuition, it does not seem like a poor man's anything.

My high stats kid applied to Maxwell and was rejected. Architecture and broadcasting programs are very good.

https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions-aid/tuition-fees/undergraduate-costs/

Tuition - $63,710
Housing & food (average) - $19,188
Miscellaneous fees* - $ 1,818
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment - $1,753
Transportation - $796
Personal expenses - $1,228
Loan fees (if applicable) - $67
Total Cost of Attendance - $88,560

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Specialized programs like Newhouse are excellent. General program is like an overpriced average state school. Lots of rich kids from Long Island named Jared who are pretty bright but didn’t try that hard. Kind of a poor man’s Tulane.

With $56K tuition, it does not seem like a poor man's anything.

My high stats kid applied to Maxwell and was rejected. Architecture and broadcasting programs are very good.

"Poor man's" is an expression. Not related to cost. Related to "almost as good as but not quite"

[Anonymous]

My kid is there, in Newhouse. Loves it - he applied Early Action and as such zero aid, but we could afford it.

I would not want my younger kids going there unless they are going for a specific reason - Newhouse, or the sports analytics program is quite good. But just general liberal arts - no.

[Anonymous]

No prestige

[Anonymous]

My daughter applied and was accepted to Maxwell and I think would have thrived there. She did not get merit aid -- and received generous merit aid at other good fits -- so is not attending. On the tour, I was impressed by the focus on community and the undergraduate experience, and the upgrades to the physical plant since I was a graduate student there in the early 90s. Winter is tough -- more the gray and cold, honestly, than the snow.