SUNY schools — why aren’t they as popular as other OOS schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is it you give up?

A pretty campus, name recognition and alumni network outside of NY, a nice college town, competitive sports, warm weather, the chance to meet people from different parts of the country/world. These are not total barriers for everyone (and NY is diverse enough that you can meet lots of different people at a SUNY or CUNY) but it's not the right place for everyone. I am glad that SUNY hasn't entered the college athletics rat race and instead keeps tuition reasonable. Depending on a kid's interest, there are a lot of options--like Alfred State or ESF aren't right for everyone, but if you want to study ceramic engineering or forestry, they are pretty amazing. And if you want to study bio or poli sci or whatever, Stony Brook or Albany or Binghamton give a good education at a decent price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the SUNY schools, Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, Oswego, all seem like opportunities to get great educations plus they give merit money to OOS. Why aren’t they more popular?

Because they're in Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, and Oswego. Have you spent Sept-May in these places? They have three seasons: June, July, August, and winter.

Doesn’t stop people from applying to Cornell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

Not sure about other campuses, but SUNY Purchase comes out to $33k in total for OOS students, including campus housing. We are seriously considering it for our NoVa theater/music kid (though admission is audition-based so a different process). It’s a great option for performing arts, very well-regarded program!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will draw an analogy to real estate where it is location, location, location.

For SUNY's its, winter, winter, its New York.

The weather is no better in Madison or Ann Arbor than most SUNY schools. And Stony Brook is pretty temperate--not much different than College Park or Charlottesville.

But Madison and Ann Arbor are beautiful campuses (most SUNYs are not), easy to get to, airports nearby, and have the sports, big campus feel that many want. I'd argue they are also better academic schools that most SUNYs. Small town upstate NY vs Madison or AA is no comparison. Those 2 are quintessential college towns.

Since the SUNYs don't really have the big time athletics, most people have not heard about them, it just isn't on the radar outside of the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the SUNY schools, Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, Oswego, all seem like opportunities to get great educations plus they give merit money to OOS. Why aren’t they more popular?

Because they're in Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, and Oswego. Have you spent Sept-May in these places? They have three seasons: June, July, August, and winter.

Doesn’t stop people from applying to Cornell.

Cornell is not on the same level as SUNYs.
But many do visit Cornell and decide, yeah no way, boring, depressing and too damn hard to get home from if you can't drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the SUNY schools, Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, Oswego, all seem like opportunities to get great educations plus they give merit money to OOS. Why aren’t they more popular?

Because they're in Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, and Oswego. Have you spent Sept-May in these places? They have three seasons: June, July, August, and winter.

Doesn’t stop people from applying to Cornell.

Cornell is not on the same level as SUNYs.
But many do visit Cornell and decide, yeah no way, boring, depressing and too damn hard to get home from if you can't drive.

Cornell has a beautiful campus.

[Anonymous]

It is not hard to get to SUNY Buffalo, and Buffalo is not a small city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the SUNY schools, Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, Oswego, all seem like opportunities to get great educations plus they give merit money to OOS. Why aren’t they more popular?

Because they're in Stonybrook, Binghamton, Geneseo, Buffalo, and Oswego. Have you spent Sept-May in these places? They have three seasons: June, July, August, and winter.

Doesn’t stop people from applying to Cornell.

Cornell is not on the same level as SUNYs.
But many do visit Cornell and decide, yeah no way, boring, depressing and too damn hard to get home from if you can't drive.

Cornell has a beautiful campus.

My kid wasn't a fan. Thought area was too remote, campus too spread out, and didn't like the travel issues (we are flights away)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not hard to get to SUNY Buffalo, and Buffalo is not a small city.

I'll give you that. But many of them are difficult to get to/from. Drove by several on our college tours (didn't visit any, just nearby/thru the towns) and many are remote and not that exciting. Nothing like Madison or Ann Arbor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

In many disciplines graduate programs at Stony Brook are most certainly on par with the aforementioned schools. Stony Brook is a member of AAU alongside them. But those schools have a college town atmosphere that neither Stony Brook nor the other SUNY university centers enjoy. You must have a car at Stony Brook to function beyond the academic week. While the University has made great strides, it's still a suitcase school for many undergrads. Plus to get there driving you either need to fight your way through the city to go another hour or so, or you take an expensive ferry from Connecticut across. As these things don't matter so much to grad students, it's more attractive for that population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not hard to get to SUNY Buffalo, and Buffalo is not a small city.

I'll give you that. But many of them are difficult to get to/from. Drove by several on our college tours (didn't visit any, just nearby/thru the towns) and many are remote and not that exciting. Nothing like Madison or Ann Arbor

Well, having gone there, I loved it so much. It was a great city for music and food. 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, which has only gotten better. The campus isn’t beautiful, it’s true, but it’s also not decrepit. Being OOS made me unique and, as a shy teenager, it gave me something to talk to people about that was interesting. I had an idyllic college experience there. It was a diverse set of students because NY is such a diverse state. City kids and country kids and everything in between. I remember kids telling me “Buffalo is where you go when you’re smart but didn’t want to work that hard”. It was true. My classmates were mostly intelligent but not overachievers. When I started working is when I really could tell how good my education had been. I was able to really hit the ground running. When my daughter told me she would apply there, I was so excited I nearly started jumping. I seriously doubt she will go there, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

SUNY New Paltz is in a cute town with gorgeous nature nearby, an easy trip to NYC and costs $33K out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

I attended Binghamton and have always been a perpetual student - with multiple degrees and coursework at many schools. Binghamton was excellent. The students really cared about academics and professors were really devoted to teaching. Graduates go on to top grad schools and the rigor is well-known. And frankly, I did have fun - but it’s not a football school and the architecture was terrible and yes, lots of NY state students. I’ll give you all that - but don’t slam the academics because it just reveals that you’re not talking from first-hand experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids from this area go to SUNY-Binghamton. And doesn't New Paltz have a good reputation for performing arts?

But overall the SUNY schools don't have very attractive campuses and are in cold locations in towns that aren't exactly thriving. Who'd want to live there if many of the kids at those schools are going home on the weekends? You could have a similar experience at UMBC or George Mason and the weather would be better.

1000% THIS^^^

The SUNY campuses are not attractive, they are in run down towns and in the middle of nowhere (many) and the weather is grey and dreary and cold. They are great schools, but not at the level of a UVA/UMich/UWisc/GATech/Purdue/etc that attracts tons of OOS students. They are just a level below. They also do not have the SPorts/rah, rah attraction that most of the popular OOS state flagships have. And the price is similar---who is paying OOS of $50K+ for that? They are not. They will go to any of those other popular OOS schools that are better overall and academically

Not sure about other campuses, but SUNY Purchase comes out to $33k in total for OOS students, including campus housing. We are seriously considering it for our NoVa theater/music kid (though admission is audition-based so a different process). It’s a great option for performing arts, very well-regarded program!

Purchase is also right next to Westchester County Airport so convenient for travel.