New England State Universities--that we don't hear about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on our visit to UMass Amherst (their flagship), it’s nice but hard to imagine what would make someone select it over closer options. It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere. The campus is not particularly beautiful. Altogether, outside the business school maybe, it was a bit forgettable. It felt like it was lacking a personality or a specific draw like you might see at UVM or other schools.

The students at UMass are nice — really nice. It’s a great school with lots of opportunities (my DS is in STEM). It has been gaining traction at our HS, as more and more students are attending UMass each year.

We toured UMass a couple of summers ago from out west. Though not as diverse, the relaxed friendliness of the students reminded us a lot of UC Davis, including one of the tour guides who was a program director at the campus radio station (UC Davis has a great one, KDVS).

[Anonymous]

I lived in New England and upstate NY so I definitely dragged my kids up to look at some of the schools.

UNH and UMaine are small. They have some specific, good programs that make sense but, in general, UNH is expensive for oos kids and UMaine will feel very remote (and dark in the winter).

U Vermont - Gorgeous campus and was very interested in one of my kids - but they just didn't have enough of a program in his area of interest.

SUNY schools - They are actually very solid schools and a great bargain for OOS students. Stony Brook, Binghamton, Albany and Buffalo have always been strong schools. Geneseo is a liberal arts school. Purchase is strong in music and performing arts. Cortland has an excellent glass program and Alfred a top ceramics program.

[Anonymous]

I know families who toured UMaine and came away quite impressed...but the remoteness of the school is a huge issue for kids.

My HS junior has ruled out anything in Maine because of its perceived remoteness (at this point anyway). I counter this because realistically what does he like to do that requires a city? Museums -nope. Shows- nope. Shop - nope. Food - maybe? (But on our dime). And what does he like to do? Bike, hike, ski, and fish!

I'll be taking my kids to look at some SUNYs as well. However, if I weren't originally from NY I probably wouldn't have even been too aware of them. Although I will say, SUNY Binghamton did attend our New England HS College Fair. None of the other SUNYs were there.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the merit awarded. A lot of the schools mentioned are options for average kids, but the average kids don't get enough merit to make then viable options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weather. Why go to extremes when you have amazing options nearby that are close for those wanting to be close and slightly further for those wanting that

But if your child attends a school somewhere with better weather, there could be MAGAs there.

Hard pass.

There are MAGAs everywhere. Well, in big state schools anyway.

Not really. I have never seen a red hat in real life. And if they are in Northeast schools they are a tiny minority that doesn’t matter or bother anyone.

They don't actually wear red hats. You won't necessarily know one when you see them. Anyway, pretty much all college towns are heavily Democratic in every state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weather. Why go to extremes when you have amazing options nearby that are close for those wanting to be close and slightly further for those wanting that

But if your child attends a school somewhere with better weather, there could be MAGAs there.

Hard pass.

There are MAGAs everywhere. Well, in big state schools anyway.

Not really. I have never seen a red hat in real life. And if they are in Northeast schools they are a tiny minority that doesn’t matter or bother anyone.

They don't actually wear red hats. You won't necessarily know one when you see them. Anyway, pretty much all college towns are heavily Democratic in every state.

These last two quotes are two of the most ignorant statements I’ve read in this forum. Are you people horrible at expressing sarcasm or do you just live in a bubble of ignorance and closed-mindedness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in New England and upstate NY so I definitely dragged my kids up to look at some of the schools.

UNH and UMaine are small. They have some specific, good programs that make sense but, in general, UNH is expensive for oos kids and UMaine will feel very remote (and dark in the winter).

U Vermont - Gorgeous campus and was very interested in one of my kids - but they just didn't have enough of a program in his area of interest.

SUNY schools - They are actually very solid schools and a great bargain for OOS students. Stony Brook, Binghamton, Albany and Buffalo have always been strong schools. Geneseo is a liberal arts school. Purchase is strong in music and performing arts. Cortland has an excellent glass program and Alfred a top ceramics program.

My top stats kid applied to Stonybrook which has a strong STEM reputation in their area of interest.

Stonybrook in particular has a reputation of being a commuter school which I think is changing but they need much more housing stock on campus to really address this. I heard that if your parents live within a certain radius of campus you must be a commuter student, so it has a bit of a different vibe.

They are doing a lot of major infrastructure investments on campus, so I expect it will evolve pretty quickly over the next 10 years or so.

They have a beautiful huge new physics and math building and are building a new engineering building which will open in a couple of years. They are also building some new housing to open this year.

[Anonymous]

We toured UVM and UMass Amherst. DC loved both, UMass is a definite front runner especially if DC gets Honors College and Chancellors Award.

Couldn’t get DC to look at SUNYs, but Binghamton is a great school as well as Geneseo. You won’t find a better deal for an Honors college/public liberal arts school.

[Anonymous]

SUNY Geneseo OOS tuition is just a couple thousand more expensive than UMD instate tuition. That’s crazy.