Syracuse University

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

Disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

Disagree.

That is fine; there is nothing objective which would support your view but you can have an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Syracuse's prior president went the opposite way of what many other colleges were doing by lowering admissions standards.

The decline in academic quality was a predictable result of these actions.

https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/backlash/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

NP here. Any specific tips on Maxwell admissions? DC will likely ED Duke with an intended Public Policy major (tbd spring of sophomore year), and is looking at Syracuse Maxwell as a possible target if ED doesn’t work out.

Super high stats kid with good ECs, including a few that incorporate public policy interests. But would welcome advice on how to “stand out”. What tips the scales at Maxwell? DC hasn’t done any outreach to professors at either school because that seems obnoxious (assume they’d find it a nuisance?) but is open to considering all ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

NP here. Any specific tips on Maxwell admissions? DC will likely ED Duke with an intended Public Policy major (tbd spring of sophomore year), and is looking at Syracuse Maxwell as a possible target if ED doesn’t work out.

Super high stats kid with good ECs, including a few that incorporate public policy interests. But would welcome advice on how to “stand out”. What tips the scales at Maxwell? DC hasn’t done any outreach to professors at either school because that seems obnoxious (assume they’d find it a nuisance?) but is open to considering all ideas.

I think with super high stats, he'll be fine!

A couple of things: I'm a high school teacher and one of my kids wrote his Common App essay about his love for the Sunday morning news shows. He wove in enough details about global events that it painted him as a real enthusiast.

I don't know if there is a Maxwell-specific supplementary essay question, but that would be a place to weave in specific details about the program he wants. Also, Syracuse is big on study abroad -- if he is at all interested, he could work that in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

NP here. Any specific tips on Maxwell admissions? DC will likely ED Duke with an intended Public Policy major (tbd spring of sophomore year), and is looking at Syracuse Maxwell as a possible target if ED doesn’t work out.

Super high stats kid with good ECs, including a few that incorporate public policy interests. But would welcome advice on how to “stand out”. What tips the scales at Maxwell? DC hasn’t done any outreach to professors at either school because that seems obnoxious (assume they’d find it a nuisance?) but is open to considering all ideas.

It’s been awhile but can you still have dual enrollment Maxwell and Newhouse? That is a combo better than most Ivys. Students go on to careers in political media and they do well. Syracuse also has a beautiful campus. The Maxwell building feels very Ivy if that is the feeling you are going for. Then you can hit Varsity after class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Syracuse's prior president went the opposite way of what many other colleges were doing by lowering admissions standards.

The decline in academic quality was a predictable result of these actions.

https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/backlash/

I read that article and didn’t see any indication of academic quality sliding, just the “rankings” people obsess about. They actually mentioned that SAT scores had stayed the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Syracuse in the early 2000s and loved my experience as a Public Policy (Maxwell) and Poli Sci (A&S) undergrad. Maxwell is the top public affairs school in the country and offers a competitive semester in DC program that set me up for my now 20+ year career here, a job I found out about through an alumni connection...the alumni network is incredibly strong. Friends who graduated from Newhouse have amazing jobs in broadcasting and in the entertainment industry. The city itself isn't great, but the campus is beautiful, and students rarely ventured off campus in my time there.

The weather and cost are really the biggest drawbacks. I grew up in upstate NY so the weather didn't phase me, but after living in VA for almost 25 years, I don't know how my kids would do somewhere that cold and grey. I'd love my kids to have the same college experience I had, but someplace a bit warmer and sunnier.

Agree with much of what you say but Duke's undergrad public policy program is better than Maxwell's, and there are some others that I would argue are also better. One can nitpick and say it isn't exactly the same thing but it basically is. Duke is a major you choose rather than applying into the program. Maxwell is great and I'm not knocking it. But Duke is better and you have a Duke degree vs. a Syracuse degree. Plus better weather and basketball!

There isn’t a single school that is better than Syracuse for Public Policy. There are a group of about 10 schools which are all excellent and each one has their program strengths. Duke is a better school overall.

NP here. Any specific tips on Maxwell admissions? DC will likely ED Duke with an intended Public Policy major (tbd spring of sophomore year), and is looking at Syracuse Maxwell as a possible target if ED doesn’t work out.

Super high stats kid with good ECs, including a few that incorporate public policy interests. But would welcome advice on how to “stand out”. What tips the scales at Maxwell? DC hasn’t done any outreach to professors at either school because that seems obnoxious (assume they’d find it a nuisance?) but is open to considering all ideas.

It’s been awhile but can you still have dual enrollment Maxwell and Newhouse? That is a combo better than most Ivys. Students go on to careers in political media and they do well. Syracuse also has a beautiful campus. The Maxwell building feels very Ivy if that is the feeling you are going for. Then you can hit Varsity after class

I’m the PP with a kid doing a dual major of Newhouse and Maxwell, so the answer is yes you can. As for tips for getting in, she had straight As, high rigor and a 1450

[Anonymous]

My son is at Newhouse, absolutely thriving, perfect fit for him.

Syracuse can be a tougher admit than you might think, they reject high stats students all the time. They are very big on demonstrated interest and ECs that align with major interest / possible career paths. Work hard / play hard reputation is well-earned. My son describes everyone he knows as being genuinely involved in multiple clubs or groups or other ECs.

Syracuse student vibe = future alumni network

Stats are really not the main thing, admission-wise. They count, but it's really not unusual at all for lower stats kids to be admitted over higher stats kids from the same HS applying to the same major. Applicants should really bring it home with the "why us" essay. (And not just list things the school already knows about itself lol). Schedule interviews, talk to alumni, current students / teachers / staff / alumni, and really suss out whether it's a fit. If it is, show how. That's how to get in.