Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:48     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:If you are not getting aid, you can probably afford it. I’d would not pick it for a smart kid.


True no smart kids at Stonybrook lol.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:47     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Of course OP.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:46     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:I'd disregard graduate school rankings.

While SBU may be a "suitcase school" (from which some students go home on weekends), it’s not a commuter school.

As a general opinion, physics tends to be the more comprehensive major for a student interested in astrophysics. A minor in astronomy/astrophysics can complement this approach.


It is a commuter school. I got a masters there. It is a great school, just don't expect the typical college life. I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I went to Binghamton for my undergrad- it's very ugly and no football team. And I loved it.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:36     Subject: Re:Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
These are both strong academically. People on this board are insane. And, with that major presumably she’s going to be getting a graduate degree so the undergrad prestige is not the most important thing.

I would be a bit concerned that if she loved Purdue that SB won’t have the vibe she wants.

Are there other choices? Isn’t ASU or UA very strong for astrophysics?
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:36     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'd disregard graduate school rankings.

While SBU may be a "suitcase school" (from which some students go home on weekends), it’s not a commuter school.

As a general opinion, physics tends to be the more comprehensive major for a student interested in astrophysics. A minor in astronomy/astrophysics can complement this approach.


I'm a New Yorker, and a friend has her kid at Stony Brook (and her kid commutes from home). It's a strong STEM school with lots of good students who can't afford private universities, and a good university overall. Take a visit and see how you like it. I've never been to Purdue, but I would rather live in New York than Indiana.


This part is big, op. I grew up in NY, and I would not have wanted to go to school on Long Island. At all. But that’s me. I think a school visit is going to be really important for your dd to figure out which one suits her. Maybe even overnight if that’s offered.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:30     Subject: Re:Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
OP here. Her safety schools are our state schools. Great options but she really wants to go oos.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 07:28     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:Stressed out mom here. Chasing merit aid.

DD got offered significant merit aid at Stony Brook. We haven’t visited the campus.

Tonight she was accepted to Purdue and although she was accepted to the honors college she wasn’t offered any merit aid. She visited the campus last fall and loved it.

Astrophysics major.

Please share your thoughts on these two schools.

Before anyone tells me how mediocre these schools are, DD was accepted to two “top 10” schools but they are not affordable for us. No merit aid and very little financial aid.

Instead of posting on DCUM, I would make arrangements to visit campus. BTW, what was your safety?
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 06:37     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
All the SUNYs are great and grossly underrated on this forum for opportunities and value. Fair that they do tend to have a decent percentage of commuters, but that's not wildly unusual for state/land-grant universities.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 06:31     Subject: Re:Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the advice. We probably need to visit Stony Brook and see how DD feels about it.

And yes, we technically have the cash to pay for Purdue but I’m not sure it’s the wisest use of our savings. Fed and teacher here. We are not rich and don’t have family money to rely on.


I would do SB. I think it would be insane to pay for Purdue in this situation, which is not dissimilar to ours.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 03:09     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:If you are not getting aid, you can probably afford it. I’d would not pick it for a smart kid.


It’s a great school. You are uninformed.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 00:10     Subject: Re:Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
OP here. Thanks for all the advice. We probably need to visit Stony Brook and see how DD feels about it.

And yes, we technically have the cash to pay for Purdue but I’m not sure it’s the wisest use of our savings. Fed and teacher here. We are not rich and don’t have family money to rely on.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 23:33     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
U.S. News provides a list of true commuter schools, on which SBU does not appear:

2026 Colleges & Universities with the Most Campus Commuters https://share.google/xDmOu9lG6Fu7ShsP1
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 23:30     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Look into what's going on with public universities in Indiana. I'd lean NY.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 23:17     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Stonybrook is a really great school. We toured and it honestly felt like a commuter school for high stats achievers. How important is campus life to your DC?
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2026 23:14     Subject: Would you send your student to Stony Brook?
Anonymous wrote:I'd disregard graduate school rankings.

While SBU may be a "suitcase school" (from which some students go home on weekends), it’s not a commuter school.

As a general opinion, physics tends to be the more comprehensive major for a student interested in astrophysics. A minor in astronomy/astrophysics can complement this approach.


I'm a New Yorker, and a friend has her kid at Stony Brook (and her kid commutes from home). It's a strong STEM school with lots of good students who can't afford private universities, and a good university overall. Take a visit and see how you like it. I've never been to Purdue, but I would rather live in New York than Indiana.