About 45 per cent of the comments on ‘DCUM colleges’ basically equate college quality with even the smallest and most inconsequential distinctions in the hallowed USNWR rankings.

About another 45 percent lament the high cost of college tuition.

Then you have threads like this where the same DCUM that gushes about (significantly) lower ranked schools like Auburn, South Carolina and Alabama will (almost universally) write off higher ranked and less expensive SUNY universities because of modern architecture, colder weather and no football - ‘it wasn’t for us.’

The answer to OP’s question is, groupthink, and second-rate intellects.

If you wanted to dive a little deeper, I’d guess it’s because many DCUM families see college fundamentally as a status marker more than a place to actually get an education, and the presence of some older buildings on the campuses of less distinguished ‘flagships’ allows DCUM - parents and kids alike - to pretend their chosen school is elite (‘educating segregationist leaders for decades’) and vaguely ‘ivy-adjacent’ which is a lot harder to pull off with the resolutely middle class, mass-education feel of most SUNY campuses.

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Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

How does in compare to New Paltz? That one is on our list for a child that enjoys music, theater, and liberal arts. Seems like a great size and good location, with a nice town and the possibility of going into NYC on occasion.

I think New Paltz would be ideal for your kid. Geneseo is great, but it is kind of remote -- not too far from Rochester, but about 5 hours from NYC.

Yeah, I don’t think remote is good as our child is more of a city person. And weather in Geneseo could be tough too (though Ithaca College is also on the list). We’re looking at SUNY Purchase as well, but I’ve gotten the impression it’s a bit of a suitcase school for liberal arts students (don’t think our child will ultimately pursue a BFA/conservatory program).

We liked Ithaca a lot!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

How does in compare to New Paltz? That one is on our list for a child that enjoys music, theater, and liberal arts. Seems like a great size and good location, with a nice town and the possibility of going into NYC on occasion.

I think New Paltz would be ideal for your kid. Geneseo is great, but it is kind of remote -- not too far from Rochester, but about 5 hours from NYC.

From what I’ve heard about New Paltz, it would be perfect for your kid. It’s in a beautiful area too. I hear many positive things about New Paltz, less so about Purchase.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

How does in compare to New Paltz? That one is on our list for a child that enjoys music, theater, and liberal arts. Seems like a great size and good location, with a nice town and the possibility of going into NYC on occasion.

I think New Paltz would be ideal for your kid. Geneseo is great, but it is kind of remote -- not too far from Rochester, but about 5 hours from NYC.

Yeah, I don’t think remote is good as our child is more of a city person. And weather in Geneseo could be tough too (though Ithaca College is also on the list). We’re looking at SUNY Purchase as well, but I’ve gotten the impression it’s a bit of a suitcase school for liberal arts students (don’t think our child will ultimately pursue a BFA/conservatory program).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

How does in compare to New Paltz? That one is on our list for a child that enjoys music, theater, and liberal arts. Seems like a great size and good location, with a nice town and the possibility of going into NYC on occasion.

I think New Paltz would be ideal for your kid. Geneseo is great, but it is kind of remote -- not too far from Rochester, but about 5 hours from NYC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

How does in compare to New Paltz? That one is on our list for a child that enjoys music, theater, and liberal arts. Seems like a great size and good location, with a nice town and the possibility of going into NYC on occasion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

It's a gem. Probably the most SLAC-like of the SUNYs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

We actually visited the school last weekend - DD really liked it. We had lunch in the town and then went hiking at Letchworth which isn't far.

I wonder if the lack of a "known" flagship plays a role.

Shout out for SUNY Stony Brook!

Anonymous wrote:Binghamton grad here. I didn't care it was ugly, I got into the best state school and received a great education and had a wonderful experience. But it is ugly.

+ 1. Binghamton is great , and so difficult to get into , especially the business school.
I went to my niece’s graduation at Buffalo a few years ago. I thought the campus was ok, but a little plain. She had two internships while there and a job offer before graduating. She enjoyed the city and the school. I agree SUNYs are not putting their money into the flower beds, but sometimes people don’t really care about that.

Buffalo is the only one with Division 1 Football. Football games are fun. Academics should matter more, but Op that is why.

Anonymous wrote:Which SUNY school would you recommend for pre-med students?

Binghamton, possibly Genesseo. Keep in mind Albany,Buffalo and Stonybrook all have actual medical schools.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

And ten steps later you are out in the fields with the corn and the cows.

Good reminder! Gently rolling countryside. The hiking is excellent.

The countryside is grey and the hiking is miserable during 8 of the 10 months the kid will live there

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Geneseo is as lovely as any campus, anywhere.

And you can walk right off campus into a town with cafes and restaurants catering to the college crowd.

And ten steps later you are out in the fields with the corn and the cows.

Good reminder! Gently rolling countryside. The hiking is excellent.