Anonymous wrote:OP here- Major at Tech would be political science, major at Syracuse would be International Relations

I'm in a household which would be very divided by this question -- we have one VT grad and one Syracuse grad. We majored in different programs than you're asking about, but I can speak to the community environment in Syracuse pretty well.

Syracuse -- definitely be prepared for the winters and the snowfall amounts. I don't think it's *that* much colder than Northern Virginia, but the annual precipitation amounts are the real deal. Snow as early as October and as late as April is not unheard of. Snow treatment infrastructure there keeps up with it well -- not like here -- but still, students have to walk and drive in it. Fall and spring are quite nice, however, and summer is delightful. Syracuse is not a huge city, but it's got some decent culture and entertainment: a small symphony orchestra, museums, minor league hockey, iconic restaurants (Dinosaur BBQ), and convenient to the Finger Lakes.

The one program-related comment I'll make is that Syracuse's Maxwell School, which I believe is home to their International Relations program, has a very good reputation.

All the above said, I love Blacksburg. Va Tech was not on my radar when I went to college, but I think I could have gone there and had a great experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- Major at Tech would be political science, major at Syracuse would be International Relations

Syracuse hands down. I am an '86 graduate of VPI.

PLUS 1. I am a '90 graduate of child development

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- Major at Tech would be political science, major at Syracuse would be International Relations

Syracuse hands down. I am an '86 graduate of VPI.

No you're not. Nobody who graduated in '86 calls it VPI.

Well, I do. I hate the truncated "VATech". So, I have always called it VPI.

I majored in International Studies at Tech. I loved my time at VT and I think your DC would get a great education there. I could see Syracuse having better career opportunities in International Studies. What type of job does your DC hope to get after graduation? I didn't feel there was great career support in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Engineering and Business schools have better career programs and my friends in those schools graduated with great jobs.

Tech for eng'g. S for everything else.

Syracuse for journalism/communications, but VT for everything else.

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Anonymous wrote:VT is better than Syracuse, I think. At least, it's much more competitive. Although Syracuse is in NY, which is better than Virginia. Other than for tech, I think Syracuse will be way more fun. But if it's for tech, I think VT is too much better to even consider Syracuse.

Uh, VT is not more competitive than Syracuse.
SU is better known nationally too (although people know about VT for all the wrong reasons--shooting, etc.)

I think it depends on the major too.

Yep, major is huge. SU's Newhouse School is very well-regarded but as others have noted, engineering at VT is going to be better. As I recall SU's School of Visual and Performing Arts is supposed to have a good reputation as well. The other undergrad programs - I can't say that they really stand out but I haven't been there in quite a few years so I don't know for sure.

Another issue is the weather. I did my grad work at SU in Maxwell and loved the area but I grew up with the eastern Great Lakes lake effect rain and snow and enjoyed winter sports. It is cloudy so much of the year that during the winter and spring having a rare sunny day is like doing a fantastic drug. You just wait all week until that predicted sunny day comes.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is better than Syracuse, I think. At least, it's much more competitive. Although Syracuse is in NY, which is better than Virginia. Other than for tech, I think Syracuse will be way more fun. But if it's for tech, I think VT is too much better to even consider Syracuse.

Uh, VT is not more competitive than Syracuse.
SU is better known nationally too (although people know about VT for all the wrong reasons--shooting, etc.)

I think it depends on the major too.

Plus 1 to VT NOT being more competitive than SU. Agree that SU is also better known. I went to SU. Loved it!!!! Beautiful campus, lots of school spirit, top sports, excellent academics- Newhouse school of communication is tops in the country. There is also another very recent SU thread on here.

Maybe up north, but certainly south of the Mason Dixon it doesn't register on anyone's radar.

You're crazy. There are very active Syracuse alumni clubs in the south, including the DC metro.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- Major at Tech would be political science, major at Syracuse would be International Relations

Syracuse hands down. I am an '86 graduate of VPI.

No you're not. Nobody who graduated in '86 calls it VPI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VT is better than Syracuse, I think. At least, it's much more competitive. Although Syracuse is in NY, which is better than Virginia. Other than for tech, I think Syracuse will be way more fun. But if it's for tech, I think VT is too much better to even consider Syracuse.

Uh, VT is not more competitive than Syracuse.
SU is better known nationally too (although people know about VT for all the wrong reasons--shooting, etc.)

I think it depends on the major too.

Plus 1 to VT NOT being more competitive than SU. Agree that SU is also better known. I went to SU. Loved it!!!! Beautiful campus, lots of school spirit, top sports, excellent academics- Newhouse school of communication is tops in the country. There is also another very recent SU thread on here.

Maybe up north, but certainly south of the Mason Dixon it doesn't register on anyone's radar.

I think it probably does in North Carolina. But. More serioulsy, it is well known in the DC metro area, which is south of the Mason Dixon line.