Stonybrook College!!! Education?

I am transfering in the fall to Stonybrook! Any opinions? I just got hired as head swim coach!
I LOVE IT...and I realize that I may want to get a bach in secondary education, with credits in spanish. Stonybrook is harder to get into but alot less expensive. Is there anyone out there who can comment on the curriculum, school and PARKING lol

I went to SBU as a transfer student in my sophmore year. I was an Art History major and I found all of the professors that i had (major and not) were well respected in their field and many of them were published as well. The whole parking thing kinda stinks tho. They have a HUGE free lot but it is far from the main campus but they do provide buses as shuttles to and from. As well as to and from different areas of the campus. There are pay lots too but they fill up super fast and the SBU police are very on top of it so you will get a ticket if you are not parked where you are supposed to be. I think its like $15. However, there is a little trick to beating the 'system'. Once you get a ticket it comes in a tiny little envelope, keep the envelope and when u illegally park stick the empty envelope under your windshield wiper and they'll think someone already got you.

HTH. Sorry it was sooo long LOL

I graduated with my bach. in History.

Cost-wise, it was the best decision I ever made regarding higher education.

Transfer students are basically left on their own to negotiate transfer credits, scheduling, DECs, upper-division requirements in addition to departmental requirements. The advisiing office is not too helpful. They tell you everything you already know from Solar System and your degree audit.

Parking. is. Horrendous. You have to get their early to give yourself plent of time to check all the lots and then either walk or take the bus. Your best bet is to get their early and pay for a meter lot by Javits or the Gym ($5 all day, worked well for me because I was there Tues-Thurs 8-6). Also the Commuter Lot behind the gym. The North P and South P lots are far from campus and you have to take a bus....It's fine if you don't mind parking far and taking a bus, but I HATE HATE HATE doing that, especially in the winter or the rain, you're waiting forever for those d@amn busses.

As far as my own curriculum went, my department and teachers were great. But you really have to keep on top of things yourself so you don't get lost in the shuffle.

For eating, definitely hit up the SAC or Jasmine and stay away from the Union, it's way overpriced and not as a good as the other places. Tabler Arts has a nice deli/coffee shop, but I only went there because I had a dance class, otherwise it was kind of far. Melville Library is the best place to use the computers, but for studing, I get lost in the Stacks where no one else is and no one bothers me.

Good luck and hope this helps!

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Posted by curiousgeorge

I am transfering in the fall to Stonybrook! Any opinions? I just got hired as head swim coach!
I LOVE IT...and I realize that I may want to get a bach in secondary education, with credits in spanish. Stonybrook is harder to get into but alot less expensive. Is there anyone out there who can comment on the curriculum, school and PARKING lol

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the only problem I had was PARKING. my first few weeks I was having serious problems and was very late to classes. however, i've established friendships with the parking lot attendants near the admissions building and park there. i pay 7.50 a day, which is worth it for me. they let me in to the garage even when they are at their busiest, which, during those times, are suppose to be for the staff and faculty.

if you decide to take classes there, it all depends on the counselor you get. some are better than others. mine is traci, she is amazing! however, you STILL must pay very close attention to everything. the whole 'dec' thing can be overwhelming at first, but once you figure it out, you will come to find that its easy to fill because of the vast choices sbu offers.

as for food, sbu has some great choices. i actually eat at the union because they have halal and kosher foods. but when i dont have any time, im at the sac. and Jasmine is great, but not as conveniently located as the others. but if you have the time, DEF go to the wang center, its gorgeous.

well, hope this helped and welcome!! if you should have any questions and or concerns feel free to fm me.

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

I graduated with my bach. in History.

Cost-wise, it was the best decision I ever made regarding higher education.

Transfer students are basically left on their own to negotiate transfer credits, scheduling, DECs, upper-division requirements in addition to departmental requirements. The advisiing office is not too helpful. They tell you everything you already know from Solar System and your degree audit.

Parking. is. Horrendous. You have to get their early to give yourself plent of time to check all the lots and then either walk or take the bus. Your best bet is to get their early and pay for a meter lot by Javits or the Gym ($5 all day, worked well for me because I was there Tues-Thurs 8-6). Also the Commuter Lot behind the gym. The North P and South P lots are far from campus and you have to take a bus....It's fine if you don't mind parking far and taking a bus, but I HATE HATE HATE doing that, especially in the winter or the rain, you're waiting forever for those d@amn busses.

As far as my own curriculum went, my department and teachers were great. But you really have to keep on top of things yourself so you don't get lost in the shuffle.

For eating, definitely hit up the SAC or Jasmine and stay away from the Union, it's way overpriced and not as a good as the other places. Tabler Arts has a nice deli/coffee shop, but I only went there because I had a dance class, otherwise it was kind of far. Melville Library is the best place to use the computers, but for studing, I get lost in the Stacks where no one else is and no one bothers me.

Good luck and hope this helps!

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Thank you all very much

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Posted by soon2bMrs P

I went to SBU as a transfer student in my sophmore year. I was an Art History major and I found all of the professors that i had (major and not) were well respected in their field and many of them were published as well. The whole parking thing kinda stinks tho. They have a HUGE free lot but it is far from the main campus but they do provide buses as shuttles to and from. As well as to and from different areas of the campus. There are pay lots too but they fill up super fast and the SBU police are very on top of it so you will get a ticket if you are not parked where you are supposed to be. I think its like $15. However, there is a little trick to beating the 'system'. Once you get a ticket it comes in a tiny little envelope, keep the envelope and when u illegally park stick the empty envelope under your windshield wiper and they'll think someone already got you.

HTH. Sorry it was sooo long LOL

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ITA!

Many of the classes are in huge lecture halls too (well, many of the science/psych ones were anyway) which makes it difficult to get to know a professor personally.

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

Melville Library is the best place to use the computers, but for studing, I get lost in the Stacks where no one else is and no one bothers me.

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LOL- I used to fall asleep studying in 4th floor stacks during the winter. They pump the heat up there so it was nice and cozy.

(I was a commuter so I had no room to go to when I had hour long spans between classes)

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Posted by kahlua716

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

Melville Library is the best place to use the computers, but for studing, I get lost in the Stacks where no one else is and no one bothers me.

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LOL- I used to fall asleep studying in 4th floor stacks during the winter. They pump the heat up there so it was nice and cozy.

(I was a commuter so I had no room to go to when I had hour long spans between classes)

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lol, seriously, best place ever!!! i too had long breaks sometimes and i'd go in there, sudy, write papers, etc...i brought my laptop to school and could go online, etc...i always wanted to nap but i was afraid someone would find me and steal my stuff!!!!

I got my masters in teaching social studies at SB and I had no real issues....I know everyone complains about the parking but I had all evening classes and I ****** it up and paid for the parking garage so I never really had any problems there.

The only thing that was bad was how looooong everything took to get processed concerning my degree and teaching certification. I know SB is a state school and things tend to move a little slower but it was really frustrating at times.

Good luck! Even though I was only there a year and a half it was a very nice experience so don't worry!

I'm got my BS their in health science
I do really like Stony....you meet alot of new people everyday. I'm in a masters program at the hospital now so i don't get to main campus very often....but i agree the parking is sparce!

That's the only real problem i had with the school.

Oh and congrats on the head swim coach thing!

You will probably get a staff pass to park then which means you can park in the staff lots which are alot closer!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

I got both my BA and my MA from USB. As a coach, I believe you will get a faculty/staff parking tag, so you won't have to park in the big lots (South-P, or North-P). You'll be able to get closer in.

Class size will really depend upon your major. When I was there, Psych was the biggest major, graduating several hundred students per year. For teaching, the classes are MUCH smaller. I interacted with lots of students who were in the Social Studies program, and they all loved it, and found that they could always get their profs' attention when they needed it, and had a good, quality experience, at a fraction of the cost you'd pay at Dowling or other schools on the Island.

FM if you have any questions. I'm still very involved with the Alumni Assoc so can find stuff out for you if you need!

Hey kristin congrats on the coach position!

My brother went to SBU and has told me that being a university it is so much different than a college. Yes it is bigger but it's almost like it's own world! He loved it and sometimes parking was a hassle but he used the shuttles. But I would pay for parking on the bad weather days.

I did a few of my clinicals there, attending some art gallery shows (my brothers) and even had to run errands there for him when he was out of the country. The campus is large and takes some getting used to but if I could find the buildings I needed... anyone can lol. But the parking can really be a hassle so give yourself plenty of time.

I'm hoping to go back to school for my bach in January and I want to apply to SBU and St. Jo's So I've found this thread helpful as well.

i went to Stony and I loved it! That's how I met FH!

Congrats on the position!