U Mass- Amherst SUNY Binghamton and Albany University of South Carolina
Have anyone goes to these schools or know people that did? My youngest brother has to make a decision and is deciding between these. He doesn't really want a SUNY school but its very affordable.
What are the areas like that these schools are in? Was there alot to do? Thanks!
nov04LIbride
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Well, does he mind cold weather? Binghamton is a much prettier campus than Albany IMO, and better academically in most areas (I didn't go to either, but I work at Stony Brook and many people transfer out of Albany to come to SB). Binghamton is kind of in the snow belt upstate though--it is gray much of the year. U Mass Amherst is in a great town and area--it would be my pick of the four. There are lots of colleges in the area. I don't know much about USC...Good luck to him!
tourist
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Aren't there several UMAss campuses?
Which one?
I know people that went to Binghamton & Albany & I think Lbany has a better surrounding area. Binghamton is kinda in the sticks.
I have a friend that went there & transfered to Barnard & a lot of her friedns transferred out too. In Albany, there are other schools nearby I think, like Sienna & the College of St. Rose ( I think )
I don't really know much about the progams themselves though.
TwoBugs
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
If it's U Mass Amherst, then that would be my top pick. I don't know what your brother is considering majoring in, but U Mass is a very highly regarded school.
sweetadeline
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
You have FM...
merf99
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Thanks girls for the info!!
september2004
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I went to Binghamton.
Does your brother know what he wants to study?
My take on schools in general is undergrad 'doesn't matter', grad counts. I would go with the affordable undergraduate school (Binghamton has a good rep on the east coast) and splurge for the 'name school' if one elects to continue...
verdila
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I graduated from SUNY Albany in the 90s. I had a great experience here. Lots of students from Long Island which is a good thing because after college you still have friends! It is also good when you are a freshman and need a ride home - lots of students going back to LI/NYC area.
The programs are pretty well-regarded, especially the business school (it is a separate school and you have to apply as a major after your freshman yr - you have to have a good GPA). If you dont get accepted then most people take business as a minor - anyone can. The other big programs are English, criminal justice and secondary Education. I was an English major/business minor. A lot of recruiters come here from NYC at graduation - big accounting firms and big financial services companies.
It isnt the prettiest campus but there is a nice fountain in the center of campus and a large library. It gets cold, but not as bad as Binghampton. The classes as a freshman especially, are pretty large in size. They are held in lecture centers and can number in the hundreds...so that can be a negative, but as you get into your degree, the class sizes get smaller and more personalized. My last 2 yrs, my English and business classes were 20-30 people.
There are lots of activities/organizations and lots of parties too. A LOT of off campus nightlife (which could be seen as a negative - though I had a blast at the bars!) and the greek organizations were big when I was there. Surrounding area - lots of malls, govt, restaurants. Its a college town. There are several other colleges in the area like St Rose and Sienna.
The downtown area where most students get housing off campus by the bars is kind of ghettoish. I recently went back and couldnt believe how run down it is, but I always felt safe because it was mostly college kids and welfare people. I think alot of college towns are like that.
I think college, like anything else is what you make of it. Good luck!
Robeymuse
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I graduated from Binghamton. While I loved my experience, not everybody does. It is grey most of the year and the town is kind of dead. The school itself is great, I know they started making tons of changes in the last 4 years since I graduated. There are plently of things to get involved in on campus and the professors are very well regarded. If he wants a fun 'college town', then Binghamton is not it.
MindyL28
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I went to UMass Amherst and I absolutely loved it! I graduated in 1997 so it's been a while but it is a great school in an amazing area! I am not from the Northeast so when I went College shopping- I had no ideas about many of the schools I visited. I didn't consider any of the NY State schools since I was not a NY resident but I looked at UMass, U Conn, Deleware, Maryland and a bunch of others. I though U MAss was the most beautiful school I had seen and the town is so cute! There are 5 colleges in the area so there are a ton of college kids but each school is very different from the rest- UMass is more a general population with a lot of Mass residents, a lot from NY, NJ and other Northeast states, with a mix of some random out-of-staters. For example, I am from Florida, a few of my friends were from St. Louis, Chicago but most of my friends are from Mass, NY and NJ.
The school itself is great- they have very reputable undergraduate major programs like business, HRTA (Hospitality), psychology, education, etc.
It's a very liberal environment and you will really find every type of person. The school residences are split into 5 areas: Southwest is where I lived and it's more of an urban-party-fun setting with highrises and lowrises. A lot of people live there who are in athletics, greek life, etc. Then there are other residence areas that are more 'earthy-crunchy' or one that is more international, etc.
I absolutely loved my college experience and I highly recommend UMAss- at least go for a visit. If you (or he) has any questions, I would be happy to talk to either one of you- FM me.
I have not been to Binghampton although my fiance went there and he and his friends loved it. Actually, his sisters went there too and loved it. I hear it's a great school! I have friends that went to Albany too and they loved it too.
MindyL28
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Oh- I also wanted to tell you that because there are 5 schools in the ares (UMass, Amherst College, Mt. Holyoke, Smith College and Hampshire College) you can participate in the 5 college program which means that you can take classes at any of the 5 schools. Unfortuatly, I was stupid and didn't take advantage of it but it's a great opportunity to take classes at other colleges and experience other learning styles and students. Someone I work with actually went to UMass and took a lot of classes at Amherst College. It's pretty amazing since Amherst COllege is one of the top colleges in the US.
The town of Amherst is adorable- very quaint with great shops & restaurants. The town of Northhampton is nearby too and that also has great restaurants, shops, etc.
MindyL28
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
one more thing- if price is an issue, I have heard that UMass is one of the more expensive state schools for out of state tuition. When I was there, I think it was about $10,000 per year. But it's worth it!!!
kel2004
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Posted by TwoBugs
If it's U Mass Amherst, then that would be my top pick. I don't know what your brother is considering majoring in, but U Mass is a very highly regarded school.
I agree.
cluelessbride
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
He really can't go wrong with any of them academically, though Binghampton has, IMO, the best reputation.
verdila
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I agree, Bingampton is considered the Ivy League of Public Schools....Not sure about the party life though! I can attest to you that Albany had it! I did not get accepted to Bingampton so I do think it is more selective. Of course, things could have changed since then.
I applied to UMASS also and was accepted, but I remember it was more money than Albany so I think that was a factor of why I chose Albany. I heard good things about UMASS - but that it is a huge campus, even bigger student body than Albany (which is big) .
I dated a guy yrs ago that went to U South Carolina.....he liked it. I think they are big in basketball/sports. He always wore a South Carolina Gamecocks hat. (COCKS) Thats all I know about that school. Sounds like he has picked and gotten into some good schools so he shuold be fine wherever he goes. I think he has to weigh the pros and cons of each school and which ones meets his personal needs best.
For example, he may be into sports, so Binghampton might not be the best choice, but for academics and small classes it would be. Albany has a great party/activities atmosphere, ok sports program, great business and education schools, close to LI. UMASS may have a better healthcare program or better atmosphere and nicer campus/town as well as access to other colleges. U south carolina may have a smaller school, better weather and better sports programs than the others....its all what he wants and what school meets those desires.
Check out Princeton Review....if you havent already. I know SUNY Albany, Binghampton and UMASS are all ranked in the top Northeastern schools with SUNY Binghampton scoring the highest in Academics and UMASS and Albany pretty even. So that hasnt changed in a decade since I graduated! OK- SO Suny ALBANY is still in the top 20 Party Schools.......nice!http://www.princetonreview.com
Chloegirl
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I went to Binghamton and loved it. It isn't the prettiest school and doesnt have the best sports teams or anything but I feel a school is what you make of it. I had a ton of fun and made the best friends anyone could ask for. To me, I couldnt have gone to a better school.
As far as academics, it has a wonderful reputation. Business, Engineering, Biology, Psychology are all big majors there.
Good luck!
mrswask
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
This is coming from a peson 'in the know' (guidance counselor) - Binghampton absolutely has the best academic reputation of all the schools - it is highly selective and is truly considered 'THe Ivy League of the Public Schools' - what the others are saying is true too - not much of a college town, kind of dreary (I chose not to go there). It depends what your brother wants. I think that for the tuition price, Bing is definitely the best deal. I don't know what your brother is planning on doing career-wise but he is better off saving money now and spending on graduate school (if he's thinking about that eventually). JMO
PrincessRose
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
I went to Binghamton and had a great time! I met FH there!
Honest truth?
Any school is what you make of it. There are people at every school who have nothing better to do than complain about any little thing in the surrounding town. Sure, I knew people in college who hated Binghamton, but these were the people who never did anything to make the best of it! I didn't party. But I had TONS AND TONS of fun. I had friends who did party. They had TONS AND TONS of fun. FH and I miss our college days, and always talk about going back.
Incidentally, Binghamton (in the words of graduate Paul Reiser: 'There's NO P!') is moving its teams to Division 1, so the sports program there is improving.
If you have any questions about Binghamton, let me know!
Oh, and I was accepted to Albany, huge scholarship, without even applying. I'm not so sure about that.
verdila
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Edit to add - I also met my DH in Albany.....college is definitely what YOU make of it, as I said before! We were in the same hall soph yr - Delancey Hall on Colonial Quad- great times!
I still think the most of the SUNY Schools have a ways to go before their athletic programs improve. I think Albany was recently bumped up also to Div 1 or 2 - when I was there, the football team was laughable...
I think all SUNY does alot of scouting in many school districts so some people are accepted without applying. We have a famous graduate too - Susan Molinari, a politician from Staten Island!
Robeymuse
Posted:
Member since
Re: U Mass? Binghamton? Albany? USC?
Posted by PrincessRose
Incidentally, Binghamton (in the words of graduate Paul Reiser: 'There's NO P!') is moving its teams to Division 1, so the sports program there is improving.
