SUNY at Oneanta? Questions?

[DawnCt1]

My late DH's niece went there - briefly.. Very briefly.. She was a straight-A honor sutdent, very straight-laced.. The place scared the living daylights out of her.. She lasted 2 weeks - came back home and went to Siena College..

This has been an extremely worthwhile thread. Thank you!

 

[adkkev]

My late DH's niece went there - briefly.. Very briefly.. She was a straight-A honor sutdent, very straight-laced.. The place scared the living daylights out of her.. She lasted 2 weeks - came back home and went to Siena College..

great choice

 

[adkkev]

Dawn, what's your son looking to major in? Anything specific?

FYI ... outside of SUNY Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Stony Brook, most of the SUNY schools are in small towns. Some have reputations as sports schools, party schools, etc.

 

[troobabiee7]

I had friends at both Oneonta and Stony Brook and there isn't much to do around either campus. Oneonta is a HUGE party school, while Stony Brook is toned down but there's still not much to do. I've had friends transfer out of both, but others loved the atmosphere and stayed all four years (and had quite a wild ride )

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, what's your son looking to major in? Anything specific?

FYI ... outside of SUNY Albany, Buffalo, Binghamton, and Stony Brook, most of the SUNY schools are in small towns. Some have reputations as sports schools, party schools, etc.

Secondary education; Earth Science and/or Biology.

 

[DebD4T]

I graduated from Oneonta in '86. (yes, some students actually did finish and get a degree!!!LOL)

Honestly, I haven't been back in about 20 years. The town is (was) quaint. The area is (was) beautiful. Cooperstown is about 20 minutes away. (if you are a baseball fan)

College will be what you (your DS) make of it. I learned how to party every night, but keep my grades up and be on the Dean's list.

Please keep in mind that the school may have changed since I was there, but it wasn't a top school in the SUNY system. The University centers are much larger and offer a much more diverse choice of majors.

I am just being nosy, and you can put me in my place if you like, but you will be paying out of state tuition. Is that still cheaper than somewhere else in your state?

ETA...I just read your post above and saw that your DS wants to major in education. I will tell you that Oneonta has (had) a great education program.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I had friends at both Oneonta and Stony Brook and there isn't much to do around either campus. Oneonta is a HUGE party school, while Stony Brook is toned down but there's still not much to do. I've had friends transfer out of both, but others loved the atmosphere and stayed all four years (and had quite a wild ride )

I'm surprised your friends said there's nothing to do at Stony Brook. Stony Brook has tons to do in the area. First, you're a train ride away from NYC, Northport, Huntington, Port Jefferson, etc. There are shops, museums, beaches, malls, tons and tons to do. The campus is huge with lots of groups and activities and people from around the world. There are activities and festivals and all kinds of things going on year round within an hour of the campus.

Oneonta is in the middle of nowhere - Stony Brook is in the middle of Long Island - huge difference. There's tons to do at Stony Brook and on Long Island and in NYC.

 

[DisLaw]

Great thread!

I am familiar with the area as we have family that own some property outside of Oneonta. It is very pretty but very rural. I remember being very excited when they opened a BJs there! Shopping involves a very run down indoor mall with movie theaters and a Walmart, BJs, Home Depot and thats about it. There is an old movie theater in town where they were heating the popcorn with a hair dryer, I kid you not! My kids were so grossed out and we have laughed about that for years now.

We enjoy Cooperstown which as people have said is about 1/2 hour away and a really pretty town with of course the baseball hall of fame which is very cool.

If you do go and visit I highly reccomend Brooks House of Barbeque just outside of town. Really great chicken dinners, homemade bread, and very inexpensive. On weekends there are lines out the door. Rachel Ray even visited there on one of her $40 a day shows (The only time she has been at a place I have eaten at!!!)

As far as the school, I never knew anyone that went there but I will keep the "party" rep in mind when my kids start looking. I would love to hear what people think are the really "good" SUNY schools. My daughter is interested in teaching.

Thanks and good luck!

 

[troobabiee7]

I'm surprised your friends said there's nothing to do at Stony Brook. Stony Brook has tons to do in the area. First, you're a train ride away from NYC, Northport, Huntington, Port Jefferson, etc. There are shops, museums, beaches, malls, tons and tons to do. The campus is huge with lots of groups and activities and people from around the world. There are activities and festivals and all kinds of things going on year round within an hour of the campus.

Oneonta is in the middle of nowhere - Stony Brook is in the middle of Long Island - huge difference. There's tons to do at Stony Brook and on Long Island and in NYC.

I'm talking about the stuff to actually do on campus. I live in the city (born and raised) and have a summer home on Long Island. There's a lot to do in surrounding areas, but not much on the campus itself. If you're going to a school to be close to the city, there are much better schools in the city itself. Northport, Port Jeff and other parts of LI are great, but not really geared towards college kids. If you want the campus experience and then a place to go every once in a while, Stony Brook's good. But it's a good 2-hour train ride into the city, and a lot of my friends got sick of that and transferred.

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

SUNY Albany has a great Ed School (the univ. was originally founded as Albany Teacher's College, I believe).

I loved my years there. Great programs of study, smart but fun kids, and plenty of nightlife.

 

[Enchanted_Mama]

oh, and unless it has changed radically since I attended - out of state tuition wasn't awful. I think in the 1990's, we paid about $12k a year for me to attend.

 

[DisLaw]

Good to hear. I like the Albany area, more things to do than sit around and drink!

 

[DebD4T]

If you do go and visit I highly reccomend Brooks House of Barbeque just outside of town. Really great chicken dinners, homemade bread, and very inexpensive. On weekends there are lines out the door. Rachel Ray even visited there on one of her $40 a day shows (The only time she has been at a place I have eaten at!!!)

OMG...Brooks!!! The absolute BEST barbeque!!! They actually have a barbeque pit inside the kitchen!!

 

[DawnCt1]

I graduated from Oneonta in '86. (yes, some students actually did finish and get a degree!!!LOL)

Honestly, I haven't been back in about 20 years. The town is (was) quaint. The area is (was) beautiful. Cooperstown is about 20 minutes away. (if you are a baseball fan)

College will be what you (your DS) make of it. I learned how to party every night, but keep my grades up and be on the Dean's list.

Please keep in mind that the school may have changed since I was there, but it wasn't a top school in the SUNY system. The University centers are much larger and offer a much more diverse choice of majors.

I am just being nosy, and you can put me in my place if you like, but you will be paying out of state tuition. Is that still cheaper than somewhere else in your state?

ETA...I just read your post above and saw that your DS wants to major in education. I will tell you that Oneonta has (had) a great education program.

The cost of attending UConn as an instate student is about $19000. Oneonta is less than $22,000, so its pretty comparable. We gave him the option of out of state schools where the expenses would be less than $24K or choose in state. Central Ct. State College, which is a very nice school and campus would be about $17K or so. We did hear that Oneonta has a good education program and is primarily known for that (besides party school. )

 

[DisLaw]

OMG...Brooks!!! The absolute BEST barbeque!!! They actually have a barbeque pit inside the kitchen!!

Yeah! Someone else knows what I am talking about. People think I am crazy when I go on and on about Brooks. Some trips we eat there every night. Crazy I know but we have to get our Brooks "fix."

 

[DebD4T]

You know you can buy the sauce to take home with you.

 

[bballmom56]

We have visited Oneonta several times, visiting Hartwick for both my daughter and son. SUNY Oneonta is basically across the street. The colleges are within a nice residential area. My DH and I kind of liked the town (but this was during the day and we ARE a part of the older crowd). We ate lunch in a little Greek restaurant on the main street which was excellent. We heard the stories of parties and drinking too (Hartwick has had problems with their fraternities). In the end, Hartwick fell to third out of three on my DD's list and son decided not to apply.

Siena we loved. It was DD's second choice (but very close to her first choice) and DS loved it, but it didn't have the major he wanted. They do offer an education degree, but the price tag is a bit high at 31,975 for tuition room and board.

We ate at Brooks one night and don't flame me but I thought it was just ok. It was fine. I just didn't think it was exceptional.

 

[disney1990]

Secondary education; Earth Science and/or Biology.

My DD is at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse. She is studying Environmental Biology and loves the school.

 

[FergieTCat]

I'm surprised your friends said there's nothing to do at Stony Brook. Stony Brook has tons to do in the area. First, you're a train ride away from NYC, Northport, Huntington, Port Jefferson, etc. There are shops, museums, beaches, malls, tons and tons to do. The campus is huge with lots of groups and activities and people from around the world. There are activities and festivals and all kinds of things going on year round within an hour of the campus.

Oneonta is in the middle of nowhere - Stony Brook is in the middle of Long Island - huge difference. There's tons to do at Stony Brook and on Long Island and in NYC.

Don't mean to go OT, but I just wanted to give a shout out to my hometown of Northport!

 

[mickeymedic]

Secondary education; Earth Science and/or Biology.

Did he apply to SUNY Geneseo? They have an excellent School of Education.