NY State Colleges: Which to Consider?

Looking at colleges in New York State, but there are so many options! How did you decide which NY state colleges to apply to? What are the key factors to consider when choosing?

Deciding which colleges to apply to can indeed be a daunting task considering the multitude of options. It's important to take into account a host of factors while making your decision, including:

1. Academic credentials: Review your academic credentials such as GPA, SAT/ACT scores, class rank, etc. Then look at the typical student profile at the colleges you're considering to see how you stack up. For example, if your SAT score is well above the 75th percentile at a specific college, you might have a higher chance of receiving merit aid there.

2. Major/programs: Not all colleges are built alike. Research the strength of the program you are interested in. For example, if you're interested in Film Studies, you might lean towards New York University rather than Binghamton University.

3. Location: Whether a school is located in an urban or rural location, close or far from home, could have a major impact on your college experience. For example, Columbia University and Cornell University provide entirely different campus environments.

4. Size: Some students thrive on large campuses with lots of opportunities (and lots of people), whereas others prefer smaller campuses where they may have more interaction with faculty.

5. Cost: The cost of attending college is always a significant factor in deciding where to apply. Consider both the sticker price and the average financial aid package of each of your potential choices.

6. Culture: Every campus has a unique culture that you may or may not find appealing. This could relate to sports, the arts scene, Greek life, social activism, and more.

7. Job placements/internships: Look at the placement rates of different colleges, if your goal is to get a job immediately after graduation. Also, consider colleges in locations with high job market activity in your area of interest.

For example, if you’re looking for strong engineering programs, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the Rochester Institute of Technology are worth a look. For excellent humanities and social sciences, Bard College and Sarah Lawrence College can be strong contenders. The SUNY and CUNY systems are also worth exploring for their wide range of programs and more affordable cost for in-state residents.

To start your research, CollegeVine is a great resource that allows you to plug in your academic and extracurricular profile to see where you have the best chance of acceptance. You can then further sift through those options considering the above-mentioned aspects! Good luck with your process!