Down to two - need advice on SUNY Oswego and SUNY U@Buffalo

cvanp

Active Member
Hey everyone

I'm down to two choices, SUNY Oswego and SUNY University at Buffalo.

My pros/cons for each:

SUNY Oswego
- Pros
- - I liked the campus a lot. Good size, nice dorms, etc.
- - They have a renowned broadcasting dep't, another area I'm interested in (brand new TV station just opened this year thanks to a donation from alum Al Roker)
- - It's small(er)
- - Large % of classes taught by real profs, undergrad focused school
- - Closer to home
- - Theatre dep't seems less organized; more opportunities to make an impact?
- - Just instituted a "School of Communication, Media and the Arts" that puts several related programs under one banner

- Cons
- - It's small(er)
- - The theatre facilities were old, not great at all.
- - It's a B.A. program, compared with most other programs that have moved to B.F.A.s
- - It seemed a lot of theatre folks were folks who just had an interest but weren't sure about professional futures
- - Is this a recognized name that will be good to help me get into a good grad school?


SUNY University at Buffalo
- Pros
- - Awesome theatre facilities. Brand new in '04.
- - Opportunities for tech/design students to crew for touring companies.
- - B.F.A. program
- - Close(r) to Toronto
- - Lots of big names come here because it's a bigger school

- Cons
- - I did not like the rest of the school. Horrible dorms for underclassmen, really a gigantic campus.
- - The department still seems relatively new, not sure about the stability
- - Students can not produce/act/design for shows in the main stage theatre (weird legal thing)
- - It seems to be a bigger program... more difficult to make an impact?
- - The school has a big undergrad population, but is a research school and has a bajillion grad students... not as directly undergrad focused
- - Is this a recognized name that will help me get into a good grad school?


As you can see I'm having a difficult time choosing.

- I want the school where I can make the most impact and then subsequently get into the best grad school possible, I'm thinking for directing right now. Is that really going to be that big of a deal between these two schools, as long as I have consistent grades?
- Can a B.A. student get an M.F.A.?
- Can a B.A. student transfer to a B.F.A. program if he needs to? (May not be easy, but anyone know if it's possible?)
- Are the facilities really that important for someone who wants to dual-track in Directing and Design?
- Does anyone know people who went to these schools?
- Does anyone know people who directed or taught at these schools?
- Has anyone else looked at these schools?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice.

Chris
 
from doing my own college research (i'm graduating high school this year), i think that both of these school's will give you a good education. But one thing i noticed is that you don't really mention anything about student life. You mentioned dorm size, but what is there to do in the area. A big part of my personal criteria for choosing a college was the opportunity for new experiences. I've lived in middle class suburbia all my life and wanted a school that could expose me to more of the world. Does one of these schools fit you better?
 
- Can a B.A. student get an M.F.A.?
- Can a B.A. student transfer to a B.F.A. program if he needs to? (May not be easy, but anyone know if it's possible?)
- Are the facilities really that important for someone who wants to dual-track in Directing and Design?
- Does anyone know people who went to these schools?
- Does anyone know people who directed or taught at these schools?
- Has anyone else looked at these schools?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advice.
Chris

To answer questions in order.

-Yes you can...I did.
-Yes you can.
-Facilities can be a sign of how the dept is run.
-One of my students went to SUNY Buffalo he liked it a lot and got a lot out of it.
-No
-No

Here's the question to ask both schools...Where are your students going when they graduate? If the answer matches where you want to end up that's where to go.
 
Thanks bobgaggle and grog12.

I think I'm going to put in my deposit with UB (after getting a few more opinions from some people close to me) and then if I don't like it I will still have the option of transferring out to some place like Ithaca (if they would take me the second time around!).

Thanks for your advice, it's greatly appreciated!
 
So I just showed said student this thread and his words were "Definetly Buffalo...ugh Definetly Buffalo."

So you have chosen well in his eyes.
 
Just put in my deposit and housing application. Here goes the next phase in my life... wooo!
 

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