For Binghamton, I was fortunate to interview two amazing people. Audrey, one my good friend's sister, and a person who prefers to remain anonymous! Thank you both for the amazing responses! Definitely check their responses out if you're interested in Binghamton!
AUDREY
Audrey was introduced to by my good friend and AP Psych partner in crime Ian Tomato! She provides amazing and thorough responses that are super helpful if you're interested in applying to Bing! Because we both have a younger brother, we love to roast them! Thank you so much Audrey!
Do you prefer morning or night classes?
"I personally recommend classes later in the day. The theory behind morning classes is that 'I start my day earlier, so I'll end my day earlier' but that really only works in theory. No matter what, you're probably gonna end up pulling some all-nighters or end up hanging out with your friends until late; it's just part of the college experience. So when you're going to sleep at 2 a.m. and you can set your alarm to 8:30 instead of 7.....it will make a difference. Trust me."
What kind of classes would you highly recommend students to take in high school before going off to college?
"This sounds a little counterintuitive, but take classes that count for college credit in subjects you are not a fan of. I personally did not find AP classes to match the experience of a college level course. At the time taking AP's of classes I wasn't really fond of (ex: AP Government and Politics or AP World History) was annoying, but now I am so grateful. I got those general education requirements out of the way, and I don't have to waste time now taking a class I wouldn't like."
Were you awarded financial aid? If yes, how would you rate the financial aid package given? Was it able to remove financial pressure?
"I go to a SUNY school and pay in-state tuition, so that already is a lot cheaper than other schools. I was awarded quite a generous amount financial aid from both NY state and from my school which helped relieve a lot of financial stress from my family. If you really want to go to a school but it's a little out of your price range, I would definitely suggest reaching out to the financial aid department. A lot of times, they are willing to adjust your financial aid packet or let you know about scholarships you can apply for."
How would you describe the workload? Do students study at home during the weekends or go out and relax with their friends?
"I personally do not have that many "homework" assignments, but I have tests all the time. I have a quiz/exam almost every other day, and approaching half-way into the semester, I would easily have 6 to 7 quizzes/exams a week. So even though I technically don't have a lot of physical "work' to do, I always have something to study for. I think that would change, depending on your year and your major, but regardless of that, students definitely make time to hang out with their friends. The key to a enjoyable life is balance! College is more than just your classes; you would be doing yourself a disservice if you locked yourself in your room all day studying. Go out! The people you connect with will mean a lot more down the road than that one homework assignment you blew everyone off for."
What is your major and why did you choose this major?
"I am an actuarial science major. I found out about this major because I took a statistics class in high school and enjoyed it, so I googled "jobs involving statistics that are statisticians" and being an actuary was one of the results. I researched the career and felt like the description was something I could genuinely see myself doing. There involves a lot of number-crunching, which can get difficult, but the job is considered low stress, offers flexibility, a good salary, and is mostly project-based, so there's enough change to not get bored of the career."
ANONYMOUS
This person was so sweet to offer to help and provided some great responses! Thank you so much! I appreciate it a lot!
How would you describe the weather at Bing? What would advise students to bring when coming to Bing?
"The weather is weird. Its really cold in the morning like in october - april and then it gets hot and windy in the middle of the day and usually rains or is cold and cloudy all night. August - mid October is really nice, its like 70-90 degrees, sunny. Same with late April to may. I would definitely bring more than 1 umbrella, in case u lose it, and a raincoat or a few. Even a cheap one for nights out in case it rains at night, you can check it in for $2 at the bars."
What makes Bing? So special to you? Was it your first choice and your dream school?
"The communities make up bing. There are hundreds of clubs, they always have free food, people actually show up, and they build really close groups. Greek life is really popular here and it makes the campus feel smaller and more alive, there's always community service events, and different fundraisers. I love how everyone at this school is very involved, there are always distressing events with free food, music festivals, and weekly events in the union with concerts, movies playing, and themed nights with free prizes. The social life makes it so easy to make friends and meet people. ALso the sampus makes the school look so cool, and based on where the buildings are located (dorms) people establish friendships and close communities with their buildings in “their community”. There are always building events run by RA’s. I didn't have a dream school, my top choice was the suny closest to me, stony brook. One reason bing wasn't my top was because of how far it was from home, now I know that it is a blessing because its so far haha."
What is your major and is it what you wanted to study since high school?
"I'm a biochem major on the pre pharmacy track and yes Ive wanted to study science since highschool. That's why I picked binghamton because of their programs! They have a great new pharmacy school.
What is one thing you wished you did more research on before applying to colleges?
"I wish I researched more out of state schools, I honestly dislike living in new york because of the weather and I wish I applied to schools in the south or warmer areas. Location can make or break one's college experience."
What is one tip you would give to high school students, especially juniors who are currently searching for college to apply? Should they research how good the food is, the weather, or how prestigious the college is?
"Find a school that has a good balance between social life and academics. If people say that the school is very “antisocial” and its hard to make friends there, I wouldn't suggest applying there unless it is your only choice. It is very hard to succeed (in my opinion) in college without friends or social activities. When the workload gets very heavy, I rely on my friends to help me get through tough times. We all work together, study together and help each other out. Afterwards, we have fun on the weekends together and destress. “We are the youngest we’ll ever be and the oldest we’ve ever been”, and we should take advantage of this and enjoy our youth while always focusing on our degree. Also, if you are unsure of your major, try to apply to a university that has many types of schools within it, for example SOM, Harpur, Watson at bing, you could always transfer in if you decide on a major. It is very hard to transfer into these schools, so I would suggest taking easy classes your freshman year to boost your average. Overall, if you are searching for schools the best way to learn information about it and the population is by checking the major requirement classes, if you will be able to accomplish it, and checking out the dorms, even if its virtual. Where one lives and who they live with can also make or make the college experience. Good luck everyone!"