SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY, USA

Reviews

SUNY Buffalo State University

Jessica from Rochester, NY

a current student here
17 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors I have had since beginning Fall 2008 have been extremely helpful. They are available before and after class if you would like to speak with them and also through email. No matter what your problem is, they do what they can to assist you.
Am enjoying being here
Campus life is great. There is never a dull moment. There are always different activities that appeal to every type of person. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Bengal Pause occurs, which is a period of time where no classes are taking place. This allows social and study groups to meet.
Bang for the buck
its is a great school that is more affordable than others. Tuition is under $20,000 a year and the school offers scholarships, just inquire about them.
Tips for prospective students
Buffalo State College has six different schools that offer a large selection of majors. The schools are the School of Arts and Humanities, the School of Education, the School of Natural and Social Sciences, the School of the Professions, Graduate School,and University College. Do you research and i am sure you will find majors and minors that fix you.
Great for these types of students
Students that are interested in joining many social groups, athletic programs, media, fashion productions, and theater.

Claire from Amherst, NY

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Like any school, Buffalo State College can be as challenging as you make it. If you put in the effort to learn and study you can do very well. Teachers at Buff State are usually very helpful and fair, since it is not a huge school, it is easy to get to know teachers and spend time after class addressing any questions or concerns. There are also many honors societies available for students looking for even more of an academic challenge.
Am enjoying being here
As a commuter, it was challenging at first making friends, but there are many clubs on campus and activities to get involved in from sports activities, drama, extracurricular art classes, religious activities, student government, etc. On Tuesdays and Thursdays during Bengal Pause (12-1:40) most classes are not in session and there will often be demonstrations or free activities. Most students spend this time getting lunch, relaxing, meeting with clubs or just hanging out.
Bang for the buck
Buffalo State College is a very affordable four-year college. For in-state students living at home, tuition is under $5,000 a year and for resident students, tuition, room and board plus meal plans comes to around $13,000- $20,000 and there are many scholarship and financial aide opportunities available if you are willing to look for them. For such an inexpensive school, Buff State has a lot to offer. Dorms are not bad as far as dorms go, and in the student union, there are two eating areas, a Barnes and Noble bookstore and plenty of space to hang out or study. The E.H Butler library is ideal for studying and research and the well-equipped Houston athletic facility includes a fitness center (with free membership to students), ice rink, swimming pool and more.
Tips for prospective students
Whether you dorm or live at home, get involved on campus! The best way to make the most of your college experience is to try something new, you never know, you just might like it. Also, don't be afraid to talk to your teachers and ask questions, it's your grade, don't be too cool to do well. Teachers at Buff State have designated office hours and they love when students stop by with questions or comments about class. Make sure to get your financial aide information taken care of quickly because it may put a hold on your account that could delay registration for classes.
Great for these types of students
Buffalo State is perfect for students looking for more than just an education, students hoping to make friends and get involved; it is large enough to feel like a real college but small enough to become acquainted with professors, to make friends easily and participate in some of the many clubs. There is a great social atmosphere at buff state including a lot of student-focused activities day and night.

Deirdre from Baldwinsville, NY

accepted here and planning to attend soon
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
I have a very specific program that I am doing as a minor: Museum Studies. Buffalo State is one of only 12 colleges in the country that offer this at the undergraduate level, so I know I will be getting ahead in the museum field.
Will enjoy being here
I did an overnight visit at Buffalo State recently, and I loved every minute there. There is always something going on somewhere on campus, and there are a ton of clubs and societies for every interest. The Student Union has a huge list of clubs and interests that someone can join in, and there is always another person who shares your interests. Also, it is right in the Museum District, which is perfect for my minor, as well as giving a lot of internship opportunities.
Bang for the buck
Obviously, this is a SUNY school, so you are already saving a lot of money, but Buffalo State is a great example of how you can get a great education without breaking the bank. My minor is pretty rare, so I could go to a very expensive and exclusive college, but Buffalo State has an exemplary program at a fraction of the cost.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure you get everything filled out and sent in as soon as you decide you will attend. It makes everything go faster and easier, and you won't feel a sense of panic that you are missing something. Also, don't be afraid to email advisers, Admissions, Financial Aid, etc., because all the information you get can be confusing, and they're there to help! Everyone is very nice and can clear up any confusion easily.
Great for these types of students
This is a great school for artsy-type people who enjoy museums, art galleries, fashion, or any other type of art.

Mandi from Sodus, NY

accepted here and planning to attend soon
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Will learn a lot
I am going to be a Music/Communications major at the school in the fall of 2011. I anticipate learning a lot, because despite this being the biggest SUNY school in the system, the music program at Buff State is small, selective, and home-y. The Communications department is one of the three accredited ones in New York State (Syracuse is one of the others, I don't remember the other), which is ridiculously impressive for a SUNY school; only about 15% or so of colleges NATIONALLY get accredited!
Will enjoy being here
I think the reason for my high rating is that I have family in Buffalo, as well as my best friend attending Canisius College to see all the time, but Buffalo State is in a great area. It's in the Museum district, per se. It's in a very liberal and artsy part of town, so if you're one of those types of people who enjoy that, that's great.
The college is within a city but it's entirely all-inclusive...no crossing a busy street to go between buildings! There are a bajillion clubs from what I've heard, a very active student union and a nice, up-to-date athletic facility. I'm pretty sure if you go out in search of it, there will always be something to do here. People often harp on the partying and how they want to party, but if you want to have clean fun, there's plenty of room for that as well.
Bang for the buck
As far as Music, Communications, and obviously teaching - that being widely popular there - I know that the education one could get from Buff State would be just as great as a more expensive private school. I have friends paying between 40 and 62 thousand dollars a year for school! Crazy! This fall, for tution, other fees, and room and board I'll be paying about 18,000 dollars a year and I think that's incredibly affordable for such a great education that is being offered.
Tips for prospective students
Remember that just because this is a SUNY school, doesn't mean you're automatically accepted. Only about 42% of students get into Buffalo State each year that apply, so make sure you still do your best on your application! (:
Great for these types of students
If you're artsy, and want to be in a big city, Buffalo State College would be great for you. Students who are okay with being at a big...HUGE school. People who realize there's going to be A LOT of partying, but have the control to engage in it or stay away.

Richard from Buffalo, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Buff State is an amazing college and the campus is beautiful. The buildings interiors are decked in posters and exhibits and maps and all types of visual information. The teachers there are willing to dedicate their time to help students and lead them on the right track to where they want to be concerning their educational and career goals.
Tips for prospective students
I suggest that prospective students find out who their academic advisor is and to keep in contact with them. Prospective students should definitely make sure that they register for classes as early as possible because finding and registering for courses is very tedious at times and becomes more difficult the longer they wait. Prospective students need to always make sure that they know the office hours of each of their professors so they can meet with them with any problems or difficulties they have concerning their studies.
Academic Rigor
Keeping up on your academic studies is paramount to educational success. It makes things easier when a student knows how to alocate their time in a manner to which they have time to get their work done for school and have free time. Students should always check their school emails so they are aware of their academic standing and also because many professors use the internet as a tool to assign work.
Dorm Life
I don't reside on campus but the resident building are beautifully constructed. Students should register for dorms as quick as possible in order to get into the residence hall that they desire because it's a first come first serve basis.
Food and Dining
There are various food courts that a student can go to for meals, snacks, coffee etc. The Buff State campus definitely has a wide variety of food that students can choose from. There's a Subway where you can get a customized sandwich of your liking, there's a stand that specializes in Caribbean cuisine that's very pleasing to the palate, and there's various other stands as well as vending machines around campus that a student can choose from if they fell like snacking.
What to do for fun
There are various events that the campus organizes for student recreations. I recommend that students pay attention to the various poster boards around the campus because that's where advertisng for upcoming events can usually be found there. There's also various clubs that students can join and countless recreational areas where students can either sit and hang out, or study quietly and focus.
Bang for the buck
Buff State is a great choice for students who want to get their college education and the classes and professors are intuned with how college kids think and interact with the world because they all were college students themselves at one time.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There's a time span from 12:15-1:30 called Bengal Pause which is a time on campus where most students don't have classes and they can use this time in various ways whether they want to discuss their work with their professors, go to the student fitness center to workout, or just socialize. During times of the year when the weather is nice there's music blasting from speakers in the courtyard that student can listen or even dance to which is very refreshing.
Great for these types of students
Students who are interested in art have a wide range of courses they can take. There's also an art building in which there are frequent art exhibits held by student artist that express their creativity and artistic style.
Clubs and Activities
There's various clubs that cater to students from different ethnic backgrounds and different interests involving religion,culture,sports,science,language etc.
Greek Life
There's fraternities and sororities that hold different events and do many fun things on campus.
Campus Safety
Chase Hall is where you can find the campus police if you have an issue or greivance and there's various blue painted post around the campus that the students can press to alert authorities in undesirable situations.

Jalia from Bronx, NY

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Buffalo State College, in a nutshell, is a diamond in a rough. The school right now is underconstruction and in the process of being updated and upgraded. But aside from the eye sores of the construction sites I would rate Buffalo State a solid 4.
Tips for prospective students
My tip for prospective students is to not let your dorm room consume you. I know at first it might seem like those four walls are the safest place for you to be because your in a new place with new people and all you really want to do is go home to your family so you put your guard up. But listen if you stick with this mentality then what was really the point of you choosing the campus life at all. The way I see it campus life is like dating, at first you have that well...I don't know feeling but then later on as you get to know that person you put your shield down, wave the white flag and put yourself out there. Of course you could possibly get hurt but that's what life is about. Buffalo State as well as Buffalo in general has so much to offer so get out there and get to know it!
Academic Rigor
Overall I believe that academics at Buffalo State are great. Every once in a while you'll come across a class that is truly an easy A but most classes are challenging and keep your mind active and brain juices flowing.
Dorm Life
Overall I think the dorm life is one of the many good things at Buffalo State. The rooms are bigger than most rooms I've seen at any other college and they provide us with a great amount of storage space in each room to hold all of our junk. The facilities in each freshmen dorm are kept neat and tidy by the cleaning staff, each dorm has a lounge(s) as well as a full kitchen.
Food and Dining
The food on campus overall is okay. The dining hall I believe is open from 7am-8:30pm and they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dining hall has their days when they serve good food like pasta, fried chicken, stir fry, mashed potatoes. They often have themed days like taco night and wing night stuff like that. But then there are other times when they decide to have breakfast for dinner or not so good food and that's when we head over to the retail side. Right now the retail side is begin renovated so when I go back they may have different vendors but there was a burger place called SmashBurger, a sandwich and salad place, an Italian place that served pasta, pizza, bread sticks and my favorite pizza logs. Then there was Salsaritas, a Mexican spot and then The Strip that was basically that chicken spot. Your meal plan is split between these two areas of dining.
What to do for fun
Friday Night Live, Karaoke Night, any Buff State group/club event, the Burchfield Penney Art Gallery, Delaware Park, nightlife in downtown Buffalo and all the great restaurants and bars down Elmwood are all fun things to do at Buffalo State as well as in Buffalo.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
It's not really a tradition but we do the wobble. I learned it during my freshmen orientation it's one of those cute school spirit things that's fun to do every once in a while. They have a how to video on YouTube called the Orientation Wobble where some of the orientation leaders of 2011 show you the basic steps.
Great for these types of students
Buffalo State College is great for any type of student really. Our campus is very diverse and we provide a wide variety of groups, organizations, clubs, sports etc.
Clubs and Activities
Buffalo State offers a numerous amount of clubs on campus just to list a few there is the United Students Government (USG), BSC-TV Channel, African American Student Organization (AASO), Fashion Student Association (FSA), Caribbean Students Organization (CSO), Pride Alliance, Step Expression etc. In addition to these clubs if you would like to join a club that we don't offer you could easily start one yourself.
Greek Life
Buffalo State offers the Divine Nine as well as many others sororities and fraternities.
Campus Safety
The University Police Department (UPD) on our campus is very involved and alert, they are always around when you need them day or night. During my freshmen orientation they introduced themselves to my freshmen class and made sure each of us had their number on speed dial. I feel completely safe on campus and that's a really big deal for me considering our campus is open to the public. UPD's number one rule on campus is the buddy system, make sure you never travel alone.