Binghamton University
Vestal, NY, USA

Reviews

Binghamton University

Wendy from Brooklyn, NY

a current student here
14 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The professors here are great! If you need help they are there for you. Often times students don't go to them so they really do want you to come to them or else they won't have anything to do during office hours.
Am enjoying being here
I adore dorming on campus because you basically live with your classmates/friends. You can eat together, hangout with each other and I must say you will never be bored. Freshmen aren't allowed cars on campus but there are free shuttle buses that take you places like walmart or oakdale mall. Also my favorite part of campus is the nature preserve, it is just a great place to sit and relax and enjoy nature.
Bang for the buck
This is a premier state university, I think the tuition price isn't good but isn't bad either but of course it'd be great if college was free... =]
Tips for prospective students
As many students before me have said time management is key. As a engineering student, I am always busy with school work or clubs. It really is important to balance studying and leisure time but once you get the hang of it, SUNY Binghamton is great!

Dana from New York, NY

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Even though I am only taking 3 classes, the workload is still tremendous, but manageable if you sufficiently set time aside to do it! My professors are very intelligent and teach well; however, one of my TAs is a bit hard to understand and there are many of them so watch out.
Am enjoying being here
There will never be a lack of activities available on campus. For one, if you enjoy getting involved in a multitude of extracurriculars, you will find yourself having to choose between a few here and there since you are only person. The weekends are ridiculous...the party scene downtown is always hoppin and if your not into that there are usually lots of student run groups that host a variety of events.
Bang for the buck
DEFINITELY worth what you are paying for. Sometimes I find myself not being satisfied with the quality of certain small things, such as, a lack of soccer balls for the club team but when I think about how much I am paying compared to others it is a big difference.
Tips for prospective students
Bring rain boots and warm clothing! The weather is as bad as everyone makes it seem, but one thing I can say about it is that it is VERY bipolar. The temperature range for one day in early fall usually ranges from 40-70 degrees Fahrenheit so layer it up to make it easier to put on and strip off when necessary.
Great for these types of students
-Those interested in the math and science fields
-those who cannot afford to pay for other schools
-those who want diversity and looking for cultural exchanges
-those who anticipate in joining a frat or sorority if you want they do exist too and throw a lot of the parties
-if you like winter

Christina

a current student here
7 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Every class i've taken has been stimulating. Besides the fact that the majority of the professors here are great, the students are motivated and bring up insightful and intelligent discussions in class. Its fantastic.
Am enjoying being here
The people here are great. Everyone is really friendly and even if they're not, the campus is big enough to stay away from those who you wish to stay away from. The dorming communities are great (especially CIW).
Bang for the buck
Binghamton is worth the money and then some. I honestly could not imagine having a better college experience anywhere else, and thats the most important thing. Academically it's just as good as any private school of greater cost and socially it surpasses them.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared for the cold.
If you're premed, be prepared to not sleep freshman year.
If you're not premed, be prepared to not see your friends that are.
Go to the frat parties. Its worth it.
Make as many friends as possible as soon as possible.
Smile.
Great for these types of students
Any type of person can be happy here; from jock to hipster.
Even though the campus is really large, it definitely has a small school feel. Do not let the size be a factor that steers you from binghamton.

Louis from Brooklyn, NY

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
An intense school where people work hard and party harder. Very easy to fall through the cracks if you don't keep up with your work. A diverse and extremely accepting environment for all.
Tips for prospective students
Do well in high school because it is a challenging school to receive acceptance to. Work hard to develop personal skills and responsibilities before going into college so that you aren't overwhelmed by the many freedoms and liberties.
Academic Rigor
The ivy of SUNY's, Binghamton is quite challenging in nearly all courses. Take your grades seriously because they are your future and Binghamton is not an easy school. Being someone who never studied for tests in high school, I've never studied more than I have at Binghamton.
Dorm Life
There are 7 communities on campus and they offer diverse living situations which each offer unique living areas such as hotel style, apartment style, suite style, single, doubles, triples, etc.
Food and Dining
Compared to other college's food it is actually pretty good. That being said the overall quality compared to regular food is mediocre at best. There are hours during the day (3-4 PM) where the dining halls offer less options because they are between meals and it is difficult to eat. Over the course of the semester the food options decrease which can make the food very repetitive and make people have a distaste to it. Overall the food isn't terrible but its also not great.
What to do for fun
There are dozens of clubs, intramural sports, and always countless activities in each living community every week. Also the University sends out an email every day with all of the events taking place that day and for the next few days on campus. Aside from that, partying is a huge part of campus life, while greek life isn't mandatory to party it is still popular. There are always parties going on and the bars are always packed on the weekends. The University's main concern is safety, so as long as they don't see or hear you doing illegal things they won't try to get you in trouble, and they always are more concerned with your safety than anything else.
Bang for the buck
For the quality of education and the party life, you can't find a cheaper University. It's a private school education, party school social life, and SUNY price.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
For people who are interested in partying, there are certain days during the year that are special for all day partying such as Santacon or Parade day. Aside from that Late Nite Binghamton is a great place for you to have fun if you don't choose to partake in those events.There are special events every weekend and it has bowling alley's, pool rooms, and movies which are fun to do if you want to stay in.
Great for these types of students
Intelligent, hard working students who like to party but also know when to focus on school. Also the University works hard to include students of all socio-economic classes, races, genders, sexual orientations and religions and make them feel safe and in a comfortable environment.
Clubs and Activities
There are dozens of clubs and intramural sports, while Binghamton doesn't have a football team, there is a large concentration on the Basketball program. This being said however, Binghamton isn't exactly a sports team school and is more grade focused.
Greek Life
There are many social, and business fraternities and sororities on campus however they don't overtake the campus. You do not need to be in a fraternity or sorority to be able to party.
Campus Safety
Police are only semi-present on campus, while UPD constantly patrols around the perimeter of the campus at night, during the day they are nearly invisible and there aren't many that patrol on foot at night.

Lauren from Staten Island, NY

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Binghamton University is the perfect school. They offer a wide range of majors and sports/clubs, a diverse student body, career planning and development, and so much more. You really need to visit to see what I mean.
Tips for prospective students
Take a tour of the campus. I had no intention on attending a SUNY (or any college in NY state for that matter) until I visited SUNY Binghamton. From the moment I got here, I was in love. Also, be sure to check out all of the clubs and organizations that Binghamton has to offer. There's something for everyone. Get involved!
Academic Rigor
Course work depends upon your major. For the most part, since Binghamton is such a prestigious university, there is a lot of work to be done. But, if you were accepted here, you can more than likely handle all that is thrown at you. And if you find yourself struggling, there are plenty of resources for you on campus such as the Writing Center, Discovery Advisors, tutors, etc, that can all help you out.
Dorm Life
Dorming here at Binghamton University is great. Although some of the residence halls are newer than others, they all have something special about them. All residential students have pride in their living communities. I have not met a single student who is unhappy living here. If you don't like where you've been placed, the ResLife office will accommodate your request to move you to another room/building/community. One of the best things about dorm life at Binghamton is the residence communities. Rather than have a bunch of different buildings, numerous buildings are grouped together and called a community. Each community has its own traditions and brings something different to the table. There is also communities within different buildings that are geared towards a common idea. For example, there is a chem-free community in which all the residents living there do not use drugs or alcohol on or off campus. There are many types of these communities to choose from if you wish. Personally, I do not live in one of these smaller communities.
Food and Dining
There are four dining halls on campus (one in each community and one shared between two communities) and many other places on campus to grab a bite to eat. Whether you're a vegan, a vegetarian, a carnivore, lactose-intolerant, allergic to certain foods or anything you may possibly be, you will definitely be able to find a variety of things to eat on campus. The food isn't always the greatest (I'd be lying to say it is; and let's face it, isn't dining hall food the one thing every college student complains about?), but it's better than most colleges I've visited. If you're getting tired of the food offered around campus (although there is tons of variety, it's bound to happen), there are other options. There are plenty restaurants and chains very close to campus. You don't need a car to reach most of them, because the free bus service will most likely get you where you want to go. And some of these restaurants even accept your BUC$ card as payment, so it's really convenient. Many of the local restaurants and chains will also deliver right to your building. Personally, on top of taking advantage of all I just said, I also go shopping at Walmart and other grocery stores for food to keep in my room. There is always something to eat somewhere.
What to do for fun
On weekends, Binghamton hosts Late Night Binghamton which is always free. They have food, games, bands, comedians, crafts, and much more, every Friday and Saturday night, and it's all FREE. There is also a bowling alley, pool hall, arcade games, video rental store, art museum and ping pong tables located on campus for your use 7 days a week. In addition to this, many other events are usually held on campus for a discounted price. For example, this past week they had AfroJack come in a perform at a concert and Childish Gambino is performing soon too. I saw comedian Lewis Black perform a couple of weeks ago. There are also tons of other events going on around campus too; whether it is an RA hosted event in a residence hall, or a student production of a musical in the theater. You can also get involved with many of the different clubs, teams and organizations around campus. I almost forgot, some of my friends' favorite thing to do around campus is walk/hike/run through the Nature Preserve. The Nature Preserve is 182 acres of land located on campus just behind one of the residential communities.
Bang for the buck
For all that it has to offer, plus its fantastic reputation and the phenomenal education you receive, Binghamton University is a great value. It has been rated as a Best Value by Princeton Review and many other prestigious organizations. This value is even greater if you are an in-state student who qualifies for the in-state tuition. However, the value is great for all students.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The Nature Preserve! Acres and acres of nature! Absolutely beautiful! Students can be found hiking, kayaking, running, reading, and doing all kinds of activities in the nature preserve at any time of the year! Definitely a must see!
Clubs and Activities
There is a wide range of clubs and activities on and off campus. There is something for everyone. Many of these clubs have even been nationally recognized and have received awards. For example, Harpur's Ferry is Binghamton's student-run Ambulance service and has received numerous awards across the country.
Greek Life
There is a surprising presence of Greek Life on campus. It is more prominent than one would think when thinking of such a prestigious university. Many students participate. Many others, like me, don't really care.
Campus Safety
This is an extremely safe campus. We have a police department right on campus. We have our student-run Ambulance service right on campus. You have to show your ID to swipe into any of the residential buildings (your ID will only let you into your own building). We have a blue light system in which emergency help can be accessed by the push of a button on one of the many blue light poles around campus. You can see at least one blue light from wherever you are standing on campus. I have never felt unsafe at any point on campus, even at night, while walking by myself. I do not know of anyone who hasn't felt safe while on campus. If you ever do feel unsafe, you can call the University Police Department (UPD) using your phone or any of the blue lights, or you can also access the Safe Ride program which enables students to either ride or walk with a police officer or other campus official to their destination so they won't be alone.

Rebecca from Morganville, NJ

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The workload at Binghamton can get a bit intense sometimes, with all nighters at the library, but there is a great, recently remodeled cafe for those all nighters. It all depends on the class you take that influences the work load. Some can be a lot easier than others.
Am enjoying being here
I love everything about the school more and more each day that I am there. I got involved in everything, but not the things I thought I would do. Binghamton is the perfect mixture of fun and learning. You get the intense education, but at the same time, there's always time to meet up with friends and have fun!
Bang for the buck
Absolutely. Binghamton's done to death slogan is the public ivy after all. Even as an out of state student, the tuition I am paying isn't exorbitant, compared to what it would be had I been an out of state student in another state's public university. Still, college is college, and it can get pricey.
Tips for prospective students
Rainboots are a must at this school. The weather can be downright mucky at times, but that's how any other winter might be... just a bit more severe at Binghamton. Despite the weather, I wouldn't have chosen any other school.
Great for these types of students
It's definitely not the best for communications majors, since there is really no communications major, but it's great if you want to go into the sciences, whether it is the health sciences (they have an ALS accredited EMS, entirely run by students) or something else, specifically because it is a research institution.

Sharon from NYC

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The campus looks beautiful but it can be a lie! The winter here can be pretty gloomy but the fall and spring time is amazing. The popular things to study are engineering, business, and nursing.
Tips for prospective students
WEATHER: Try to visit the school before you apply. The weather in beginning of the fall semester and the end of the spring semester is going to be amazing-or very hot. However, the winter is going to be harsh. Sometimes the weather will hit below 20 and the wind will be rough on your skin because of the cold. The weather also changes from winter like in the morning to summer like in the afternoon. PROFESSORS: Look up your professors before you register for class. Sometimes, your professor can make or break your interest in the major. Go to office hours and get to know your professors! (For future recommendation letters)

Academic Rigor
The academics depend on what school you apply to. There's nursing school, engineering school, Harpur (which is liberal arts), SOM (business), etc.
The intro science classes is difficult, each teacher is different but it'll all come down to how much you study.
Dorm Life
5 dorms with 4-5 buildings: HINMAN (Oldest but closest to classrooms), MOUNTAINVIEW ( has suites and living room to hang out, on top of a hill-have to walk down big slope.), CIW (surrounded by woods, 2nd closest to classrooms but 2nd oldest. No light in rooms, only have lamps), DICKINSON (newest dorm as of yet, has suites but no living room, feels like hotel), NEWING (furthest from classrooms, 2nd newest dorm, feels like a hotel, has only single/double rooms so students in a hall has to share bathrooms). There are 2 apartment communities, Susquehanna and Hillside. (Freshmen aren't allowed to live in apartments)
Food and Dining
Each dorm has their own dining hall. If you live in the dorm, you're required to get a meal plan. If you live in the apartments, you don't have to buy a meal plan. You must buy one if you want to eat in the dorms or other dining places though. *You'll be charged extra in the dining halls. The dorms also have NightOwl which is open from around 9pm (I think) to 2 am. They offer milkshakes, burgers, fries, mac and cheese bites, chicken tenders, and other food for students. There's also other dining choices but they're more expensive. The most popular place to eat other than dining halls is the Marketplace which is a place with a bunch of different restaurants like Chinese food, Indian food, Red Mango, Tully's, Starbucks, etc.
What to do for fun
There's no football team but there's intramural sports. There's Spring Fling (festival in spring semester) and Rec Fest-a day in the beginning of the fall semester where you can check out the clubs and sign up for them. (DON'T MISS THIS IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED) This is the best time for you to get out and check what the school has. The area also has restaurant week when you can go to restaurants downtown and eat for cheaper than usual. There's also the East Gym where you can go workout. They have weights, treadmills, a track, etc.
Bang for the buck
Personally, I think this is a great school. There's so many clubs, a nature preserve, different dorms, and courses for you to take. The school has a bus system (called OCCT) that takes you from campus to stores like Walmart, Wegman, Target, Oakdale Mall, the AMC movie theater, Buffet Star.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Each dorm usually have their own traditions. The most common/popular one is competition between the buildings. (Each dorm has 4-6 buildings). There's also Santa Con that recently showed up, people wear Santa hats and go downtown. Parade day happens in St. Patrick's day, everyone goes downtown to see the parade. Binghamton has its own nature preserve with hiking/running trails. [The library basement is a maze, even some seniors and professors sometimes get lost. ]
Clubs and Activities
There are a variety of clubs. Off the top of my head there's fencing, gaming club, League of Legends club, badminton, circle k (aka Key Club), LARP (Live Action Role Playing) TIP: GO TO GIMs! (General Interest Meetings) They usually have free pizza and you just go and check out what the club is.There's also Late Nite which goes from 8 pm- 2 am (I think). It's on Fridays and Saturdays and there's always something to do and watch.
Campus Safety
All the dorms are locked 24 hours. You need to use a key or your ID to enter (depending on the dorm you live in). There's also blue lights (with phones) all over campus and if you're not feeling safe, you can pick up the phone and talk with an officer.

Nick from Delmar, NY

researching this school
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Nice campus and very good reputation in SUNY schools.
Has complete course and major offerings.
Access to downtown area and buses to major cities and transportation hubs.
Tips for prospective students
Visit the campus. It's prettier than most SUNY schools and is easy walking.
Academic Rigor
School is top ranked SUNY school and generally widely accepted as one of the best public schools in northeast.
Dorm Life
Looks pretty normal, some newer and updated dorms and apartment housing units. Students seem to like the on-campus accommodations.
Food and Dining
Looks like good variety of offerings. A number of food outlets in cafe besides the school cafe food.
What to do for fun
Plenty of school clubs and activities, as well as a lot of offerings in town. Frats and sports for those who like them.
Bang for the buck
Top rated SUNY school with the cost of a public school and reputation for excellence.
Great for these types of students
Students who have good grades and little money. It's small town location may not be liked by city kids. Is a nice balance between large college and small one.
Clubs and Activities
Lots of clubs and sports teams.
Greek Life
Has a number of national fraternities and sororities. Small percentage of students participate in them.
Campus Safety
Lots of blue light call boxes and plenty of security folks patrolling campus.

Anon

a past student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Binghamton lives up to its prestigious reputation. Attending Binghamton, you get the chance to experience a small community within a large school thanks to the various dorm communities on campus. Best four years of my life.
Tips for prospective students
Buy a raincoat and rain boots.
Take it seriously but take the time to relax and unwind.
Make the most of the opportunities you come across.
Get involved!
Academic Rigor
It's tough, but not impossible. I never found it competitive in my experience, but I hear that the premed majors can be. Study and do your work and you should be fine. Since the classes are 4 credits instead of the traditional three, you only need 4 classes to take 16 credits a semester.
Dorm Life
Instead of the typical dorms at most schools, Binghamton has 5 Communites: Hinman, Dickinson, Newing, Mountainview, and College-In-The-Woods. These communities consist of multiple residential halls and each has their own distinctive look and traditions.
Food and Dining
The dining halls are okay. There are a lot of options (and a lot of dining halls) to choose from. A brand new food court just opened and it blows everything else away. Fantastic.
What to do for fun
Get involved! So many cool, unique, and fulfilling clubs/organizations/causes to join. There are a lot of activities that go on in Downtown Binghamton, such as parades, art festivals, bar crawls, and minor league hockey and baseball games.
Bang for the buck
Ivy league worthy education for a public school price.
Greek Life
Don't go here for the greek life.

jocelyn from Scarsdale, NY

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Binghamton University has been a very academic, challenging and exceptional institution for my higher education experience. I have gotten involved with many different clubs, theater, sorority, community service and continue to maintain over a 3.5 GPA. The education and experience here has been superior and the financial cost is more manageable than a private institution.
Tips for prospective students
Be prepared to work for your grades but also get involved in many activities that are offered on campus. Save extra money for the times you want to get off of campus and eat in different restaurants or shop. Although you will see construction on campus, you will know that Binghamton continues to update its dorms, student center, and living and learning quarters for future students.
Academic Rigor
The academic rigor depends on the courses being taken. The math and science and economic courses are very rigorous compared to some other humanity courses.
Dorm Life
Some dorms are noisier than others. Binghamton mixes floors by years and also are co-ed. There are suites available and also singles and triplets. Although I enjoyed my dorm I think I would rather have started out my freshman year on a freshman only floor. This would have enabled more interaction with the students living on my floor.
Food and Dining
Like in any institution the food here is good until you decide you have had enough and need to get off campus and visit a real restaurant or just a Starbucks. The newer dorms have a variety of food stations including a kosher kitchen and vegetarian, and ice cream bar. The student union offers some outside vendors like Sushi or TCBY and will be under construction next year to enlarge it.
What to do for fun
There are numerous activities including late night Binghamton, Bowling alley, concerts on campus, acapella night, basketball games (division 1) and Greek life. Since Binghamton is in Vestal,NY there are movie theaters, malls and lots of shopping. There are buses that organize trips and Cornell and Ithaca are only 45 minutes away. Downtown Binghamton has night life and Greek life.
Bang for the buck
I am in a very competitive school for the price of a state school. The value is extremely beneficial since I will not be owing money when I graduate. For today's cost of higher education, one needs to seriously look at Binghamton University.
Great for these types of students
A student who wants to excel in academics, be involved in clubs and organizations and is used to being a top student with many friends. Pre-professional majors are popular and the science and engineering department is top notch.
Greek Life
I am involved in a new charter sorority and it has been a great experience. We have mixers with fraternities, do community service, and host events.