State University of New York at Geneseo (GSU)

As New York State's equity-centered, public honors college, State University of New York at Geneseo attracts students searching for a "quality education at an affordable price." Undergrads say this academics-focused college provides "challenging but rewarding" courses taught by faculty who are "here to teach and prepare students for the real world." Students find professors to be "fair in terms of tests and expectations," and note that they "really push the students." While most professors use traditional teaching methods, "giving very interesting lectures or leading good group discussions," other notable forms of learning include "live experiments in class," labs that "develop skills necessary for future studies...as well as for general team work," and "counseling services for local businesses." Some classes seem needlessly difficult to students, with the sole purpose of "weeding people out" of competitive majors, but thankfully there are "great resources available to anyone who needs help regardless of the subject matter." Professors provide generous office hours and are mostly "accommodating as long as you reach out to them" and students can "seek help and work with peers through challenging material and problems" at the tutoring centers. Students seeking a challenging liberal arts college environment with a state school price are pleased with the choice to attend Geneseo.

With its small campus, Geneseo is a "tightly knit community" of "intelligent and kind individuals" where "all members support each other." Students value the "strong sense of community" and say all types of people can be found at Geneseo, although some do claim that their peers are "mostly white," however, students come from "very different upbringings and are from different social classes." One student describes her friends as a mix of "some quiet, some outgoing, some party-animals, and some bookworms." Regardless of this broad range, almost everyone is there to "receive a higher education and be successful." Campus culture is generally liberal, featuring "inclusivity involving ethnicity, religion, and sexuality," but some describe social life as cliquey, noting "it is much harder to make friends if you are not in Greek life." On a final note, one student reassures us, "once you find your people, you will feel right at home."

At Geneseo, which sits on a "gorgeous campus [with] beautiful sunsets," students "focus on their academics," but they also make time for clubs or athletics-hockey games in particular bring out school spirit. In addition to team sports, undergrads stay active by "going to the gym or various classes offered by [the] school such as spin, yoga, or Zumba." On warm days, students love to "hang out and do work on the quad, put up a hammock between two trees, or throw a Frisbee around...with friends." Greek life is a big part of the Geneseo experience for some students, as are college sponsored events by the organization Geneseo Late Knight, which "puts on events every single weekend that are free for students." The weekends are also when "students definitely like to party," and they spend time at nearby bars. For those looking to get outside, the "scenery of the Geneseo area" has much more to offer: Students mention it's also great for hiking. Despite this, they note that "the town around us is small so there's not a lot to do," which makes trips to Rochester popular: "it's a short drive away" and reachable via a bus shuttle on the weekends.