Siena University

Siena University offers a “welcoming environment, nice walkable campus, [and is] very generous in scholarships.” Students are afforded the opportunity to “work on in-depth projects that require research, problem-solving, and collaboration.” For example, “Siena has built a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurship resources, including programs that help students launch start-ups, develop prototypes, and work with local businesses.” Undergrads also have access to “innovative classroom setups providing more of a seminar setting rather than a lecture setting.” Additionally, “the labs are a great opportunity for hands-on learning with new technology such as advanced microscopes.” Most professors manage to find a nice “balance between rigor and encouragement,” though a few can be “painfully boring.” However, “many of them make an effort to get to know us individually, asking about our goals, encouraging our interests, and checking in when they know we’re juggling a lot.” Another student chimes in, “They also create a very hospitable and safe environment where I feel comfortable talking to them about anything.” Simply put, professors here “want to see you excel and if you work hard in class, they will recommend you for tons of opportunities, both within and outside of the university.” But perhaps best of all, as graduation nears, students “are able to find help from alumni and the administration to obtain a job after Siena.”

Overall, students at Siena think highly of their classmates, insisting they’re “some of the most welcoming people [you’ll] ever meet.” As one individual explains, “My peers take their academics seriously, but they’re equally committed to supporting one another, whether that’s sharing study guides, saving a seat in the library or showing up to cheer on a friend at a performance or game.” Some do caution that Siena can seem “not very…diverse,” noting that “most students are white, straight, and some form of Christian.” However, you’ll certainly find peers who fall outside of those demographics. One student explains, “While the population is predominantly Christian and Catholic, as it is a Catholic university, I feel comfortable as a Jewish student and as a queer woman.” But what undergrads say “stands out most is how genuinely curious everyone is, not just about their majors, but about the world, ideas, and each other. I’m surrounded by students who ask thoughtful questions, challenge assumptions, and care deeply about learning for its own sake.” In turn, these individuals help foster “an environment that is non-competitive, and one where you build confidence in each other inside and outside of the classroom.”

Students appreciate the “huge number of clubs to choose from” at Siena. These range from “mock trial team and Lost in Sound” (an a cappella group) to “intramural football and softball.” The university also sponsors “events every week, whether that be food trucks on campus, therapy dogs, free giveaways, or even just giving out Boba.” Additionally, students enjoy “club-sponsored movie nights, student government activities, improv shows, or late-night runs to the dining hall with friends.” Nevertheless, a few undergrads lament that “on the weekends there’s not much to do.” Some attribute this to the fact that “the majority of the residential student body live in-state, so a lot of people go home very often.” Others counter that there are still activities happening. For example, “Saturdays are spent at the rugby field where the berm gets packed and…[there’s] a real community spirit.” When it comes down to it, “spending time with friends is a big part of college…whether it’s study sessions with them or just dinner in the hall.” Another student sums up, “One of my favorite parts of campus life is how easy it is to run into people you know…It makes school feel close-knit in a way that’s comforting.”