The State University of New York Binghamton

Binghamton '03,
I came to Binghamton in the Spring of '00 and graduated in Fall of 2004 with a double major in History and Political Science.

Academically, Binghamton is a pretty solid Univ. It's big and somewhat burecratic and impersonal but there are lot of interesting classes and proffessors. Becuase of this it's very easy to slide by, do very little work and still get above average grades if your sly. If you want to excell, learn about your topics in depth, work closely with proffessors, and get your money's worth you can. I will say that generally Binghamton did not have a very intellectual atmosphere or politically active. These aspects of college life exist at Bing but you have to find them.

Socially, Binghamton is pretty bad. There aren't that many options if you don't drink or smoke pot. Though i've heard this is changing. There are couple bars in town that are not hard to get into with a fake. I did it as a 19 yr old sophmore. If your sole purpose at school is to get drunk and high alot their are plenty of Greek Organizations that will gladly welcome you. Though it helps to live in Newing and be from Long Island or the City. There are tons of clubs and intermural sports as well. I played Rugby for 3 years had a blast, helped win a state chapionship, and we'll never forget those memories. AFD. The people at Bing may seem rather unfriendly, mainly cause there predominantly Downstate New Yorkers, if you have any biases against people of non-white ethnicities or Jews don't go to Bing. Upstate vs. Downstate...yes downstate people treat upstaters as if they are from inferior planet. If you are from upstate and have had little to no experience with people from LI and NYC you might want to take a look at another school, as these sort of people often come off as rude and pompous. Dating-isn't big at Bing, Hooking up and building relationships off of that is more prevelant, though people usually hook up once or twice and spend the next couple of years avoiding each other and pretending they never met. Housing breaks down like this-Newing=LI, NYC, Greek, Substances, Greek, Jewish, Techno music, attractive yet fairly pompous people ( I lived here and actually liked it though i was nothing of the above except for the drinking and smoking part)

CIW-Hippies, laid back, Pot, Beer, diverse, athletes, chill. All in All best place to live
Hinman-Diverse but more minorities (asian), close to your classes, suites,
Dickinson-Int'l, quiet, boring at times, anti-social, all the nerds/upstaters/inverts/virgins/foreigners tend to live here for some reason...(lived here for a semester...hated it)

The town-The words post industrial slum come to mind. Its depressing, poor, and quite far from campus actually. Weather is cold, rainy, snowy and unpredictable.

Binghamton's Hidden Treasures---(at least when I was there)
-The History dpmt-Prof. Melvin Shefftz, I owe much to this man
-Binghamton Rugby
-The Ale House
-New York Chefs(pizza)
-living on or off of Seminary St.
-the nature preserve
-Tues Trivia night at Uncle Tony's

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

Binghamton is filled with many positives and negatives. Its easy to get a wonderful education for a low cost. Its reputation is steadily rising and the University is trying to bring new acts in with the new events center. Many of my professors are very intelligent, although a little boring and Ive met alot of people with similar interests such as myself (living in Dickinson). At the same time, however, the surrounding area is atrocious... There isnt much to do on weekends except drink downtown, at a frat party, go to the movies or binge at Walmart. The weather is consistently cloudy, rainy and it snows alot and Binghamton is very rundown as many of the companies and jobs have already left the area. The economy is in shambles and everyone there always asks "What made you come to Binghamton".. it seems like everyone needs a reason to stay here and doesnt need a reason to leave. From my impression there are many great things about the university and things they can't control. If I had to decide over again I wouldve gone to my first choice.. the University of MAryland College Park.

1st Year Male -- Class 2008

Individual Value: A+, Surrounding City: D