The State University of New York Binghamton

I found myself disappointed with Binghamton after two years and transferred out. In retrospect, I have realized there are a lot of good things as well as a lot of bad things about the university. I always complained about how the area was boring and there was nothing to do at night but drink, but in reality, even in New York City everybody goes out and gets drunk every weekend night anyway. At Binghamton, you don't have to be 21 or have an ID to be part of this, as you can always count on some form of a cheap open frat or house party. When you go to school in NYC there essentially are no "parties"; Friday night sees an exodus to bars on Canal Street and at Fordham. So if you're not 21, and have no fake ID, the city isn't going to do you much good. You're going to wind up lonely and isolated and not feel like a part of the school. As little school spirit as Binghamton may have, at least there's always a party where students of all ages can come together. At an urban school this is not the case. Walking around Manhattan or the Bronx alone at night is no fun when everyone else seems to be hitting up the bars and you can't. As much as I like the city, this is what I most sorely miss about going to school in a small town setting.

On the other hand, Binghamton is not the place to find a girlfriend, especially if you are not from Long Island. I am a nice person and I had tried countless times to "hook up" at frat parties only to be eaten alive by snotty Japs who think they are too good for any guy. I don't know where the notion that college is the place to meet the love of your life came from. At least at Binghamton I was very disappointed by that; I'll have to wait and see how it works out at my new school.

I was stuck in Newing freshman year, and being the shy, nice, non-Long Islander I am, could not make any friends until sophomore year when I moved to Hinman. To this day I still painfully miss living in Hinman; it was a truly wonderful experience. To the contrary, Newing is utter hell. I was in a living-learning community first semester sophomore year and it was such a memorable experience that when it was over, my experience at Binghamton was just never the same without it. It provided me with the direction and attention I needed.

The food in the dining hall is pretty bad, but the food court is still better than the food at most other colleges. So look at it that way.

Overall, am I happy I transferred? As of now, I'm really not sure. Binghamton is an all right school, though not a great one. It's worth a look.

2nd Year Male -- Class 2006