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The State University of New York - New Paltz

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA- Faculty AccessibilityA-
Useful SchoolworkA+ Excess CompetitionA-
Academic SuccessA Creativity/ InnovationB+
Individual ValueA- University Resource UseA-
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyB+ FriendlinessA-
Campus MaintenanceB Social LifeB-
Surrounding CityA Extra CurricularsB-
SafetyA
Describes the student body as:
Friendly

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly

Male
SAT1170
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Social Life
B-
Highest Rating
Useful Schoolwork
A+
He cares more about Social Life than the average student.
Date: Dec 17 2006
Major: Perfomance Arts (This Major's Salary over time)
SUNY New Paltz is not a perfect school. No school is. Sure, there are always one or two things you can complain about, but the positives here definitely outweigh the negatives. Combined with the fact that tuition is a bargain compared to most other schools, New Paltz is a great place to spend your undergraduate years.

Academics are pretty darn solid. Not Harvard-solid, but New Paltz provides a pretty decent education. I have experienced very low quantities of pointless "busy work." Professors are not out to ruin your life, they just want to make sure you understand the material. Some classes are much more difficult than others, but you will definitely learn a lot while you're here.
TA's are almost nonexistent here. In addition, almost every professor I have had has learned my name within the first two weeks of school.
The school admits to having a problem with their strong reliance on adjunct faculty. The administration's concern is somewhat understandable. Adjuncts just can't contribute to campus life and the school's reputation the way a full-time professor can, but I can honestly say that some of the best teachers I have had here have been adjuncts.

Quality of academic advisors varies greatly. I have heard plenty of horror stories about certain advisors, but I have had a wonderful experience with mine. Ultimately, it is YOUR responsibility to make sure you are on pace to graduate. This isn't high school. No one is going to hold your hand and tell you what to do. All the information you need is out there, it is your duty to get the job done.
The town of New Paltz is fantastic. Everything is a five to ten minute walk (or one minute in the car) from the middle of campus. The town is very cute and has everything you need.

New Paltz has a reputation for being a "hippie school." Sure, there are a few roaming around campus, but I feel this reputation is undeserved. The student body as a whole is indeed rather liberal, and marijuana is somewhat common, but the majority of the people here are average, white, middle-class kids from Long Island.
People love to complain about the food here. Sure, sometimes the food can be kind of gross, but overall I haven't had cause to complain too frequently. In fact, some of the stuff is down right delicious. Hasbrouck/Oscar's /SUB are far from being five-star restaurants, but chances are you aren't going to starve to death while you're here.

I feel that residence life could be better. As incoming freshmen, the school makes absolutely no effort to try and pair you up with someone you will get along with (ie smoker/non-smoker, party animal/serious student, etc). In addition, dorms can get rather loud even during the middle of the night. RA's don't always enforce the law when they should.
Dorm rooms are pretty roomy, and they provide you with free internet access, free cable, free laundry, and free phone calls to anywhere in the United States. This saves you a ton of money in the long run.
In conclusion, SUNY New Paltz is a fantastic school. It has undoubtedly helped shape me into a well-rounded, mature, and educated person. There are a lot of great resources here, and it is a school definitely worth checking out.

Responses
questionBeing you were a Performance Arts major, can you speak on your experiences with that curriculum? Was it good training? Did your teachers provide connections and opportunities for you after graduation?
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The State University of New York - New Paltz
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