Suffolk University

Date: May 22 2010
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
First off, I am going to get the BS out of the way.

Suffolk is generally not everyone's top choice, and based on what fellow students tell me, it is pretty much the safety school for students who are bent on going to college in Boston. Many Suffolk students were rejected by MIT, Harvard, Tufts, and Northeastern. A good amount of students also transfer out.

So, I am guessing that is the reason for the negative comments. I came in as a transfer student myself, and selected Suffolk for two reasons: 1. The financial aid package made Suffolk the cheapest school (yes, even cheaper than UMass Boston) and my out-of-pocket expenses were slightly higher than a community college (where I transferred from). 2. I am a biology major, and it is no secret that the sciences are not the largest, let alone the most popular, majors on campus. The over-whelming amount of students in the College of Arts and Sciences seem to either be Communications/Journalism students or Humanities students. I wanted the smaller program so I wouldn't be just another student and my accomplishments would stand out more.

Yes, the campus is very nontraditional in its set-up, but hey, Boston University does not have a 'traditional' campus, either. Yes, the athletics are D3, but so is MIT. There may not be a lot school spirit, but there is definitely a lot of school pride amongst the students who have accepted Suffolk and are making the most of it, besides, most students who really hate the place transfer out anyways.

I really do not know why people are surprised by the campus. Five minutes on the Internet would tell you that you will not experience the 'traditional' college experience of keggers and frat parties every weekend. Suffolk itself is a dry campus (although there are events were alcohol is allowed…just not in dorms), and that is one of the reasons why so many students live off campus. While the dorms are really nice and offer the best view of the city, they are expensive. You can get a really kick-a*s studio or one bedroom in a swank part of town for the same price, or you can get an awesome two or three bedroom off campus if you find a room mate. Over-all, it is cheaper to live off campus and you can do what you want in your own place.

Suffolk does seem to be very department oriented, i.e., no-one really thinks of the school as a whole, but instead tend to really only focus on their particular department. Another thing is that if you tell people that you go to Suffolk, they automatically assume that you are a Communications/New Media/Journalism student.

Anyways, the school itself is pretty cool. I had my hesitations coming in, but now I don't regret it. There are tons of opportunities for students to get involved, many clubs, and if there isn't a club that you want, you can easily start one. Any student can also get involved in theatrical productions, even if you are not a theater major.

I dunno, maybe I'll update this review later, but don't believe the negativity against Suffolk. It may not be the best school for science majors, but it is still a good school. If you are interested in the stereotypical college experience, go elsewhere -you'll be much happier. If you are more interested in having a good and getting a good education with tons of opportunities for internships, then Suffolk may be a good school for you.