The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Date: Oct 21 2010
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I am from a relatively small down and graduated seventh in my class. I chose ESF because I thought I wanted to pursue an environmental degree and when I visited campus I fell in love. It was small, consisting of about 5 buildings and had a very small student population. However, as I began school there, my opinion started to change. You really do get the best of both worlds at ESF, small school good education and then SU, great parties, huge athletics, clubs and activities. However, I found people at SU to be pretty rude towards ESF students and the ESF student population is just as weird. There are two groups of students, the weird ones that still seem like they should be nerds in high school and the ones who drink so much that they are still drunk when they go to class in the morning.

The weather in Syracuse is horrible, rainy, cold, and windy 80 percent of the week and with the bus stop so far away from ESF's campus, the walk can be pretty depressing.

As for the classes, I came to really regret my decision to attend ESF. When looking at colleges, I thought I was sure that I wanted to pursue an environmental degree, but throughout the semester, I found out that I was wrong. I decided that an environmental degree was not for me but I couldn't do anything because ESF is such a specific school. If you are absolutely positive that you want an environmental degree, go for ESF, but do not be fooled, just because it is "easy" to get into, doesn't mean it is easy. This is probably one of the hardest colleges I could have attended and I struggle daily in classes. Some teachers are friendly, while others are unapproachable and hostile.

While ESF is great at what it does, I felt unwelcomed and out of place here and stuck with no where to turn because of it's lack of variety. Needless to say, I will be transfering at the end of this year.