Siena College

Date: Dec 13 2003
Major: English (This Major's Salary over time)
As with just about any school, business, or other organization, there are many positives and negatives about Siena College. The key is to work out wether they balance out to you r benefit. For the most part, in my case, they did. On major failing I found was the area of financial aid; I am on of those who fall into the category of too rich for out-of-the-coffers aid, but too poor for myself or family to pay for it completely on our own, and as a result I now have a load of loans to begin paying back. The financial aid is also one of the least helpful and unbending portions fof the school, and the proper communication between the Financial Aid office and the Business Affairs office (which are situated on far sides of campus from each other) is not too great. Much of the on-campus social life centers around clubbing in th elocal city of Albany, but there's a lot to offer for folks who want more than a drink. The theatre program is underfunded but thriving; hugely talented and working steadily on a professional model. The Newspaper has grown in recent years, and the literary magazine has sprung anew. There are positions for folks interested in residence life staffing, and student government, as well as numerous sports teams. There are great indoor athletic facilities, and plenty of wide lawn space outdoors for a variety of activities. Various organizations sponsor contest, performances, open mic nights, etc. The professors vary just like any other people do; some are nice, some are jerks, some challenge, some are obviously tired of what they do, and some are incredibly dynamic and offer true challenges for those who want to learn. Siena is also incredibly interesting in that it has a strong Franciscan association; there is a friary on campus, and some friars live in the dorms, while others teach classes. I developed strong friendships with several of them, and they all have interest in various parts of the life and workings of the college.