State University of New York--Stony Brook University

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Students Say - Academics
Stony Brook University combines affordability and excellence with academic prestige, offering a "great academic reputation," ample research opportunities, and the chance to learn from "world-renowned professors for a great price." Don't let Stony Brook's "best value" reputation fool you; known as a "science powerhouse," the school is also a leader in premedical preparation. With over 150 academic programs on offer, "the breadth of the school's curriculum" is impressive, including "a wide variety of classes that you can take, ranging from [topics] such as theory of dance to nuclear physics." Academics are challenging and "Everyone lives in the library." In particular, "The science courses are no joke. They are large and hard, and you will most likely learn most of the material yourself." Fortunately, students paint a generally positive picture of the faculty, describing professors as "approachable and interested in their subject, making them good educators." Stony Brook is a research university, so while "it is relatively easy to find internships and research opportunities" as an undergraduate, you should also be aware that "Many professors feel their lab work is more important than their students." With almost 16,000 undergraduates, you'll end up in plenty of big lecture courses, making it more difficult to get to know your instructors personally. However, faculty maintains "reasonable office hours," and most are "very accessible" if you seek them out. In fact, Stony Brook students tell us that their "school is about taking initiative and taking advantage of opportunities that are available," rather than having your hand held-a happy condition for those who feel they are "too old to be spoon-fed." A current student explains, "Professors and staff are more than willing to help, but you have to ask for it...I feel that the balance between independence and assistance has prepared me well for entering a profession."

Students Say - Campus Life
Nothing at Stony Brook University will be handed to you on a silver platter, yet students reassure us that, "If you are willing to seek out activities and events, you will never be bored." On campus, there are almost 300 clubs and organizations, including sports teams, environmental groups, several student-run newspaper, and fraternities and sororities. In their downtime, students "hang out with friends," play video games or intramural sports, "head over to the University Café, or watch movies in their rooms." For additional distraction, "Each dorm building has its own ping-pong table and pool table in the basement." If you want to take a break from college life, "campus buses go to places like the mall and Walmart every weekend," and the surrounding community offers "movie theaters, bowling, Dave and Buster's, [and] countless restaurants." In addition, New York City is "fairly close," while nearby Southampton boasts "one of the top beaches in the United States." While people get together socially, SUNY Stony Brook is not a major party school, and "The campus is very quiet on weekends because many students live nearby and go home."

Students Say - Student Body
Drawing a large crowd from the state of New York and a smattering of international students, Stony Brook University "combines the diversity of New York City with academic excellence to create a truly unique experience." At this large school, "Every personality type is represented...and it is easy to find a group to fit in with." Politically, "there are both strong right-wing and left-wing school newspapers," though "many more people support the liberal side." No matter what your persuasion, the community is generally open and accepting of different backgrounds, opinions, and interests. A current student elaborates, "I've never seen such a heterogeneous mixture of individuals in my life. And yet, despite the vast differences amongst students, everyone seems to get along." Across the board, academics are a priority, but most students strike a balance between work and play. At Stony Brook, "A typical student will go to class, spend a lot of their time studying, and try to have some fun on Thursday nights and the weekends."

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