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College Spotlight-University at Buffalo

 

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More about State University of New York



Although part of the mammoth State University of New York system, the University at Buffalo takes steps to ensure it doesn’t get overlooked. Very few universities share its strength in medicine, engineering, and computer science, and UB is one of the world’s leading supercomputer sites. Its resources are large enough to warrant three campuses: North, South, and Downtown. In addition to the sciences, the former private university is strong in the arts, humanities, and professional schools. Students interested in pharmacy and architecture find Buffalo has the only accredited schools in the SUNY system. “As large as we are, we are a very diverse and welcoming atmosphere,” says a senior. Notable alums include CNN lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer; entertainment mogul Harvey Weinstein; Millard Drexler, chairman and CEO of J.Crew; Robin Li, founder and CEO of Chinese search engine giant Baidu.com; and astronaut Ellen Shulman Baker.

The North Campus of the University at Buffalo, home to most undergraduate programs, stretches across 1,100 acres in the suburbs just outside the city line and boasts buildings designed by world-renowned architects such as I. M. Pei. Meanwhile, the South Campus, along Main Street, favors collegiate ivy-covered buildings and is the home of the schools of architecture and health sciences, including UB’s highly rated programs in medicine and dentistry. The university provides connecting bus service—known as the UB Stampede—between the North and South campuses. The university continues building and renovating at a steady pace. The medical school is constructing an extensive new campus in Downtown Buffalo in the heart of Buffalo’s expanding medical corridor.

“The academic climate at UB is very competitive. Each course provides a unique level of challenge,” says a communication major. The engineering and business management schools are nationally prominent, and architecture is solid. Occupational and physical therapy programs are also quite good, while the English department is notable for its emphasis on poetry. Well-known poets visit the campus frequently, and students not only compose and read poetry, but study the art of performing it as well. French, physiology, geography, and music are highly regarded, but other humanities vary in quality, as does the teaching at UB. “The quality of teaching depends on the subject as well as the professor,” says one junior. “My freshman year, I had classes taught by full professors, adjunct professors, as well as graduate students. In the first two years of college, I had the best experiences with the graduate students as they express a genuine connection with the students, looking to ensure each student who actively seeks out help or attention receives the best.”

General education requirements are standardized and include courses such as writing skills, math sciences, natural sciences, foreign language, world civilizations, and American pluralism. UB has a multitude of special programs, combined degrees (such as a five-year business administration B.S./M.B.A.), and interdisciplinary majors, as well as opportunities for self-designed majors and study abroad. Students accepted into the University Honors College enjoy smaller classes, priority class registration, and faculty mentors. Scholarships are offered to the top incoming students, regardless of financial need. Freshmen are encouraged to take UB 101, which orients students to UB’s academic life, general social experience, and resources. About two-thirds of students do so. “First-year seminars and classes help make the college transition a successful and enjoyable one,” says a sociology major. 

Because class size has been a challenge, especially for freshmen, UB established Finish in 4, which helps students graduate in four years in part by providing special advising and expanding class availability. Students seem to accept that some degree of faculty unavailability is the necessary trade-off for having professors who are experts in their fields at a school where graduate education and research get lots of the attention. The academically oriented student body spends plenty of time in UB’s six main libraries, which are, for the most part, comfortable and well stocked at more than three million volumes.

Sixty-three percent of UB students ranked in the top quarter of their high school class, and more than 80 percent hail from New York state. African Americans and Hispanics combined account for 14 percent of the student body, and Asian Americans represent another 14 percent. International students compose 14 percent of the student body. The campus is socioeconomically diverse as well, with 31 percent of students qualifying for Pell Grants. UB’s considerable efforts in increasing awareness of diversity include the Intercultural and Diversity Center and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. “UB is famous for its diversity,” says a student. “I know people representing different states and countries, different sexual orientations, different classes, different strengths. And we all have a harmonious relationship.” Students report that campus politics tend to lean left and current issues include environmental sustainability, the economy, and LGBT concerns. Merit scholarships averaging $6,479 are available for qualified students; student-athletes vie for nearly 400 athletic awards in 20 sports.

Thirty-five percent of students live on campus; the rest commute from home or find apartments near the Main Street campus. Students warn that potential renters should shuffle off to Buffalo a couple of months early to secure a place. “The dorms are a lot better than some schools I have seen,” says an electrical engineering major. “The apartments are excellent but are quickly becoming pricier than more elegant and affordable off-campus housing.” UB has several apartment-style complexes for upperclassmen who wish to live on campus. Those complexes feature cable, high-speed Internet connections, and central air-conditioning. New gender-neutral housing options provide a community for first-year and returning students who wish to live in a mixed-gender housing environment.

Most of the on-campus dwellers are housed on the Amherst campus. Governors is known as the smallest and quietest dorm on campus, while social butterflies prefer Ellicott. Greiner Hall is a sustainably designed addition for sophomores only whose residents take pride in its environmentally conscious features. The South Campus dorms are older and of a more traditional collegiate design, which some upperclassmen tend to prefer. Security on campus is adequate, with a full-time police station and emergency call lights all around. With the addition of the marché-style dining in the new Crossroads Culinary Center dining hall, students have a smorgasbord of choices. “The university just recently revamped the dining hall,” reports a senior. “Before, the food wasn’t great. Now, there are a lot of choices and it is all great food!” Along with three dining halls, two full-service restaurants, pizza grills, and food courts, there are popular snack stops all around campus, including Starbucks and local favorite Tim Hortons. There are also options for those with special dietary concerns.

One senior says, “There are so many sports teams, club teams, frats, sororities, and student life activity clubs; there’s something for everyone.” Another adds, “There are always events going on, on and off campus. It is important to get involved and see what is going on in order to make lasting relationships.” The Greek scene is small; 4 percent of UB men and women participate. Drinking is banned in the “dry” dorms, but students over 21 are allowed to drink in the “wet” dorms. Underage drinkers face “severe punishments” if caught, a junior reports. Activities during the week are mostly on campus, but students tend to gravitate to downtown Buffalo on the weekends. Friday night happy hour centers on beer and the chicken wings that spread the fame of Buffalo cuisine. Also popular are the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, with its world-renowned collection of modern art, and the Triple-A baseball Bisons, who play downtown. The two major pro teams, the Buffalo Bills in football and the Sabres in hockey, are both top draws. Although most students are content to stay in Buffalo, those who want a change of scene can drive to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Rochester, or Cleveland. “The best road trip is 10 minutes to Canada,” says an anthropology and geology double major.

Having a car might be a good idea, though parking can be a problem on campus. The winters are cold in Buffalo, but students can take refuge inside a series of enclosed elevated walkways that connect the buildings. The flip side is that the outlying areas of the city offer great skiing, skating, and snowmobiling—and the ski club even offers free rides to the slopes. UB supports more than 200 other student organizations ranging from jugglers to math enthusiasts. Students can preview their honeymoons by darting over to Niagara Falls, just a few minutes away.
 
 
 
 
 
 

“The on-campus events revolve around football and basketball,” says a senior. UB is the only major SUNY unit to field a Division I football team. School spirit is sometimes generated at the student union and UB’s impressive sports complex, which boasts a 10,000-seat arena, squash and racquetball courts, and other amenities. Intramural sports are popular, and earthy types appreciate the annual Oozefest—a mud-volleyball tournament.

UB students love the size of their school, with its huge range of academic programs, social events, and people to meet. Yes, students are exposed to the long Buffalo winter, but they also get exposed to some top-notch professors. And they get to meet a diverse mix of native New Yorkers, other East Coast residents, and international students drawn to the university’s outstanding science programs.
 

Deadlines & Requirements

University at Buffalo: Rolling admissions. Early decision: Nov. 15. Financial aid: Mar. 1. Housing: May 1. Application fee: $50. No campus or alumni interviews. SATs or ACTs (with writing): required. No Subject Tests. Accepts the Common Application. No essay question.

Profile

 
  • Location:Suburban
     
  • Total Enrollment:24,363
     
  • Undergraduates:17,793
     
  • Male/Female:55/45
     
  • SAT Ranges:CR 500–600
    M 550–660
     
  • ACT Range:23–28
     
  • Financial Aid:68%
     
  • Expense:Public $
     
  • Student Loans:45%
     
  • Average Debt:$
     
  • Phi Beta Kappa:Yes
     
  • Applicants:23,207
     
  • Accepted:57%
     
  • Enrolled:28%
     
  • Grad in 6 Years:72%
     
  • Returning Freshmen:88%
     
 

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