Syracuse pairs Big East Division I sports and overpowering orange pride with colleges within that provide a small liberal arts feel. It’s all about experience here at SU, and the new mission of “Scholarship in Action” says just that. SU is a hidden gem of the northeast, tucked away in central New York, and has many top-tier programs that compete with the best. Syracuse is commonly known as the best communications school in the northeast, but it also has superior architecture, education, drama, retail management, and entrepreneurship studies. The administration continues to drive SU into the league of “new ivy’s,” and is actively working on a $1 billion campaign to continue future progress.
There are endless opportunities to get involved, and the administration encourages students to expand upon their curiosities, start new organizations, and thrive in already existing ones. Unfortunately, sometimes freshman feel overwhelmed by the amount of clubs and extracurricular that exists, and there really isn’t a great way to navigate though them or find out how to get involved initially.
Students can be found at every nook and cranny of campus, and most even venture to downtown Syracuse areas for dinner and entertainment. Not all areas of Syracuse are safe for students, and it is advised not for students to ever walk alone at night. It’s nice to have a city surrounding the university “bubble,” but the overwhelming amount of poverty on the outskirts of the popular city sites is sad and unsafe.
On campus, almost all buildings are open 24/7, and include closed spaces for studying, so students don’t have to rely on the library as the only place to concentrate. On an average day, I spend about half the time in my room at my sorority house and the other half going to class, attending speakers and finding a quiet and relaxing place to do schoolwork. Students often meet up for lunch on Marshall Street or one of the many cafeterias.
Though it is one of the nation’s more expensive colleges, there are excellent financial aid programs, and scholarships are abundant. Though some colleges receive more educational funds than others, each building has state-of-the art facilities, which allow students to be on the cutting edge of technology and learning.
Still, mention the ‘Cuse to anyone, and the first response will have something to do with the abominable weather. And that is the worst part about campus. The weather gets to everyone, no matter how positive students try to be. When the wind is nipping off your fingers it’s hard to put that pencil to the paper. But when it comes to deciding between gray skies or the Syracuse University’s unique package of sports, intellect, and opportunity, students just weather the storm.