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Hi, I am currently a freshman at Syracuse University... I am looking to transfer to NYU for fall'04.. By years' end i will have taken 30 creds here (exactly) and have a GPA of 4.0. I take senior/graduate level french and i am also involved in 2 clubs here including Honors Students Association. Here's the problem - My high school data:

GPA: 3.3 unweighted
SAT1: 1250 (700v/550m)
SAT2's: French w/listening - 740, Writing - 700
AP's: French (4), Language and comp (4), lit (3), Euro (3)

EC stuff:
I was a writer for the school paper, participated in debate model Congress/MUN for 4 years and earned numerous honors including oustanding delegate awards at Harvard MC and NYHSMUN.

Other info: I am fluent in french and lived in Paris for 3 years. I am African American (Moroccan - Finally they have an african american and caucasian option!).

If anyone has comments please feel free. I will gladly answer any questions anyone may have concerning SU as well..

Thanks,
Paul Walker.

By Vixie85 (Vixie85) on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 06:38 pm: Edit

what's SU like??...if i don't get into NYU i think i'd like to look into options for musical theatre there. do you happen to know very much about the drama department??

By Pjwalker (Pjwalker) on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 07:40 pm: Edit

Hey Vix... Well, i can tell you that the drama dep't is in the VPA school.. This is, from what i know, a very artsy program, meaning that unlike the broader Newhouse School it is focused solely on art and performance rather than say business, "the industry", etc...

As a response to your first question, I must say that I personally do not enjoy my time here too much. There are personal reasons and then there are reasons that are unchangeable as a result of being here at SU. To expound further I must begin by saying it is COLD. I dont mean like, 35 degrees and some snow, I mean low 20s with wind chill and much snow/ice. I am warning you of this particularly because it does have an effect on campus life - kids often stay inside, drink, party, etc and the attitude of the kids [in my mind] is rather indifferent towards class. Much of this is b/c of the snow and imposing weather.

Aside from this, the campus itself, in my opinion is merely ok, if not subpar. The city is industrial to say the least, and rather boring. This is, in my mind, an athletics and greek life school, with the sole academic dept's worth mentioning being Newhouse (as a result VPA too), and the Maxwell School for Public Admin and policy studies.

If I may continue, I have to say that coming from an ungodly talented high school class and being friends with I guess the "smart crew" of kids, this school seems rather easy to me. It can, no doubt get hard if you want, but I figure I shouldn't have to spend money and more importantly time on an decent education when i can get a better quality of life and better academics elsewhere ..

I do not mean to sound tremendously disparaging, but these are simply my thoughts on the school.. Keep in mind I am a freshman and cannot possibly have fully evaluated the school yet. Another thing is that, my discomfort here cannot be only attributed to the school, for it works both ways -Some people are not meant for certain schools and environments. If you like partying, a decent education (in Newhouse an excellent one, VPA a good and demanding one), then give this school a visit. Certainly come here in cold season (aka 300 days of the year) and experience it yourself, I cannot be universally applicable, for we are all different.

I hope I was of help to you as well as anyone interested in Syracuse University.

-Paul.

By Lovemycorolla (Lovemycorolla) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 01:23 pm: Edit

So Paul
When you transfer to nyu in fall, will you become a junior there?

By Chen (Chen) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 04:10 pm: Edit

My brother goes to Syracuse, and I can definitely see what you mean. He's also doing much better there than he did in high school. Being that Syracuse is not so challenging might hinder you, but I doubt it with an A average and if you're applying for Arts & Sciences.