Every month on the 15th I cut a check for my school loan payment, (believe me not one of my favorite things to do!). However, I am one of the lucky ones, my debt isn’t even in the same ballpark as the debt that many of my friends have. 

When I was a senior in high school some one gave me some great advice about how to afford college. At the time paying for college wasn’t really on my radar, but I am glad I listened. Here are a few tips I have picked up over the years:

- Explore and apply for scholarships from your high school and local community. Many students do not think a $200 dollar scholarship is worth writing an essay for or even applying for, but they can add up fast! Make sure you go to your guidance office and ask about scholarships that are available and how to apply for them. Every year thousands of dollars go unclaimed!

- Check out websites like FastWeb.com. Web sites like FastWeb are a national database of scholarship information. Registering and exploring on sites like this can make a big difference!

-Ask about job opportunities and work-study programs on campus An easy way to supplement college costs is getting a job on campus to pay for books, food, and personal expenses

-Buy used books! Books can be a huge cost so search for used copies of books in the school bookstore, or look around on campus for students selling old books at huge discounts!

Big Classrooms, Small Classrooms.  Binghamton University has them both.

Binghamton University does a really good job at making sure students can get the attention they need in their classes.
The average class size is 28 students. There’s a chance that you’ll be in some bigger classes in your introductory courses (held in the Lecture Hall, for example); these lectures are then broken down into sections taught by T.A.’s (teacher assistants) who are also extremely knowledgeable about the subjects. The smaller classes have an intimate feel where you can really get to know the professor.  Expect to learn in both types of classrooms if you’re an incoming freshman or transfer.  Anyway, that’s just another cool thing about this university: variety.

The Room Mate Experience

The first day that I got here as a transfer, I was alone.  I knew no one.  It hit hard. There were a few people from high school, but I only found that out later and we weren’t really friends anyway.  So I knew no one.

I walked inside my dorm; the place was packed with three lines of people signing papers, getting their keys, talking, laughing, making jokes, being excited, jumping and moving in their stuff to their rooms.  The RA’s were great.  They were there to greet you, to answer any questions, to introduce you to people, to show you around the place.  There were hand shakings, announcements being made, a Yankees game on in the lounge, some girls and guys shooting some pool—just a loud, friendly first day. 

Later that day, my roommate got there.

Now I’d called him earlier during the summer, about a few weeks before school started (Binghamton University sends you your room mate’s number(s) online), and asked what he’d bring: a TV, a microwave, whatever.  That’s how we knew.  We communicated right from day one.

The weeks passed, and we got to know each other.  It’s not the easiest thing in the world to get to know a complete stranger, and I’m not going to lie to you because it’s not that realistic that everyone can get along, but you have to try, because you guys are living in the same room.  But we found some interests.  I helped him carry in his stuff right from the get-go; you know, a good first impression.  We figured out a way to arrange our furniture in the room to make extra space (that took me a full week though..now that I look back).  We’d watch the same movies on my TV.  We shot some pool in the lounge.  We went to this casino event the school had one night, packed, and I ended up winning a portable DVD player somehow; it was nuts.  Why?  Because he invited me, and those are the things that happen when you get lucky enough to have some stuff in common.

If you guys don’t get along, the school lets you sign this paper and you can move out— it’s that simple.  Maybe you’re already coming in as a freshman or a transfer with friends, and that’ll just make things a little easier.  But if you’re like I was in ‘06, coming in with no one and not knowing what to expect about anything, just have an open mind, be ready for anything, even if you’re not ready.  It’s tough going through something new by yourself, but that’s exactly what’ll make you even tougher. 

Got me?  Good.  Adios kiddies.

The Erotic Beauty of Latino Americano Musica

Music of the World presents an amazing dose of Latin American music..that’s right..its second annual Department of Music’s “Music of the World” concert will perform the sacred and secular, and traditional choral music of Central and South America.  The beautiful music of the Caribbean will also be resonant.

Listen, while you’re here at Binghamton University, you can see, you can hear, you can experience an aspect of another culture right on campus; director Jennifer Chudacik of The Women’s Chorus, and director Peter Browne of Harpur Chorale will show the music that captures the non-Western aura of erotic artistry and culture with centuries of music from Latin America; the place to be is in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall, right here at Binghamton University.  This kind of event is something typical of the university where a concert is easily accessible for anybody on campus; it’s something special that the campus can offer for anyone with an interest of music from another culture, or general entertainment.  It’s sponsored by the Binghamton University Music Department, And it’s affordable.  I remember going to a packed jazz concert as a freshman with my roommate and some friends for what, $3.00 a ticket?

The TASC Banquet for ‘08 was a blast, no question.

Interested in another culture?  I mean, obviously Binghamton University has plenty to offer, and the 2008 Taiwanese American Student Coalition (TASC) Banquet did not disappoint.  The night started off with the High Low Band; the guitar, drums and bass was great, and this traditional fan dance was amazing, with its graceful moments that had the whole crowd cheering.  A piano number with a student singer took the stage, and as a surprise to me, the BU Circus Art Association’s performance was pretty good too (yes, there was a clown on a unicycle), and some pretty hard looking juggling, and a mime act, which was priceless.  Ever tried juggling three sticks on fire?

A fashion show with beautiful women, the Asian yo-yo that’s always amazing, flying in every direction in the air in a dark-lit room and great music, and Moda dances to songs “Apologize,” “Umbrella,” “Talk To Me,” “Feedback,” and “Move Move Shake Drop” topped off the show.  I can’t forget the food though.

There was...chicken stew with rice wine, cabbage, Buddha’s delight, green onion chicken (goood), fry porkchop, and vegetables and tofu.  Hands down, the show was awesome.

In 1994, the Taiwanese American Student Coalition (TASC) was officially chartered by the Student Association, “...to provide a support group, to educate about one’s own Taiwanese American identity and to offer an opportunity to actively address the issues and concerns of Taiwan and Taiwanese-Americans.”

Binghamton has a Pre-Health Club!

If you’re a pre-health student, Binghamton University has a club for you! The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), a pre-health chapter of National AMSA, is a pre-med and medical organization made up of students and physicians. The organization participates in fundraisers and community service projects, as well as taking annual trips to medical schools and volunteering at local hospitals. AMSA allows students interested in a medical career a chance to explore the many opportunities available to them. If you’re thinking pre-med, be sure to check it out!

Binghamton University has countless opportunities for students!

College is a time to try new things. Binghamton University has clubs and organizations for every area of interest. For a list of Binghamton’s many options, visit the Student Organizations website. There, they have descriptions of Binghamton’s many clubs. You’re sure to find something!

Have you read through the many clubs and organizations and still can’t find anything that’s quite right? Then start your own! Binghamton’s Student Association has advice on how to get started.

Binghamton makes sure you have places to go and things to do

Interested in taking a trip? Want to spend a day in Boston? Maybe you’re a fan of a Washington, D.C.? Then you’re in luck! Those are just two of the places Getaway Bus Trips will be visiting this semester. Sponsored by Campus Life, a division of Student Affairs, Getaway Bus Trips gives Binghamton University students a chance to get out of Binghamton for a day and explore other cities.

Campus Life does a lot for Binghamton. They’re responsible for Late Nite activities and sponsor major events on campus with the Student Association. Students who are interested in being part of Campus Life can attend event programming meetings on Tuesdays, join the listserve, or volunteer to be part of the Late Nite or Large Events staff.

More tips for smooth sailing through the college admissions process!

SAT or ACT?

We accept both the SAT and the ACT.  You only need to take ONE.  If you take both, we will use the test you did better on.  If you take the SAT, we only look at the verbal and math sections - NOT the writing.  No matter how many times you have taken the SAT, we will use your best verbal score (from whatever test) and best math score (from whatever test).  Likewise, we will use your best ACT score if taken more than once.  If you tried one of the tests and didn’t do so well, consider taking the other type of test.  Just remember we need your scores sent electronically from the testing center.  Also, we do NOT look at SAT 2s.

Do I have to apply to a specific major or program?

There are five undergraduate schools/colleges on the Binghamton campus:
1) Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
2) School of Management
3) Decker School of Nursing
4) Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science
5) College of Community and Public Affairs

When you apply to Binghamton University, you will be applying to one of the five schools/colleges simply by the major you select.  If you select “undecided,” that will automatically put you into the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences.

Doing Your Research

As you pick the schools you’re going to apply to, it’s important to consider the likelihood of your acceptance to those schools.  Every student should apply to some “safety” schools (schools you feel almost sure you’ll gain admission to), some “solid” schools (schools you feel pretty confident you’ll get into), and some “reach” schools (schools you’d love to go to but whose admissions standards are a bit above what you have). 

So, how do you determine what your safety, solid, and reach schools are?  A good place to start is by researching what the average GPA and SAT/ACT score is at the schools you’re interested in.  If your scores are way above the averages, it’s probably a safety school.  If your scores are very similar to the averages, it’s probably a solid school.  If your scores are way below the averages, it’s probably a reach school.  You don’t want to be surprised when you receive your decision letters, so do your research!!! 

Here are Binghamton University’s averages:
GPA = 3.5 out of 4.0, which is equivalent to a 93 out of 100
SAT = 1265 (the middle 50% of accepted students fall between 1190 and 1360)
ACT = 28 (the middle 50% of accepted students fall between 26 and 30)

Average transfer GPA = 3.4

Navigating the admissions process isn’t always easy, but, hey, that’s why I’m here!

When to apply?

For high school seniors, the Early Action deadline each year is December 1, and the Regular Admission deadline is January 15.  If you’re a transfer student, the recommended deadline is March 15.

What’s the difference between Early Action and Regular Admission?

Early Action is non-binding.  It simply means that if you submit all of your application materials early (by Dec. 1), we will give you a decision earlier (in January).  If you apply Early Action, you will receive one of three possible decisions in January: either you’ll be accepted, denied, or deferred to Regular Admission.  If you’re deferred to Regular Admission, this means that we will look at your application a second time (along with those students that applied Regular Admission), and you will receive our final decision between March 1 and April 1. 

Common or SUNY Application?

We accept both the Common and SUNY Application.  We have no preference.  You only need to submit one or the other.  If you apply through the SUNY Application, there is a Binghamton Supplement you need to complete.  If you apply through the Common Application, there is NO supplement.  Don’t worry, both require the exact same amount of work.

Binghamton University’s School of Management was just ranked 15th by BusinessWeek among public colleges and universities this week

The School of Management (SOM) at Binghamton has had a long standing tradition of excellence, but now is recognized as one of the best in the country. Not only does Binghamton rank as one of the top business schools in the nation, we also send our graduates to the top companies to work. The School of Management is recognized as the #3 feeder school to the top four accounting firms in NYC. Our students do amazing internships and land incredible jobs after graduation. Some companies ONLY recruit Binghamton University students!

Why the ranking?

· Corporate recruiters ranked Binghamton 11th among all schools for the quality of its graduates

· Binghamton graduates’ median starting salary of $57,000; greater than Cornell, Emory and Notre Dame graduates

· Students praised “the schools’ intimate feel and responsive administration”

What does it mean to students interested in Binghamton like you? There are some important advantages…

-PriceWaterhouseCoopers Scholar Program , a dedicated honors program
-400+ employers recruit on campus, including Bloomberg, KPMG, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley
-The Zurack Trading Room, where top students manage a portfolio of more than $130,000 using the same trading software used by Wall Street professionals
-Business studies are combined with liberal art and science studies, building life-long leadership, communication, critical-thinking and analytical skills
-Studies capitalizing upon global perspectives from students from nearly 100 countries
-Small classes taught by tenure-track faculty
-New undergraduate curriculum, featuring coursework in and out of the classroom that mirrors the daily challenges and demands employees face in the business world — working in teams, communicating, researching and solving problems, thinking critically and strategically, networking, and analyzing data.
-Unique course for incoming students—Computer Tools for Management, focused on the school’s programs and services, and developing essential computer skills.

The ambulance service at Binghamton University since 1973 is the revered Harpur’s Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service, which accepts new student volunteers at commencement of each new semester.  Students and university staff members can also volunteer as Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics.  Harpur’s Ferry is also one of the very few collegiate EMS services that is Advanced Life Support (ALS) certified; students chosen who are not New York State certified at either a CFR, EMT, or AEMT level attend a semester-long EMS orientation course known as AFAEC (Advanced First Aid Emergency Care) where basic first aid skills and procedural actions in Broome County are taught.  It’s an excellent preparation for the New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician course, which takes place the following semester.

Interested in working for a paper?

Binghamton’s student newspaper, Pipe Dream, is a huge aspect of Binghamton University, so if you’ve always had a strong interest in being a journalist, editor, photographer or writing in general, Pipe Dream is a great opportunity to fulfill that burning desire you have to be a part of a newspaper.  Absolutely anyone is welcome, period; everyone gets a shot to show what they can do.  And some tidbits for ya: Pipe Dream was founded in 1946 as Colonial News, but the name was changed in 1971.  Pipe Dream publishes twice-weekly issues (free of course), and you can grab copies all over campus.

Sports: What Exactly Do You Need?

“All current undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff members at Binghamton University are eligible to participate in Intramural Programs,” is what Binghamton University is saying to you.  If you’re almost set to attend college, and interested in any sport, Binghamton University has it: 5 vs. 5/ 3 vs. 3 basketball, baseball, softball, soccer(indoor/outdoor), football, tennis(outdoor/table), racquetball, handball, swimming, volleyball, rafting, canoeing, hiking, bowling, billiards, coed dodgeball, floor hockey, coed kickball, and so much more.  The Intramural program is one of the most highly sought after programs at Binghamton University.

Okay, first thing’s first.  I’m a senior here at BU majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.  Sounds lucrative, yeah I know.  I don’t apologize.

Currently I’m taking a whole bunch of credits (20), I’m a proud member of Asian Outlook Magazine, which is great if you have something important you want to say or write or express, anything.  I’m also a marketing intern, and this is where I get to talk to fantastic people and write about fantastic things, I kid you not!

There’s a depth to writing that attracts me on so many levels; I’ve said this before to so many people: writing’s not easy, whether it’s an article, an essay, a short story, anything.

Listen, Binghamton’s got the classes you need and want.  It’s got a million things to offer, like clubs, hang outs, parties, free movies, great people, cool, down to earth teachers, you name it.  The cost is unbelievable compared to other universities.

The best things about BU for me are the people.  So many culturally diverse people everywhere you go; (it might overwhelm you at first, depending on where you’re from), but let it sink in, get a feel for it.  It’s a good thing.  You can join any club you can think of, any organization; in all honesty, BU probably has it.  If your Latin, Asian, African American, European, from the Caribbean, anywhere in the world, there’s a club for you; and if you’re interested in learning about a different culture other than your own, no one’s stopping you except you.  Another thing about BU is that its also got this amazing study abroad program where you can choose from over 50 countries.  Yeah.  Don’t believe me?  Come check it out.....