One of the first things I noticed about college is that the people here are so different. There have been so many changes that I had to slow down, because trying to keep up with everything was overwhelming. I thought high school was culturally diverse, but this campus really mixes everybody together, which is great. This makes for a very good learning experience; I’ve met people from Sweden to India and from South America to Asia.
Entertainment is everywhere at Albany; Thursdays through Saturdays are big entertainment days here. They have this event called “Danes after Dark” from 8PM to 2AM where they open the campus center’s Pool table, foosball table, and movie room. There are different treats each week, but for the most part, the free popcorn and snow-cones are consistent. This is the best way to make friends, and it is where I met all my friends here.
From socializing to education, this school makes the transition painless. Getting up for classes on Monday morning has not been a problem for me so far, even though there is no set time for me to go to bed. Going to sleep at 2AM for an 8:15AM class seems a little ridiculous in High School, but here on campus, it is just plain normal. The professors give work and expect it done, that’s all there is to the education system. You do it because they want you to, no questions. The work load is decent and the professors are more than willing to help. With contacts such as a phone number, e-mail address and even a website, there is help everywhere. There is additional group study on various days of the week, including Sunday! This works out great for me, because Sunday is the most uneventful day of the week. The most difficult part of getting into the new classes is the fact that they have not been taught in high school. New isn’t always good, but still is educational.
Food: one of the topics that comes right after the question, “what is the educational system there like?” This school has provided enough options for their students to eat whatever they want 24/7. I have not gone hungry since I got here, in fact I think I’ve gained a few. The food in the cafeteria is decent and if preferred there are also a few of the popular franchises in the campus center. The mall is a 10 minute bus ride away, which is free for college students by the way, and there is also downtown Albany, where food from around the world is brought into one place. The options are endless, and the school system is prepared to accommodate anybody in any situation.
I will be here until the end of this year and then I will try to transfer to Binghamton University. Despite Albany’s comfort and hospitality, they lack their own Computer Engineering major, which is my goal, so I would give up friends and comfort and start over in Binghamton, where there are also some very nice people who know how to have fun. I visited another Chumz alumni, Alisha Magnus, there two weeks ago and enjoyed my stay. I found many similarities and some striking differences, all of which made the school comfortable. I don’t think a transfer would be a bad idea, and I am waiting to see what the rest of this year has to offer.
College is great, and living on campus is even better. Living with a roommate is different, but not completely odd, because I did share my room for most of my life, so it’s not that difficult sharing the space with somebody else. If I were to tell anybody any advice about life, it is to make the most of what is given to you, and if you can, go to college and live on campus, you will love it!
Anand Balasar. SUNY Albany.