University at Albany Reviews

Albany is a very pleasant,...

Albany is a very pleasant, commercial place to live. It has its weaknesses, like the downtown area, but overall the city is very nice. Saint Rose University, Hudson Valley Community College, and Siena College are all very close, and we often see their students downtown at parties. There are many things to do in Albany. While there are a lot of commercial areas, such as Crossgates Mall and Colonie Center on Wolf Road, they also have great little diners and shops downtown.

I believe that off-campus housing...

I believe that off-campus housing is definitely worth it. The living expense is much cheaper than on-campus dorms and apartments. My roommates and I found a house for a pretty cheap price. I feel that it will be much better to live off campus than on.

A lot of students are from Long...

A lot of students are from Long Island, but there is plenty of diversity groups on campus for those who don't exactly fit the mold.

Personally I don't think I would...

Personally I don't think I would attend Albany if given a second chance. I've met really great people who have become some of my best friends, but because of the party scene and how it drags you in, I think that I would have been better off academically somewhere else.

There is a selection of...

There is a selection of restaurants within walking distance of UA, which is highly beneficial to freshmen who aren't allowed to have cars. On Western Avenue, there is Boston Market and Across the Street Pub, which offer food at cheap prices for the cash-strapped students. If you're looking for a higher-end restaurant, Barcelona is a nice Spanish restaurant that offers a lot of food with its price tag.

Police are real jerks about...

Police are real jerks about driving on campus, and you definitely have to drive the speed limit. You can't have a fake ID on yo,u or they'll take it away and give you a fine. They're not so strict about drugs and drinking, but you just can't be ridiculously obvious with any of it.

Intramural sports seem to be fun....

Intramural sports seem to be fun. Varsity sports look pretty intense, but no one really has any school spirit for them.

Freshmen can't bring cars. There's...

Freshmen can't bring cars. There's always a parking spot, but it will never be a close one.

Freshmen can't bring cars until...

Freshmen can't bring cars until after spring break. The parking lots get crowded, and they are a short hike from the Podium where the classes are held.

The University Police are located...

The University Police are located on campus and are official state officers, not security guards. However, some occurrences of crime do happen on campus, but the response from officers is incredibly quick. There are phone systems located throughout the campus that go directly to the University Police, and there are usually officers stationed around the Quad throughout the day and night.

Attendance to games are low, which...

Attendance to games are low, which is sad because we have great teams. There are plenty of sports to partake in on campus.

Parties on campus are okay for...

Parties on campus are okay for small get-togethers, but off campus is definitely better. There are a whole lot of house parties and all different kinds of clubs and bars available to 18-and-over and 21-and-over students. You'll learn that Quail Street, Hudson Street, and a bunch of other places will become your second home.

Albany has a bad reputation, but...

Albany has a bad reputation, but it's not fair. Are drugs available? Absolutely. Any student—at any given time—could get their hands on any number of illegal drugs. However, this doesn't mean everyone uses drugs. Weed is popular, and there is certainly drug use, but you don't have to do drugs to fit in.

You don't need to go Greek to have...

You don't need to go Greek to have a social life. As a matter of fact, all of the sororities and fraternities on campus have stigmas attached to their names.

Although drinking is a much more...

Although drinking is a much more popular pastime, SUNY is just like any other campus or school in general. There are people doing drug,s and they're more openly available to you at some parties. They aren't forced on you, just options. It's up to you to decide if it's right for you.

Drugs and drinking are obvious...

Drugs and drinking are obvious no-nos, but only the careless kids advertising parties in their dorm rooms and blatantly abusing the rules will get in trouble. The police downtown are usually around but are mostly just looking for obscenely drunk people that can become a danger to themselves or others.

For the most part, the police seem...

For the most part, the police seem pretty lax about things. The RAs come to your room sometimes and ask you for alcohol for their own personal use. Drugs, however, are taken a bit more seriously, especially by the police. They are very strict about the speed limit on campus as well.

I think the campus is pretty...

I think the campus is pretty diverse. Most people tend to group with people that are the same race or religion.

Indian and State are dry quads,...

Indian and State are dry quads, but most RAs are pretty cool. As long as you don't make a big deal about it, you should be fine.

All the dorms are pretty much the...

All the dorms are pretty much the same. Indian is all freshmen, and State is mainly freshmen. The Towers have pretty big rooms, and Dutch is nice because it is close to the campus center.

If you live off campus and don't...

If you live off campus and don't have a car, you have to rely on the buses and hope that they are on time.

Greek life is not really a big...

Greek life is not really a big deal at Albany. If you are a part of it, you know more about it and who's in it. If you're not in Greek life, it's not a big deal.

There are a lot of good...

There are a lot of good restaurants off campus. The Cheesecake Factory is one of the favorites. Delmonico's Steakhouse is also very good. Both of these restaurants are on the pricier side but definitely worth it.

The Science Library is nice, but...

The Science Library is nice, but the main library has more resources. The Campus Center food is better than the dining halls, but it isn't a meal swipe until after 7 p.m. The RACC is the biggest gym for students that aren't athletes, and it doesn't have the best equipment.

Albany is a huge town, but the...

Albany is a huge town, but the public transportation from the school can only take you so far. Going to the mall or downtown gets boring after a while. I feel like it's a big party school, and though I do enjoy it, I feel that's how a lot of kids see it. The other colleges around make everywhere you go a fun atmosphere. I know plenty of students from the others colleges.