An Insiders View to Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private college located in Syracuse, New York. I attended hoping to graduate with a degree in Hospitality Management. Due to the high cost, tuition alone runs over $30,000 a year, I only attended for a short time before seeking a less expensive option. However, if you can afford it SU is a great college that offers a lot of opportunities for its students. With over 200 majors to choose from this school offers a diversity of opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

A good place to meet other incoming students is through the college orientation. Whether you are an incoming freshmen or a transfer student, SU, organizes a two to three day orientation for new students. Consider moving in a day or two early. This gives you a chance to get your room set up and meet others who have moved in early as well. This is great time to meet people because you are all on the same level playing field; your new, scared, and excited all at the same time.

Syracuse University offers over 300 student organizations. These organizations are a great way to meet people that have the same common interest as you. Another good place to meet fellow students is the classroom; after all you are together for an entire semester. Other popular places to meet students are the library, dorm living, parties, and through friends.

All incoming freshmen are required to have one of three dining plans. This adds to both the cost of room and board and to the possibility of you gaining the freshmen 15! There are many dining halls around campus and each offers a wide selection of food. However, the food for the most part is not that appetizing. The only good thing about the dining plan is when you have friends visit they can use a guest pass. It is a cheap way to feed everyone that is on a tight budget.

The saving grace when it comes to food is your SuperCard Food account which is a declining-balance card that is linked to your Syracuse I.D. Card. You can use this card at most vending machines, Kimmel Food Court, and a few off site locations (think along the lines of pizza). Kimmel Food Court which serves KFC, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts among other things is a popular place for many students; especially on weekends when it is open until 3am. On South campus, Goldstein Dining, offers many options; Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, and Sbarro to name a few. My off campus favorite was Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, but you would need a car to get there. It is a great place to grab wings and enjoy some live music.

Freshmen are not permitted to have a car on campus unless you obtain special permission. You need to petition for it and prove that there is a valid reason you need to have one (medical reason). The cost to park your car on campus can cost anywhere between $400 and $700 a year. Now the campus is big, at 200 acres, so sometimes it is hard to get around. Buses run frequently so do plan accordingly. The two worst things in my opinion about Syracuse University (with the exception of the cost) actually have nothing to do with the university itself.

The weather is a big con. It is windy, it is cold, and the snowflakes are not like the big beautiful ones you see in the movies. Slush, ice, and sleet make up the picture of winter in Syracuse. To top it off winter lasts for months. Some days it is so cold out that you do not even want to venture outside.

The second worse thing is the safety outside of campus. On campus there are a lot of procedures implemented to ensure your safety, but right out of your little zone is the city of Syracuse. Syracuse is not known for being the safest place. If you do venture out I would always do so with a group.

I really enjoyed Brewster and Boland dorms because they were newly renovated. The downside to them though is they are the furthest away from all the academic buildings. When choosing a dorm you have to decide what means more to you; close proximity to everything or a better lay out of the actual dorm room. Remember just because you put in for a certain dorm does not guarantee you will receive your request. Another thing I really liked about the dorms at Syracuse were that some of them offered a "split double." This is where you share a room with a roommate but unlike in traditional rooms there is a half wall that divides the room into two halves. You have the best of both worlds; you get to share with a roommate and you still have your own privacy. Another thing that I found quite surprising about the dorm situation here was the guy-girl rooming. Most colleges have separate wings or floors for those of the opposite sex, but here at Syracuse University you will see that co-ed by alternating rooms is common. One room will be female and the next male.

Even if you are not into sports you need to know who Otto is. Otto the Orange is the mascot at SU. Athletics is a big part of the culture on campus. The Carrier Dome, that sits right on the edge of campus, is where a lot of the sporting events are held. The men's basketball team in 2003 won the National Championship title.

Here are a few other things that you should know about Syracuse University. Your student ID card is not only good for identification purposes and for food purchasing. Many freshmen take classes in lecture halls. You use your card to swipe in because of the vast amount of students. Therefore, if you want to be counted as there for attendance purposes, make sure you have your card with you. Another thing is you can have a Supercard Plus account balance on your card. This allows you to use your ID card to do laundry, use the campus copy centers, and purchase student discounted tickets at the Carrier Dome. IDs are also needed to gain access to many of the dorms at night. Residential Security, RSAs, sit at the entrance to every dorm on campus from 8pm until 8am checking IDs for security purposes.

When the weather is actually nice, hurry and get outside. "The Quad" is an area of grass located in the middle of the SU campus. Here you will find many students hanging out enjoying the nice weather. Bring a blanket and book, bring a ball for catch, or bring a Frisbee for some fun. The Syracuse Campus has a lot to offer, but if you feel like you need to get away for the day that can be easily accommodated. Marshall Street (also known as M-Street to many students), is located right next to campus. Here you can go and escape campus life for awhile. There are lots of good places to eat, shop, and at night the street comes alive with local bars. If you wanted to venture a little further away from campus take a bus over to Carousel Center to catch a movie or do some shopping. If you wanted to get away for the evening than head to Turning Stone Casino. Turning Stone is about 30 minutes away and offers food, gambling, and that much needed break from school work.