Empire State College, State University of New York

My husband and I both take courses at ESC. My husband is in the military and has had issues with the school since the beginning. They claim that you are assigned "mentors". What a joke! The mentors do not know what they are talking about half the time and that's if you can even get in touch with them! NOBODY had any idea what so ever about soldiers going to school. They claim to be "military friendly" and have this new department specially created for military and they still have no clue. It seems that students are not #1 on the priority list. The staff is only worried about themselves and spend all their money on trying to look good by holding big meetings and lunch-ins with the community big shots. The tuition just went up, you would think they would use the money on staff training and helping the student.

I have also just completed my BS in Community and Human Services and previously attained a AAS in Interdisciplinary Skills with SUNY ESC and am in agreement with the previous writer, the school is a good one. In New York they are highly recognized, and if any one knows the SUNY name they know that SUNY is known highly respected. The things I mostly valued were the cost, you cannot beat the tuition rates, they are almost as good as community college rates. Mostly the instructors were good, there were a few that were less than desirable, but I am sure most would say that about their college experience. I also felt that most professors wanted to see you succeed and would work with you at times on some of the time constraints. Materials always good and up to date, however, they never sold used books. I never really had a problem with the financial aid, I think most students will also say that the financial department in any college USA has its issues. I also like the fact that you could tailor your degree. Dislikes were when they changed the course space, the new space took some time to get used to and to me was not as user friendly. My mentor was great but I know of someone else who's mentor is not so great and you depend on them a great deal especially in the beginning. Also the tailoring your own degree did get confusing at times. I also did not like having to take classes just to learn to tailor your degree. All in all a good college experience and I hope to continue on to graduate school there as well.