SUNY Oneonta Reviews

"SUNY Oneonta isn't inherently a bad school per se. The professors in the sciences are all very outgoing and a pleasure to learn from. However, this school LIED to me not only about the prospects of my degree, but also LIED when coordinating my education when transferring. I transferred to this college from another SUNY school to save on tuition. Before attending Oneonta, I coordinated my degree track with academic advisors from BOTH campuses (all documented via emails and paper), with the understanding that I would attend my first school for 2 years, and Oneonta for the final two. Upon transferring after completing my first two years, I was told that they would not honor my class schedule, and told me that I would be required to attend for 4 more years!! This was not due to lack of credits. Simply, they would not allow me to stack my classes the way they originally agreed to, as a way to make me pay MORE tuition and lengthen the amount of time it would take to complete my degree. Additionally, when I first began, I made my career prospects very clear and straightforward, and was told that my degree would be substantial to help reach my career goals. Come to find out in my first year attending Oneonta, this was not the case, and my career prospects would require many more years of additional schooling. I was taken for a fool by listening to the advisors here. With all the lawsuits surrounding colleges lying to prospective students in order to garner more tuition money, I thoroughly believe that my case holds merit in this category. Too bad I can't afford to sue because I couldn't complete my degree and was not able to enter a career that would afford me this opportunity, but I suppose that's part of their game. In short, please be VERY VERY VERY careful about what these advisors tell you. Take anything ANYONE says here about transfers and careers with a grain of salt. This campus is very clearly just after your wallet and does not care about the outcomes of their students. BE CAREFUL. Don't make the same mistake I did.Read Less"

"Campus life might be different, but SUNY Oneonta’s online literacy program has been one of the worst experiences I have ever had in an educational setting. Their schedule is appealing for new teachers because it entails receiving your degree within one year. However, the way they jam classes into short summer sessions is a true testament to their disinterest in actually educating their students and interest in attracting tuition money. The program was also advertised as “friendly” for full time teachers, however failed to include that assignments are due daily, including weekends, which include critically detailed projects that require numerous approvals from school administrators. Considering most graduate students have only newly been hired, having to hound our school administrators to receive permission for the numerous studies, projects, mentorship, video approvals, tutoring approvals… etc., has looked and felt not only unprofessional but extremely frustrating for busy administration. As a hard working student and teacher, the coursework has been unattainable and for the first time in 6 years of college education, I have never felt more hopeless and unable to complete assignments. I have dedicated every day of the week to complete numerous assignments and still have missing work at any given moment. At times it feel so terrible to work so hard and never have the opportunity to get caught up because that 4 hours of sleep is critical to keep mentally and physically healthy. The last thing that I will leave in this review is considering we are online, have all experienced the personal, emotional, and social losses due to Covid, it shocks and appalls me that all email communication from Oneonta to its students entail financial reminders, class work reminders, scheduling reminders, covid testing reminders, but never once an offer for mental health services, counseling, or any form of school support for its students who are under extreme amounts of pressures inside and outside of school. I would never recommend this program to another person.Read Less"

"I loved the fashion design program offered at SUNY Oneonta. The professors are wonderful in giving the best education in the industry and offer a great deal of support when asked. They also offer a nice hybrid program with FIT which helps financially in the long run."

"SUNY Oneonta's English department was the most welcoming, supportive, and encouraging group I could have dreamed of. While classes were not always as challenging as I hoped, there was always something of interest. The professors were lively, knowledgeable, and passionate about their topics. The spread of courses required by the program pushed me into subjects I may not have chosen on my own but which became new favorites of mine. The clubs and conferences associated with the English department were all wonderful ways to get involved and meet my peers, as well as networking with the professors.Read Less"

"I attended Oneonta State for four years to obtain my Bachelors Degree in 2013. My overall experience of the college was fantastic, but I wish I had known a little more about the computer art program before I entered it. I entered college as an art major and realized that computer related fields were on the rise, so I focused my degree on computer art and graphic design. Although the major was fun and creative, several professors in the Art department were very laid back and didn't expect a lot from the students. Once I entered my career as a graphic designer I realized actually how little I learned from college. Work experience and internships gave me much more knowledge than the course curriculum did. Also, since Oneonta is a small town, there is not many graphic design internships to choose from and the ones that are there are very small scale. The college as a whole was very connected and inclusive. It is a great size school with a lot to offer if you look for it. The weather in Oneonta is cold and dreary most days, but the minute the temperature is over 45, people are outside relaxing and socializing.Read Less"

"SUNY Oneonta is a great school- even though it is located in a little town that is in the middle of nowhere, there is still plenty of stuff to do on campus and off campus. The anthropology department at my school is really great if you are looking to go into the field or double major in anthropology- the building the department is in is new and the professors are great."

"A good liberal arts and education college. I found the instructors very thorough.With Hartwick College across the street soccer is the main sporting event. Both schools are generally nationally ranked every year. there is a vibrant social scene. Generally half the student body lives off campus"

"SUNY College at Oneonta is a great place for students to obtain their Bachelor's degree without the financial burden that private universities put on their students. There are plenty of networking, research, internship, and community opportunities for the students enrolled."

"SUNY Oneonta was the best decision I've ever made. The second I arrived to take a tour, I felt like I belonged. The atmosphere is beautiful, the buildings are up to date, and the people are overwhelmingly nice. After my decision to enroll, I could not wait to begin. My freshman experience was amazing. The dorms were brand new, the staff was so helpful, and I made friends immediately. I fell in love with the town itself as well. Most things are in walking distance, and there are some amazing restaurants and sights to see in the area. I loved Oneonta because I saw so many familiar faces throughout my four years, but also was exposed to new people everyday. Those four years flew by, and I wish more than anything I had more time up there. I wholeheartedly believe Oneonta is the best place on earth.Read Less"

"SUNY Oneonta's Childhood Education program is well structured and provides students with plentiful hands-on experiences in elementary classrooms. My one critique is the faculty's lack of training in test preparation for important certification exams like the edTPA."

"Excellent hands-on learning opportunities that lead to a thorough generalist understanding of how museums are run. Small class size and professors with in the field experiences enhance the quality of the education."

"SUNY Oneonta was a wonderful school in the rural middle of NYS. It was a beautiful setting (especially in the fall) for students to form lifelong friendships while pursuing a career. My most enduring friendships were formed while studying at SUNY Oneonta."

"An excellent dietetics program that was very thorough and demanding. Overall the professors were very supportive in helping students to succeed and prepare for career success. The college itself is on a beautiful campus with a very nice and vibrant downtown within walking distance nearby. I still visit Oneonta on occasion as it came to feel like home to me over the years."

"It was a college with an amazing education program and I'm so glad I went there. I took a lot from my time there."

"SUNY Oneonta was a great school for preparation for the teaching profession. They found a student teaching assignment for me at both a middle school and high school. They also provided a lot of support once I was doing my student teaching. I also found the professors in the science department to be incredibly supportive and genuinely interested in the students and their learning."

"Located in beautiful Oneonta, New York SUNY Oneonta provides a top notch Education program with professors skilled in both theoretical and practical knowledge. Students are nurtured through their Student teaching and graduate with the skills necessary for success."

"Not very hands on. Some really great teachers here and there, but overall you are not given a ton of resources to help push yourself to the next level through the classes. There are a lot of clubs to be involved with and a lot of driven kids, so if you have the drive, you're better off getting an education by learning from peers."

"My program of study lies within the Biology Department. Specifically I am getting a Masters of Science in Lake Management. Because of how the coursework and thesis are directed and designed, I feel that it's is already and will continue to serve as a very good training program for a future career as Lake Manager or General Environmental Consultant. The program is expertly designed to help get students into the environmental consulting industry. The director of our program has worked very hard to get his students funding in a variety of forms (but it is dependent upon where we conduct our research for our thesis), but our school offers little in financial support outside of loans. There are a very small number of Teaching Assistant positions and no Graduate Assistantships in our program. And because of our hands-on, field heavy thesis project (developing a real management plan over two years for a specific lake), it makes it hard to find a job with a flexible enough schedule to compensate for the small amount of financial support provided.Read Less"

"The theoretical framework of my program is exceptionally sound. I am very well versed in the various theories of education and of adolescent literacy. This has provided me with an excellent background for my field; however, my ability to practically apply this information is somewhat lacking. I currently work at the middle school level and have few practical resources that I am aware of and/or familiar with so that I may better help students. For example, I know little of the available reading assessment software programs, and I am looking to purchase such software for the middle school. To do so, I have had to do a considerable amount of research that I likely should have begun to explore in my graduate classes.Read Less"

"Oneonta offers a competitive Counselor Program. The staff and support is wonderful. The classes are smaller, so students receive more attention and help. Students can make good connections and have access to lots of opportunities. I love the size of the school and what it is able to offer."