Stony Brook University

Date: Jan 21 2011
Major: Computer Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm 3 years in and I just can't seem to leave this horrible place. I came in as a naive high schooler ready to learn something I actually want to learn as opposed to high school busywork. What I found was a depressing environment that completely destroys any enthusiasm you happen to have about going to university.

I've experienced negative feelings toward this school ever since my first semester when I was advised to take a calculus based physics course (Physics 131) without having ever taken calculus. I was advised to take calculus alongside this class. About a month in my physics professor starts using calculus in his lectures that I didn't learn until my second semester of calculus. This wouldn't have been a problem if calculus was properly listed as a prerequisite for this course (which it isn't). I went to my professor explaining that I can't follow his lectures and he basically told me to go teach myself calculus.

To compliment the stupid course system are the horrible professors. Getting a good professor is once in a blue moon at Stony Brook. Most professors are clearly very intelligent but couldn't teach a class to save their lives. Most of the time you sit in class trying to follow what's going on while surrounded by people who make you feel stupid in comparison. Many professors are rude and unhelpful in lecture and their office hours. I had one professor basically yell at a girl because she was eating a bagel in class in an 11 am class because it was

distracting to the class

(because everyone having their laptops out wasn't distracting). She was practically traumatized and didn't touch her bagel for the rest of the class. I also learned absolutely nothing from this professor who was absolutely close-minded about any outside thinking.

Social life is a hit or miss. For those who live on campus it's absolutely dead because no one wants to spend their weekends in Stony Brook. Most people either go home or are busy studying nonstop just so they could scrape by with a passing grade in their classes. For commuters the SAC has some decent places for commuters to go in their free time. The Commuter Lounge in the SAC is probably one of the friendliest places on campus for commuters and even residents go down there because it's one of the few social spots of this school. Occasionally there are campus events. The biggest campus event seems to be Humans vs. Zombies which is probably the most fun thing you'll do on campus.

Academic advising is a joke and incredibly unhelpful. Most of the advisors could care less about your actual wellbeing and often just try to rush you out as soon as possible. They make you go through pointless paperwork to do everything, even to retake a course. Most people working behind the desks of these offices don't know anything and you see almost all of them doing nothing but going on facebook until you ask them a question and respond with either

wait for the next available advisor

or hand you some pamphlets vaguely related to what you're there for.

If you plan on eating even somewhat healthy at this school you can forget that. Unless you're bringing your own food to campus you're really limited to the overpriced garbage available to you. If you want a salad expect to pay almost $10 for it. The food in Wang and the Union is alright although still unnecessarily expensive. You'll always spend almost $10 for a meal. Most of what you'll find is fatty or fried foods (feels just like high school). A sandwich alone will cost you more than $6.

There are a good number of friendly students but often you'll find yourself feeling out of place sitting next to a group of Asian kids speaking Korean with no real potential for some kind of interaction that won't feel incredibly awkward. The SAC Commuter Lounge is a pretty good place for commuters and residents to socialize and everyone down there is pretty friendly.

If you're a masochist and want the challenge of surviving an unreasonable school with a broken system I would recommend this school. If you like a depressing environment full of people who are struggling and Asian super students, go to this school. Otherwise go anywhere but here.