Being a transfer student here at SLU, I’ve had the opportunity to see both a small, liberal arts school and a massive state school. The University at Buffalo is essentially the polar opposite of St. Lawrence. Here are just a few of the biggest differences.
Academics
Where to begin… At UB, lecture halls exceeded capacities of 350, so attendance policies were largely non-existent, which opened the door for skipping class all the time. Many professors don’t care if you come to class or how well you are doing. While they technically do the lecturing, students were directed towards TAs if they had any questions or needed help. One person could not simply answer the emails or hold office hours for courses that could run up to 2,000 students. Big schools carry more majors than I knew exist, so the availability of different classes is huge. Best of all, most classes grade on a curve, so if the organic chemistry test average is a 45, a 60 gets you a great GPA. Education here at St. Lawrence is much more intimate and fosters infinitely more participation. I was beyond lucky if a single professor knew my name at UB. Here, teachers ask about your day, goals for the future, and genuinely seem to care. You don’t just learn the subject of the course itself, you learn how to interact with educators and fellow students. While the number of courses and majors is limited, a liberal arts education allows you to incorporate a wide range of classes into your schedule, whether it is for your major or not. Unfortunately, not many classes (at least that I have heard of) grade on a curve. So that 60 test average in organic chemistry is going to stick.
Food
UB had so much food. I’m talking Starbucks, Moes, Tim Hortons, Subway, and Jamba Juice on campus, and that’s just the beginning. No matter the time of day, something is open. There is even a campus pizza delivery system. The options of food are endless, but with that came a wide variety of quality. Rumors even floated around campus saying that dining hall food contained small traces of laxatives. SLU does have great food, but naturally, the options are much more limited. The school’s coffee is cringe-worthy, but the food in general is usually of pretty good quality. Since there is no late-night, Sergis is essentially a part of campus dining. Of course, the shining star is a pub cookie. Seriously, those things are a god send.
Night Life
City schools have no shortage of nightlife options. Bars, clubs, and house parties of every sort are a mere walk, shuttle, or cab ride away. Both campus and surrounding city areas can offer theatrical performances, concerts, festivals, and fairs. There is endless excitement; however, it does come at a price. Cover charges can be steep and transportation fares often run high (especially in cities without Uber… ugh, Buffalo). UB has 2 campuses split between a distance of about 5 miles. While the free inter-campus bus rides are great, drunken motion sickness is an every night occurrence. First thing I realized about the party scene at SLU: these kids go hard. Though Canton is far from a bumpin city, this forces students to mix with each other. Instead of spreading out over an entire city, students congregate at the limited number of venues and mingle much more. It is impossible to go out and not see everyone you know. While the classy establishment we all know as the Tick Tock doesn’t exactly rival the quality of big city bars, some great, and regretful, times can be had there. And um hello, dollar beers? Talk about ballin on a budget.
Student Togetherness
With massive student enrollments, you can go a full day at city schools without seeing anyone you really know (UB has about 30,000 total enrolled). Unknown faces flood around you in gigantic lecture halls and food courts, giving campus a very impersonal feel. The social cliques are prominent and the chances of infiltration of multiple groups is pretty unlikely. That being said, the sheer number of people attending the school gives a huge number of opportunities for meeting new people, but also pushes you closer to your own friend group.
The love that students share for each other at SLU is incredible. I was in shock at the sense of pride and community this student body has for our school and each other. Athletes, bookworms, sorority girls, outdoorsmen, and everyone in between form friendships that make this campus so personal. Walking to class is full of plenty “hellos” and waves to your peers.
Lastly, here’s some other stuff that goes on at both schools that is just too hard to categorize:
UB:
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You share tables at the library with complete strangers. Due to the shortage of outlets and tables in some of the libraries (yes, plural), you would have to share tables with people you have never met or even seen before.
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So much free stuff! Nearly every day, some organization, club, or sports team would be giving away some type of swag in the Student Union. I’m talking pizza, coffee, shirts, coozies, stickers, foam fingers, drinks, and makeup.
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We actually went out on Fridays.
SLU:
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Leaving your belongings unattended everywhere. SLUdents leave laptops, phones, clothes, and shoes alone in public areas all the time. Whether it’s at the library, outside the gym, or at the eateries, there is no second thought for leaving your stuff out. It’s a totally normal thing here, but, unless you had no regard for your possessions, it was total death wish at UB. Thieves literally everywhere.
- Mid semester break. Non-existent at state schools. The reason I survive at this school.