Major: Integrative Neuroscience

Email: caitierintalty@gmail.com

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Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

I felt like the challenging classes I took at Shen prepared me well for my first year classes, both in terms of content/knowledge and in terms of time management. Almost all of the classes I took at Binghamton were lectures consisting of 100-450 students, so it was definitely an adjustment from the small classrooms at Shen. However, all of these large lecture classes also had a "discussion" session associated with them which was a required 1-hour session once a week at another time during which a TA goes over homework, answers questions, etc. with a group of around 20 students. I also found that professors, especially in the large first year courses like general chemistry, biology and psychology, have an abundance of office hours so that any student can come in for even more focused help with course material.

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What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

One of my favorite aspects of my Binghamton experience was the ability to conduct research beginning freshman year and continuing to do so through my senior year. The First-Year Research Immersion program allowed me to complete several research projects and give two formal poster presentations over my first three semesters and from this program, I was recruited to work in a neuroscience lab focusing on alcohol abuse disorder, aging, learning, and memory. I was able to carry out an independent honors thesis over my senior year which allowed me to gain valuable research experience to prepare me for graduate school.

 

Additionally, one of my favorite things about Binghamton was being able to choose all of my courses for each semester so that I could take certain courses at the same time and spread out more rigorous courses amongst my semesters. Although some majors have very strict combinations/orders of taking courses, my major was very flexible as long as you have the prerequisite classes.

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How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

My online learning experience truly went as smoothly as I could have hoped and for that I am grateful. With very short notice, all of my professors did a great job reworking the rest of the semester and I did not have much trouble with the transition to online learning. Professors were very understanding as far as deadline extensions and dealing with technical difficulties and held plenty of Zoom office hours. Binghamton also made students aware of a program to borrow laptops for students without access to a computer.

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What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

Binghamton was very transparent in communicating the precise steps they planned to take as soon as COVID-19 became prevalent in the US. Administration tried their best to keep us in the loop as Governor Cuomo issued directives and things were changing by the day. Dorms stayed open for students who did not feel comfortable going home, or simply could not go home, and offered housing refunds for those who decided to vacate the dorms. This was especially important given the large percentage of the student body that have homes in NYC and surrounding areas.

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Questions about Student Life

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If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

I would definitely recommend joining a lab with research you are passionate about in order to gain valuable experience in preparation for graduate or medical school. I was also a member of Nu Rho Psi, the neuroscience honors society, and served as the historian of Sigma Alpha Lambda, a service honors society. There is an abundance of organizations related to neuroscience such as the Alzheimer's Association, MedLife and the Student Psychological Association, among many others. I also served as a TA for general chemistry and would recommend that students TA for a class they are interested in after they've taken it.

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What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

The great majority of students live on campus or in surrounding areas and stay in the area over the weekend. Every Friday and Saturday night, Binghamton hosts a "Late Nite" movie night and a night of activities, games, giveaways and food for students not interested in going out to frats and bars, which many students also do on the weekends.

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Do you have a job during the school year, or is it common for students to have on-campus jobs? What is that experience like?

I did not have a job during the school year, but I know of several people who did and enjoyed working for the university as tour guides, at the library, for rec sports and as RAs.

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Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

Binghamton may seem like any other SUNY, but it truly provides a rigorous education with so many opportunities to get involved in research, extracurriculars and service in the community. A huge plus to Binghamton is that they took ALL of my AP and college credits from Shen so I came in with 30 credits as a freshman and was able to graduate a year early, saving a whole lot of time and money!

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What makes your college special to you?

The best part of my Binghamton experience was all of the lifelong friends I made. Spending time in downtown Binghamton going to amazing restaurants and bars, studying in the library, and bonding over the ridiculous amount of rain and snow we got brought me some of my best friends.

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What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

I wish I knew the extent of opportunities available to students at Binghamton. After enrolling, I got so many emails about organizations, clubs and experiences that would enrich my college experience that I did not know about prior to attending.

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Before COVID-19, what was the housing like at your college? What would you recommend to Shen seniors to find their roommates?

Overall, the housing at Binghamton is fairly high-end and comfortable and the university is in the process of renovating several residence halls right now. I would recommend joining a Facebook group of prospective students and connecting with others to find a roommate that you'll get along with.

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