火爆社区

鈥淚f you want to save the world, there鈥檚 no better place鈥� than State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where 鈥渢he forest is the classroom.鈥� With 鈥渙utdoor facilities and multiple campuses in working forests,鈥� ESF鈥檚 greatest strength is its 鈥渆mphasis on field experience.鈥� One student shares, 鈥淔or my work-study, I built, maintained, and collected data from eddy covariance flux towers in wetlands around NY state.鈥� Another proudly points to their practical opportunities: 鈥淎t the ESF Ranger School, there would be days where we would spend from 8 am to 5 pm doing fieldwork.鈥� The popular Cranberry Lake Biological Station also offers 鈥渁 ton of field courses and unique course offerings that allow students to get hands-on experience in forestry, field techniques, and all sorts of environmental knowledge that is better taught in the field itself.鈥� Across its 25,000 acres of field stations, students revel in exploring 鈥渘iche interests from tiny fungi, finding alternative fuels, to creating sustainable energy, studying animal diversity, and paper engineering.鈥� Students value that ESF caters to a 鈥渧ery specific career path鈥� that supports 鈥渕aking connections in the field.鈥� That鈥檚 driven from the top down as 鈥渇rom running labs to organizing national conferences, there is not a single professor who hasn鈥檛 had an impact in the fight to create a sustainable future.鈥� For those passionate about environment science and forestry, SUNY ESF provides singular field experiences and instructors who students feel 鈥渁re genuinely looking out for me and providing opportunities to support my professional development.鈥�

At SUNY ESF, students agree that 鈥渆veryone is like-minded in the sense that we are environmentally focused, but there are diverse perspectives of solutions, motivations, and values informing our mindsets.鈥� As one student jokes, 鈥淭he typical ESF student is very passionate about the environment, or a specific species of insect, or at least going fishing.鈥� Politically, some describe their peers as 鈥渓eft-leaning environmentalists (makes sense, as it IS an environmental science college).鈥� Others contend that 鈥淪UNY ESF has a blend of two broad categories: liberal, somewhat hippie, and preservationist biology students, and Republican, often hunters and fishers, conservationist management students. What unites us all is our dear love for the environment.鈥� Regardless of their political views, 鈥渟tudents here are empowered to take up space. We organize, speak, and make ourselves known. The campus is by us, for us.鈥� The cooperative vibe crosses through to academics, too. 鈥淭he student body is just so chill, non-competitive, and supportive鈥�It makes you want to be there and succeed,鈥� says one student. Composed of future 鈥渆nvironmentalists, leaders, managers, idealists, [and] scientists,鈥� the SUNY ESF student body is singular in its shared 鈥済oal of being a steward of the natural world and the resources it provides.鈥�

With buildings adorned with landscape murals and wildlife photographs, the 鈥減assion for sustainability and positive change is one that can be recognized instantly when you鈥檙e on our campus.鈥� For example, 鈥渨e have a single-use plastic ban and make sure all the products we use are recyclable or compostable.鈥� Student groups have the same focus, with popular groups including the Plant Propagation Club, which runs a greenhouse, and the Urban Food Forest Project, where students plant 鈥渆dible trees/bushes in underserved communities in the town.鈥� Each April, students across campus unite for Earth Week, culminating in Quadstock, a lively concert of student bands that draws the whole school together for 鈥渁 good time.鈥� There鈥檚 also 鈥渁 contract we have with Syracuse University, [where] we are allowed to use their clubs and recreational facilities,鈥� which expands the options students already have at ESF. Activities at ESF give students the chance to connect and celebrate their 鈥渃ommunity of people who are all dedicated to protecting the environment.鈥�

SUNY-ESF students take 鈥渟pecific courses with specialized programs that allow for very high job placement after graduation.鈥� Many say they are also getting a career boost in terms of the 鈥渙pportunities for interaction with professors and administrators. First year students are doing research and we have the ability to become close to high level administrators, including the president.鈥� The Employer Partnership Program builds on the school鈥檚 relationships with major companies in industries like sustainability, electrical engineering, and energy. Students can take advantage of the school鈥檚 many experiential learning opportunities through internships and (paid) micro-Internships and projects to demonstrate their abilities to these companies. Career and Internships Fairs regularly draw around 90 employers and organizations. SUNY-ESF alums who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $59,900, and 56 percent stated that they derive a high level of meaning from their careers.