The "Aura of the Orange"

I hadn't visited Syracuse in a while. It's popular with my students because of the "the aura of the Orange": the exciting social scene, Greek life, and the cheering crowd rooting on the Division I teams in the massive Carrier Dome. Everyone knows about the perennially top-ranked S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the highly-ranked Whitman School of Management, and top Sports Management program. Then there's a culture based on legacy and/or relationships-think 3 degrees of separation-that make Syracuse a must-apply for others. I had a general handle on what type of students are a fit for Syracuse, and I didn't expect any surprises.

What I didn't know was that students from all over the world are engaged in Syracuse's wide range of majors (over 200) in its 13 (nine undergraduate) schools and colleges. While 60% of students hail from NY and and sizable number from NJ as well, Syracuse boasts a 13% international population (clearly seen on campus) as well as nearly 25% students from other diverse groups. The student body was not homogeneous at all. It was clear that the school is committed to diversity; Trevor Noah's book "Born a Crime" is required reading this year.

Every major emphasizes real world experience through internships, thanks to the great career center, involved alumni, and committed professors.

Syracuse is focused on careers that impact society. A few of the many offered are Food Studies (beyond nutrition, including Food Safety/Quality, Food Governance, Emergency Food Systems, and Food Science), a range of Education majors, including Elementary/Special Ed, and Public Health. The Maxwell School of Public Affairs combines the disciplines of social science, public policy and administration, and international relations; U.S. News and World Report ranked its Graduate School of Public Affairs #1 for the 8th consecutive time.

The ISchool, or School of Information Studies gives students the skills to be leaders in any industry. Its Information Management and Technology Program combines with other majors to produce very marketable outcomes:

IM&T + Finance = Business Analyst, IM&T+Marketing=Digital Campaign Manager, IM&T+Television/Radio/Film=Studio Technology Manager. The ISchool is the most popular college that Syracuse students transfer into. The 2016 job placement rate was 92% and the average starting salary was $64,924.

From the minute we arrived, the administration made clear how dedicated they are to serving students, helping them acclimate the first year, then mentoring and eventually helping them get jobs. Syracuse is a top tier research university with an eye to the future. With the "aura" of a Big Ten school and the serious academics and personal attention of a smaller college, it's a fun place to spend four years too!