Among the many reasons why I feel honored to be a part of the Siena College community is the opportunity to participate in time-honored traditions with our incredible students. Every school has its traditions. Some involve just the students, some involve just the faculty. What I love about Siena is that many of ours involve both.

They’re the ones who will mentor you, cheer you on, grade your papers and impart invaluable life lessons. They’ve got a unique view of what goes on around campus, and they know—perhaps better than anyone—what types of students really flourish at Siena College. Our faculty. Get to know another side of Siena by reading through the quotes below from various faculty members noting what they love most about our school.

The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) compiled and compared data on student life, culture, economic health and other factors across the country and came up with a list of the top 20 small metros for college students in the U.S. Number 11 on that list: (ding ding ding) Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY. (We all play together.)

Get to know more about Siena College through the eyes of our alums. We asked a few recent grads to tell us about their favorite memory of Siena and their time here, and here’s what they shared with us.

Is Siena College currently at the top of your “apply to” list? We hope so, and we hope you’ll consider applying early for admission. Think about it: you could find out within weeks if you’ll be a part of Siena’s class of 2019, and you wouldn’t have to worry about college applications the rest of your senior year. So if your application is in top-notch shape, here is the first round of deadlines:

College students in Florida are usually described as studying in a vacation spot. But if you ask any student in the Northeast what it’s like to live and go to school up here, they’ll tell you they love their four seasons. How could you not? In the fall in particular, Upstate New York is a destination for those who want to marvel at fall foliage and enjoy fun autumnal activities. For Siena students, this is part of life during the fall semester. Here are five of our favorite things to do around here this time of year.

This past month, the deans of our three schools stepped up to the mic and hosted live chats with current students and alums to answer questions from prospective students like you. They responded to all kinds of digitally submitted inquiries, like… “Is there a class size cap and are classes taught by professors or TAs?” “What do you do if you know what profession in science you want, but you’re not exactly strong in science?”  “How are advisors assigned and do students generally keep them for all four years?”

Chances are, you tweet. So you know that Twitter is one of the best ways to stay in-the-know about pretty much everything. Local news, national news, restaurant reviews, real-time event updates. There are loads of things you can find out about by searching Twitter and following the right accounts. Getting a feel for life in the Capital Region is no exception. Think you’d enjoy living here and attending Siena? Start following these Twitter handles—they’ll come in handy now and while you’re here.

If you’ve been following our blog since the beginning, you know that Siena College wholeheartedly welcomes undeclared students. But for those of you who would rather enter college with an intended major or area of interest (or, if you’re at that point in college when it’s time to declare one, and you happen to be reading our blog), this post is for you. As you zero in on a concentration, keep these considerations in mind—to both help you decide and help you stress less about your choice.

Remember when we gave you five things to look for when visiting a campus? Number 4 asked “what’s within walking distance?” It’s something you should absolutely think about as you research colleges because you’ll want to enjoy time off campus with your friends—without always having to fork over gas or cab money. Plus, having a pharmacy and other convenience stores right around the corner makes life a lot easier.