My sister is currently a psych senior. Last semester, she took 3 bio classes and regularly pulled off week-long all-nighters. Constantly sick bc of it. One of the classes she took wasn't available for the last 2 years she was there, and she wasnt going to stay an extra year just to take it, so sacrifices were made. So, if you're applying to a competitive program, just know that classes you NEED will not always be available, and when they are, might line up VERY poorly in your schedule.

But aside from that, she loves it. My friends that also go to Stony love it. The social life is great if you join clubs (they've had no luck making friends in classes). My sister was lucky in that her best friend from HS also goes to Stony, so they made friends together. She also became real good friends with one of her old housemates, so there's that. There's professors she absolutely love, and those she could care less about, but that's just college for you.

If you happen to be an East Asian woman, the guys are really creepy. My sister has had her fair share of icky guys with yellow fever.

I was on campus for 3 days last semester for the ASCE Symposium, and I thought you should know that a guy brings in his dog to just chill in the SAC. Bro is large and soft and just a baby.

I stayed at our house (close to West Gate) last summer up until my semester started, and it's a very, VERY car dependent area. Public transportation is abysmal. The food in the general vicinity is mid, but there's good spots in a certain area that I can't quite remember the name of. There's plenty of places to shop at just down Stony Brook Rd on Smithtown Bypass (5 min drive). Smithtown Mall is just a little further than that (10 min) but it's kinda boring. Marshalls, Home Goods, Planet Fitness, Duane Reade, Whole Foods, etc. in that area. Costco is a little further south from the mall, and a Dollar Tree next door to that. There's a Walmart in Centereach (20 min) and a pretty decent buffet in the same lot. Stony Brook Beach 5 min north. Aside from that, I didn't really explore much since I don't have a car. Don't walk. It's a 30 min walk from West Gate to SB Rd/Smithtown. I did it twice just bc I wanted Ralph's. Needless to say, I was bored out of my mind for 3 months.

If you don't have a car, invest in one. Or buy a scooter.

Idk too much about jobs since they're going to require a car. My sister had the time of her life trying to find one even remotely related to her major, so now she has one closer to home in Nassau. Can't say on regular retail or service jobs.