Hey guys. It's getting to be about that time where I start applying to universities. I live in California right now and am going to a 2 year community college but am looking to transfer to a 4 year university out of state. The school/cities I have narrowed it down to (and trust me I used to have about 75 schools on my list so I have REALLY narrowed it down) are:

Philadelphia: Temple University
Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
New York City: CUNY Brooklyn College
Chicago: University of Illinois at Chicago
St. Louis: University of Missouri/St. Louis
Kansas City: University of Missouri/Kansas City
Boston: University of Massachusetts at Boston
New Jersey: New Jersey City University

So, out of these 8 colleges and cities which do you think would be the best combination (City and College) for a college student trying to live out the college experience? I'm not looking for which is the biggest party school, rather which has the most to do for a college student and what those things are. Any information on the cities, universities, pictures or anything you want is welcome.

Umass Boston isnt that great of a school. Academically it's ok, but it's mostly a commuter school for people who already live in Boston and its surrounding streetcar burbs - to my knowledge, there isnt even on-campus housing. The school's location is also off the beaten path, down on the Dorchester waterfront near the Kennedy library (i.e. nowhere near the "collegey" parts of Boston, like Huntington and Commonwealth Aves).

I firmly believe that Boston and Cambridge together offer the best urban college environment in the US, but Umass Boston's location will leave you missing most of this. You're better off at Pitt, IMO. Of course, you could always try to find housing in and around the Fenway/Northeastern/BU area and take the Red Line down to school, but that would be 1.) expensive and 2.) time-intensive.

Good luck, wherever you choose!

Umass Boston isnt that great of a school. Academically it's ok, but it's mostly a commuter school for people who already live in Boston and its surrounding streetcar burbs
^Same with UMSL. That school is actually located in a suburb of St. Louis, but has great access to the city via MetroLink. Out of these, I'd say either Boston, NYC, or Pitt.

Trust me kid, you want nothing to do with UMSL. That is, unless you want your "campus life" to consist of the hour before and after class you spend drinking coffee and browsing bulletin boards in the student union before you get in your car and drive back to where you live...far removed from campus.

Commuter school. UMKC has similar traits as well. Scratch that one off your list too.

On the list you have, I think the best combination of school/urban environment would have to be Temple or Pittsburgh.

But Temple happens to be in a really shitty neighborhood.

I'm surprised Silverlake hasn't convinced you that you should stay in LA to go to college :)

(oops, I corrected Blink 182 for Silverlake)

UIC tends to be overshadowed by more famous schools in Chicago, most notably Univ of Chicago and Northwestern. There are several very well-reputed smaller schools in Chicago, Loyola and De Paul come to mind. Those friends of mine who have done college in Chi-town have nothing but good things to say. Being a poor college student you may need to go without a car, and Chicago's well-developed transit system will help you there. And of course being a big city there's plenty to keep you occupied. Aside from a few noteworthy programs I have not heard too much, postive or negative, about UIC.

I've heard good things about U of Pittsburgh. I've always liked Pittsburgh, but I hear they have a huge problem retaining young people. What a beautiful city, though.

your choice of school should be decied on the academics, how well you can fare at that school (no sense in going to harvard if you're going to fail many classes), that areas of study the school is especially good in, etc. making a decision on what school to go to based on what the city around it is like is not a very good idea. it appears you want to go to school in a big city, so any of those choices would be fine. really, though, you will have a good experience in college at any school, as long as do well in class and make lots of friends.

I'm surprised Blink 182 hasn't convinced you that you should stay in LA to go to college :)

hahaha

But Temple happens to be in a really shitty neighborhood.

That's what everyone told me about SLU before I got there. :)

But Temple happens to be in a really shitty neighborhood.

Yea it's right on the border of North Philly right in Fishtown if I remember correctly. But I really don't care much about whether it's in a shitty area or not because it is right in the heart of the city and that is what I'm looking for.

I went to school in Boston and its in my opinion the best city in the US to go to school in. Umass-Boston if I remember correctly isn't in the best neighborhood in the world. Of all those many many schools in Boston, it probably has the least desirable location.

I'm just glad to see you're leaving your home state. Not saying California is bad, but it's good to get away and experience new places, new people and new things.

^ I would agree - experiencing what is different provides you with two advantages. One is you may very well like another place better, but the second reason might be is you may appreciate what you already have even more.

I went to school in Boston and its in my opinion the best city in the US to go to school in. Umass-Boston if I remember correctly isn't in the best neighborhood in the world.

It really isn't in a neighborhood at all. Out on a point in Boston Harbor next to the JFK library. My sister went there & lived in those adjacent apartments paying well over $1200 a month for a one room apartment with her boyfriend.

You might find that the right college town has a better urban atmosphere than you believe. Find a college town very near to a big city. Best of both worlds.

I'm just glad to see you're leaving your home state. Not saying California is bad, but it's good to get away and experience new places, new people and new things.

Yea, I see what you're saying. That is one of the main reason I am leaving California. I want to get out there on my own and experience new things and people. A change of scenery would be good too :) I'm sick of all this sun.

I'm sick of all this sun. once you experience the cold, bone-chilling, lasts-all-day winter rain we have over here, you'll change your mind.

^^Actually Delawares and Phillys winters arent that bad. What about the university of Penn?

I still say try Boston its probably the best choice.

once you experience the cold, bone-chilling, lasts-all-day winter rain we have over here, you'll change your mind.

Well, who knows. Both my parents grew up in Philadelphia and they lived there for about 25 years through college until they moved out here to Cali. All my family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins) are out in Philly, and Jersey. I've been back there a lot and have experienced their winters. I really like them. I realize it may be different once I actually LIVE there as opposed to just visiting. But ya never know. I seem to really like and adjust well to the cold...now the heat on the other hand, I can not stand. And where I'm living now sucks for me because during summer the temperature will be up in the 100's a lot.

UIC is alright, but there are better choices for school. Twenty years ago (maybe even 10) I'd highly suggest you not go there It was a complete commuter school in a bad neighborhood, but now the neighborhood is on the upswing and the school is doing everything in its power to lose its commuter school label. The campus is ok, and the academics are good. If you want to goto school in Chicago and you have a few dollars to play with, goto DePaul. It's in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and has a pretty good campus life and it isn't a slouch academically either

If you want to goto school in Chicago and you have a few dollars to play with, goto DePaul. It's in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and has a pretty good campus life and it isn't a slouch academically either

Sorry man, but I don't exactly have money falling outta my ass.

^^ lol

Of all those I'm going to have to say the University of Georgia, Athens.... oh wait, that wasn't on the list was it? Go DAWGS! shameless I know......

Well if you do choose UMKC, it is definately in one of the nicest and most urban parts of town. Thats not saying much though compared to Chicago and Boston.

I've always understood Boston to be the best large city in America for college.

your choice of school should be decied on the academics, how well you can fare at that school (no sense in going to harvard if you're going to fail many classes), that areas of study the school is especially good in, etc. making a decision on what school to go to based on what the city around it is like is not a very good idea. it appears you want to go to school in a big city, so any of those choices would be fine. really, though, you will have a good experience in college at any school, as long as do well in class and make lots of friends.

I agree with you. You should pick a college because of its academics, the sort of degree you want, and how that school fares in comparison to other schools academically in your particular program.

I understand what you guys are saying. I obviously want to choose the school that best fits my major and future career choice. But for me, it is not all about the school...it is a lot about the location the school is in. Since I would be living in the city that the school is in for the next 2-4 years of my life I would want to make sure I was living in the city that best fitted me. If I had a choice between a school that I really liked the layout of and the campus but it was in a city that wasn't on the top of my list; or if there was a school that I didn't like as much as the other but it was in a city that WAS on top of my list then I would go for that one.

As it is right now, I am leaning towards:

Temple University in Philadelphia or
University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh

and my two top choices after those two would probably be:

City University of New York at Brooklyn and
University of Massachusetts at Boston

Boston. It's such a collegial town. NY and Chicago, being such big cities, would be great too.

^^ Well one thing that is favoring Philly and Pittsburgh (especially) Philadelphia in my eyes is that I have a lot of family in those cities. Chicago, New York City and all the others...I know absolutely no one.

One question I can't help but ask, BigDan: do you have unlimited funding for your education, e.g. parents? I ask this because 6 of your 8 finalists are public schools, and none is a particularly big "name" among public schools. Considering the major difference between out of state and in-state tuition costs, you might consider availing yourself of one of the dozens of public schools in California. Save your money for graduate school or a home when you start working.

I applaud your desire to see a new part of the country and be in an urban environment: I left Arizona to go to college in Chicago and never went back. But I came to Chicago to go to the University of Chicago, which was worth the financial sacrifice it took to go there. I wouldn't have moved 2000 miles to attend UIC. Nothing against UIC, but I could have gotten the same thing at home for 1/10 the price.

One question I can't help but ask, BigDan: do you have unlimited funding for your education, e.g. parents? I ask this because 6 of your 8 finalists are public schools, and none is a particularly big "name" among public schools. Considering the major difference between out of state and in-state tuition costs, you might consider availing yourself of one of the dozens of public schools in California. Save your money for graduate school or a home when you start working.

I applaud your desire to see a new part of the country and be in an urban environment: I left Arizona to go to college in Chicago and never went back. But I came to Chicago to go to the University of Chicago, which was worth the financial sacrifice it took to go there. I wouldn't have moved 2000 miles to attend UIC. Nothing against UIC, but I could have gotten the same thing at home for 1/10 the price.

Well the thing is. I don't want to stay in California. I want to move out as soon as possible. So even though I could get the same education here in California for a lot less...I'm choosing to move away partly because I want to get out of California. Another part is so I can be on my own and experience new people and a new place. And another is just to be near or at least closer to my family (I have grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Philly, Pittsburgh and New Jersey).

Temple University is a "big name" school. And as of right now...that is at the top of my list. I realize out-of-state tuition is a lot more than in-state tuitiion but I am willing to pay that much. I personally would prefer to go to a public school over a private school...and private schools, generally are more expensive; so that works out for me anyways.

I think you would love the University of Pittsburgh. It is one of the most urban campuses in the country. I would have loved to go to that school, and the academic standards are high there.

My second choice to go would be UIC because Chicago is just an amazing city and UIC is in an up and coming nieghborhood.

Temple is in an awesome city. Philly is great, but Temple is in a bad neighborhood. But if you can handle going to a school in a rough neighborhood then Temple would be a good choice of schools.

Remember how expensive NY and Boston are...so i'd probably rule those out. Pittsburgh from what I understand is a really nice place, but you'd have to get used to the weather.

I'd go with Chicago, Boston, or Philly...though the winters would be brutal for someone from California.

Big Dan substitute Drexel for Temple and you are set. Close to family and in Drexel you are really in the heart of the city. temple is the heart of North Philly whereas University City is the heart of Philadelphia proper.

Big Dan substitute Drexel for Temple and you are set. Close to family and in Drexel you are really in the heart of the city. temple is the heart of North Philly whereas University City is the heart of Philadelphia proper.

Thanks for the suggestion but isn't Drexel expensive as shit? Or at least a lot more so than Temple.

Yea, I see what you're saying. That is one of the main reason I am leaving California. I want to get out there on my own and experience new things and people. A change of scenery would be good too :) I'm sick of all this sun.


Hopefully you will can get back in when you are done. I wouldn't give up my spot in Cali, not with the halfmillion people moving here each year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek2: :) :cheers:

Hopefully you will can get back in when you are done. I wouldn't give up my spot in Cali, not with the halfmillion people moving here each year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek2: :) :cheers:

I don't want to come back here when I'm done. I'm through with California. I want to move, not temporarily...but permanently.