<p>at least chicago is super exciting city.....while there is syracuse in the middle of nowhere.....</p>
<p>Easydoesitmom, that info about Fredonia is great!! D will be auditioning there on Feb 9th (with a hopeful audition at Eastman the day before to save time and milage). Glad to hear your son likes it there!! Although D prefers the allure of NYU I have always felt in the end she will end up at Fredonia or Ithaca. I like Fredonia's access to mass transit (she can take the train home if necessary). Like your son, Potsdam has not been of interest to her although she is auditioning there on Dec 8th anyway bc all of her teachers are pushing her to.</p>
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there is syracuse in the middle of nowhere.....
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</p>
<p>No. Syracuse is in the middle of Syracuse. </p>
<p>If you like what you're doing in a place, that's all that matters. I wish I could live in a cool place like Sacramento, but not everybody gets that good fortune.</p>
<p>Mostly I've lived in towns others wouldn't find appealing, but when I liked my task or mission there, I was happy and found wonderful, surprising things about the city that were unique. Good people everywhere.</p>
<p>I also lived in an amazing city (Austin) with a poorly conceived set-up and didn't like my time there. That was a shame. </p>
<p>YMMV. My motto: Bloom where you're planted.</p>
<p>p3t -- I love everything you write. Your description of surviving winters got it just right (writing from Chicago here, where I try to take two big dogs out for a long ramble every day of the year. I had to learn to wear hats and buy better boots! ). And you are absolutely correct in saying kids are happy when they are busy, like their programs, and find friends. </p>
<p>easydoesitmom -- I had to smile at your phrase "Midwestern twinge." Of course, WE think we're the nicest, kindest, most laid-back area of the US. I didn't know our influence "bleeds" out at the borders (LOL!)</p>
<p>Check out my vist to Syracuse in the college visits forums.</p>
<p>OP - I'd suggest you check out the livejournal thread for Syracuse:
Syracuse</a> University</p>
<p>It will give you insight to the school by people whose purpose is different than admissions offices, etc. You'll find a true mix of people, interests, opinions, etc.</p>
<p>taxguy, Yes, I read your visit report for Syracuse it was extremely helpful. Thank You! I was hoping to learn if anything had changed in the last two years.</p>
<p>teriwtt thanks for the livejournal link.</p>
<p>LOL, whenever someone from the Midwest or West checks out Syracuse, I feel their energy passing over my roof in Buffalo! Waving to ya.</p>
<p>Tututaxi. what I said in my college visit forum and in my overview of my visit to Syracuse,which was posted two years ago, still seems correct. For example, one of the things that I noted was that Syracuse takes being liberal to a new height even to the detrment of their students.</p>
<p>Their president just issued a speech on "democratizing our universities," which, if you read her speech, seems to be a codeword for more affirmative action. See <a href="http://www.syr.edu/chancellor/speeches/columbia.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.syr.edu/chancellor/speeches/columbia.pdf</a></p>
<p>I would be extremely proud and grateful to have my S (he's applying this year) be part of the "community of democratic practice" that Nancy Cantor describes in her speech. Syracuse is fortunate to have her as president.</p>
<p>Geezermom notes,"I would be extremely proud and grateful to have my S (he's applying this year) be part of the "community of democratic practice" that Nancy Cantor describes in her speech. Syracuse is fortunate to have her as president."</p>
<p>Response:Great , I am glad you feel this way. Personally, and this is solely my opinion, I would like different priorities such as improved dorms, more endowed chairs, scholarships,improved and better computers in libraries, etc. over more affirmative action;however, this is solely my opinion.</p>