<p>From a post above:
"UNCW, Salisbury, ODU, Coastal Carolina and live on the beach or UNCC, Towson, GMU, Winthrop and live in/near the city."</p>
<p>Similarly academics. Same region.</p>
<p>They don't have to be in the same region, I just mean pretty campus, good school spirit, and lots of fun.</p>
<p>Salisbury, UNCW and Towson (sans campus look) fit the description. I would include Indiana PA and JMU. However, very few of these schools are difficult to get into (JMU being the most difficult) and don't normally attract students OOS.
There's also DePaul (the campus is small but beautiful), Dayton and other privates to consider. Flagships fit your criteria to the tee. You can find the type of school you describe all over the country. You might want to narrow it down further by region, academics, career prospects, special programs.</p>
<p>I see you're from Florida, where the publics include UF, FSU, and a bunch of commuter schools (oversized suburban schools and schools that were just 2-yr upper-level colleges until recently). FSU fits the bill and Tallahassee would be great for a PoliSci major.
I would also look at UTampa. Not the best school, but comparable SAT scores to App State in academics. Incredible campus. Very good baseball team (although no football).</p>
<p>dbc, this ferry boat kid is way out of line and knows nothing about what he is saying. I have been to western nc many many times. AppState is NOT a third rate education. He is recommending schools all over the place with no real basis. His credibility is gone, in my humble opinion.</p>
<p>Let me tell you this: if you are interested in AppState, they have wonderful tours of campus. The fall is a wonderful time to visit, with stunning hardwood trees in blazing glory. HUGE wild rhodedendrons along the Blue Ridge Parkway (built by FDR in the 30's and one of the most beautiful and heavily travelled tour/vacation roads in the US). Stunning mountain views. Skiing nearby. Most kids at AppState actually come from the southeast and midlantic states, with a high percentage from all over North Carolina, many of them very smart. There is a hippy element there. But Boone is a lovely place. EASY access to Winston Salem and Charlotte. </p>
<p>It does compete with UNC-Wilmington and UNC-Asheville.</p>
<p>This kid ferryboat has some issue about AppState that he wont disclose. Ignore him.</p>
<p>If you want to go there, then visit and make up your own mind. If its not for you, fine. You learned something and that is as important as being in love with a school. AppState produces a high number of teachers and also a fairly high number of its students go onto grad school, med school and law school. FACT.</p>
<p>Some people in North Carolina are strong UNC-Chapel Hill fans, some are NCState fans, some are Wake Forest or Duke fans, and some are definitely AppState fans. </p>
<p>Dont let people who trash a school influence you.</p>
<p>Nocousin, we'll have to agree to disagree about western NC. However, I would appreciate if you stick to the facts, not personal attacks. Not once in this entire thread have you cited a single source. What little you have offered runs counter to App State's stats, which suggests everything I have said about it.</p>
<p>App State has the 5th best incoming SAT scores among NC publics, behind UNC-A and UNC-W. (Check percentiles at College Board and nces.ed.gov ) FACT
App State is not among the top 150 business schools ranked by US News ( <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/474372-could-someone-post-usnews-undergrad-business-rankings.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/474372-could-someone-post-usnews-undergrad-business-rankings.html</a> ) although 5 other NC schools are. FACT</p>
<p>Of course App State produces many teachers. It's a public school. In Maryland, Frostburg State and Salisbury are known for their education programs. However, these programs are a notable exception and the two schools are known as the worst schools in the state's public college system. In Pennsylvania, it's the same case with Millersville and Indiana.</p>
<p>I'd also like to see your source for graduate school matriculation. Only 63% of App State students graduate in 6 years and weren't star students to begin with. All reason would suggest it doesn't produce too many grad students.</p>
<p>Ferryboat: It is beyond ridiculous that you said I became adhominem. I stated that you lost credibility with me by your scurrilous attack on Appstate, Western North Carolina and its residents, and then suggested a bunch of lower ranked schools. I am sorry, but I have no time for people who trash schools, particularly when they dont know what they are talking about. I have no clue what your hangup is with AppState. If you had some sort of bad experience, well that can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>I am not going to get into a silly comparison of stats game. A LOT of Appstate kids reapply to UNC-Chapel Hill, or even Wake and Duke as transfer kids and GET IN.</p>
<p>Wake, Duke, UNC law schools and medical schools accept AppState graduates every year. </p>
<p>AppState's scores compared to UNC-A and UNC-W are very comparable and have risen in the past three years. Reporting of those scores varies a great deal as schools can play games with averages and high/low stuff.</p>
<p>Besides, SAT scores are relatively meaningless in my view.</p>
<p>I dont know where you live or where you go to school. But attacking AppState and Western North Carolina is poor form.</p>
<p>I dont know where the OP wants to go and what other interests he has. I simply encouraged him to visit and see for himself. </p>
<p>My spouse knew a person who taught at AppState years ago and was considered one of the world's preeminent scholars on Medievalism.</p>
<p>^^^Without getting involved in the above disagreement, I will say that many students from our (NC ) high school apply to and attend ASU. The popularity of ASU has grown tremendously in recent years, making it more selective than it used to be. I personally know a young lady who graduated (h.s.)with my S this year that was rejected from ASU but accepted at UNC-W. I know others who would have been shoo-ins a few years ago who got rejected. A neighbor kid had almost 1200 SAT (with average grades) and got rejected from App.this year. He's now a fresh. at UNC-W also. So it's hard to really go by stats. </p>
<p>Most of the kids from here who go to ASU are very happy there. I don't hear of many transferring. Boone is not a big place (there are shops,stores, movies,retaurants there) but many students choose colleges in even smaller places. </p>
<p>I would think the weather might be a big consideration for someone coming from Fla. Boone is beautiful in the Fall but is very cold/snowy in the winter (the sidewalks on campus are heated to melt the ice so students can walk to class) which lasts a long time. Neither of my S's were interested in that weather but obviously many don't mind it at all.</p>
<p>i was at that UMich App State game. When Mich missed the field goal the whole stadium just said F*** in unison. It was hilarous, not the losing but the response</p>
<p>Thanks Packmom. Tips to NCState while I am at it. I just get really irritated at people who make trash commentary on schools or their locations. Obviously he is not a southerner! </p>
<p>AppState may not be for everyone. I just wanted to be supportive of the OP and tell him that he would be welcome there.</p>
<p>Ferry calling AppState a third rate school really was out of line and very WRONG!</p>
<p>I have no bias against App State. No Michigan fan (go Terps and ACC). I have family in NC - none with any personal ties to its colleges - and have visited western NC.</p>
<p>Everything I know about App State comes from its stats. Which suggests IT IS NOT THE GOOD SCHOOL nocousin says it is. It is largely a regional, commuter, non-diverse school with a bad graduation rate and a reputation behind a few NC publics. All the schools I mentioned (as a point of reference to more attractive locations and as in-state options) have better if not comparable rankings and incoming SAT scores.</p>
<p>Now if someone doesn't want to believe, trust or use stats, that's their prerogative. But a set of unsupported statements does not change the facts and enhance App State beyond a second or third rate public.</p>
<p>There is more to a school (or a student) than stats. An unpopular view here at CC. But probably a true one.</p>
<p>Very true, redknight, but stats measure a lot more than academics. Which is why I said: "But this isn't a rankings thing. You get to a certain point where rankings don't matter any more. It takes a very special fit to go to any school with any of the following attributes, let alone all: public, not diverse, B students, commuters, sports school, 37% 4-yr (63% 6-yr) grad rate.
To anyone OOS, I suggest before applying at App State to visit the college and area. And if you like it, visit the dozens of 2nd/3rd-rate publics that may be a better fit or offer in-state tuition."</p>
<p>App State may be the right choice for a few students that frequent this forums, but those students are hardly without other options, including colleges of comparable academics, location and social atmosphere.</p>
<p>visit the dozens of 2nd/3rd-rate publics - ferryboat.</p>
<p>You need to re-examine your use of that term. Just because its second or third tier according to the "illustrious" USNWR rankings, does not make ANY school second or third rate....i.e. inferior.</p>
<p>Some would suggest that going to a second tier state school is the SMART move, because its cheaper, you get a really good education, and can save your money and mental horsepower for graduate school/professional school.</p>
<p>FWIW, I know someone who went to UGeorgia OOS. I scratched my head because of the huge size of the school and OOS tuition rates. Needless to say, that person lasted a year and then transfered to NCState. Ranking does not mean excellence or does not mean a better education or better experience. </p>
<p>One size does not fit all. Not at AppState and not anywhere else. There are subtle and not so subtle differences in campus culture, regional culture, etc that can make a big difference to some kids. Other kids roll with the punches and adjust very easily to any changes that come their way. </p>
<p>Sometimes a "dream" school (i.e. a big name elite school) is not all that its cracked up to be for a particular individual. Some kids THRIVE in a complete change of environment from home, and other kids need to be close to home. And some kids, no matter where they go, have a hard time adjusting to college life, even if down the street.</p>
<p>It seems to me that this site should be about helping people find the best schools for them, to be supportive of their ideas, or to help them find direction. There are many schools I have visited professionally or with family and I thought to myself either "this is heaven on earth" or "this is hell on earth", but I recognize its my personal opinion based on a short visit. I refrain from trashing schools, their location, their region or culture. Hint: Colby College is not for me. But its a fine school and would be wonderful for someone else.</p>
<p>One of the most attractive things about AppState is that it has a big school feel with big school sports without being 40,000 students!</p>
<p>Its one of the best Master's degree granting schools in the South and is ranked one of the best public colleges by Kiplingers.</p>
<p>For more information: Appalachian</a> :: About the University</p>
<p>Yawn.
The point was that there are many colleges similar or better than App State to apply to.
Keep spinning your wheels all what you want over Boone, definition of 2nd/3rd rate, reputation against schools with better statistics and rankings, etc.
Fact is App State isn't the right fit for many students. Most students, especially on CC, do not want to go to a 2nd/3rd rate public in a rural area with white NC kids with B averages and where they'll be lucky to graduate within 6 years. I'm sure there's a kid or two out there that wants to go there (and pay OOS tuition). And that's great. As long as they're making an informed decision.
Trolling the boards hyping a mediocre school with a challenging social experience is in poor form. There are very high school kids here stressed out and confused over the college admissions process. You should be more careful. The original poster stated his concerns that App State was not prestigious. Yet you tried to suggest him otherwise - in spite of all the facts and rankings. You completely ignored that his SAT stats would put him far above the 75th percentile at App State.</p>
<p>Re: Kiplinger. That's their best values list. And they were ranked #27 among publics on that list, 26 spots after #1.</p>
<p>Yeah, thinking about it now I don't even think my parents would pay for ASU haha....</p>
<p>I could get in somewere better/more highly regarded.</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions for schools anywhere in the country (not really that impressed by NC area)</p>
<p>Thanks Alot</p>
<p>OOS + Non flagship public + commuter + no name recognition outside of NC = why bother?</p>
<p>I don't know much about ASU, but the above facts make it a bad choice for just about anyone OOS.</p>
<p>dpc, you seem to care a lot about the social side of college. I think your other threads, where you clearly expressed this point, have offered a lot of good match suggestions (SMU, Charleston, flagships in FL and south*). Safeties could include some of App State's peers I mentioned along the coast or more urban areas. Or in-state at UTampa, where you could use your Bright Futures 'ship.</p>
<ul>
<li>I'd advise you stay away from the northeast and rust belt, you'll find college towns tend to be more commuter-based and less interested in sports (Big Ten, Notre Dame being the exception). Kansas and Kansas State might be worth looking into.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ferryboat hit this right on the nail. Who the h*ll would want to go to App State??? ESPECIALLY someone from Florida! No way, I'd turn down UF, Miami, FSU, or UCF for App State. If you are that desperate to see snow and experience cold weather, there are a million schools in the Northeast that are waaay better than App State!</p>
<p>I rest my case. arrogance. Great. Oh well.</p>
<p>While we're on the topic of ASU, does appalachian offer any driver's ed classes?</p>