<p>Hello! I am well into my college process and it has narrowed down to two schools that I'd like your opinion on. I plan to be an English major with a tract in Creative Writing and two notable schools have entered my radar: The University of Iowa and Barnard College of Columbia University. Both excellent. Both different in many ways. If I undergrad at Barnard, I will surely go to Iowa Creative Writers Workshop. If I undergrad at Iowa Honors, I plan on going to Columbia's MFA program. I, however, don't know which tract to choose.</p>
<p>UIowa pros: a real college feel that I won't get any other time in my life; school pride, great campus; I'll probably get As more easily; the honors programs is fabulous; I visited there and feel like a queen; I am an NCAA Div 1 athlete and I'm getting money for both merit and athletics.</p>
<p>UIowa cons: almost EVERYONE there is from Iowa, and I am from the northeast so it will be hard to get home or have people relate to me in terms of being homesick and not able to drive to my house (I'd have to take a plane with a connection), it's in the middle of nowhere (compared to New York); I'm not sure about job opportunities afterward.</p>
<p>Barnard pros: it's in the middle of New York, it's small and (though this sounds trivial) they pick my roommate by hand; I can relate to the girls there (they are smart and feminist like me!), Columbia is right across the street; job opportunities afterward are endless, beautiful campus; the diversity is endless and there are people from all around the country and world</p>
<p>Barnard cons: it's expensive; classes are HARD and I'm not sure how that will lay the groundwork for me for graduate school; there's not a true, college sense surrounding there (no football, huge parties, men running around being, well, MEN)-- I KNOW there are Columbia guys there, but they are not like other college kids</p>
<p>I want to write books and be happy and possibly find a boy of my dreams. I'm a novelist, so even though that sounds cheesy, that's the only thing I really imagine for my future. I'm afraid if I choose one that I'll lament not choosing the other. So, any guidance is appreciated!!</p>