<p>Any thoughts about Tempe, Arizona?</p>
<p>I think Tempe is becoming more of a regular medium-city than a college town. Businesses are growing and graduated students are staying in the area, making it less college-y. </p>
<p>It would definitely be a culture shock for someone from such a small area, but, you wouldn't have to deal with the cold!
Tucson is more of a college town than Tempe is, but both are large.</p>
<p>I can see where the surrounding metro area ( ie Phoenix) would be big, but Tempe itself is only about 150,000, right? Thats is way smaller than Tucson, I believe (population more like half a million).</p>
<p>Gainesville, Florida</p>
<p>You also might want to go and visit some schools for yourself. For example, you might think you would be completely turned off from a school that has the word "Chicago" in the title, but both the University of Chicago (and DePaul, and Loyola U. of Chicago, to a lesser extent) have a beautiful campus as well as a neighborhood.</p>
<p>I think many people are surprised at both the U of C and DePaul for being "urban" schools in an environment that doesn't always feel so urban.</p>
<p>In some ways, I think that some of the urban schools (perhaps a school like Macalester or Barnard) might feel less overwhelming than a school like Michigan, because Mac and Barnard have small student populations with a lot of surroundings (both immediate and three miles away) while Michigan is all Michigan, all the time.</p>
<p>Different people will find "coziness" in different sorts of places.</p>
<p>Austin.</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>"I can see where the surrounding metro area ( ie Phoenix) would be big, but Tempe itself is only about 150,000, right? Thats is way smaller than Tucson, I believe (population more like half a million)."</p>
<p>That may be true, but I don't think the poster is looking for a 150k population college town. </p>
<p>Living in Tempe last year, it definitely seems like a small/medium-sized city to me. It's no San Francisco or Phoenix, but its definitely got some urban sprawl, and it's only growing! Plus, the lines between Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Phoenix, Glendale, etc. can become blurred, making the whole area seem really big in general. </p>
<p>I guess when I said Tucson, I meant UofA's campus feel is more college town than the city of Tempe.</p>
<p>Brunswick Maine (Bowdoin). Charming, lots of shops and restaurants; near the coast.</p>
<p>Norman, OK</p>
<p>One more plug for Walla Walla.</p>
<p>Why be afraid to live?
Experience life man... don't give in to your fears.
Pick a college that best suits your major and go with it.... Adaptation is what life is all about.</p>