From Texas to Alaska?

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>After thuroughly doing some research, I have opened the possibility of going to two Alaskan colleges, versus Texas A&M here at home.</p>

<p>I think the overall experience could be really great for me, but does anyone here know about living in Alaska and attending college?</p>

<p>I am considering both the University of Alaska southeast, and Alaska Pacific University.</p>

<p>Both seem well off in Marine Biology, and the second would be my first choice in terms of schooling.</p>

<p>Any comments on this idea?</p>

2

<p>You’ll be able to see Russia from your house…</p>

3

<p>^ Awesome. </p>

<p>And other than that I honestly don’t know. Unless it is cost-prohibitive, there’s no reason you couldn’t go to Alaska.</p>

4

<p>Are you crazy?</p>

5

<p>I have not attended either university but have lived in anchorage my whole life (currently a high school senior). One thing I would stress about going to college here just from what I’ve observed is that the campus is rather spread out and don’t really have that campus feel I’ve gotten from visiting campuses out of state. You also really need a car because although there are public buses the system isnt all that good (at least in anchorage). Since you’d be here mostly in the winter you have to enjoy the snow probably or go crazy. If you have any other anchorage/Alaska specific questions feel free to message me.</p>

6

<p>I live in Juneau, so I’ll try and give my thoughts. UAS is a very small school, about 12 miles outside downtown. It’s a beautiful campus right on a lake, but the vast majority of students are commuters. Juneau is a good place for marine biology, with a big fishing industry, the regional NMFS headquarters and a major NOAA research lab providing internship opportunities.</p>

<p>But you’d be living in a very isolated place, with not much on the way of shopping and nightlife, if you’re into those things. Only about 30,000 people live in Juneau year-round, and the population skews older and educated because the major industry is state and federal government. (I work for the Forest Service in the Federal Building downtown, which has about 1,000 employees spread among a couple dozen agencies.) There’s two malls (neither of which are much to look at by Lower 48 standards), Fred Meyer, Walmart, Costco and Safeway. That’s about it. Oh, and be ready for lots of snow.</p>

7

<p>I’ve also lived in Anchorage all my life (except I am going to school at Michigan State right now). It’s all right…honestly, if you want the traditional college experience at all don’t go to Alaska for school. APU is a very small school, they don’t have a sports culture/any school spirit, a typical cohesive campus etc. It is a good school for marine biology but at the same time it has an outrageous tuition. Go in-state if costs are a factor in your college decision at all. Schools in Alaska are generally not worth the out-of-state tuition. Anchorage as a city is nice, but it is very isolated from society (ie every other city), one of the reasons why I decided to get out. Instead just go to Texas A&M or a local school and if you crave a new experience, come up to Alaska for a summer internship…there are sure to be some awesome opportunities for that. Plus, Alaskan summers are amazing.</p>