Georgetown, USC and BC, are they everything I believe they are?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm an int'l student, from Bulgeria.
My GPA is very high (95sih/100), top 10% of my class, SAT1- V690, M720, W700 (2110 total). TOEFL- taking soon.</p>

<p>I have this image of my "dream school" in my head for quite a while now. All I know about the schools I'm looking into is from what I read online, discussion boards, PR, SR, etc. That said, I don't have any first hand opinions on these schools, have never visited any, and basically I love them from what they are made out to be.
Here's my vision of the perfect school for me:
Location, states with large cities, i.e- IL, DC, CA, MA, NY and PA.
Size- 6,000-16,000 undergrads. A grad school around, since I'm almost 20 it's important for me to have people my age.
Majors- Strong humanities, FILM basically is my biggest passion! A nice program in acting, vocal, and dance as a club or a minor is essential.
Now in terms of social life, I don't mean to annoy anyone with my "demands", or shall I say prefrences, but I really want a life-like campus, that parties A LOT, and I don't just mean drinking on weekend nights, passing out and calling it true fun. Before describing my desires party scene, I want to emphasize that I don't want to go to a school just to party, everyday, with everyone, just party party party for the sake of "partying". I do care a lot for an intellectual enviroment. I like to party, but the smarter the people I party with, the better. I'd hate a campus where people interact and gather just on party nights. I want a vibrant campus feel, where all students live on-campus, or at list the majority do. Also, I don't want to have to only party on weekends, I feel it's too contribed (or is it contrived?) to party only on weekends, there's nothing spontenious about it and it defeats the whole meaning of having a good time to me. I wanna know that even on a regular night I can go out if I have late classes the day after, and know I have people to do iy with. I don't mind if the scene is dominated by frats, as long as it's there and it's big. When deciding to go to school in America, I have also pictured the dorm/residential life so unique, active, and just fun! It's an experience that only U.S. colleges can offer! I think it's quite amazing to have an opportunity to live with young people all in your age in one small place... It can get intresting I bet. That said, hope I didn't make you all think "wow does she really think she's gonna find everything she's looking for?"... Well, I do wish to find as many. That said, the traditional "campus feel" is way imporatant for me, but it should also be large enough for me often encounter new faces, as I get bored pretty fast and needs to constantly be challened :) Aestetics is always a good plus, dorms, nice scenery. Schools spirit and lots of sports events would be awesome!
A large city setting is preferable as long as it isn't to disractive and most of the socializing takes place ON-CAMPUS.
Any other schools to suggest for me? What do you think about Gtwon, USC and BC?</p>

2

<p>I just wanted to add, that up until now, USC was nearly PERFECT as far as I was concerned! Respectful academisc rep, nice looking campus, a large and divrse student body, but mostly large :) Has all my potantial majors, great sports, LA is always awesome to hang out, great alumn connections and lot's of other schools around.
The HUGE downside to it is the fact that only about 36% live o-campus, there's hardly housing offered for upperclassmen (the only people my age!), I hear most people go home on weekends and there's hardly any partying and fun going on, just a deserted campus with most people go home. Weird, I'd think people would rather stay and have fun, considering the weekend days the high lights of the week...
As you can tell, that's really an issue for me. So from people who do have a clue, is it really that bad?</p>

<p>Thanks! Blaire.</p>

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<p>bump!!!!!!</p>

4

<p>Come on u guys, that's really important to me!</p>

5

<p>These schools, in my opinion, are all pretty similar. I've actually visited all of them, but I am applying only to USC because the others are too religious/conservative for me. They are all generally more conservative though, but USC and BC definitely have the best party scenes.</p>

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<p>What did you think about USC?? Did u read my other comment on it?
A few current USC student have warned me that this is not the party school it's made out to be. What was the impression that you got on that?</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
because the others are too religious/conservative for me.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>From where did you derive this opinion about Georgetown? I am a student here, and I can assure you that there is no overwhelming atmosphere of conservatism; if anything, the preponderance of attitudes shift more to the contrary.</p>

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<p>nspeds,
Can you tell me more about Gtown? I was gonna post the same thing on the Gtown board, but if your'e already here, do u mind telling if you think that the school is anything I described?</p>

9

<p>I can speak for Boston College in saying that I don't think your impression of a vibrant urban school will be what you'll find. Boston College, is not in the city of Boston, it's in the suburbs, about 30 hour from downtown, beautiful Jesuit institution. BC does party but they are diligent workers, of the Boston schools, what you're describing really sounds more like Boston University or Northeastern.</p>

<p>Also, have you looked at Northwestern in Chicago? Try it, I'd also look Stanford, Syracuse, and Tufts(if you're considering BC, I'd think you love Tufts more from what you've said, much more loose and layed back, there are grad students, and the southside of campus is always active, always partying, but it is a still a very intellectual institution where academics are key and students excel, and as an international students, Tufts is rated as the best by many for international students, 18% of the students are international, something the school prides itself on, definitely look at Tufts.</p>

10

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<p>I'm guessing you meant 30 minutes.</p>

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<p>USC is the PERFECT party school with great academics...if you can get into parties.</p>

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<p>You are going to spend $40,000+ a year to go to college and your biggest priority is that you can party 7 days a week?</p>

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<p>No, perhaps she's ensuring she's not forking over large tuition sums for a dull, depressing, or at the very least, underwhelming social vibe and campus culture. Hmmm, seems to me that researching the ambience of a campus that you're going to call home for four years may not be such a bad idea. Let's watch the critcism.</p>

<p>Back to the poster, yes, USC satisfies most of the above. Quite well in fact. The only parts of your description which may not fit are that most socializing doesn't take place on campus (within five minutes walking distance, but not techincally on campus). Also, as you mentioned, on campus housing is mainly for freshman which leads to many of the students who come from nearby going home and giving campus a slightly more quiet feel on weekends. This is just campus however. The neighborhood immediately to the north is completely dominated by student housing (not unlike Isla Visa, CA for UCSB) and few upperclassmen leave.</p>

<p>Actually, I agreed with you a few years ago when I (thought I) disliked how the majority of students are off campus, but there are a few pro's. Namely, since everyone's so nearby, there's still an overwhelming sense of community. Also, the fact that everyone lives in apartments or renovated victorian houses simply offers more party options than tighly controlled dorms.</p>

<p>Just some information to consider. I don't think USC satisfies every quality you're looking for, but again, it addresses many and certainly buch better than BC or Georgetown.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
FILM basically is my biggest passion!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Then you have to go to USC. BC and Georgetown would be a waste of time and money for you. You mentioned an interest in NY so consider Syracuse in upper New York State. Good film/communications programs. Very active campus but cold and snowy in the winter. NYU, while having one of the best film programs in the US, does not have the kind of campus-based student life you're looking for.</p>

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<p>You're from Bulgaria? My guess is you study at ACS, judging from the GPA and ranking you got. Anyway, I suggest that you reconsider Gtown, I've heard they're pretty stingy when it comes to int'l students. Tufts is a better bet, as s.o. already said.
Gtown is not party conservative, but perhaps academically traditional-that's the feel I got when reading through their mission statement and the catalogue, just look at the religiouis affiliation and those DAMN 3 SATIIs :(
uspeh;)</p>

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<p>1Down2togo,
Yes, afetr eliminating a ton of schools because of their low academic rankings, and after assuring that the remaining schools on my list all have good academics and rep, that is my only concern. And like themegastud said, choosing my "home" for the next 4 years is truely imporatant. And actually, if I had thought that a CC or a state school have the kind of enviroment I am looking for, I'd choose it over Harvard as well. All of the schools I have been looking into excell in academics and social life as well.</p>

17

<p>themegastud </p>

<p>I can't tell you how encouraged I feel right now, how thrilled I am after reading your comment and how sure I am about USC now!
A five minutes walk distance is absolutely fine by me. It was such a relief to hear that all housing is around the campus... It doesn't matter if it's officially dorms or housing right outside the campus. I didn't understand that line tho: (not unlike Isla Visa, CA for UCSB)... What did u mean by that?</p>

<p>Also, the fact that everyone lives in apartments or renovated victorian houses simply offers more party options than tighly controlled dorms-</p>

<p>That is great news indeed :) !!! Your'e right, I never evem though about this aspect. But a more divrse party scene. lot's of different options available is even better than my "traditional campus" image.</p>

<p>USC does satisfy a lot of what I am looking for, and that's enough. No place is perfect and I'm sure I'll be surprised to discover new things on my own just like you did and like you said about the whole housing thing.
And the film school is good enough of a reason for me to compramize one the others, that if I get in, of course!</p>

<p>So thank you so much for everything!!</p>

18

<p>Thanks for making it clear that you have already done "tons" of research, Blaire. From your original post, that wasn't obvious to me that you had already done that much research. Agreed, the social atmosphere on/off campus is important. Both of my kids were glad to move off campus after living in dorms, but they were definitely glad to have started out in dorms. They also tired of the party scene somewhat by junior year, and you have more control of things when you're not in a dorm.</p>

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<p>My son has lived off-campus at USC for two years, and now lives in a house with eight other students. He has walked to campus both of the years he has been in private housing. He was happy to get out of the dorms where he lived his first year. </p>

<p>Last year he lived in one of the apartment complexes owned by Conquest Housing. The website below will give you an idea of they type of housing available. It is expensive though, but you can save money by cooking your own food. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.conquesthousing.com/indexsc.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.conquesthousing.com/indexsc.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Blaire781 -</p>

<p>Since you've never visited USC, you should be aware that the campus is great -very beautiful, but the surrounding neighborhood is rather run down. It's not quite the golden SoCal/beach & sun with affluent houses that you see on "The OC" or "Beverly Hills 90210" reruns.</p>

<p>This doesn't seem to be a problem for the vast majority of USC students, who seem to love their school and enjoy their years there, but I just didn't want you to be shocked the first time you visit the campus.</p>