I am currently a senior at a Jesuit high school in Denver Colorado. I am planning on majoring in computer science. I am extremely outdoorsy. I love rock climbing, hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing etc. My current options for college are Gonzaga and CU-Boulder. They are both fantastic schools, but I’m having some trouble deciding which one is more fantastic. A quick reply would be appreciated since I am going to have to decide within the next week or two. Also, money is NOT a problem. I got a nice scholarship from Gonzaga, so both schools are about the same price.
Gonzaga
pros:
-I feel like a smaller school may suit my personality better. I am not overly outgoing and generally don’t go out of my way to make friend and I feel like a smaller student population will make it easier to make friends. Also the smaller classes are a major plus.
-I want to branch out. I have lived in Colorado my whole life, so it would be interesting experience something new.
-Almost all of the buildings seem fairly up to date. From what i have seen, the interiors of the building look fairly new and well kept.
-The professors seem to really care about your success.
-Ending up with a job in Seattle would be pretty cool.
-While I’m not that much into sports the basketball spirit is pretty awesome.
-The community feel of the campus is also a plus.
-Alumni network
cons:
-It is a Jesuit school, and after 4 years of theology classes in highschool I’m a little fed up with it all. I know that its not a major part of campus life, but it is still a con.
-I am also skeptical about Spokane. I have heard very mixed views on Spokane (some people say it’s ok, others hate it). Also you need a car for most of the outdoor recreation.
-Gonzaga’s campus seems a little underwhelming. Yeah, church, college hall, and a few other places are pretty neat, but the rest of the campus buildings seem a little bland.
-It doesn’t seem to be very well known. Im sure I’ll be fine on the west coast, but lose credibility in other places.
CU-Boulder
pros:
-the campus is beautiful, and in a very nice area. The campus is also very large, and has a lot more choices for study spots, dining halls, places to chill with friends, etc.
-Boulder seems like the place to be for outdoorsy people. It also feels like a super laid back atmosphere. You also get free public transportation so you can go visit denver, and get to ski resorts without a car.
-The recreation center is brand new and it houses a pretty decent rock wall. The dining is also very nice with tons of cool options.
-It has a decent engineering reputation.
-There is literally always something going on.
-more class options
cons:
-most of the buildings interiors are pretty dated. I know this is pretty minor, but class isn’t as inviting when you are surrounded by white walls, a white ceiling and, either gray or white floor.
-It is pretty close to home. While i have only been to Boulder a few times, its only an hour and a half from my house. But Boulder is still pretty different from where I live, so I still may get a to experience a new culture/place.
-It has some pretty large class sizes, and the engineering program seems to be pretty competitive. I will most likely face a few classes designed to weed out some of the less competent people.
-There are soooo many distractions, and I’m pretty easily distracted.
So thats just about everything. I’m not too worried about the education that I’ll receive since they don’t seem far off quality-wise. I think my main concerns are which school would lead to a more successful job, and how I will be able to fit in on campus. While Gonzaga may have a smaller student population, Boulder is more suited to my interests. And while Gonzaga has smaller class sizes, Boulder has more class options. II also had someone tell me recently that you can make a big school small, but you can’t make a small school big. It’s things like this that I get hung up on. Any input will be greatly appreciated. 