Honest Input Please

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Connecticut
1

<p>I need honest input from current students, recent grads, or parents - what do you do on campus other than go to sporting events? Do you find that there are enough activities to keep you busy to make up for a lack of a town/city nearby?</p>

<p>My D is trying to decide and that is her biggest apprehension about attending UConn. She loves the school spirit (she goes to Villanova bb games with her sister and loves it), but she loves a downtown/city too and is worried going to games would get old.</p>

<p>Any info would be greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>My daughter is a sophomore and she loves the school so much that she rarely comes home. I know there are many buses that go to the mall and Hartford. She has made friends with her whole floor. When I come see her I see girls just walk into her room sit on her bed and chat. Lots of drinking and partying. Her first month she had many hangovers. I don’t drink, there is no alcohol in my home. My son has come up with his friends to see the many concerts that are given at Gampel, they sleep in her room. What I said sounds pretty bad, but this occurs at most schools including Villanova. There are very few kids that go to UCONN from our school (about 10). My daughter is very open with us. Good luck</p>

3

<p>what state do you live?</p>

4

<p>Out of state - NJ</p>

5

<p>I live in Connecticut so the price is right for Uconn. My friend in New Jersey made his children go the Rutgers, they hated going initially, but they both ended up loving it and they did well. I admit that I pushed my daughter yelling and screaming at me to Uconn and now she loves it. My son had higher grades and he is going to University of Wisconsin. I write the check, the price has the be right!!!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the reply Justwaiting1. Does your daughter feel, now it’s her 2nd year, that the allure of the school spirit has gotten old? Does she find that there’s enough to keep her busy/happy? Partying usually becomes a big part of it all, on all campuses, but sometimes it’s more of the culture than others (there’s partying at Villanova, but not to the extent of other schools - hence the nickname “Villa no fun”) My D realizes this (and I’m sure she’ll be a participant) but does know it’s not what she wants for the majority of her activities. How about the lack of a town? Does she feel that she misses it? That’s my D’s concern, not having anything outside of campus.</p>

<p>If we were instate, there would be no question, but it’s a bigger price tag than NJ instate. With a UConn grant and a subsidized loan that D will take on, it comes to about $5000 more than NJ state schools. Rutgers was never a consideration. So many people we know have had the 5-year plan there, which makes it not such a great deal. </p>

<p>It’s becoming a tough decision for my D. She has 3 good choices - UConn, Binghamton, and Ithaca College. They all end up being similiar in costs, with Binghamton being the lowest cost. The clock is ticking!</p>

7

<p>My daughter loves UCONN. In her Freshman year she had season tickets to the girls basketball. This year she had me buy season tickets to the football games (out in the cold!!!). On break (many times)her friends slept over our home and they traveled to NYC. My daughter goes to NYC for shopping and entertainment. She complains about everything, she loves UCONN. I could understand if your were comparing UCONN to NYU, there is much more to do in the village then Storrs. I think your biggest problem is being from NJ. Does your daughter fit into a connecticut crowd?? UCONN is not long Island there are many small towns in CT(not too many JAPS). I don’t think my daughter has too friends from New Jersey, most outside CT are from MASS. I don’t think UCONN is well integrated. Binghamton and Ithaca are in the hicks. One of my sons friends was accepted to Ithaca and thought they were a bunch of rich kids (our town is super super rich), another friend was accepted to Binghamton, both were rejected from UCONN. Since your daughter was accepted to UCONN from New Jersey I assume she is very smart. I would pick UCONN.</p>

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<p>Does your daughters interests (major) have anthing to do with her decision?? My daughter applied to over ten schools, they were not targeted to her interests. My son applied to five schools, Maryland, Wisconsin, Uconn, University of Miami (fl) and Penn state. He was accepted to all. The decision was easy, we weren’t going to pay 53k for Miami, Madison is in the middle of a small town (the capitol) the only thing that you have to fear are those teachers carrying those big sticks and yelling!! I think your daughter would like UW, but based on your info I would pick Uconn.</p>

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<p>There are lots of OSS from NJ, my daughter has three friends from NJ, but most OSS are from MASS, since it borders CT.</p>

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<p>[Student</a> Activities | UConn](<a href=“http://www.studentactivities.uconn.edu/inv_index.html]Student”>http://www.studentactivities.uconn.edu/inv_index.html)</p>

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<p>UConn is more in the “hicks” than Binghamton!!!</p>

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<p>[Colleges</a> ranked on surroundings, city life off campus - USATODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-09-08-college-destinations-index_N.htm]Colleges”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-09-08-college-destinations-index_N.htm)</p>

<p>Ithaca is ranked #1 by USA Today for top college town under 250,000. It’s a great location, once you get there…</p>

13

<p>Both Ithaca and Storrs are in the middle of nowhere, one more than the other, but… Storrs has nothing near it. Just my personal view. I’m not sure if UConn has a method of transport to Boston and NYC, but since it’s not that far, it might. Either that or one could take the train. It has a good location for that (about 2.5 hours drive to both) which would be great for your daughter to do with friends.</p>

<p>However, from experience, I can say that I have no idea what people would go to Hartford for on the weekends other than to the XL Center for basketball games. Certain sections are not that safe, especially not at night.</p>

<p>I’d say the main thing your daughter would have to overcome would be the possibility of her not knowing someone else on campus (a mixed blessing). I know people that are in-state and go to UConn knowing 5 other students already. Even though it was a big campus, I know that some of them have been in the same dorms (one case had two girls that had gone to high school together, across the hall from each other). However, this might make it a bit harder for your daughter because she might not have someone else there to rely on. Then again, NJ isn’t so far, so perhaps it would not be so bad.</p>

<p>As for things to do, other than getting Dairy Bar ice cream, there are TONS of student clubs/organizations on campus (one of the advantages of its mediumish size). Honestly, I remember once looking at a list and it was overwhelming.</p>

<p>I’m not saying I go to UConn, because I don’t. I’m not a current student, nor do I plan on going to UConn (maybe a bit too close to home). Do I know people that do? Yes, because I’ve been going to the Storrs campus ever since I was little (similar to your daughter and the Villanova games). UConn basketball is HUGE, and really is loved, not just on campus, but everywhere in the state.</p>

<p>I don’t know if my input really helps, but… I do hope it did.<br>
(Please note, I obviously assumed she got into the Storrs campus, and thus everything is based on that assumption and not the other campuses.)</p>

14

<p>I believe there is daily bus transportation to NY and Boston. I think the price is between $1 and $10. The Connecticut students want to make new friends they don’t necessarily want to hang out with the people they know.</p>