<p>hi, i was hoping someone could provide some insight.... i am deciding between 2 schools right now- loyola maryland and emerson- two very different schools with totally different programs, students, locations etc. neither was my first or even second choice. and although they are both fine schools with similar aid packages, i am truly not excited to attend either. i am basically choosing a school with the intention to transfer, granted i don't fall in love with the school when i get there. here's my problem:</p>
<p>loyola- i can study what i like, good exchange program, near baltimore ...has a campus; the student body seems all the same, mainly from NJ and NY, preppy and non-diverse</p>
<p>emerson- i would be entering a writing program- and who really knows if i want to be a writer etc?; limited exchange program....really interesting school, actually in boston (i'm a city girl at heart), amazingly diverse students</p>
<p>sorry this is awfully long post but i am coming home crying everyday about not making my top schools and having to go to one of these schools (also, i'm not trying to offend any students who attend either school, both are good schools, they're simply not my tops) thanks for any advice/ insight!!</p>
<p>both schools are comparable and you wouldn't be wrong to choose one or the other, but I wouldn't be so set on transferring out of a university before you even start there - you never know what might happen or how much you will enjoy it there. I would do overnights at both schools and see if that makes any difference - Loyola is a much more traditional school, while Emerson's campus IS Boston and the students tend to go out into the city alot. Also, we are talking about the difference between a Catholic school's student body and an extremely liberal my-hair-is-green-and-purple-and-i-have-7-piercings student body</p>
<p>i could and probably should visit both schools again but living in nyc, my family doesn't own a car so it's difficult and expensive to book amtrack, cabs etc. but thanks for the advice so far</p>
<p>I'd pick Emerson. If you truly are planning to transfer, an exchange program is a non-issue because you usually don't do foreign exchange your first or second year. You say you're a city girl and Boston is a great city. It's more diverse, so it will be broadening in that sense. A writing program will prepare you for all kinds of other majors if you decide to switch. What I'm hearing you say is Loyolla = boring. Emerson = interesting. I'd go with interesting any day of the week, even if it's only for one or two years.</p>
<p>Take the Fung Wah Bus from China Town to Boston ($15 dollars each way). You can do the trip in a day if you have no where to stay in Boston. Visit Emerson and check out Boston.</p>
<p>Where did you want to go and why?<br>
Baltimore may not rock as much as Boston, but it can be plenty lively. Also has cheap $35 RT buses to/from NYC - just google. Sounds like another visit is in order to both.</p>
<p>in respose to the last post: i really wanted GW and BU was my second choice, but neither worked out. i always planned on being in a city, and even though loyola is near baltimore, i'm nervous i will get bored with being on the campus most of the time. yet everytime i think emerson is the one, i think about their limited exchange program and not being able to study in spain (a real factor for me since i am set on becoming fluent/possibly minoring in spanish) i am going to try and visit next week, time is running out so quickly though and every day i change my mind. incredibly grateful for the advice so far though!</p>
<p>in response to last post, yes i would love to travel to any spanish speaking country to study spanish, and am especialy interested in service trips where i could use and practice my spanish...which loyola has and emerson does noe :-/</p>
<p>Just a plug for Loyola - great school, in a great location, close to Johns Hopkins, Towson University and Goucher College. Baltimore is an exciting city with a lot of arts, theatre, symphony etc. Loyola has consistently been rated as having the best dorms in the country as well. They are also well respected academically and the student body is not necessarily all Catholic - it is a diverse group.(and yes, there are the $35 one -way bus trips available to NYC for your visits home !!) Good luck with your decision!!</p>
<p>I went to Emerson (many years ago). I was a writing major. I will say I was one writing focused person. When I look back I think the things that I miss were the things that I thought I loved about the school. When I was there (1980's) there was a lack of community because it was so urban.I loved the big city. Boston was magical. I wanted a big city. I think I gained the big urban feel but at the expense of community that a campus can bring. The ideal when I look back now would be a beautiful campus in or near a city. I also only cared about writing. While the competition was very strong and it really held me to a higher level it was very focused very intense. I perhaps would have enjoyed being exposed to other things that Emerson just doesn't have. It is great for a singular focus on Creative Arts, but is lacking in other areas. </p>
<p>It is a personal decision of what you are really looking for and what kind of college experience you want. The arts are extremely competitive on a whole but in a school like Emerson you can multiply that by a million.</p>
<p>I will say I learned more about writing than I could have anywhere else. Exposed to many talented people who are very successful today. It is a great school it's just more intense and more focused. If you want an urban campus it's one of the best. If you want a college community feel you may want to find something else.</p>
<p>Quote: "and who really knows if i want to be a writer etc?"</p>
<p>Well, here is your chance to find out. One vote for Emerson.</p>
<p>Quote: "yes i would love to travel to any spanish speaking country to study spanish, and am especialy interested in service trips where i could use and practice my spanish...which loyola has and emerson does noe :-/"</p>
<p>Well: you are not necessarily confined to the specific program that a school offers. See whether Emerson will allow you to go find your own, and then give you credit when you get back.</p>
<p>I agree with the earlier poster who said/implied that you sound resigned to Loyola and intrigued by Emerson. So it sounds to me that in your heart of hearts you are thinking that Emerson would be better for you.</p>
<p>thanks so much for the advice so far and i have to say i agree-- loyola is the safe, well known, "good education" school and emerson is the exciting, the unknown (in the sense that i am not sure i'll love writing), a risk in some ways. i find myself leaning towards emerson-- i can still take spanish classes there, i could study at an outside program over the summer, or even take extra classes elsewhere in boston once a week. i just feel i can go to loyola and deal, be fine, take "normal" classes, and meet nice people. but with emerson, i feel i'd be missing a lot more by not going.....it's basically that i need to choose safety or 'adventure' (for lack of a better word). hopefully the answer will be clear sometime soon!</p>
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<p>Boston rocks, and has tons of colleges and college students.<<</p>
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<p>This is one reason my D chose Boston, but the truth is, she isn't in Boston every weekend shmoozing with students from other colleges. You get pretty busy at your own college--she does go see the Boston Pops Orchestra, though.</p>