<p>I would absolutely LOVE to go to GA tech... if it weren't for the fact that Humanities aren't exactly their strong point. It's in the perfect part of Atlanta, and HOPE would pay for it, but the closest thing to an English major is a B.S. in "Science, Technology, and Culture." UGA is definitely an option, however, while Athens is a great town, it's just not the big city I feel like I'm looking for. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it, I just think I'd be much happier somewhere else. It just seems like Athens is UGA. If you're in Athens, there's no way of escaping UGA. Whereas if I were in Atlanta, anytime I wanted to leave the university I could just drive a few miles and be completely immersed in an entirely separate community.</p>
<p>All your suggestions have been so helpful. A few questions though: is there any chance I could receive merit aid at Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, Emory, or the UC's? How Catholic is U San Diego? Is U Miami really in a city or just a suburban area? And I've heard College of Charleston is just a party school, is this true?</p>
<p>When I read your first post, I suggested Tulane ahead of Rice and Vanderbilt primarily because of its greater likelihood of being able to meet your desire for merit aid. In the case of Duke, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Emory, I wouldn't even go so far as to say you are a lock for admission, much less for merit aid. I don't mean to discourage you, so apply if these schools appeal to you (and I think that they all have a lot to offer), but also plan accordingly given your desires for a college that will give you substantial merit aid.</p>
<p>As for U Miami, it's in Coral Gables. Nice area, close to downtown, definitely urban and a part of the Miami scene. College of Charleston is in a different league than all of these others. Aid there would be likely but the strength of the experience would be significantly different than any of the others. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Most of what people know as Miami is suburbs. Miami is actually a very small area, smaller than Omaha. Unlike most cities like LA, though, it hasn't incorporated the very built up suburbs such as coral gables into the city. For all intents and purposes, though, coral gables is miami.</p>
<p>Charleston is a party school for sure, but it's a great regional LAC that doesn't get enough credit. Tulane and Vandy are also big party schools FWIW.</p>
<p>In order to get the type of money you want, you may have to look a bit harder than at the commonly known schools. Tulane is a great school, yes, and they give a lot of merit money, yes. But a lot of merit money can mean $20-30K for a school that costs over $50K. As for Rice and Duke, getting into those schools is itself an issue, and getting money a whole different story, even more competitive. Read the posts by Curmudgeon and his D's search for the generous rides. His D was accepted to Yale but getting a substantial merit award was tough, tough going. (Rhodes where his D now goes is a school that should go on your list, by the way). Also look at MomfromTexas's posts. These are the schools that should pepper your list along with your choices. Tulane is a great school, but financially you may do better with Loyola. Look at the catholics schools like San Diego University, or Loyola Marymount. They may offer some money in the amounts you want. College of Charleston has a low sticker price and just may cough up enough in merit to put it in your parents' target cost range. Old Dominion or other Virginia schools also have low sticker prices; look at what is in the cities there. Pick a number of warm climate cities you like and gather a list of schools in those cities and start investigating them. I'm not saying forget Vanderbilt, Duke and crowd, but you should add a few possibilities where the acceptance and funding are likely.</p>
<p>Duke does not have the big city feel you are looking for anywhere nearby. The triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) has the large population and there are several large universities, but the area is more suburban with large housing developments and strip malls. </p>
<p>For warm, urban, strong in English and generous with aid I agree with the other suggestions that have been posted. Don't worry about the Catholicness of a school. There may be a religious studies requirement, but that can frequently be met with world religions courses.</p>
<p>hey if u go to theu (dot) com
they have videos and college tours for many of the schools listed here espcially UMiami and u can see what Coral Gables is like. Moreover just google earth the area to get a better idea. </p>
<p>As to my perspective, Coral Gables, as previously mentioned, is by law considered a separate entity with its own mayor and police force but is really urban (as it has its own Downtown with high rises) and is very close to Downtown Miami and Coconut Grove (popular student hang out). Really nice area too. In case u do not have a car the school has its own Metrorail stop (Miami's metro system) which gets you to several shopping centers and Downtown Miami in less than 5 minutes.</p>
<p>Rice is more difficult to get into than Vanderbilt and is at least as good academically. I wouldn't say applying to Vanderbilt would be aiming higher. Also, I think Duke is basically a peer school of Rice, at least for student in certain parts of the country. I know a LOT of people who got into both and chose Rice.</p>
<p>^While Eagle Rock is technically part of LA, it's more of suburb that an actual part of the city. Unless the OP plans to bring a car (to LA? I wouldn't!), Oxy might not be in the ideal area.</p>
<p>for starters Duke recieves much more prestige and recognition world wide than Rice does, though granted you could recieve just as good an education at Rice than you could at Duke. But saying that you go to Duke, is much different (at least imo) than saying you go to Rice. </p>
<p>Rice could compare with Vandy and Emory though.</p>
<p>I have always thought that Rice was somewhat more prestigious than Emory and Vanderbilt, but slightly less than Duke. But I dunno.</p>
<p>And as for the Catholicness of the schools, it's not so much the influence on education I'm worried about, but the influence on the environment in general. I mean, I don't mind people with religious values and whatnot, but if its presence was constant and apparent on campus I think I would feel uncomfortable. If it were something like Emory, where its roots as a Methodist school are purely historic, I wouldn't mind.</p>
<p>In regards to the overall atmosphere of USD, here are some excerpts from the Princeton Review website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
“There is a strong majority of Catholics,” explains a first-year student, “but I don’t get the impression that they tend to be deeply religious.”
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
“Most people are laidback,” “down to earth,” “outgoing, and friendly.” They’re “typical Southern Californians really."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So even if you encounter some staunchly Catholic students, I don't think that they represent the entire student body. And even those kids will probably still be nice.</p>
<p>Stanford is a reach for everyone, but you do have nice stats. And while nice and warm, it IS in a suburban area but a quick (30 min maybe) train ride from San Francisco. </p>
<p>Also, Pomona... whether or not you consider it a city is another matter. But it fits your other criteria, and offers a heck of an education.</p>