<p>Charlottesville is probably the best college town NC or norther (haha). Look at UVA if you want.</p>
<p>I don't know anything about Charlottesville or UVA. What's it like? And could I get in there? Always thought that was a bit of a reach for me..</p>
<p>Are there any other nice college towns on the east coast?</p>
<p>You should look at the University of Maryland at College Park. It's a top university, large student body, good sports, close to Washington DC, and has strong academics. Plus I noticed your from New Jersey, so the school would be a great proximity from your home. Your stats seem pretty strong, so I'm sure you would get in as long as you applied early...plus you may be offered a spot in the Scholars program or Honors, which would allow you plenty of internship and research opportunities. Seriously it's a great school, you should seriously check it out. Boston College is also an excellent choice. They're probably my two favorite universities in this country for getting an all around college experience.</p>
<p>I'm definitely checking out College Park. (or at least I planned to go) My initial problems, of course, come from it being a "commuter campus" and it's not really in a good area from what I understand.</p>
<p>Also, I think it's about half of the students live on campus (which would be around 18,000.. idk how would they not have good res halls with that high a population on-campus)</p>
<p>Is there anything anyone can tell me about Maryland or UVA?</p>
<p>Maryland is a great school and College Park is a fun town....and its near DC. But its more a party atmosphere there than at UVa, I believe. (I have friends at both.) UVa is quintessential gorgeous and HISTORICAL college campus. It is one of the smaller BIG state schools if that makes sense. </p>
<p>Washington and Lee is gorgeous, highly competitive, in a bucolic setting of the Shenandoah Valley (Mtns). (about 50 miles east of Charlottesville). Gen. Robert E. Lee is buried on campus. Its more southern than some schools, but it also has a strong contingent of Northern kids...many from New Jersey. Very academic school. Big sorority scene. We LOVE this place, but its admissions is a bit quirky since its smallish....2,000 students. </p>
<p>Elon is a real up and coming school that is less a party school than some. Gorgeous campus, really, really friendly people and administration. Great sports. Near Greensboro, NC, and close enough to Chapel Hill/Durham/Raleigh to do bigtime activities-shopping etc. They have great scholarships by the way. </p>
<p>Furman is like Elon in many ways. Furman is a tad bit more competitive and harder to get into. Though Elon is getting tough....40% admit rate last year. Some very strong programs. Also a conservative school, but very friendly and HAPPY people. Stunning campus on a lake in Greenville, South Carolina. Near Clemson....huge rivals.</p>
<p>Also, I forgot (how could I?) about Davidson College, on Lake Norman, outside of Charlotte NC. A Superb School. Very very exclusive. Presbyterian heritage but kids from all religions go there. Its HUGELY respected in the South and Southeast. Many consider it superior to UNC and on par with Duke, but UNC tarheels would dispute that! LOL. </p>
<p>Elon, Furman, Davidson all have similar cultures and even architecture. There are differences that you can nuance. In prestige they are in this order: Davidson, Furman, Elon. But there are very bright top students at all three. They play each other in sports as well. So it really depends on where YOU feel like its the best fit...and I recommend strongly a visit to all three.</p>
<p>Check out Wofford if you are checking out Elon, Furman, and Davidson. Not quite as selective, but still a great choice.</p>
<p>WIlliam & Mary is similar to Davidson re type of student, prestige, academics, but more students. If you like Davidson, but want larger school ( but not too big) check out W&M.</p>
<p>How about Villanova? It has a beautiful campus and is not too far from Philadephia (train to the city runs right through campus). Academics are good, there's a wide variety of majors and Division I sports.</p>
<p>^ I checked it out, nice campus and I really liked the living arrangements they had. And they are big into a sport (basketball), which is really appealing. I'm obviously just unnerved by the price and whether or not it's a reality that I could get in.</p>
<p>I guess I just want it to be easy on my parents. I don't want to force them to pay $50,000 per year if I could go to Rutgers for less than $20,000. Or get a huge scholarship to St. John's. I don't know if it's worth going to a school like Villanova or something unless I can get it under $35,000. I don't know. I really should think of myself more I guess.</p>
<p>Financial aid is available at every school, and can vary a great deal. Yes, you can go to Rutgers (a fine school) for a lot less. For some, finances is the driving force. For others, its a factor but not the only factor. For others still yet, its no factor at all. Only you and your parents can decide where financial considerations fit into your college search. And dont feel bad about it. </p>
<p>Villanova is a LOT like Fordham. Very similar schools. Villanova is run by the Augustinians and Fordham is run by the Jesuits. Villanova is a big basketball school and Fordham is football, basketball and a lot of sports, including NCAA women's rowing team. ....and they take walk ons! St.Johns is in Queens and will likely be more aggressive with scholarships and financial aid...they were with my D. Also, consider St. Louis University...a fine Jesuit School in St. Louis that is VERY aggressive with scholarships...and came after my D like plague of locusts....lol...well...not to put a pejorative spin on it....we liked them and the school but ultimately chose Fordham. St. Louis University is the number ONE school in the nation for Healthcare Law. A pretty campus with a GORGEOUS Gothic Cathedral. Stunning. And its a HUGE basketball school as well. Very friendly people. I happen to like St. Louis a lot. </p>
<p>Just some more suggestions for you.</p>
<p>What about Virginia Tech? Definitely a college town, definitely big on sports. And despite the name, there are lots of students who aren't majoring in anything remotely technical.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions. Got a couple of books from the library today. Hopefully they will help guide me better through this process and give me a better idea for a major..</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about Dayton?</p>
<p>I haven't heard good things about Va Tech or UMD's surrounding area. Heard Va Tech is in the middle of nowhere.. but of course, I do not know for sure.</p>
<p>Umm.. does anyone know some schools similar to Fordham, BC, Dayton that are not Jesuit..? I want a school with nice gothic style architecture. Don't know where to find that o.o</p>
<p>UChicago is supposedly the penultimate GOTHIC school. You might have to do the research on that yourself. Google it.</p>
<p>UDayton is not Jesuit. Its run by the Marianist fathers. Notre Dame is run by the Holy Cross Fathers, and College of the Holy Cross is run by the Jesuits.</p>
<p>Southern schools are not gothic, they are usually Georgian Architecture and often on a gorgeous orange brick with white pillars. </p>
<p>Va Tech is in Blacksburg, Va. Blacksburg is a quaint southern town, south of Lexington (W & L, VMI) on I-81. Its in the Shenandoah Valley, one of the most pictoresque parts of the country. Its also one of the nicest and friendliest. VaTech is more than engineering, I can assure you. Dont let the tragedy of a year ago affect your view of that school. What happened was most unfortunate but it was a freak accident by someone who was very ill. He was from Northern Virginia and his parents (Korean) were absolutely devastated by it all. Very, very sad. But its over. VaTech is a very, very pretty campus and a very fine school. Its worth the trip to Blacksburg, let me assure you. </p>
<p>UMd is in College Park. The IMMEDIATE area is not so bad, but some surrounding communities are not the best. Kids take their cars and drive into DC or up to Baltimore for things to do, or to the fabulous Maryland Eastern Shore and ocean beaches.</p>
<p>If you can convince your parents to go south, UF honors might be good. And let me defend North Carolina--we have some awesome colleges! Agree with Wake Forest, maybe Appalachian as well.</p>
<p>Another question: Where can you find out what are the best/worst department's in a given school? Just looking up the most and least popular majors? Or is that misleading? Would wikipedia have it?</p>
<p>My bad on UDayton. Must have read it wrong. Does anyone have any schools that fit my requirements that are nondenominational? Do most public schools have much more in-state students?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know of a good, (stereotypical) small school that is in New Jersey, or in NYC/Philly area? I really want to check out a school like this while its in session just to see if it's a good fit for me.. because I'm not quite sure if I would like it.</p>
<p>Reposting requirements:
* Things to do off-campus
* Students interested/active in sports
* 5,000+ undergrads (medium is best, but I'm fine with large)
* Aesthetically pleasing campus
* Northeast/East coast region of United States</p>