<p>I am new here, so apologies if I am posting in the wrong forum.</p>
<p>I am currently a first year studying American studies in England, and in my third year I am allowed to go on a year abroad to North America. I have relatively little knowledge about US universities so I could use some help selecting my top 3 choices which need to be submitted by the New Year.</p>
<p>My university has exchange links with:
California State University, Long Beach
University of California
Indiana University Bllomington (Like the look of this. It seems "All-American" and is a nice college town near Indianapolis. However, it seems to be a party school and has a big Greek presence).
Lehigh University (Pennsylvania looks an absolutely amazing state, and Bethlehem is the image of America that I think of. However, too party school and Greeky from what I've read.)
Marquette University (Milwaukee is again, IMO an All-American city. It has a suitable climate for me, despite it being very cold in the winter and is close to my favourite city in the world: Chicago).
Purdue University
San Diego State University
State University of New York Buffalo
University of Kansas (Same as IU apart from it's closer to Kansas City than Indianapolis).
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
University of North Carolina Charlotte (Charlotte looks a nice city, but the campus seems too commuter and it's a relatively low-ranking school).
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Really like the idea of studying here but it goes against MOST of my criteria).
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (Same as Marquette).
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University</p>
<p>I want my university choice to be:
- Good for the arts (specifically American studies).
- Located in the "heart of America". I am not looking for the "Californian experience"... I want to be in an "All-American" location.
- Not in a rural location. At least 1.5hrs away (via train, preferably - I cannot drive) from at least 1 major US city.
- Walkable campus (Again, I cannot drive).
- NOT a party school. I don't mind partying, but I couldn't stand a 24/7 party school that revolves around Greek life and football.
- Not a Greeky school. I hate the whole concept of frats, so I'd like Greek presence to be minimal.
- Not a hot climate. I don't mind dry heat, but hate humid/muggy weather.
- Preferably a low percentage of international students. As I have said already, I want to go to a uni that is "All-American". I want to immerse myself in Americana.</p>
<p>I have indicated a few unis that have caught my eye. If you could give me more on those in particular I'd be extremely grateful.</p>
<p>Considering your majors, I’d cut out Virginia Tech and Purdue, which are primarily Engineering schools.
All schools on your list are Greek to a certain extent.
Based on what you want, I’d place UMass as a top pick especially since it’s in a college town and part of the 5 college consortium which would let you get a taste of different colleges (you could take 1 class at one college each semester in addition to classes at UMass); then, Lehigh, Marquette, and UIndiana are most likely to fit.
Next I’d put U South Carolina, Kansas, and SDSU.</p>
<p>[National</a> and Local Weather Forecast, Hurricane, Radar and Report](<a href=“http://www.weather.com%5DNational”>http://www.weather.com) will help you decide if the weather is going to be too much for you.</p>
<p>[Train</a> & Bus Tickets - National Railroad - USA & Canada | Amtrak](<a href=“http://www.amtrak.com%5DTrain”>http://www.amtrak.com) will let you know if there is rail service.</p>
<p>google.com/maps (click on directions, and then select public transportation)will let you know if there is commuter bus or rail service.</p>
<p>boltbus.com and megabus.com are two discount bus services that many students use, check those websites for transportation too.</p>
<p>For the “All-American” part of your goals, I’d rate Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee, and Wisconsin above Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and I’d put Massachussetts and New York below those, and California dead last. </p>
<p>But then I’m from Iowa, so I have my biases.</p>
<p>Wishing you may adventures in your exchange year!</p>
<p>Lehigh is not close to any major cities especially for an exchange student without a car. Also it is more focused on engineering/science/business than what you are looking for.
UMass Amherst is in a nice college town, but also not near a major city.</p>
<p>I have looked into UMass more and it isn’t my kinda school. I don’t like the vibe portrayed in various videos and it’s rep as ZooMass has put me off completely. </p>
<p>I like the look of Milwaukee - but I have read that it’s an unexciting city in the rust belt. I don’t mind the rust belt cities, do you think Milwaukee would be good for me?</p>
<p>In my opinion, UMass in itself isn’t that great, but the fact it’s in a great college town and that you can take classes at 4 other schools (including some that are considered the best in the country) would be a major plus.
You specifically said you didn’t want California, otherwise I’d say try the UC’s.
If I were to choose a city in which to be for a year I wouldn’t pick Milwaukee.
In fact I’d pick based on ability to travel easily to other places of significance or on quality of experience (residential campus, small classes/discussion-based classes, college town).
Happymom gave you important criteria re: trains - you can’t assume there’s a train station in these cities/towns.
Based on everything you’ve knocked off, all you have left Buffalo State and UNC Charlotte, but both are commuter schools and they’re not especially good for American studies.
You need to change at least one of your criteria, I’m afraid.
Note that all the schools on your list have important Greek contingents (UT Knoxville and USC probably are as much as if not more than KU + they’re very muggy/sweltering from April to September).</p>
<p>I think you really should consider at least some of the UCs. Davis is a great college town with an All-American feel, but it does get hot there in the summer. UCLA may be too glitzy for you, and UCSB/UCSD too ‘beachy’ but then there is Berkeley. Give it some thought. It’s among the top universities on the planet, it’s in a scenic, fabulous part of the California without it being the cliche beach community. Even without a car you can hike, sail, ski and enjoy city pleasures within a few hours of campus (all except skiing are right in Berkeley’s front/back yard.) It has a Greek scene (all big schools do) but it can be easily ignored - and frankly, is by a huge percentage of students. It’s intellectually vibrant, yet highly diverse and tolerant (not, ahem, All-American qualities, frankly.) It has the All-American college sports scene without suffering on the social/intellectual side. It doesn’t get very hot there, and the winter is mild (if wet.) It’s such a unique place you can hardly call it the California experience, whatever you mean by that.</p>
<p>Compared to the UK and Europe, the US has very limited train service, so it’s going to be hard for you to visit many places unless you’re willing to fly. Based upon availability of transportation, I would say that UCLA is probably your best best, followed by UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego. After that, Marquette has very good transportation to Chicago. I would also not rule out Lehigh - yes, it is pretty fratty, but it’s a good school and there’s frequent bus transportation between Allentown and NYC (takes a little over 2 hours).</p>
<p>I am willing to fly to places (but not frequently - the cost would be too great!)</p>
<p>After saying I liked Milwaukee earlier, I have researched it some more and it just seems a grim industrial town. I’d imagine it’s like someone from the States studying a year in Wolverhampton.</p>
<p>I have left the following universities on my research list:
California State University, Long Beach
University of California
Indiana University Bloomington
Lehigh University
Purdue University
San Diego State University
University of Kansas
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee at Knoxville</p>
<p>Well, I’ll put Marquette and UW-Milwaukee back in I think I have just read too many negative posts about Milwaukee and not enough positives!</p>
<p>I want to experience real America - so California isn’t really a great option, as it’s more or less it’s own culture in many respects…</p>
<p>So far my top 5 are shaping up as (in no particular order):
Marquette
University of Kansas
Indiana University
Purdue University
Lehigh / Maybe SUNY Buffalo</p>
<p>What’s Buffalo like? I’ve heard the same about it as Milwaukee (i.e. ghetto, snowy, and depressing) but my hometown share some of those characteristics, so not a biggie!</p>
<p>I like the look of Indiana, however, it appears to be too fratty. If I go against my not fratty criterion, I’d pick KU. Lawrence seems nicer than Bloomington, then again IU is closer to Chicago - a city I’d like to visit.</p>
<p>Marquette is a great mid-sized Catholic school, with lots of business students. Pretty conservative and athletic. Lots of good classes to take and real American experience guaranteed.
The big downside in my opinion is not just Milwaukee (it’s kinda like attending school in Leeds, which has its fans) but rather how difficult it’ll be for you to travel. That’s why I supported Lehigh and UMass, simply because you can very easily go places from there (shuttles, trains) without taking a plane and without a 12 or 18 hour bus ride. UMass is big enough that you would find your group. Lehigh is smaller and it’d be harder to escape the party/greek culture, but it’s also high(caliber academics and an excellent location, plus you can’t find more “true Americana” than the Valley where it’s located.
In all cases, ask whether you’d be allowed to take junior/senior level classes and/or Honors Seminars (seminars for Honors students).
I’d pick San Diego over SUNY Buffalo in a heartbeat. Buffalo’s in the snow belt and it can be brutal.</p>
<p>What places do you want to see while you are here? Particular cities, certain types of scenery, National Parks? Are you a hiker or a skier or an art museum lover? Maybe these questions will help focus your choice.
My *personal *preference would be either coast. California has nice weather, some great cities and lots of scenic areas including some spectacular National Parks like Yosemite.
Going to the midwest doesn’t provide you with a “more” American experience. No one area really does. This country is really big and diverse in so many ways. Even within one area there is a great variety of environments, scenery, people and experiences.
I would remove Buffalo, and Kansas from your list.</p>
<p>I agree with Beantowngirl that there is no one “real America” to be found–I’m surprised that someone involved in American Studies would have that kind of simplistic notion. It’s a diverse country, and despite what some hardcore conservatives would have you believe, we’re all “real Americans”, whether urban, rural, suburban, from the plains to the coasts, from the snow belt to places where palm trees thrive. My medium sized, multi-ethnic city in the Northeast has 6 bedroom homes on 3 or 4 acres, dismal low income neighborhoods, new condos filled with yuppies, blue collar areas housing families with 2.5 kids and a dog, a salt water beach, acres of undeveloped woodland, and a mall with every chain store that every American in every other part of the country shops at, plus it’s just an hour’s ride into the most exciting city in the nation. Maybe none of us are feeding chickens at 6 am or attending a rodeo on the weekend, but we’re still pretty darn real. Unfortunately we don’t have any of the colleges on your list, but I think you get my point.</p>
<p>Having spent the past summer studying at IU, I would not recommend it for you. It’s a great school, for sure, but it’s just a college town. It’s an hour from Indianapolis, and I don’t think a bus runs (other than airport shuttle) so you’d need a car to get around. It’s a very “American” school, but it won’t allow you to explore America (a lot of in state students, and again, you’d only be able to meet people in Bloomington). </p>
<p>I’d definitely look at the UCs. Yeah, California had a different feel than the rest of the US, but there are students from around the country and that will allow you to get to know a variety of people. If you pick Cal (UC Berkeley), you can easily take BART to San Francisco. And you can find flights to LA for under $100.</p>
I think I have just read too many negative posts about Milwaukee and not enough positives!</p>