Student Exchange from UK to US. Help!

College Search & Selection
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<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>I know there isn’t a real America, per say, but I was talking more of attending school in an area that is more traditional and features the qualities many outsiders assume America to have. I don’t mean to offend anyone by saying places, such as California, are “un-American” - it’s just that it’s a different type of environemnt to what I think of when I think of America. Nonetheless, I think I am going to keep the UCs near the top of my list!</p>

<p>Since taking in all your advice, I will leave all small college town schools off of my list, leaving me with:
California State University, Long Beach
University of California
San Diego State University
State University of New York Buffalo
University of North Carolina Charlotte
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee</p>

<p>Now to give you an idea about my personal preferences:

  • I want to be able to travel to AT LEAST 1 big US city frequently.
  • I am interested in the history of the Old West and Deep South in specific. I also find the Depression-era mobsters and Great Migration fascinating.
  • I am not very outdoorsy. I prefer music (so a good music scene) and pro sports. I play tennis and badminton, if that makes any difference! I don’t mind hiking, so a school that I could go hiking near would be a plus.
  • Particular cities/states I’d like to visit: Seattle, Portland, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Tombstone (AZ), LA, SF, San Diego, Albuquerque, Chicago and NYC. Willing to take a flight to the further away places, but couldn’t this ground be covered on a road trip?
  • Friendly student body. Obviously subjective, but I am going to be spending a year in a foreign country, so I’d need to make friends easily!
  • I like white Christmases, so snow at Christmas would be a plus, however, I won’t be in the States at Christmas (unlikely) so this doesn’t make much difference.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>I understand what you mean by “American”: not something you see in the movies all the time and not something that’s studied a lot ( like New York City, LA, etc). The rest of America is just as real but when you come from abroad, you want to go beyond the cliches of glitz and skyscrapers and ghettos.
On the other hand, you can go to a place that’s often studied and portrayed, and look at how reality differs from the way it’s represented in your country!</p>

<p>Remove California Long Beach: it’s a commuter school. It’d be harder to make friends in that context and if you accept going to California, you have the UC’s.
Pick a UC that’s a little less requested. My recommendation would be UC San Diego but it might be too requested but why not UC Irvine, for example?</p>

<p>Do yourself a favor and remove SUNY BUffalo. </p>

<p>Why did you remove Marquette? Between Marquette and UWI-Milwaukee, I’d pick Marquette… UWI-Milwaukee is also more of a commuter school.</p>

<p>If you drive, visiting these cities would take you probably a month driving and visiting for the Western cities, assuming you’d fly in and out of these cities at each endpoint.
Remember that the distance between Seattle and San Diego is roughly the same as London-Bucharest or London-Casablanca… Now imagine stopping several times along the way to visit. That would likely be a trip you’d take at the end of the semester. I’d recommend doing the Western cities after Fall semester and NYC/Chicago after Spring semester or during Spring Break.</p>

<p>You will not be able to go anywhere frequently. Perhaps once a month on a weekend if you’re very efficient with your work you’ll be able to leave campus and take a trip to a nearby city, but you won’t be able to go on a real trip except for Fall Break (that may be an important criterion: check out if your university has Fall break! Not all do) and for Spring Break. If your university is on a 4-1-1 calendar, it means another mini break at the end of January. In addition, Fall break only lasts 4 days when there’s one, not a week like European Breaks.</p>

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<p>If you plan to travel so much, please acquaint yourself with the idea that distances are great in the US, and as someone mentioned upthread, train travel is not what it is in the UK and Europe.</p>

<p>When US kids study in the UK they can see a lot w/o having to travel great distances as one would have to here.</p>

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<p>Thanks both of you :)</p>

<p>I removed Marquette by accident! Will edit that post to prevent confusion.</p>

<p>RE: Long distance travel. Yes, this is why I need to be wise by picking a school in a location that is a short distance from a few other major cities. It seems only California schools offer this and Milwaukee.</p>

<p>Looking at the academic side of things. I don’t want to go to a school that has really easy academics, nor do I want an academically rigorous college.</p>

<p>My results are comfortably above average, but nothing outstanding. Any schools that match that? Say I am above average academically.</p>

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<p>Well I can’t edit my post :p</p>

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<p>There are nine University of California campuses, all very different from each other. You keep listing UC as one option, but that is actually nine different colleges and your experience will be very different depending on which one you choose. I agree with the poster earlier in this thread who persuasively explained why UC Berkeley would be a fantastic choice.
San Diego State is a terrific possibility…amazing location, fantastic city and more accessible academically than the UC options.</p>

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<p>UC counts as 1 choice. I have to list 3 campuses in order of preference :)</p>

<p>So far I like: UCLA, UCSD and UCSB. I think Berkeley would be too academically rigorous.</p>

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<p>Typically, it’s easier to travel along the East Coast, roughly, from Boston to DC.
And I’m not sure why you think it’s easy to travel from Milwaukee. Will you have a car?
Outside of Lehigh and the top UC’s none of the universities on your list are intellectual powerhouses so don’t worry about the academic level being too hard.
UCSB is more of a party school than the other UCs. UCSD would be my first choice - great location, interesting city, good school, and the competition would be less intense than for UCLA I assume. Check out UCI, too, and UCSC, which should be easier for you to get into.</p>

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<p>Easier to travel from Milwaukee to Chicago and MPLS :)</p>

<p>No car, I can’t drive.</p>

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<p>I don’t know what “comfortably above average” means but I would not underestimate the rigor of UCLA and UCSD. The students who gain admission there are comparable to Berkeley. </p>

<p>Average GPA of admits:</p>

<p>Berkeley - 4.18 </p>

<p>UCLA - 4.15</p>

<p>UCSD - 4.11</p>

<p>Source: [University</a> of California - Freshman class profiles](<a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors)</p>

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<p>Comfortably above average = What Americans would consider an “A-”. The average in the UK is a C. I get low As (A-)</p>

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<p>UCSD over SDSU…latter much bigger and more of a party school, UCSD in a better location to get around…BUT, as others have warned- travel in the states is not easy without a car, there is little public transportation. Also, east coast may be preferable for what you want and give you at least a chance at seeing NY, Chicago, Boston, Philly and D.C. But I don’t see a manageable east coast school on your list…as for UCs- UCSD, UCLA, UCB. I have lived in both San Diego and Buffalo and although I loved Buffalo at the time it has become economically depressed and the winter will break you! I don’t know much about middle America but you will not be hopping from big city to big city in a day! I’m thinking you should re-think the “American experience”- it really doesn’t exist- and narrow your choices to the best program for what you want. Then I think people here can give you specific advice. There is so much info being bantered about that I don’t think you have a much clearer idea than when you first posted!</p>

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<p>It’s so overwhelming picking a school, though! You’re right I need a clearer focus.</p>

<p>I think I will scrap the idea about Marquette and the like. Focus on California. I am not too bothered about getting a traditional American college experience, because as it’s been pointed out I will get that anywhere :)</p>

<p>San Diego seems a fantastic city and the light rail system is a major plus.</p>

<p>LA doesn’t really appeal to me, but the campus looks brilliant and Westwood is like it’s own college town from what I’ve read.</p>

<p>UCSB - despite being a party school - seems a good third choice.</p>

<p>Choice 1: UCs - SD/LA/SB</p>

<p>San Diego, like I said, looks a fantastic city. So:</p>

<p>Choice 2: SDSU</p>

<p>Choice 3: Cal State Long Beach. California is the only viable location to travel to famous cities within a reasonable time.</p>

<p>I still have no idea what 4. and 5. should be?</p>

<ol>
<li>UCSD/UCLA/UCSB</li>
<li>SDSU</li>
<li>Cal State - Long Beach</li>
<li>???</li>
<li>???</li>
</ol>

<p>I am very interested in the Old West history, so being in CA is a fantastic opportunity to explore some sites. Again, I’d need a car - I could perhaps learn before my YA, or find likeminded students.</p>

<p>The only schools I am keeping on the list of possible 4th and 5th choice:
Indiana University Bloomington
University of Kansas
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee at Knoxville</p>

<p>I am not too bothered about travelling frequently. I’d like to take a trip to a nearby city at the end of term, etc. but frequently seems impossible!!</p>

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<p>Just remember that Cal State Long Beach will not give you a true campus experience…take a closer look- you may move it further down your list…</p>

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<p>…but if it’s the only other available CA school on my list I’d like it high up.</p>

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<p>Travelling without a car is not going to be easy even in California. San Diego makes sense but Cal State Long Beach is unlikely to allow you to immerse in American culture since you’ll have more trouble spending time with American students (“commuter school” means that it’s kind of a “college” UK meaning, people take classes and go home, the school isn’t the center of their lives like it is at a residential college).
UMass is the easiest to travel from. Shuttles, trains, etc, and lots of big cities within reasonable distance (in American terms).
U South Carolina would give you a chance to experience the Deep South while being in a big city, plus the ocean isn’t too far and there are lots of historical places to visit around (once again: with a car - you must have a car or take a plane to go anywhere).</p>

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<p>I’m going to trot right back in and suggest you keep UMass on your list. As previous posters mention, the amazing college town(s) and 5 college consortium will allow you to sample a VERY diverse range of college experiences whilst studying for a short period. Social life in the Amherst/Northampton area also offers many possibilities for mixing with the larger community of college students. While there is definitely a certain “Zoo” contingent at UMass, you would certainly not be restricted to that atmosphere. The public transport for students in that area is tremendously convenient, and by taking classes at all the colleges, you could sample not only life at a big State University, but also at two Women’s Colleges, one traditional American Liberal Arts College, and one non-traditional hippie-style intellectual college. </p>

<p>Also, New England has the benefit of offering a wide variety of “what is America” in a smaller geographical area. You know how in England, two towns just a few miles apart can have totally different accents, festivals, and cultures? New England is a little more spread apart than that, but not as much as the rest of the US. In the Midwest, you’ve got things much more spread out…not as much public transport and often days of driving between points of interest. Something worth seeing, for sure, as most from the UK are stunned by the sheer magnitude of the ‘wide open spaces’ when they actually see it. But, if you want to pack the most in your stay, save the Heartland for a vacation. Find a friend from the Midwest and visit on break, LOL. </p>

<p>In Amherst, you are about 2 hours from Boston and 2.5 hours from New York by car. While you are not a driver, it isn’t uncommon for students to get rides from friends who are heading that way, most welcome the company and help with gas money.</p>

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<p>@MYOS1634: Well, I don’t need to focus on CA schools then. They can still be in the running. Isn’t USouth Carolina hard to travel from, though? I’d like to visit some big Deep South cities, but Columbia, SC seems a bad place to get from.</p>

<p>@BossyMommy: I’ll keep UMass in then :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I need to get my 5 choices in ASAP if I am putting UCs down because the deadline is tomorrow for UCs because they’re so competitive.</p>

<p>Current list (in order of preference):

  1. UCSD/UCLA/UCI
  2. SDSU
  3. UMass
  4. Marquette
  5. ??? (Possibly USC)</p>
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<p>Public transportation can be a mixed bag, especially in big cities, I’d do some checking before getting on the LA metro blue line for example.</p>

<p>[MTA</a> - Metro Blue Line - Downtown - Los Angeles, CA](<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/biz/mta-metro-blue-line-los-angeles]MTA”>http://www.yelp.com/biz/mta-metro-blue-line-los-angeles)</p>

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<p>Originally I thought UMass Amherst was a bit too remote, but there is scheduled bus service ( [Peter</a> Pan?s College Express Is Back For 2013/2014 | Peter Pan Bus](<a href=“http://peterpanbus.com/college-express-service/]Peter”>http://peterpanbus.com/college-express-service/) ) from there to Boston or New York. From either one you can travel to east coast cities via Amtrak.</p>