<p>Yup, that was my point about Umass. The university itself may have a party reputation, but it’s easy to travel to all kinds of interesting places from there (shuttles, buses, trains).
BossyMommy explained it very well too, especially with the 5 Colleges - I’m afraid I wasn’t very clear about that in my earlier posts. For an American Studies major, taking classes at Smith, Hampshire, and Amherst would be an education in itself. 
With UMass, that’d shed light upon four different types of American universities, only one of which exists in Britain.
If you’re interested in the South, it’s easier to travel from Columbia (SC) than from Knoxville (TN), but it’d still require a car.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>I just got back from the Study Abroad office to hand my application in.</p>
<p>My list is:
- University of California
FIRST CHOICE: San Diego. SECOND CHOICE: Santa Barbara. THIRD CHOICE: Irvine. - San Diego State University
- Marquette University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of South Carolina</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help. I should hear back Spring 2014 on which college I am able to go to :)</p>
<p>That is a really great final list, based on all of the discussion here. I’m excited for you-those are all terrific choices where you will have an incredible experience. Please come back and update this thread once you find out!</p>
<p>This is a great final list based on your criteria. Congratulations!
Please let us know where you’re accepted and perhaps how things are going once you’re there, for other UK applicants contemplating the same choices for 2015. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for your kind words and help!</p>
<p>My SA advisor said it’s unlikely I’ll get a space at any of my UCs or SDSU because of the high demand, so my 3rd or 4th choices will essentially become my 1st and 2nd.</p>
<p>Not too bothered tbh. I would have rather just had a university on my shortlist picked at random because I am so indecisive :p</p>
<p>UCSD and UCLA would be hard to get into.<br>
SDSU runs directly on the trolley line. You may be able to get into SDSU.
UCSD has poor transportation, really poor. You can’t bike it like you can Santa Barbara or Davis (40K bikes at Davis!).
Santa Barbara is a party school but the real problem is getting access out to LA.<br>
Santa Cruz is “bay area” but no direct rail transportation.<br>
Cal State Long Beach is getting tougher to get into because of their engineering and science programs. 60K apps and 2000 admits (That’s what they told us when we visited, I think).
UCI- hilly campus, commuter school, no rails. </p>
<p>UCSD is mostly hills and has a weak social environment.<br>
SDSU very social especially via the sports teams.<br>
Davis students get into travel clubs and frequent Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. The students go into San Francisco often. A great college community and supportive of students. </p>
<p>If you really want a school near rails, that would be the schools on the East coast. Our weather is temperate but you can travel to the local mountains in less than an hour and get snow in the winter.</p>
<p>You would need a car for: UCSD, UCSC, UC Irvine (lots of hills!), UCSB, Chapman U. CSUN, CSU Fullerton & Long Beach, Loyola, The Clairemont Colleges and Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UC Riverside.<br>
Bike, scooter, or skateboard is okay for: UC Davis, UCSB, SDSU, UCLA, CSULB
On a Rail system: Berkeley, Davis, San Francisco State, Sacramento State, UCLA, SDSU.</p>