<p>Or actually, maybe this should be called "The Groundhog Day" posting for college selection:</p>
<p>If I could live my college years over (5 or) 10 times at the same age (18-22), here's a list I would choose in no particular order of priority:</p>
<p>1) University of Rome (Rome, girls)
2) UCSB (social life, weather, physics)
3) Cambridge (the ultimate elite)
4) UT Austin (music, Austin)
5) University of Rio de Janeiro (Rio, girls)
6) NYU (NYC, art)
7) University of Hawaii (Hawaii)
8) Boulder (mountains)
9) USC or UCLA (film school)
10) ???? The most insane party school in the world (I don't know, honestly)</p>
<p>I would say Colorado College for a fun college with good academics in a beautiful ski/mountain location. I would also say from what I have heard that University of Hawaii is not in a good location and not a traditional college environment. I definitely agree with you on NYU, UT, and USSB.</p>
<p>Colorado College might well have made my original list. I would be willing to bump UofH for it; I had only put it there because it is in Hawaii. I really don't know about it. I don't know if there'd be anything to do in Hawaii aside from beach stuff. That might get old after awhile.</p>
<p>Other almost-rans:</p>
<p>1) University of Georgia (Athens; I think of REM and B52s and the days of yore and think there must be a good music scene there)
2) University of Florida (Gainesville; is it fun or horrible or a bit of both? I am a Tom Petty fan and that's the only reason it's named, to be brutally honest. Also, I know it has good programs African Studies for instance.)
3) Vanderbilt: the whole southern society thing. It'd be fun to check it out. Or maybe that's elsewhere? Emory? Duke? UVa?
4) In terms of pure party play, I guess I always thought San Diego State and possibly Arizona State would have solidly raucous times (albeit low on the cultural content side, I think they might rank high for carnal pursuits).
5) I've heard that Japanese students work so hard in high school that by the time they get to college, they are burned out and chillin'. Maybe gettin' hooked up with the Rasta scene (if one exists) at University of Tokyo would be a dream come true. Or maybe I would pursue the freaky arty non-conformist scene at a famous art college there.
6) University of Vermont: nature</p>
<p>Wow, this would be a great wish to have come true. Serial college experiences, with Dad or the scholarship committee paying of course. Phew, I think I've already thought about this way too much...Sigh.</p>
<p>Pepperdine is a great school in Malibu...it's supposed to be gorgeous. I know a girl who transferred to my school from Pepperdine because it was a little too religious for her tastes, but it is still supposed to be gorgeous.</p>
<p>Pepperdine in Malibu, UCSD in La Jolla, UCLA in Westwood. Tough to beat those three areas for quality of living. The only problem is how expensive they are to live in.</p>