<p>I am having the toughest time deciding where to attend college. I have recently been accepted to four nearly equally ranked schools (all in the 50s or so on US News) which all gave me great financial aid and I dont know which to choose. I am a Hispanic female from sunny Florida who is interested in double majoring in English and Journalism and eventually becoming a print journalist. </p>
<p>What I look for in a school includes strong programs in my chosen majors (English and Journalism), decent national reputation, nice campus, suburban/urban location, medium to large university, balanced student body (regarding politics, diversity, etc), and not an overwhelming party atmosphere ( I dont mind partying, I just dont want this to be focal point of campus life).</p>
<p>Here are the schools:
-Univeristy of Miami (visited) good journalism program, preppy yet diverse student body, beautiful campus, great weather/ possibly overwhelming party school atmosphere??
-Fordham University (not yet visited) good English program, NYC Location, campus aesthetics, diverse student body
-Pepperdine University (not yet visited) great English/Journalism programs, Malibu location, Christian affiliation (positive aspect b/c Im Christian as well)/ but perhaps overly conservative??
-Syracuse University (Newhouse School) (not yet visited) highly ranked communications school, beautiful campus/ freezing cold, snowy weather! (could be major problem for me b/c I even complain about Florida winters! LOL) </p>
<p>There you have it, a very tough decision for me to make. I have only visited the University of Miami so far (which I plan to visit once more because Im still unsure about it despite its gorgeous campus) and I will be visiting Fordham and Syracuse and Pepperdine in two weeks. Before I visit, Id like to gain some insight into these schools, so please help me out with some advice! Thanks!</p>
<p>We live in the LA area, not too far from Pepperdine, and daughter attends Syracuse. Newhouse is very selective and has an excellent reputation, but the winters are very cold. She is coping with the weather ok - says that snow is not nearly as bad as freezing rain/sleet - but her HS friend was so miserable and transferred back to So Calif. SU is also somewhat of a party school. Pepperdine is not nearly as strong in your major as Newhouse. Pepperdine is new, modern and beautiful, right on the ocean in the heart of Malibu, but there is little or no public transport so you will need to make friends with people who have cars. Don't know anything about Miami or Fordham, but I would pick Newhouse unless you think that the weather would be a problem, in which case I would look at Miami and Fordham.</p>
<p>If ever there was a decision that would be made easily just by visiting the campuses, this is it. The locales almost couldn't be more different. It's unfortunate that the school year runs September - May (when will they switch it to March - November?). That makes the school year dominated by cooler/colder weather at Syracuse and Fordham. Also consider where you want to settle after graduating.</p>
<p>SU (Newhouse) has a much better reputation in journalism than any of the schools that you mention. Yes, it is cold, but most students get used to it.</p>
<p>actually when i was reading your description of the type of school you wanted, immediately i pictures Pepperdine. It has everything you want.</p>
<p>Having taken public transportation in LA for like 3 years, there actually is public transportation that takes you all the to Pepperdine. It's one bus, i think 444, or something along the lines of that. It takes you from Pepperdine to West LA.</p>