<p>haha ari, i'm not THAT much younger than you. btw, at my house on the east coast, we have a looong driveway which i have to shovel every winter break when i'm back there. it's actually kinda fun. yea, i'm probably crazy.</p>
<p>As somebody from the Mideast who wants to go West for school, I had to think about this for a second. If you are thinking North or Mideast and live in Southern California, the biggest difference I think will be the weather. It gets really cold here. I mean, even in Virginia, it gets really cold (upper 20s and low 30s for two months, and terrible wind in March). But there is definitely something to be said for the morning after a snow. It's pretty magical. Until you whip the shovels out. Myself, when I seriously think about studying in Cali, something doesn't jive with cracking open a math book when it's sunny and 70 degrees outside, and there's a beach twenty minutes away. Reading by a blazing fireplace when it is raining or snowing, bundled up in warm clothes and with hot coffee, now that is a good environment for some serious academic advancement. That's not to say we don't have fun over here. After all, they say Animal House was based on an alumni's experience at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Also, there are about one billion small (and large) liberal arts schools that basically embody the quintessential college - that is, you walk under oak and maple trees in full autumn foliage to your class in a centuries old brick building, which probably has columns and big gold plaques that say famous alumni include Thomas Jefferson or some *<strong><em>. The college is in a cute little historic town or Middle of *</em></strong>ing Nowheresville; sometimes it's a combination of both.</p>
<p>Ok, so if you go to school in the East, you could get that movie image of college life. And it's something I don't think you'd find in California, because the brisk air makes it real. </p>
<p>For practical reasons, most locations on the East Coast, as another poster said, are a lot closer to major metropolitan areas. For example, I live in a suburb twenty minutes from farm land for as far as you can see, but I'm a;sp within twenty minutes of Baltimore, Annapolis, and D.C., and a short trip by train to Philadelphia. Many a long weekend I have gone to New York City to shop or catch a Broadway show. Also, if you live in L.A., you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that we have a thing called public transportation here. Many of these schools' proximities to all these major cities provide a lot of job and internship opportunities.</p>
<p>But that's not to say you can't find that experience in California, at least, to a pretty close degree. I guess the real reason to move across the country to go to school is because you're tired of where you are. Maybe you're ready for a culture shock. College is the time to explore.</p>
<p>As somebody from the Mideast who wants to go West for school, I had to think about this for a second. If you are thinking North or Mideast and live in Southern California, the biggest difference I think will be the weather. It gets really cold here. I mean, even in Virginia, it gets really cold (upper 20s and low 30s for two months, and terrible wind in March). But there is definitely something to be said for the morning after a snow. It's pretty magical. Until you whip the shovels out. Myself, when I seriously think about studying in Cali, something doesn't jive with cracking open a math book when it's sunny and 70 degrees outside, and there's a beach twenty minutes away. Reading by a blazing fireplace when it is raining or snowing, bundled up in warm clothes and with hot coffee, now that is a good environment for some serious academic advancement. That's not to say we don't have fun over here. After all, they say Animal House was based on an alumni's experience at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Also, there are about one billion small (and large) liberal arts schools that basically embody the quintessential college - that is, you walk under oak and maple trees in full autumn foliage to your class in a centuries old brick building, which probably has columns and big gold plaques that say famous alumni include Thomas Jefferson or some *<strong><em>. The college is in a cute little historic town or Middle of *</em></strong>ing Nowheresville; sometimes it's a combination of both.</p>
<p>Ok, so if you go to school in the East, you could get that movie image of college life. And it's something I don't think you'd find in California, because the brisk air makes it real. </p>
<p>For practical reasons, most locations on the East Coast, as another poster said, are a lot closer to major metropolitan areas. For example, I live in a suburb twenty minutes from farm land for as far as you can see, but I'm a;sp within twenty minutes of Baltimore, Annapolis, and D.C., and a short trip by train to Philadelphia. Many a long weekend I have gone to New York City to shop or catch a Broadway show. Also, if you live in L.A., you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that we have a thing called public transportation here. Many of these schools' proximities to all these major cities provide a lot of job and internship opportunities. Also if you are planning on staying in the East, let me tell you most employers aren't going to see "Pomona College" or "USC" and go "ooohhh". But if they see Swarthmore, dayum ;). </p>
<p>But that's not to say you can't find that experience in California, at least, to a pretty close degree. I guess the real reason to move across the country to go to school is because you're tired of where you are. Maybe you're ready for a culture shock. College is the time to explore.</p>
<p>Myself, when I seriously think about studying in Cali, something doesn't jive with cracking open a math book when it's sunny and 70 degrees outside, and there's a beach twenty minutes away</p>
<p>I suppose it depends on the person. For me, I have felt much more efficient in a warm climate. The winter months of High School in the NE were horrible. I had no motivation, no cheer, no passion. What was there to look forward to? Late October through March is intolerable. Youre relegated to movies, indoor sports, museums, food and clubs. Everythings indoors. In CA, however, I'm never in a grim state of mind. I've been more productive working out in the sun, with the occasional distraction of watching people playing sports or just marveling at how beautiful this place is, than I have ever been inside. When inside I find I get LESS work done. Plus, you have something to look forward to. The beach, amusement parks open 365 days a year, outdoor sports and just walking around. For me the weather is a motivator not a distraction.
*Also if you are planning on staying in the East, let me tell you most employers aren't going to see "Pomona College" or "USC" and go "ooohhh". But if they see Swarthmore, dayum . *</p>
<p>That's not true at all. Pomona has been ranked 4-6 on the best liberal arts colleges in the country list over the past 10 years. Those who are up on things know its reputation. Have you looked at the alumni this small school has produced? Right up there with any counterpart back east.</p>
<p>this thread totally made me appreciate living out west a little more.</p>
<p>today was about 70 and sunny and amazing... kind of like every other day for the past three months. it's so nice to chill on the balcony, studying in the sun. </p>
<p>and if I really want snow (shudder) it's only a two hour drive away.
yeah... I definitely did not want to go back east for school.</p>
<p>You are all, and I say this with a great deal of love and affection, giant wussies.</p>
<p>Seriously. Puffy coat + space heater = who cares, it's just a little bit of weather.</p>
<p>I've been interviewing for grad school at a bunch of west coast schools, and I think the biggest thing that's keeping me from being excited about them at this point is the lack of interesting weather. I love fall in New England, and I love winter. Spring and summer are way better when you have to suffer a little.</p>
<p>Hey, after 3 weeks in socal, clouds are interesting.</p>
<p>It's all relative.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Well, pofreshnyc, like I said, I don't want to stay on the East Coast...I was generally challenged to think up some good things about living here :). Anyways, about the Pomona thing, I didn't mean to offend anyone...I guess I just meant it as, generally, East Coast people will be a lot more familiar with the big names on the East Coast than the ones out West, that is all.</p>
<p>"...East Coast people will be a lot more familiar with the big names on the East Coast than the ones out West, that is all."</p>
<p>And west coast people will be more familiar and favorably impressed with west coast schools - for those who plan to live and work in the west. A lot of people do. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also if you are planning on staying in the East, let me tell you most employers aren't going to see "Pomona College" or "USC" and go "ooohhh". But if they see Swarthmore, dayum
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm sure that the same applies for Stanford.</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>
[quote]
haha ari, i'm not THAT much younger than you. btw, at my house on the east coast, we have a looong driveway which i have to shovel every winter break when i'm back there. it's actually kinda fun. yea, i'm probably crazy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, my grandparents told me that it gets less fun the older you get.</p>
<p>They were originally from Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>Or Caltech or the UC's :)</p>
<p>But damn it's been cold here in at ucsd these last couple of days. Great way to see out the quarter...:(</p>
<p>
[quote]
But damn it's been cold here in at ucsd these last couple of days. Great way to see out the quarter...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Try living in a place where it snows...but there's no insulation or central heating. Then come and complain, you UCSDer you.</p>
<p>BTW, looks like I'm heading there for grad school unless Harvard offers me some fantastic financial aid.</p>
<p>Haha, i've been living in Maryland since high school (norcal until then). But we had insulation and heating...and I had heated seats in my car. Even then, going back for winter break was a bit tough...</p>
<p>First thing I did when I got home was shovel the driveway ;)</p>
<p>I find that just about the only people who actually complain about life on the West Coast have never actually lived on the West Coast.</p>
<p>"And west coast people will be more familiar and favorably impressed with west coast schools..."</p>
<p>Hence I prefaced that with "If you plan on staying on the East Coast". :D.</p>
<p>And about the same applying for Stanford, sure...but:
Stanford? UCLA? Berkeley? Psh. Beat Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Duke, Columbia, Cornell...and then we have our UCLA equivalents, that is, UVa and Chapel Hill. There's also Hopkins...Not to mention we are also home to the most prestigious music school in the nation, Juliard. granted there are a lot more states over here, though, so maybe that translates into a bigger number of prestigious (i.e. snobby) schools.</p>
<p>I'd take 4 years of Palo Alto weather and a slightly less "prestigious" degree over 4 years of Boston weather anyday.</p>
<p>I realize that most of the top 25 schools are in East Coast states (I don't really count Duke as an "East Coast" school though) but I'd say that Stanford, Pomona, CalTech, Berkeley, and UCLA are pretty good for one state. </p>
<p>Besides, if I've learned anything about living on both coasts it's that it's mostly only college students that care. Sorry guys, but the real world doesn't care nearly as much about rankings as College Confidential. </p>
<p>Here comes sakky to tell me I'm wrong...</p>
<p>What? You don't count Duke as an East Coast school? Did North Carolina migrate? Because North Carolina gives the East Coast major bonus points, as it's pretty much one of the only cool states we have. And the only state with waves. You Californians just want to have a monopoly on all the good beaches, don't you...</p>
<p>Best thing about east coast schools? The Carolinas!</p>
<p>I dunno if the number of colleges matters, really...you'll only be at one ;).</p>