<p>I would eliminate Emory for its size and lack of big time sports.</p>
<p>Coming from Holland, you need to know that the USA is BIG. Texas is the size of Spain. I agree with those that say UT-Austin should not be overlooked. Austin rocks. People who live in Texas may have been living in lots of parts of the world due to oil/gas/technology, and have a worldly view. The Gulf beaches are 3-4 hours away, no winter to speak of (maybe good coming from Holland). I’m not from Texas, but I find the people to be wonderful, especially in the cities.</p>
<p>OTOH, Seattle is great, too, and could be a great place for getting to other west coast spots.</p>
<p>USC is a private school. Great weather. I wouldn’t plan to go to Mexico from either LA or TX at this time, though.</p>
<p>I don’t recall what it is that you will be studying. That might bring suggestions, too.</p>
<p>Haha yeah I know, I checked the distance from LA to SF, which is like driving from my city to Poland or something. But that is what I thought about Emory as well, I like the fact that the others all have big sport departments. </p>
<p>Youre right, I forgot to say what I’m studying. I’m studying International Business Administration, so that may help to bring some suggestions.</p>
<p>Neither of my children majored in business, though my senior has IB as a minor.</p>
<p>Without comment, a quick Google for the latest global rankings for graduate business schools, I found this. Not putting a # by them, but listing them in the order they were in Financial Times.</p>
<p>UM, Emory, UNC, UT, USC, OSU, UW</p>
<p>All are ranked lower than your home school!</p>
<p>Yes I know, my home school is pretty good and I only have to pay 1600 euro as tuition a year! But I think the exchange would still be a very cool experience, not only to visit another country but also to see the differences between universities. For example, college sports are much bigger in the US than here in Europe. Sad to see that my three favorites (USC, UW and UT) are ranked pretty low compared to the others and my school. </p>
<p>I guess I have to choose between the rank of the schools and the cities I’m attracted to, but I’m a little bit hesitant to choose for a university in a smaller town because I’m afraid I will feel like there is not enough to do outside of college. I live in a medium-large city (Rotterdam, around 600.000 inhabitants), so that’s probably why I’d rather choose for a big city.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor. It’s the perfect sized college town. Not too big or small. It has very good local transportation that is FREE for all Michigan students. You have your whole life to live in the big city, but there is nothing quite like a collegiate experience in a town where most things revolve around a university. The idea of going abroad is to experience something different from what you are used to. Furthermore Ann Arbor is safe. You can go practically anywhere and feel comfortable day or night. Try that in LA, especially the horrible neighborhood that USC is in.</p>
<p>"Without comment, a quick Google for the latest global rankings for graduate business schools, I found this. Not putting a # by them, but listing them in the order they were in Financial Times.</p>
<p>UM, Emory, UNC, UT, USC, OSU, UW</p>
<p>All are ranked lower than your home school!"</p>
<p>Not quite. Michigan is a definite peer! For business, it’s the best on the list of your schools.</p>
<p>Different reference point, but higher or lower, they are probably all peers. Don’t take offense at every ranking that doesn’t pit your UM at #1.</p>
<p>Your attitude about your US adventure is refreshing. It is so exciting to hear you write about taking a chance to learn about other places in the world. Keep an open mind and you will be greatly rewarded, where ever you choose to go. </p>
<p>Thinking to myself “I wish I was 22 y.o. again.”</p>
<p>I think I have to review UM again, it’s a very good university and close to Chicago, which I really want to visit somehow. I agree with your point that I can live in cities my whole life, but you have to consider that American cities are pretty different from almost all European cities and that’s is something I want to experience. But then again, a college town in the US is probably very different than those in Europe. </p>
<p>I know I’m very lucky with my choices and that I have the opportunity to do this. All are great schools, that’s why I’m looking for a place where I can enjoin the whole “US college” experience to the fullest. That’s also why I’m in doubt about USC, as LA is so big and I won’t have a car there so it might be difficult to enjoin student life in LA. Of course, I don’t know that for sure, as I’ve never been there.</p>
<p>^How exactly does that play out for Michigan? Chicago would be an even longer drive. According to this site, Chicago is a 242 mile drive away from Ann Arbor.</p>
<p>There is daily Amtrak train service between Ann Arbor and Chicago, lots of stops between them. Trust me. American trains are nothing like European trains. You can check the schedule and prices on line. At UM you will likely find people going to Chitown who have cars and would be willing to take you. It’s a great city, you are right.</p>
<p>“Different reference point, but higher or lower, they are probably all peers. Don’t take offense at every ranking that doesn’t pit your UM at #1”</p>
<p>I was just correcting your fallacious remark that Michigan was ranked lower than the OP’s home school in business, emphasized by your use of an exclamation point. I never stated it was #1.</p>
<p>Tough choice! What people have said is true about weather and the cities and Texas. Texas is Texas, but Austin is a modified version of Texas. I personally found Texas very interesting when I went to college there. It might be worth experiencing just so you can understand Texans. Seattle will be the best city to experience without a car - just depends if the continuous rain will get you down. USC will have the most diverse students - students from all over the US. Most of the other schools (except Emory) will predominantly have students from the state in which the school is located and each state is different. My recommendation is USC because of the diversity of the students and the weather and it has the big sports and I suspect the class sizes will be smaller. The neighborhood and the lack of a car shouldn’t be too bad. You will make friends with people with cars.</p>