<p>I am doing an International Year in the U.S.A. from my Irish university. I have to pick a group of universities to put on my shortlist and I can only choose one block, which are split up into regions:</p>
<p>Northeast Block
1. Middlebury College
2. Hobart & William Smith Colleges
3. Temple University
4. University of Rhode Island
5. Framingham State University</p>
<p>Midwest Block
1. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
2. St. Olaf College
3. University of Missouri
4. University of Kansas
5. University of Missouri, St. Louis</p>
<p>South Block
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2. University of Richmond
3. Tulane University
4. Louisiana State University
5. University of Oklahoma</p>
<p>West Block
1a. University of California - Los Angeles
1b. University of California - Davis
2. Reed College
3. Occidental College
4. University of Redlands
5. University of Utah</p>
<p>I don't know which region I would like to go to the most. I like the look of the Midwest and it offering an Americana vibe but I would love to be on the East Coast. Please note, that I cannot choose universities from different regions. I have to pick a block. When I took issue with this with my study abroad advisor, they said its to focus our final year essay research on a topic relative to that region. I am a American Studies and History student btw.</p>
<p>The black with the most prestigious colleges listed is probably the West Block or the South Block. It sounds like you love the east coast, though, so I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to choose that one. Are you looking for name brand?</p>
<p>I would go with either the South Block or the West Block. West Block probably has the best group of Unis (although the South is close). However UNC is in the South Block, which is definitely the second best university you have listed (outside of UCLA) and is an East Coast school.</p>
<p>I’d go with the West block. Strong schools, and also better weather than the Midwest or Northeast block. Trust me, you will get an “American” experience at any of the schools on the West block list.</p>
<p>California/the west has mountains, forests, beaches, cities – it’s pretty diverse geographically. Utah is a little more desert-y, and Reed College would definitely be drizzly but with city life and forests. I’m probably biased because one of my top colleges is Occidental, but the West Block looks awesome. The NE and South blocks also have a few “prestigious” schools – I know people on here love UNC, and Tulane provides a very cool “American” experience being in New Orleans. Middlebury and St. Olaf are also both really good schools! I don’t know too much about most of the other schools on those lists, but it could come down to how much you care about prestige, what kind of weather you like, and whether you want to be in/near a city or more rural.</p>
<p>They all have plus and minus. You just apply to all in that block and see who takes you? Do you have a strong transcript/recommendations, whatever you need?</p>
<p>Actually the Midwest block is pretty strong. All state flagships are going to have good resources and be big vibrant student centers. Minn should be a fun city to be in too. St Olaf well respected small college with good academics. then maybe I like Kansas, then Missouri with the flagship the prefered location, St Louis at least in a city with things going on.</p>
<p>The West is sufficiently different from your country. It is strong with UCLA being great, great location, near beach. Reed awesome college with serious intellectual vibe and a pretty weird and cool student body I guess, in a cool city. Davis very good in a small town atmosphere. Occidental is where President Obama spent his first 2 years college a small liberal arts with research people. Surrounding area is fairly cool and funky for LA. but that part of LA is a vast suburban wasteland. Utah is ok I suppose not as strong as the Midwest flagships, not as easy to get around the West Cost for pleasure. Redlands a decent small college, not a particularly interesting area to get stuck.</p>
<p>The South Block is strong too.</p>
<p>The NE block kinda weird. Middlebury would be great while the last two not so much. What a weird method. I suppose they don’t want people to cherry pick the best ones?</p>
<p>Go with Northeast or West. You’ll be able to travel easily to the most interesting places in the U.S. The Midwest and the South lists have some places you would never want to get stuck in. Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Oklahoma would be really disappointing. (Except Tulane in New Orleans would be great.)</p>
<p>I’m confused about exactly what you’re deciding on. You say you’re currently enrolled at a university in Ireland, and this is your study abroad year? Will you be staying for a few weeks at each of the colleges in whatever block you choose, or what? </p>
<p>If this is just for 1 year and if you’ll be visiting all of these colleges for a few weeks each (or whatever), I wouldn’t care about the prestige of each school or anything like that. I would look specifically at the programs of study that you’ll be following in each block and choose the program that sounds the best for you. Who will your instructors be? What topics will you be studying? I’d also think about the weather – a winter in Minnesota and Missouri is going to be a very different experience from a winter in LA and Oregon.</p>
<p>And, most importantly, if your final year essay research will be on the region of the US that you choose. THAT should be your deciding factor. What issues in US history interest you most? You might choose the South if you’re interested in the Civil Rights movement or the Civil War. You might choose the West if you’re interested in pioneer history or the Gold Rush in California. And so on. </p>