<p>I am thinking of the three schools outside Louisiana (I am in Louisiana)
Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Dallas
Georgia Tech - Atlanta, and
Fordham University - NYC</p>
<p>I believe those schools are relatively easier to get in comparing to Rice, Yale, and Duke, and the fact that they are very good (not fancy, btw) schools.</p>
<p>For Fordham, it is not my concern. NYC is super-metro, so...you know.
For Georgia Tech, I have to worry because public transportation is not very great. That's why I have to worry about "Is Zipcar reliable and affordable source of car rentals?".
For SMU, I also worry because I don't know so much about DART rail system. </p>
<p>My S is a senior at Fordham (RH campus) and is having a great experience at the school. He is getting a wonderful education, has great friends, etc. He loves the proximity to Manhattan and goes in for movies, museums, shows, dinner in Greenwich Village, concerts, and a lot more. I don’t think that anyone who lives on campus has keeps a car due to the great mass transit system. Students from RH can take a inter-campus van to the Lincoln Center campus for about $3/ride (the RamVan), the Metro-North commuter RR, or the subway to get into Manhattan. Plus there is stuff to do in the Bronx as well (great Italian food at Arthur Avenue, bars). For holidays, I believe the school has van service to the airports. </p>
<p>Fordham is by no means easy to get into these days but it is certainly less selective than Yale, Duke etc.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the other schools on your list, but hopefully this is helpful. Good luck.</p>
<p>MARTA seemed pretty reliable to me when I lived in the Atlanta area many years ago. Not so great if you live in the 'burbs way outside the Perimeter. But in town? Seemed pretty good to me.</p>
<p>Atlanta is a very nice city, barring you stay out of not-so-nice areas. GATech has the best reputation of the schools you’ve listed here. The campus isn’t nearly as nice as Fordham’s though. Of course, there’s still plenty to do in Atlanta. </p>
<p>Fordham is in the Bronx, which hasn’t always been the nicest of areas. The campus is walled in, with barbed wired fence at the top to keep people out. The campus itself is absolutely gorgeous. The Metro-North station is right next to the campus, but is relatively expensive ($9 to get to Grand-Central, I believe). The subway station is a few blocks over.</p>
<p>OP, your tying your colleges choices solely to the city in which they are located?? I don’t see much overlap at all in SMU/Fordham/GT except being urban. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to stay in a hotel on a visit? What are you actually trying to get out of your education?</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad, yes, you are right that I am looking at cities.
But I am not the one who go somewhere just to get education. It’s about both life and education. That’s why it is my concern. Please understand that.</p>
<p>I have to make sure the cities are okay so it is safe and fun to be there. I am also “metropolitan-bonded”, so…</p>
<p>SMU is probably your best bet. GT’s campus is safe but downtown Atlanta can be iffy in some parts (especially at night)</p>
<p>a couple other suggestions:</p>
<p>Austin - University Of Texas
Boston - Boston University, Northeastern, BC
Charleston - College Of Charleston
Chicago - DePaul
Denver - University Of Denver
Minneapolis - Minnesota
New Orleans - Tulane
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
Washington DC - George Washington University, American</p>
<p>What about cities on the West Coast? San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, maybe LA? </p>
<p>Remember that it’s also a lot about the college life and what you get out of that. I’ll warn you that even if you’re in a great city, you might not enjoy your college, and that can seriously affect your quality of life.</p>
<p>Also, any idea about finances? What you’re going to study? What your grades and scores are? We need to know these things as well in order to give you good suggestions.</p>
<p>I would like to go to university that is in a very good level (like Tulane, and not like Rice, Duke, and Yale).
I want to be in city because I will not bring/buy a car. Car is a BIG hassle.
That’s why I need to go to cities with fantastic transportation.
My parent promise me to pay for my living during college. Everything else go to loans, since it is low interest and subsidized…(Not a concern anyway)
I plan to study either Business and/or Computer related majors.
I am in 24 out of 230 in my school. My unweighted GPA is 3.5 ±0.1 (Keep on up and down).</p>