My year North America - SUCCESS! Now let's get planning!

[Hixee]

Hey there guys (and gals)! This is an appeal for some advice or thoughts on American/Canadian Universities. As part of my degree I get the chance to study the 3rd year of my degree in North America. I’ve basically got a big long list of Universities to choose from, and I must choose five Universities (strictly six, but the University of Wisconsin – Madison is a compulsory choice due to it being an engineering exchange). So here’s my plea!

I’d like to know if any of the North American members have and words of advice, guidance or opinions on the following Universities. I have already done a short selection based on research I’ve done myself, so I’m not getting you guys to do most of the work, but I’m just interested to know what you say about certain places. For that reason I’ve left all the choices on the list, so I can see if you come up with similar points to me. So, here’s the list:

USA
-Case Western Reserve University
-Drexel University
-Georgia Institute of Technology
-Montana State University – Bozeman
-Oregon State University – Corvallis
-University at Buffalo (SUNY)
-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
-University of Maryland at College Park
-University of New Mexico at Albuquerque
-University of Oklahoma - Norman
-University of Texas at Austin
-University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
-University of Wisconsin - Madison
-Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University


Canada
-McGill University
-McMaster University
-University of Alberta
-University of Toronto
-University of Waterloo


Big list, right?! Now for a bit more explanation. Obviously, I couldn’t look at this without thinking about the theme parks nearby, but I must stress, this is not priority number one! I want somewhere that’s nice to live, that has a good university, that is generally all round a nice place. I’ve already got some travel plans set up regardless of where I go, so like I said, parks aren’t the first priority, although they are slightly a consideration. I should also probably say that I don’t know if I want to go to a really small city (large is fine), and I don’t really want to be somewhere so remote that it takes forever to get to the next city. Natural surroundings are a factor, as well as the reputation of the university.

So like I said, anything anyone would be willing to give that would relate to these places would be extremely useful and I’d be incredibly grateful for anything you can share.

Thanks guys!

 

[Josh73]

Re: My year North America - help?

I don't know much about universities, but my cousin goes to Waterloo, and he loves it. He has met many great friends, he loves the campus, and is learning alot. He finds the teachers very professional, plus the university is close to CW! Plus in Canada, everybody is nice

When are you thinking of coming across the pond?

 

[Snoo]

Re: My year North America - help?

-Case Western Reserve University
-Drexel University
-Georgia Institute of Technology
-Montana State University – Bozeman
-Oregon State University – Corvallis
-University at Buffalo (SUNY)
-University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
-University of Maryland at College Park
-University of New Mexico at Albuquerque
-University of Oklahoma - Norman
-University of Texas at Austin
-University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
-University of Wisconsin - Madison
-Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

To be fair, EVERY one of these universities is a good place to start. All largely respected universities in which I've heard of.. and if you have.. they would all be good choices.

In terms of places which have good weather (which is obviously a plus), Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech offer the best. The rest have a festival of snow, cold, and rain in the winter months.. nothing which you sissies in the UK experience for 10 minutes a year.

When it comes down to city life, all of the above have great places (some I've been, some I haven't). Every single one is in or very close to a major city, some being state capitals for their respective states.

NOW! When it comes down to parks, here are the BEST options (all of the unis have parks in the vicinity besides Montana State, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Oregon State)

Texas: Any amusement park you've heard of in Texas basically.
Virginia Tech, Drexel, and Maryland: All in the big metroplex that is NYC, Washington, and Baltimore.. which means Busch, KD, SFA, and any New England park along the way is a 3-4 hour drive, depending on the Uni.. Drexel being the most centrally located on the east coast)
Case: It's in Ohio.. bout an hour from CP.
Wisconsin: ValleyFair and everything in.. well Minnesota. And there's that Dells thing.
Illinois: stones throw away from SFGAm
Buffalo: Darien Lake
Georgia Tech.. which happens to be CP6's alma mater: You could fart and be at SFoG.


If it were my choice, disregarding sports (which would be large as I'ma huge football fan), I'd pick:

Wisconsin - Madison
Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
Maryland
Texas

Bonus: Case Western (Growing up an hour away and having been there numerous times, I know they have ENORMOUS respect in the entire region for their engineering practices. While they are mighty small, smallest on your list by a massive amount, they do know what they are doing.)

There ya go!

 

[tomahawk]

Re: My year North America - help?

If you want a beautiful city, a great student body, film festivals, then your best bet is Texas. Call me biased since I grew up in Texas, but Austin is a beautiful city, great nightlife, and the student body there is about as good as it gets. I would say Oklahoma should get a nod, for the great academic tradition and student body, but Norman, only about 30 mins from Oklahoma City, doesn't have too much to offer, especially compared to Texas. Wisconsin-Madison is also a great university, and having the exchange would clearly be a plus.

Those three, in my opinion, are clearly the best. In Austin, you are less than 5 hours away from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, not sure on the actual distance. Another plus for Texas is the BBQ. Texas hospitality is also the best anywhere. And the women aren't bad either. ;0

 

[Venom2053]

Re: My year North America - help?

Canada
-McGill University
-McMaster University
-University of Alberta
-University of Toronto
-University of Waterloo

You got a good list here. I'm a 1st Year University Student at Carleton in Ottawa, I applied for Waterloo, UofT, and McMaster and there all great schools.

Personally I'd avoid University of Toronto as the campus is all over the city and Toronto is Massive (5th largest in North America).

Mcmaster is right near my home town and is about 1 hour from toronto so your still close enough to a major city. It has a beautiful campus and has its own uni neighbourhood beside it with some cheap housing. It is also one of the top Engineering schools in Canada.

McGill is top notch as well for Engineering, but I don't no much about its Campus. Montreal on the other hand is an amazing city, (if u don't mind french canadians )

Waterloo is world famous, the creators of RIM are alumni from there and its has some pretty tough courses. Probably the top school in Canada. BUT waterloo is a small town and doesn't have much to do in terms of nightlife, and is a bit removed from Toronto (about 1 hour 45 minutes).

All i know about Alberta is that its good for Engineering, though I have visited Edmonton and its nice enough city.

Personally you can't go wrong with McMaster, McGill, of UofT. Waterloo is OK if your into studying a lot, and I don't know much about Alberta at all.

 

[Josh73]

Re: My year North America - help?

About, McGill, Quebec is very french. When I went my parents were complety lost and had to get me to translate for them. Be warned about that. And Venom053 is right about Waterloo. My cousin is studying alot. Venom also has a great point about UofT being spread out.

 

[Venom2053]

Re: My year North America - help?

Oh and both UofT, McMaster, and Waterloo are all within a 2 hours of Canada's Wonderland, Canada's Largest theme park. And McGill is 15 minutes from Six Flags La Ronde, which is one of Six Flags weaker parks.

 

[Ben]

Re: My year North America - help?

Aren't there any in California, the best state?

 

[Snoo]

Re: My year North America - help?

Of course, having been for a good.. week.. you would know right?

 

[tomahawk]

Re: My year North America - help?

California is far from the best state...try living there for 15 years. It's overpriced, overcrowded, and just blah.

 

[Hixee]

Re: My year North America - help?

First of all, thanks guys! I'm really surprised by how much information you've been willing to offer. Once again CF shows itself to be a great community!

I'll go through some of these in order:

When are you thinking of coming across the pond?

I'll be studying all of next year in North America. Starting in August-ish 2012, and finishing in May-ish 2013. I am planning to extend the summer each end though.

For Snoo... wow! So much information. I don't have anything specific to add really, although:

If it were my choice, disregarding sports (which would be large as I'ma huge football fan), I'd pick:

Do you mean for playing or supporting? I'd like to be able to experience some of the sport, whether that be playing (seems unlikely) or supporting. Having said that, considering I've no knowledge of US (or anywhere really, now I think about it!) sport rankings then any of the teams would probably be good for me.

If you want a beautiful city, a great student body, film festivals, then your best bet is Texas. Call me biased since I grew up in Texas, but Austin is a beautiful city, great nightlife, and the student body there is about as good as it gets.

I thought you might say that. I'd be slighly put off Texas by the heat. I like it warm, but I don't know if I want to be sweating my balls off all year. Is living in the hot temperatures a big deal? It's also interesting what you say about the distances to the other big cities. I guess it's because the UK is so small in comparison, but it's funny how you say 'only 5 hours away', that's considered far here!

Personally I'd avoid University of Toronto as the campus is all over the city and Toronto is Massive (5th largest in North America).

Mcmaster is right near my home town and is about 1 hour from toronto so your still close enough to a major city. It has a beautiful campus and has its own uni neighbourhood beside it with some cheap housing. It is also one of the top Engineering schools in Canada.

It's interesting you say that. It seems to have completely flipped my opinion on the two. Guess that's the awesome thing about getting advice/information from people actually living there!

About, McGill, Quebec is very french.

Yeah, pretty much why I'd ruled that out straight away. May make me sound like a dick, but I just can't be arsed with that!

Aren't there any in California, the best state?

Yeah, I was a bit surprised at first, but the Study Abroad adviser said something about cost of living and exchange opportunities (or lack of). I have to admit, I was bored of his speech by that point!


Once again, thanks guys! I'll keep you up to date with my choices and stuff. I really do appreciate the time you guys took to write your responses.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Re: My year North America - help?

Of course, having been for a good.. week.. you would know right?

I've never been and I can tell it's the best.

Ya know why?

It's the least backwards, but doesn't lack all the good things about the US.

The arguments about it being overcrowded and overpriced are LAUGHABLE to anyone coming from the UK. Try living here. And yet, so many Americans Romanticise the UK.

See, Canada would clearly be the best place in the world if there wasn't **** all there. All the awesome commercialisation of the US, none of the scary religion and guns and lack of human rights! Amazing.

I have nothing to contribute really, you're going to have an amazing time no matter where you go. I do love the USA, aside from all it's terrifying and hilarious faults.

I can only really comment on VA, since I've spent about 10 weeks there but I have no idea where the uni is in relation to anything. What I like about VA is that it's floating somewhere between south and north culturally. You'll go some places and it's really rednecky, and then in others it's very ....with it, for want of a better term. Virginia beach is really nice, the countryside is beautiful, DC and Baltimore which are really neat cities are close by and it's got really good access to some great parks. It's also got a lot of history if you're into that kind of thing (yawwwwn from me). Life varies from being really slow and friendly, to moving a heck of a lot faster in the north towards DC.

 

[Josh73]

Re: My year North America - help?

About, McGill, Quebec is very french

Yeah, pretty much why I'd ruled that out straight away. May make me sound like a dick, but I just can't be arsed with that!

It doesn't make you sound like a dick. Just one of the balls.

 

[Ben]

Re: My year North America - help?

Of course, having been for a good.. week.. you would know right?

Three, actually babes. And um, fairly sure I've been to more of Califronia than you have <//3

But, what Joey says. California is fabulous, particularly for a Brit. It's got all the awesome foody, gawdy aspects that make America cool without all the weird attitudes of the East Coast or the inbreeding of the South. And it's warmer <3 Loads of Brits say it's their favourite state. I'm obviously not American, but, I've been to something like 12 states (funny on TPR there's a how many states have you been to thread and I've been to more than loads of the Americans <///3), spent a good three months there/in Canada, so I can have an opinion on a favourite state, babes. And maybe the input of a Brit would actually be helpful?

It's also totally not overcrowded at all. If anything, the thing that shocked me about LA is how spread out it is. Try going to London. No, try going to an Asian city like Hong Kong. Then talk to me about overcrowded. When everyone has their own huge, detached house in the suburbs, it aint overcrowded. Only problem with LA is I have NO idea how you'd get around it without having a car. The public transport's a joke. But, SFMM <3 Still, moot if the study abroad people are spiting it.

Out of your list, I'd go for Georgia to be honest. You've done the East Coast, have a mince down to Georgia, and then Florida's close for a quick mince to, and so are all the other Southern States. Plus, Georgia Tech has a great reputation.

I also think you'd have a tonne of fun in Toronto. Canada is freaking awesome, and bar California, is better than any part of America. Like, it's actually awesome. It's America without the attitude.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Re: My year North America - help?

GEORGIA? But, but SGOF is vile. Actually vile. And Atlanta is a bit scary, but it's actually a really nice city in terms of looks and stuff to do I guess. But scary. Really scary.

Except for OMFG WHALE SHARKS<33333333333333 Georgia Aquarium is <333333333333333333333333333

 

[Josh73]

Re: My year North America - help?

Isn't it SFOG??? And isn't Goliath decent? I'm confused. Was it a joke? I think it was...

 

[Snoo]

Re: My year North America - help?

Ooo trust me, I love your input Ben and Joey, and no doubt you've been there longer then me. But to be fair, after having been in Cali for a little bit.. I was tired of it. Of course, ALL personal preference as LA was almost kinda scary to me.. but I'm not a fan of LARGE cities.

Nothing but love from you guys of course.

Do you mean for playing or supporting? I'd like to be able to experience some of the sport, whether that be playing (seems unlikely) or supporting. Having said that, considering I've no knowledge of US (or anywhere really, now I think about it!) sport rankings then any of the teams would probably be good for me.

Well, personally, I wanted to run track and field and I wasn't even close to the level of the competition at any of those schools.

To be honest.. the only schools I would peg as 'not a **** awesome time to support'.. Case and Buffalo. The rest have large and strong fan bases with teams in multiple sports as the top ranked teams in the nation (Oklahoma recently having the #1 football team in the whole country). Hell, even Drexel has a large basketball base going on.. which has a better atmosphere because of the smaller confines.. etc etc. Only the biggest schools have Rugby though.. as the smaller ones don't have the cash to support it.


But if I had to pick, since we are throwing choices out, it would probably be Virginia Tech.. as it combines not so **** weather, closeness to parks/large cities, good sports teams (There stadium has a great atmosphere with a capacity damn near 70,000. (http://www.hokiesports.com/football/images/lanetop.jpg), and if it's on your list.. a good school.

 

[Ben]

Re: My year North America - help?

Seventy thousand people at a time go to see college kids play a gay sport?

That's... obscene. I actually can't get my head around that, it's just not natural.

Virginia Tech is a good idea though. Long as you avoid the gunshots <3

 

[Snoo]

Re: My year North America - help?

That's not even the biggest on the list. Texas' stadium holds around 102,000.. and the game I'm going to next weekend at Ohio State holds around 105,000.

And it could be worse.. there could be soccer in there. Talk about a gay sport.


Of course.. you want to know whats obscene? 70,000 going to see a washed up pop singer with no talent. THAT'S damn near mentally insane.

 

[Ben]

Re: My year North America - help?

But at least the pop star is appealing to people from everywhere, surely these only really attract "fans" of the two colleges playing, with the majority being from the home.

It's just absolutley crazy that that holds as many people as Old Trafford. One of the biggest teams, in the biggest league, of the biggest sport, in the World, and there's colleges in America with Stadiums as big? Hell, like you say, bigger! That is absolutely crazy. For something that is pretty much ignored outside of America (even when we watch Football here, it's NFL) it's just absolutely insane. Must be really, really awesome to have that sort of culture around a sport though in college, I'm quite envious of that.

So off-topic...