Where should I move to?
Nov 23rd, 2013, 08:40 AM
#21
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Three of the 15 colleges in Western Mass are Ivy League (Smith, MT Holyoke and Amherst) and the Univ of Mass is quite selective as is Hampshire College. Together they make up a unique consortium called the "Five Colleges". Even if you don't go to one of them the cultural, employment and other benefits they bring to the region are appreciated by everyone. But there are also three community colleges, a relatively non-selective state college, and several smaller private colleges with varying degrees of selectivity.
Nov 23rd, 2013, 04:56 PM
#22
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Before deciding on a town based on a college I would have a realistic view at what your options will be. Boston has a ton of colleges from the very selective (and expensive) to those that have fairly oprn enrollment. The same is true of nYC _ but Boston is much more of a college town - although the winters are deeper.
Nov 24th, 2013, 06:23 AM
#23
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It seems to me that what you want is a state university
(little schools don't offer marketing degrees; bigger schools are more likely to accept transfer students) ...
located in a small town or countryside (different from cities like Chicago, Buffalo; easy access to hiking; dog gets to run around) ...
In an area thatis clearly not the midwest (via culture, vibe, politics) ....
So how about these ideas (I'm only familiar with northeast, but others can chime in) ....
New England: University of Vermont, of Massachusetts, of New Hampshire, of Maine, of Connecticut, of Rhode Island. (Especially VT or western MA for lifestyle.)
Northeast: Penn State (do you like football?), Cornell or Ithaca College (do you like scenery?), SUNY Stony Brook, University of Virginia ...
(little schools don't offer marketing degrees; bigger schools are more likely to accept transfer students) ...
located in a small town or countryside (different from cities like Chicago, Buffalo; easy access to hiking; dog gets to run around) ...
In an area thatis clearly not the midwest (via culture, vibe, politics) ....
So how about these ideas (I'm only familiar with northeast, but others can chime in) ....
New England: University of Vermont, of Massachusetts, of New Hampshire, of Maine, of Connecticut, of Rhode Island. (Especially VT or western MA for lifestyle.)
Northeast: Penn State (do you like football?), Cornell or Ithaca College (do you like scenery?), SUNY Stony Brook, University of Virginia ...
Nov 24th, 2013, 06:25 AM
#24
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However, I recently visited near Amarillo, TX though
Just to be clear, Amarillo is not all there is to Texas. Indeed, I would think most Texans in a place like Dallas would avoid going to Amarillo at all costs.
Three of the 15 colleges in Western Mass are Ivy League (Smith, MT Holyoke and Amherst)
No they aren't. The Ivy League is a sports conference, not a designation of selective schools. FWIW, Amherst is much more selective than the other two. And I'm pretty sure none of them have marketing degrees.
UMass would be the primary option for marketing in the region.
I am majoring in Marketing and it is offered at virtually every school.
Just because it is offered doesn't mean the degree carries the same weight.
I want ideas on states that I otherwise would not consider!
What about UGA? Athens is a great college town.
Just to be clear, Amarillo is not all there is to Texas. Indeed, I would think most Texans in a place like Dallas would avoid going to Amarillo at all costs.
Three of the 15 colleges in Western Mass are Ivy League (Smith, MT Holyoke and Amherst)
No they aren't. The Ivy League is a sports conference, not a designation of selective schools. FWIW, Amherst is much more selective than the other two. And I'm pretty sure none of them have marketing degrees.
UMass would be the primary option for marketing in the region.
I am majoring in Marketing and it is offered at virtually every school.
Just because it is offered doesn't mean the degree carries the same weight.
I want ideas on states that I otherwise would not consider!
What about UGA? Athens is a great college town.
Nov 24th, 2013, 10:31 AM
#25
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I agree that Amarillo is NOT a good representation of Texas at all. Most of us natives have never even been there, and the few of us who have most likely wouldn't recommend moving there.
Look into Austin, Texas. It has the outdoorsy and funky vibe you are looking for.
Look into Austin, Texas. It has the outdoorsy and funky vibe you are looking for.
Nov 25th, 2013, 07:38 AM
#27
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Sounds like Boulder, CO or Boston would be best. I love Boston. And Boulder is beautiful.
However, please note that one visit to Amarillo does not a visit to "Texas" make.
Texas is so huge, that you may experience totally different geography, culture, weather, etc depending on where in Texas you visit.
There are great piney woods in East Texas, beautiful green rolling hills in Central Texas, Big Bend National park out West and lots of beaches on the coast. If it weren't for the fact that it generally does not snow there, I think you'd love Austin.
(I was born and raised in, [and continue to love] Chicago. But I have lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for over 25 years. I don't miss having stuff to shovel.)
Boston has many fine schools and an excellent public transportation system. My adult daughter and I went last year for the first time (to visit my nephew at Boston College), and can't wait to go back.
(However, I have two sisters who live in Colorado and they'd tell you it's great there, too!)
Good luck!
However, please note that one visit to Amarillo does not a visit to "Texas" make.
Texas is so huge, that you may experience totally different geography, culture, weather, etc depending on where in Texas you visit.
There are great piney woods in East Texas, beautiful green rolling hills in Central Texas, Big Bend National park out West and lots of beaches on the coast. If it weren't for the fact that it generally does not snow there, I think you'd love Austin.
(I was born and raised in, [and continue to love] Chicago. But I have lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for over 25 years. I don't miss having stuff to shovel.)
Boston has many fine schools and an excellent public transportation system. My adult daughter and I went last year for the first time (to visit my nephew at Boston College), and can't wait to go back.
(However, I have two sisters who live in Colorado and they'd tell you it's great there, too!)
Good luck!
Nov 25th, 2013, 12:03 PM
#28
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If you don't mind winter, and like the outdoors, one of the Northern New England college towns might be a good fit - Middlebury Vt, Hanover NH, Burlington Vt, Henniker NH, Bennington Vt, Brunswick Maine. Lots of hiking, kayaking, skiing, biking, etc. Small but lively arts scene, funky pubs and restaurants. You are fairly close to Boston and Montreal, two of the most interesting cities in North America, and the seacoast is not too far away.
Nov 28th, 2013, 09:45 PM
#29
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Most larger schools do offer Marketing or Business programs and attending a large University is one of my requirements wherever I do end up going. I spent the past four years on and off going to community college with a general concentration in History. I have always loved history and it is where my true passion lies. Recently, I've decided to explore other options in terms of what sort of degree I am going for. I am currently at Northern Illinois as a part-time Marketing student, but have not necessarily given up on a History degree. Trying to decide between doing what I love and doing something I have mild interest in, but offers me a more stable future and may ultimately be a better investment.
As for Texas, I have an aunt who spent 10 years living in Houston and she adored the town and the state, only came back to Chicago for her first grandchild. Admittedly, I think I may be judging Texas unfairly, as I am quite liberal. I think I was most put off by the obnoxious amount of biblical and religious banners I saw plastered everywhere as I drove through Northern Texas. I am Irish Catholic and am in no means offended by these signs, just thrown by it.
I agree that some schools hold more merit, either as whole or as a single department and that is something I should also look into when searching for schools. Like I said earlier, this post is to get ideas from people across the country, so I can look into states and schools that I otherwise would not have noticed/considered.
I'm truly loving all the different ideas and suggestions coming from everybody, thank you all!
As for Texas, I have an aunt who spent 10 years living in Houston and she adored the town and the state, only came back to Chicago for her first grandchild. Admittedly, I think I may be judging Texas unfairly, as I am quite liberal. I think I was most put off by the obnoxious amount of biblical and religious banners I saw plastered everywhere as I drove through Northern Texas. I am Irish Catholic and am in no means offended by these signs, just thrown by it.
I agree that some schools hold more merit, either as whole or as a single department and that is something I should also look into when searching for schools. Like I said earlier, this post is to get ideas from people across the country, so I can look into states and schools that I otherwise would not have noticed/considered.
I'm truly loving all the different ideas and suggestions coming from everybody, thank you all!
Nov 29th, 2013, 09:28 AM
#30
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As someone who majored in history - because I loved it - and never took a business course in my life - I strongly suggest you consider what you want your life to be - not just your job.
If you want to do finance for a career - then take business - but do realize that you need an MBA for many, many jobs.
But if you want the opportunity to explore a lot of opportunities - do consider that overall knowledge and life experience contribute to a lot of jobs - including marketing. It;s not just business - it;s understanding people - and a broader education is often best (unless you want specifically accounting or finance).
If you want to do finance for a career - then take business - but do realize that you need an MBA for many, many jobs.
But if you want the opportunity to explore a lot of opportunities - do consider that overall knowledge and life experience contribute to a lot of jobs - including marketing. It;s not just business - it;s understanding people - and a broader education is often best (unless you want specifically accounting or finance).
Nov 29th, 2013, 01:08 PM
#31
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Yeah, do consider your loyalties...if in New England can you rah rah for Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins? Same for elsewhere. Well, Boston is a good area and so many places might work...
but keeping in mind you are something of an outdoors and big dog person. Sure Madison or W. Mass. or Seattle...shoot you could keep on naming places. Sounds like listers here are doing their booster pitches.
But where is family or friends? Seems that might be a consideration. And what sort of weather do you really like or not? Most of all, what higher education programs appeal to you and would accept you?
(from older guy born in Chicago, raised Spfld IL, moving recently from Missouri to Boston area)
but keeping in mind you are something of an outdoors and big dog person. Sure Madison or W. Mass. or Seattle...shoot you could keep on naming places. Sounds like listers here are doing their booster pitches.
But where is family or friends? Seems that might be a consideration. And what sort of weather do you really like or not? Most of all, what higher education programs appeal to you and would accept you?
(from older guy born in Chicago, raised Spfld IL, moving recently from Missouri to Boston area)
Nov 30th, 2013, 03:09 AM
#32
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I agree that you do have to keep in mind where your family and friends are - but that doesn't mean you necessarily have to live near them, especially if this move may be for only a few years to try out new places. I moved to the other side of the country for college, and then again to someplace completely different but have ended up in the same area as both my parents and sister (western Mass, we are from New York City area). And currently all three of my children are living far away and as much as part of me would like them much closer, I am glad they are experiencing something different (and hope they eventually move back).
But as you just pointed out, another thing to consider besides the weather and such is the social/political climate. My daughter, in an attempt to experience some thing different (see above paragraph) moved to Tennessee and she lasted seven months - largely because of the things you said concerned you about Texas. Now she's gonna try California.
The good thing about being college age is you can try out places without a long term commitment. And a double major doesn't take much longer than a single one. Think what you might be able to do with a major in business AND history.
But as you just pointed out, another thing to consider besides the weather and such is the social/political climate. My daughter, in an attempt to experience some thing different (see above paragraph) moved to Tennessee and she lasted seven months - largely because of the things you said concerned you about Texas. Now she's gonna try California.
The good thing about being college age is you can try out places without a long term commitment. And a double major doesn't take much longer than a single one. Think what you might be able to do with a major in business AND history.
Nov 30th, 2013, 07:44 AM
#33
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I got my undergraduate degree from Ohio State and absolutely loved it there. It's the 3rd largest school in the country in terms of enrollment, and has students from all over the world. At nearly 800,000 residents, Columbus is large enough to have the amenities of a big city, but still small enough that it's not overwhelming. It has the 4 seasons, but it is not as bitterly cold as Chicago or Buffalo. It may not meet your criteria for being "totally different" from the Chicago suburbs, but if you are looking for an interesting city with lots to do, great school, reasonable cost of living, and open spaces, it is worth looking into. http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/
I have lived in California most of my adult life, but I moved to Philadelphia last year to attend a one-year accelerated nursing program at Drexel University. I expected to move back to California as soon as I graduated, but have decided to stay and work here for a year because I like the city so much. It has the advantages that Amy posted upthread, and also lots of good colleges in the area--Drexel, University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Villanova, as well as several good lesser known private colleges. Again, may not be as different from suburban Illinois as you would like.
If you are looking for something completely different from the Midwest then I am going to suggest somewhere in California. I got my graduate degree in San Francisco, and it took me about a year to get over my culture shock when I first moved there! But I really love California, and there is such a diversity of people, climates, cities, and lifestyles that you could almost surely find someplace you would like to live for a couple of years.
Other cities out west I suggest are Portland, Seattle, Boulder, and Denver. And in the spirit of moving someplace "totally different", what about Florida? I'm considering University of Florida or University of Central Florida for my masters in nursing. You might like Orlando or Gainesville.
My final bit of advice is that instead of looking for an area to live in and then choosing a school, I suggest you do it the other way around: make school the priority, and use that to narrow down the places you would like to live. Your choice of colleges can have a big influence on how well you like the area you live in, the friendships you make, how well you do in school, the job opportunities you will get--really, the whole richness of the college experience. IMO it would be a mistake to make it the secondary consideration when deciding where to relocate.
Good luck to you, whichever you choose.
I have lived in California most of my adult life, but I moved to Philadelphia last year to attend a one-year accelerated nursing program at Drexel University. I expected to move back to California as soon as I graduated, but have decided to stay and work here for a year because I like the city so much. It has the advantages that Amy posted upthread, and also lots of good colleges in the area--Drexel, University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Villanova, as well as several good lesser known private colleges. Again, may not be as different from suburban Illinois as you would like.
If you are looking for something completely different from the Midwest then I am going to suggest somewhere in California. I got my graduate degree in San Francisco, and it took me about a year to get over my culture shock when I first moved there! But I really love California, and there is such a diversity of people, climates, cities, and lifestyles that you could almost surely find someplace you would like to live for a couple of years.
Other cities out west I suggest are Portland, Seattle, Boulder, and Denver. And in the spirit of moving someplace "totally different", what about Florida? I'm considering University of Florida or University of Central Florida for my masters in nursing. You might like Orlando or Gainesville.
My final bit of advice is that instead of looking for an area to live in and then choosing a school, I suggest you do it the other way around: make school the priority, and use that to narrow down the places you would like to live. Your choice of colleges can have a big influence on how well you like the area you live in, the friendships you make, how well you do in school, the job opportunities you will get--really, the whole richness of the college experience. IMO it would be a mistake to make it the secondary consideration when deciding where to relocate.
Good luck to you, whichever you choose.
Nov 30th, 2013, 08:58 AM
#34
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The Ivy League is a sports conference, not a designation of selective schools.
Sorry, I beg to differ. The Ivy League isn't just an athletic conference. The 8 schools in the Ivy League are very selective and are all known for their academic excellence. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Univ. Of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, and Columbia consistently rank among the best schools in the world.
Back to the OP. For a "totally different" experience, I suggest heading south--Nashville, Raleigh, Atlanta, or Miami Beach. Or head west--California or the Pacific Northwest.
Sorry, I beg to differ. The Ivy League isn't just an athletic conference. The 8 schools in the Ivy League are very selective and are all known for their academic excellence. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Univ. Of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, and Columbia consistently rank among the best schools in the world.
Back to the OP. For a "totally different" experience, I suggest heading south--Nashville, Raleigh, Atlanta, or Miami Beach. Or head west--California or the Pacific Northwest.
Nov 30th, 2013, 09:23 AM
#35
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I agree with walkabout. Pick schools first that offer the courses you want and are likely to accept you and then narrow options based on location. It sounds like the northern half of the country is what's right for you.
Nov 30th, 2013, 10:13 PM
#36
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Meant to add that although I disagree that the Ivy League is just an athletic conference, I do agree with travelgourmet that Smith, Mt Holyoke, and Amherst are not in the Ivy League. "Ivy League" is not a synonym for prestigious colleges--it specifically refers to the 8 colleges I named in my previous post.
A bit off topic, though. Sorry.
A bit off topic, though. Sorry.
Dec 1st, 2013, 03:47 AM
#37
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skyking and travelgourmet are being literal here with their definitions. When the "ivy league" colleges were founded women were not allowed to go to college (for the most part). The 'seven sisters' colleges were founded to offer an equivalent for women and are frequently grouped together when referring to prestigious highly selective colleges. Smith and Mt Holyoke are seven sisters colleges. Amherst is not technically in either group but is a prestigious, highly selective college. Geesh
Dec 1st, 2013, 06:38 PM
#39
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If by "literal" you mean "accurate", then call me literal.
Didn't say there weren't prestigious highly selective colleges outside of the Ivy League. Of course there are. Seven Sisters and many others. But they are not Ivy League and it's incorrect to refer to them as such. Geesh.
Didn't say there weren't prestigious highly selective colleges outside of the Ivy League. Of course there are. Seven Sisters and many others. But they are not Ivy League and it's incorrect to refer to them as such. Geesh.
