The College Thread

[Axel]

Where is the NLSC going to college at? I'd better see some good schools here... unless you guys were lying about those SAT scores
Also include what you like about your school, what year you're in, major, etc.

I think I've made it known that I'm going to UNC (Chapel Hill). I move in Saturday. I'm a Journalism/Mass Communications major. I hope to be a sports broadcaster (specifically basketball). I'm just a freshman though, so that could change.

[---]

Well, I'm not in college yet but I thought I'd explain a little bit about what I'm planning.

I dropped out of school early this year (my senior year), so I'm not eligable to go straight to college. So, I'm gonna go to a design college and go for a Diploma in Computer Graphic Design either at Natcoll or the Arts and Design College here in Christchurch.

Once I get that, I'll be eligable to go into college for a design/arts based degree. University of Canterbury apparently just added a Graphic Design course (Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design) and it's four years, so I'll take that. My diploma would also cross credit and cut down on the four year degree.

Then, the thing I wish for the most - to transfer as an exchange student to a college in the US for one year. The costs aren't as crazy as I thought after talking to some of the faculty at UC. University of Canterbury's has about 18-19 exchange partners in the USA, namely UCLA, Cincy, V-Tech, Washington, New Mexico, etc. I even think UC-Irvine's in there (Hey Q!). I'd love to go to UCLA for a year. I don't end up paying UCLA but my original fees at University of Canterbury, so it's quite cheap. The only big cost is the boarding, I haven't really gone to deep into it though. I'm saving like crazy and Mum's doing her car selling thing to help me get there. I really hope I do, it would be awesome.

I don't think my life would be complete without experiencing US College life.

[Axel]

You plan sounds like a winner, but I wouldn't count on getting into UCLA having dropped out of HS. I know your post secondary education would look appealing on a resume, but UCLA is a tough school to get into even if you finish HS. That said, perhaps it is feasible somehow through the exchange program.

http://www.princetonreview.com/college/ ... 373&LTID=1

- Statistics about UCLA

You definetly should come to the US for some college. Aren't you planning on moving here anyway? What are you planning on doing through the exchange program here? Is it all relating to your major of Graphic Design, or are you planning on doing some sort of other work here? If it's design, I'd suggest the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. Great place I have heard. Anyhow, if you give a few more specifics, perhaps I or some other Americans can help you - though it looks like you already have a pretty good idea of what you want to do.

Btw, you might not have to save up as much as you think. At UNC, exchange programs are almost exclusively funded through scholarships and grants, so students who participate generally have no debt whatsoever.

[---]

The only entry requirements to go to UCLA are to keep good grades at the University of Canterbury. I'm not sure what the exact requirements are, but it's not the same process I would go through if I was living in the US and trying to get into UCLA. I think if you are a respectable student at UC they will allow you to go on the exchange.

About what I'm planning to do it for, it's nothing special. I just want the experience. I'll be do my regular work and enjoy it, I've wanted to visit the US for as long as I can remember, and college life would be the ultimate.

As for the exchange programs being funded, that may only be for people coming out of UNC and going overseas. I haven't heard of any big time scholarship stuff here for exchange students, apart from one where they pay something like NZ$2000 towards your whole exchange. That almost gets me the plane ticket.

I have a question, here are the pricing plans on UCLA on campus living. Say, the Residence Halls you get the One Room, Two Occupant option for just over US$11,000. Would that be each, or as a whole, split between the two occupants?

EDIT: And yes, I'll hopefully be living in the US at some point. I really like the look of two completely different cities - Phoenix and Chicago. Obviously I would love to live in a place like NYC, but I don't think it's realistic. The cost of living there is incredible compared to the average salary.

[Its_asdf]

Trevor Ariza went to UCLA. Good choice.

[kevC]

Rice. PWN!

[Sauru]

i went to the college of minimum wage

[Silas]

Creighton, everyone should go to creighton.

I want to go to Georgetown or Washington University in St Louis but realistically I'll probably go to George Washington or Pepperdine.

[[Q]]

here are the pricing plans on UCLA on campus living. Say, the Residence Halls you get the One Room, Two Occupant option for just over US$11,000. Would that be each, or as a whole, split between the two occupants?

that's each. sucks doesn't it? they force you to buy meal plans from their cafeteria so it's a little more. I wouldn't mind if you went to UC Irvine although this upcoming year is my last year.

The UC schools are pretty much the same in my opinion. the only main difference is the quality of the teachers and the classes offered.

[---]

Man, my mum pays US$11,370 a year for our 3 bedroom unit in the city. Then again, at UCLA you get the food and it's on campus so the convenience is nice.

College here isn't as big as deal over here as it over in the US. I could probably name 2 people that I know in college. That being said, I probably don't have the same draws to colleges as you guys. I don't mind if a college I have never heard of has a far better design program than one that is in a city where I can experience alot. UCLA is that. Basketball + LA + College life = my best year ever.

What do you guys think of UCLA, from a fun/experience standpoint?

[Silas]

I'm sure if you went there you would have an awesome time, with a big university like that has stuff you enjoy, you're going to like it, don't worry about it too much.

[Axel]

UCLA would be great. I'm sure there's a lot of partying to be had there. I've never been to a place like LA before... I bet it would be a great experience.

Rice. PWN!

I wish I had applied to Rice.

[kevC]

Why didn't you?

[Axel]

Why didn't you?

It just wasn't on my radar at the time.

[Silas]

Dude, you should have, Mike Wilks is the shit.

[Jing]

Umass-Amherst, the same as Jao.

I entered as a Computer Science major, but after a semester and a half I just couldn't stand it. Sitting at a computer for the majority of the day coding just wasn't my thing. I was in a program during high school that fed us through the Umass School of Management, getting us visits to the Big 4, Stock exchange, and such. So I applied and got accepted into SOM. So I was Pre-SOM this past year, and this coming Fall I'll be declaring Accounting as my major. I already got a minor in Chinese and will probably turn that into a major as well if I find that I have the time.

Umass was good in that I had in-state tuition, I work as an RA to save the cost of paying for the room (double-single ). Meal plans are expensive as hell though... I was unlimited up till now, so now only 100 meals for the entire semester, going to have to learn how to cook soon.

Truthfully I wanted to attend Cornell, Washington University in St. Louis, or some west coast school, but money played a pretty significant factor in the college decision.

Thinking about Michigan-Ann Arbor or UNC for maybe grad school.

[[Q]]

UCLA would be great. I'm sure there's a lot of partying to be had there. I've never been to a place like LA before... I bet it would be a great experience.

Rice. PWN!

I wish I had applied to Rice.

honestly you can find parties whereever you go if you know where to look and if you look hard enough. there are even plenty of parties here in Irvine


and Kev, what happened in the world series? fuck oregon state, they killed us. except gary Payton went tthere so it's ok.

[Ty-Land]

Monash University in Melbourne!!! Woot.

But in all seriousness, it is the best university in Victoria overall, and in the Top 3 in Australia. It's one of the best universities in the world for engineering and medicine, and has a very solid reputation in academic circles. I believe it is one of the top 40 universities in the world at present. Really enjoy it here, has a lot of experts in my fields of interest (History, Holocaust & Genocide studies, Politics especially regarding weapons proliferation and terrorism, and Law - particularly Australian law and Human Rights law). Would recommend highly to anyone who has plans to study in Australia.

Not too mention the parties. My first 2 years here were a drunken haze. Off my tits on a very regular basis, thanks to living at the wildest Halls of Residence. Last year I settled down a bit more as work got a bit more intense in my third year. Now I've moved off campus and have limited the alcohol consumption greatly so I can afford rent and focus on getting a research scholarship next year.

[Dan's Brain]

Given that I've been given an Aussie lead-in. I went to the University of Ballarat. Known for its.....


Weather?

Did a 3 year Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance, and loved every second of it. And given that my chosen line of work has a 95% unemployment rate in Australia, i wish every day that i was still there.

It was an awesome community and extremely tight-knit. The Arts students had our own campus, and the gay orgies were... something to well and truly behold. Although i didnt personally do any beholding, and wasnt going to let any guy behold me either.

I lived at a Res Hall my first year as well. And it was nuts, lots of parties, but i had 40 uni hours a week, so i wasnt able to enjoy it too much. And i moved out with some classmates for the next two years.

[bigh0rt]

I was recruited to play soccer at UConn. However, during the Spring of my Senior year in high school I separated and dislocated my shoulder at the same time playing in a PDL game; and my looming scholarship was lifted off the table, so I went to the State University of New York at Albany. My degree is in Mathematics & Statistics and Education.

[kevC]

Why didn't you?

It just wasn't on my radar at the time.

I see. It's a hard school to get into anyways...


Eric, I have no idea what this World Series you're speaking of is...

[Jing]

Why didn't you?

It just wasn't on my radar at the time.

I see. It's a hard school to get into anyways...


Eric, I have no idea what this World Series you're speaking of is...

LOL in denial.

[benji]

Anyone with a soft sciences degree is not to be trusted...especially in English and Education...and ESPECIALLY in Journalism. Academia is inherently evil. The education systems biggest problem is the education system. Only lunatics would actually want to be involved in education more than they have to be.

The University of Michigan is the Hellmouth.

I picked a college with friends, I don't really learn from classes anyway, so I chose fun over phony prestige. Autodidact.

[The X]

I went to University of Canterbury in New Zealand (same as where Flite is planning on going) & Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (for my Masters)....

good luck with it Flite....maybe something like UC-Irvine would be better than say UCLA....but I'm not a big city guy, so it's up to you....if I was doing it, I'd prefer to go to a college town, rather than a college in a big city....I just figure you'd immerse yourself more in the US college atmosphere....I could be wrong, that just what I'd do if I was you....

[Sauru]

umass FTW