Explore College Options: Where & When to Go

[AngelShare]

I hope I'm going about this the right way...I didn't even know this folder existed until about 20 minutes ago.

As you can tell by my profile, I live in Pennsylvania, in the middle of no where...right across from a farm. Yep, country girl...

I'm sick of being in the country and am totally in love with New York. I'd love to try going to college in New York but I've only been there once and for just one day. Other than that, my parents have kept me close to home which means I have very little experience with things outside of "country life". My Mom is terrified of life outside her "bubble" so she, more or less, says, "If you go to New York, you'll get raped, robbed, and murdered." So, obviously, I can't talk to her about anything and my Dad is out of the question because talking with him has quite a few negative aspects as well.

Basically, do you think it would be a terrible idea? Should I just limit myself to colleges in my area? I mean, Juniata is only about 40 minutes from my house and about 15 minutes from my Grandmother's house. However, it's in a small town I've been around my entire life.

Also, I've been really stressed out lately so my nerves aren't the greatest. My home life is less than perfect and my school work, being that it's my senior year and I'm a cyber school student, has definitely gotten a lot harder...all of that has come together to make me really unsure of myself so I decided I'd rather wait a year before going to college so I can get things in line. I don't have anything figured out, including where I want to go, so the extra time will allow me to think as I rarely do anything without thinking everything through thoroughly. However, I fear I'll fall out of the loop, that I won't want to go to college if I take a year off...that it'll mess my chances up, or it'll screw up...something, anything. Has anyone taken a year off before going to college? Is anyone doing that now? Etc. I'd really like to get some feedback on this.

 

[leon1127]

I hope I'm going about this the right way...I didn't even know this folder existed until about 20 minutes ago.

As you can tell by my profile, I live in Pennsylvania, in the middle of no where...right across from a farm. Yep, country girl...

I'm sick of being in the country and am totally in love with New York. I'd love to try going to college in New York but I've only been there once and for just one day. Other than that, my parents have kept me close to home which means I have very little experience with things outside of "country life". My Mom is terrified of life outside her "bubble" so she, more or less, says, "If you go to New York, you'll get raped, robbed, and murdered." So, obviously, I can't talk to her about anything and my Dad is out of the question because talking with him has quite a few negative aspects as well.

Basically, do you think it would be a terrible idea? Should I just limit myself to colleges in my area? I mean, Juniata is only about 40 minutes from my house and about 15 minutes from my Grandmother's house. However, it's in a small town I've been around my entire life.

Also, I've been really stressed out lately so my nerves aren't the greatest. My home life is less than perfect and my school work, being that it's my senior year and I'm a cyber school student, has definitely gotten a lot harder...all of that has come together to make me really unsure of myself so I decided I'd rather wait a year before going to college so I can get things in line. I don't have anything figured out, including where I want to go, so the extra time will allow me to think as I rarely do anything without thinking everything through thoroughly. However, I fear I'll fall out of the loop, that I won't want to go to college if I take a year off...that it'll mess my chances up, or it'll screw up...something, anything. Has anyone taken a year off before going to college? Is anyone doing that now? Etc. I'd really like to get some feedback on this.

Although I have not visited NY, i had lived in a big city for a while. but from what i have heard from my east coast freind, new york isn't really a good place for people with little experience in big city. Your option might be to try some other "Calmer" city first? NY is very great, but there must exist - in order to have +...

 

[AngelShare]

Yeah, good point...but I keep tossing back and forth between that and, "Come on, not everyone who goes to college in New York resides there or in another equally large city..." That and, did you ever hear of Guiding Light (soap opera)? The girl that now plays Lizzie moved to New York after graduating from high school...only about an hour or so away from here. She didn't live in the country but I don't think she came from a terribly large city either because my Mom pointed the article about her out to me. Just something to think on...not the acting thing, the, "She's still alive..." thing.

Thanks for your input, though, I appreciate it.

 

[dicerandom]

NYC is a great town, but it sounds to me like you're setting yourself up for some serious culture shock at the very least if you go off to college there. A lot of people have a hard enough time adjusting to college life as it is, let alone also adjusting to city life if they've grown up in the country.

There are a lot of good schools on the east coast, many of which are situated in nice quiet college towns. I reccomend that you take a look at schools that are in smallish towns, which are far enough away from your parents house and any other relatives so that you can justify living on or near campus, and is still within a few hours drive or train ride from NYC. This way you get out of the house, go off to college, and can still go visit the city you love without actually having to jump in head first.

 

[leon1127]

you are welcome
Large city doesn't play the key role of this thread. It is actually that the complexity of NY is very unique compare to any city in the world i think. I can't really tell you much about NY because all i know about NY is just sex, drug, alcohol and food...-_-"

 

[Nothing000]

I lived in a city with about 600,000 people in it before I went to college, and I deffinetely think I would find it hard to adjust to NY city or LA. So I think it might be pretty hard to move to an environment like that if you have lived in a small town all your life.
What is so great about NY anyways? I always thought that the people that love the city were the people that grew up there. When I think of new york I think of a place that I would not want to live. It is expensive to live there too. What is the point.
I would also have to assume that moving to one of the largest cities in the world could only increase your stress level, I don't see how it would decrease it. I would advise you to move away from where you live, but move somewhere peaceful and not so expensive and dangerous.

 

[AngelShare]

What is so great about NY anyways? I always thought that the people that love the city were the people that grew up there. When I think of new york I think of a place that I would not want to live. It is expensive to live there too. What is the point.

But you see, that's you. That's not me. I don't think, "What's so great about NY anyways?" because it excites me which is rare these days. I look at what's around me and get even more depressed than what I already am because there's nothing here...I'd like to check out becoming a graphic designer or something along those lines and you can't do everything I want to do around here because there are limits. Hell, my brother wants to become a game designer...do you really think he could do that living in Cow County?

Now, I'm not saying that I'm disregarding everyone's advice, I'm just saying I see more when I look at New York than you do.

I would also have to assume that moving to one of the largest cities in the world could only increase your stress level, I don't see how it would decrease it. I would advise you to move away from where you live, but move somewhere peaceful and not so expensive and dangerous.

Well, for you to understand my reasoning you'd have to know what's causing the stress in the first place.

I appreciate your opinion though, thanks.

 

[Nothing000]

How are you going to pay for it though? Do you really know how expesive it is to live there? Are your parents going to pay for you?

 

[jtbell]

Check out a variety of different places before you decide which kind of environment you'd really prefer. Visiting a big city is one thing, living there is another. I love visiting New York, Chicago, Washington, etc., but I'd hate having to deal with the traffic, high prices etc., day in and day out for normal living.

Large universities in medium-sized cities can provide very stimulating environments (student activities, night life, etc.). I thoroughly enjoyed living in Ann Arbor while I was a grad student at Michigan. U of Wisconsin at Madison is similar, and has the bonus of being not terribly far from Chicago. Then there's Northwestern, from where you can hop on the 'L' and ride to Chicago's Loop. I've heard good things about other places like Texas (Austin) and Colorado (Boulder).

 

[Maxwell]

I say go for it. Go to NYC -- it will be a fantastic experience. Remember, there is more to NYC than just Manhattan. You could live in Queens or Brooklyn. Living in NYC is a quite an experience for anyone; very stimulating and interesting. There are many fantastic people and places to see. I have lived right outside the city (~20-30 minutes) all my life and I still love going there. There is always something interesting happening.

I live in upstate NY now for college and when breaks and vacations arrive I can not WAIT to get back home.

Life is way too short to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing happening. If you are not happy, and you think a change of scenery will fix that, then by all means go for it.

And you won't be raped, robbed, etc. You just have to be smart. Don't walk in a bad area alone at 3 am. This is the same for ANY city in the world.

 

[scorpa]

I was in a similar situation as you are. All my life I lived on a farm out in the middle of nowhere, went to a high school in the nearest town where there was less than 130 students from kindergarten to grade 12, I literally knew everyone in my school. When I graduated I had to move to a city, and to be honest I couldn't imagine moving to somewhere as big as New York. The place I am at now is about 1 million people and to me it seems huge and busy, and was definitely a culture shock for me. That being said I adjusted rather quickly, although trying to find my way around the stupid place is rather frustrating for me.

If you really want to go to new york, and think you can handle it then go for it. You won't be happy unless you try, although I can definitely say that as the others have said it might help you to start off somewhere a bit smaller. But that totally depends on the type of person you are, you may be able to handle it just fine.

 

[leon1127]

I lived in a city where has 7millions population. As Maxwell said, you have to be really smart to dual with the problem caused by complexity of the city. There should be few impediments to go to school in NY. Most important to most people should be financial just like everyone say above.
Anyways, have fun in college~

 

[AngelShare]

How are you going to pay for it though? Do you really know how expesive it is to live there? Are your parents going to pay for you?

My parents are paying for it...and if it's something I really want to do, my Dad will help me out a lot as he's really big into college. Almost pushy...heh, strike the almost part...

 

[AngelShare]

Check out a variety of different places before you decide which kind of environment you'd really prefer. Visiting a big city is one thing, living there is another. I love visiting New York, Chicago, Washington, etc., but I'd hate having to deal with the traffic, high prices etc., day in and day out for normal living.

Large universities in medium-sized cities can provide very stimulating environments (student activities, night life, etc.). I thoroughly enjoyed living in Ann Arbor while I was a grad student at Michigan. U of Wisconsin at Madison is similar, and has the bonus of being not terribly far from Chicago. Then there's Northwestern, from where you can hop on the 'L' and ride to Chicago's Loop. I've heard good things about other places like Texas (Austin) and Colorado (Boulder).

I was thinking about finding a college close enough to New York but just far enough away to give me some space if I need it. I'll have to better check into it.

 

[Nothing000]

Why don't you move to Kansas City? It is big, and dirty.

 

[AngelShare]

Why don't you move to Kansas City? It is big, and dirty.

I'm sorry to tell you this but you aren't going to win any "funniest member" awards with comments like that. That couldn't even get a clown to crack a smile...if you don't know what you're talking about, all you had to do was say so.

 

[Plastic Photon]

I took a year off before I went to college (started last semester). Not so bad. Gave me time to work and think about what it is was I wanted to study. I still have no idea what I will study, but I have the general direction of chemistry.

The only problem I had with entering school was that my study skills had diminished. I had to drop two of my classes, art history and history, last semester. Second semester is better though. At my school, a trigonometry course is required before pre-calculus, and now I am currently reading precal material and about to head into the calculus in two weeks or so. I am doing this not only because I find the material slow or easy to learn, but because I regret taking that year off.

I would not recommend you take the year off unless it is under dire circumstances. That is just my opinion, I could be wrong, but...

If you do...

Find a way to motivate yourself in your time off (don't simply sloth like I did. Go over some math so you do not start in algebra or precal when you enroll, if that is the sort of thing you plan on doing. Plan out what courses you want to take and decide how much if any summer school you want to take. Nothing but time and it goes by very slowly.

 

[franznietzsche]

Why don't you move to Kansas City? It is big, and dirty.

And as interesting as a cow pie. Really.