new plan

[bedlamsbard]

I really can't handle living in a city. Brown and the area around it is fine, but as soon as you get away from the campus -- I'm serious, I can't handle it to an extent that would be funny if it was anyone not actually me. I don't like cities and I've never liked cities and I think at this point I might try to steer away from colleges that are located in cities -- which strikes Boston University and the University of Chicago off the list, right now. Not the UW, even though that's definitely city-located, just because it's a state school and it's one of my backup schools. I think at this point I should definitely start looking at schools that are located more smalltown-wise. I don't need much at all in a town -- for God's sake, I live in Ellensburg and I like it fine. I need a Fred Meyer or the local equivalent thereof and besides that, I should be good. Music shop, bookstore, maybe a coffee/tea shop -- that'd be nice, but I seriously don't need it. Maybe a larger city within easy driving distance, but if I can't handle Providence then it's pretty certain I can't handle Boston or Chicago or New York.

Which is bringing up something else. I can't visit most of the schools I'm planning to apply to before I apply -- Stanford's covered, and I loved it with a fiery, fiery passion, and I can definitely visit the UW -- and Brown's taught me that I really, really need to see the campus and get to feel it before I accept, and now I'm worried that I'm planning to apply to a lot of schools I'd hate if I went there. (No, I'm serious: there's literally no way I can visit. Except for Stanford and the UW, they're all on the East Coast and I can't afford to visit. The only two schools Brown's running visits down to in the next two weekends are Harvard and Connecticut College, which I don't know if I'll be able to go of because of space and availability. There is the college fair, though.) And now I really do have to think about this stuff.

*worries*

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I can't believe I'm about to say this. I swore I'd never do any crazed-alum-plugging... but have you looked at Amherst? Small college town, but there's a mall and a slightly larger college town that are both reachable by the local bus. There's also the option of taking classes at any of the other four colleges in the area (UMass, Hampshire, Smith, Mt. Holyoke.)

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Crazed alum plugging is exactly what would be helpful at this point, since the only person I know who graduated from any of the schools I'm interested in is my dad, and that was the UW and grad school.

I have thought, very briefly, of Amherst and the schools in the area -- being able to cross-register for classes seems like a plus; it's also why I'm tentatively looking at Scripps and the Claremont Consortium -- but I've been dismissing the area as way too liberal. At this point, though, I'm willing to consider just about anything, so I may look closer at those schools. (Smith and Mt. Holyoke have both sent me stuff.)

[(Anonymous)]

Having looked through some of the other stuff you've said, I can tell you Amherst, at least, is probably not what you're looking for. No pep/marching band, no archeology courses, and the music program is passable, but not great. I don't know about Smith or Mt. Holyoke, though Smith does have a reputation as a very liberal place.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Yeah, I am looking for a school that does have at least some of the stuff I'm interested in, so that's too bad. I got all excited there for a minute!

Thank you.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

but if I can't handle Providence then it's pretty certain I can't handle Boston or Chicago or New York.

In all fairness, you've only been in Providence about a week. Though I'm not sure how much time you've spent in larger cities otherwise. Depending on that, it might just be something you need time to adjust to.

What is it about the cities in particular that seems not-handleable?

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

You have a very good point. I went down again today, and it was better -- I'll add that yesterday there was some kind of Latin American Festival going on, which didn't do much to sooth my already frazzled nerves. The longest I've stayed in a city before was about a week in Seattle, but that was with my mom, which, you know, makes it better. Also, I wasn't wandering around with a couple of other teenage girls.

Half it's the sheer volume of people, half it's -- I think -- the city reputation, especially for a poor sheltered country girl like me. I don't think watching CSI:NY helps much either. *facepalm*

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Yeah, big crowded festivals can be that way. Fun if you're used to them, but exhausting. Being with other people in a city is a plus, but you're right -- it's better if you know them. Alternately, if they're someone who knows the city you're in pretty well. I wish I knew better how to advise, other than just saying it's something you get used to. You're going to be in Providence 3 more weeks (or 4?), by the end of that you might feel much more confident about things.

My dad recommends the fireworks in Providence, btw, he says they do a spectacular display.

The sheer volume of people is hard, sometimes. Especially in the summer, lots more people out and about in general. CSI and other procedurals, no, don't really help the perception of cities ;)

Out of curiousity, I know you weren't really looking at a strictly-music college program, but have you ever looked at Berklee College of Music?

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

I mean, I'm used to the Fair, which I know doesn't sound real impressive, but it can get pretty crowded, especially just as the rodeo's letting out. It's just that there's a whole lot more space -- and it's my own territory; I'm comfortable with it. "City" to me is just a big alien concept that also takes in "scary." I mean, I'm one of those people that doesn't particularly enjoy being around others most of the time; I want to live somewhere where I feel comfortable wandering around on my own. (I'll be in Providence three more weeks, by the way.)

We're going down to see them tomorrow, I think. Don't ask me why Providence does them the day before the fourth of July; they just do.

I've looked at Berklee, but not seriously. For one thing, Berklee's a conservatory, and I know I'm not ready for a conservatory, because that is seriously hardcore. For another, I'm leaning slightly away from music right now -- toward anthro/archaeology or international defense/whatever they're calling it -- and I wasn't planning to be a performance major anyway. Also, a conservatory wouldn't offer a lot of what I'm looking for in a college, which at the moment includes athletics as well as academics, so I can play in a pep/marching band. Also, school spirit.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. But that does sound like it's one of those things that you might just need time to adjust to. (one nice thing about Boston -- it's pretty easy to get away from the city into relatively rural areas.)

A lot of cities don't do them directly on the fourth, I've noticed. There may be timing/weather/setup issues involved there. (A number of MA cities simply aren't doing them at all this year, but that's for budgetary reasons).

Ah, I didn't know Berklee was a conservatory. For some reason I thought they had some other, non- -- performance? -- related majors (I think they might have music therapy or music education).

BU, BC and Northeastern all have strong Athletic programs (and hockey programs! ++ on the athletic event quotient.) BC is historically Catholic and may be somewhat more conservative than the other two. I don't know much about their marching bands.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

I think I'm getting more used to the city; I went down again today and saw a movie with some friends.

If I remember correctly (or am just making stuff up) a school's a conservatory if all it does is straight music, nothing else. I think they actually do have a music ed program, but I'm not interested in the school.

I can tell you that BU's marching band was used in the movie "Mystic River." I know for sure that both BU and BC have marching/pep bands; I also know that BU, at least, has an archaeology program. I don't think BC does, but I know that BC is, like, the one school where the students complain that the teachers are too conservative. It's also one of those schools where, if you go there, you're either "really smart or really rich." I'm going to try and talk to both their reps at the college fair in a couple weeks. I don't really know anything about Northeastern.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

My mother suggests a guidebook of some kind; also, this (http://www.waterfire.org/about). Burny things on the river! :)

I'm pretty sure Northeastern has anthropology/archeology, and probably political science/international relations (my impression is, it's big on law/politics as these things go). My mom says it's similar in terms of attitude/culture to BU.

BC is the school referenced in the Standells "Dirty Water", housing the "frustrated women", who have to be "in by 12 o'clock". ;)

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Waterfire! So far we haven't seen the fires lit, but it looks like they're going to be lighting up next weekend. You'd think they'd light them for the Fourth, but no. Providence fireworks, though? Totally awesome.

Northeastern's fairly large, though, isn't it?

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

Yep, according to the schedule, July 14th. And they try to only have one burny thing at a time, I assume. ;) Yay fireworks.

Northeastern has, according to Petersons, an enrollment of just over 15,000 (I assume this lumps grads + undergrads together), and BU actually has an enrollment of 18,500.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

For some reason I thought BU had over 30,000? Or is that counting grads and undergrads. Maybe I'll look at Northeastern.

*headdesk* This college stuff is hard. Can't I just go to Central?

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

I lied. According to Petersons, their enrollment numbers are the number of full & part-time undergraduate students at the respective colleges. With grad students included they could probably start their own small countries.

College stuff looks harder than it really is. And if you truly loathe somewhere, or it's a craptastic fit, there's no problem with transferring.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

I still remain dubious about going to a school with a population larger than the county I live in.

Yes, but I have to figure out what schools to apply to first. And at least a couple of those have to be schools I'm reasonably likely to get into.

[mentalhygiene.livejournal.com]

A good chunk of those numbers seem to be part-time students, so the actual full-time undergrad population is probably less than half the enrollment number. And you'll still only get to know as many people as you would in a smaller school. One plus to a larger school is that you're slightly more likely to find people who share your views on things.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to balance the advantages of a large school against the advantages of a small school. It's not working. *headdesk, headdesk, headdesk* ARGH. DEATH DEATH DEATH. Can't I just stay in high school another year? I could go to Disneyland with the band again.

[thedaytheystop.livejournal.com]

*waves* Hi, you don't know me, I just saw your post about your apocalyptathon fic on friendsfriends and bookmarked your LJ because I wanted to read it when it was posted--checked today and saw a college post! :)

I'm a rising junior at Wellesley and I wanted to put a word in for it! (you are a girl, right??) :)

it's in an upscale suburb but the campus is self-contained (and beautiful!) and there's nature (lake! arboretum!) and you can get into Boston really easily but you don't live IN Boston. I went to summer school at Harvard before my senior year (I gather you're doing this at Brown??) and HATED it because it was so yucky urban (garbage trucks at 5 in the morning, homeless people lurking at CVS and the gates, etc). I love Wellesley because it's much quieter and safer but easy to get to the city nonetheless.

As for stuff you're interested in--(per someone else's comment)--there's a great anthropology department that has archaeology courses (i had the archaeology professor, briefly, and he was great). the music department is good, from what i hear. i play bassoon, and on campus i play chamber music plus two years ago i played in a (concert) band at MIT, taking the bus in to rehearsals. it was wonderful! there is a great symphony orchestra at Wellesley that I did briefly but I really dislike strings so I decided to ditch them altogether and go for band instead. There are choirs/a cappella groups too! i have a friend from northeastern who plays (percussion) in the BU marching band, so that might be an option too (you could bus in easily).

at Wellesley you also get to take classes at MIT/Olin/Babson/Brandeis (mostly MIT/Olin, less the other two) if you're bored with the course selection, etc, at Wellesley. And it's only 2400 students!

anyway, check it out! don't let the all-girls (okay, all-women, but I'm not one of the ones to care) thing deter you--it was the only women's college I applied to (because my mother wanted me to visit it/apply to it) and even though I got into 4 others I ended up choosing Wellesley and I couldn't be happier.

[bedlamsbard.livejournal.com]

Hi! The apocalyptothon fic will probably be up at the end of July since that's the due date, but I'm glad I have at least one new reader.

I hadn't looked really closely (or, um, at all) at Wellesley because I've been leaning away from all-girls schools -- I've been very tentatively considering Scripps (in California) and Barnard because they allow you to cross-register, but I hadn't realized Wellesley let you do that. And I've been getting a couple of all-girls plugs, which I'm starting to look at more seriously because they're smaller, and also, single-sex dorms. And the quieter/safer thing sounds like a really nice plus, since I'm a country and even Providence, which is a small city, is freaking me out...uh, a lot.

I'm a rising senior at a small-medium (2A, about 950 students) in a small college town in central Washington state; almost all the schools I'm looking at are on the East Coast, so it's nearly impossible to talk to people who go to/have gone to those schools. I am all for people plugging their various schools for me, because otherwise I'm going to end up choosing which colleges to apply to by putting a list up on the wall and throwing darts at it. Which would probably not be the best way to make decisions. (Also, I play bari sax in band and jazz band and flute with the community youth orchestra. *shrug* Tentatively looking at a music ed/archaeology double major.)

Thank you for dropping by; I'd been dismissing Wellesley as just another all-girls school, so hearing from someone who goes there is pretty cool and very helpful.