STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

lacrosseluver04 · BCBG

College

Jahni · Dooney & Bourke

Oklahoma State University....Go Pokes!!!
I absolutely loved it. Stillwater is a great college town and the atmosphere on campus and around town is awesome. I go back several times a year for football or basketball games or just to hang out (my sister still goes to school there).

If I didn't go to OSU I probably would have gone somewhere in the SEC. Probably either Auburn or Alabama.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I ended up at SUNY Albany for undergrad which I hated. It was a bad, stupid decision (my boyfriend went there

) I was also looking at Cornell, Boston College, and Hartwick College. I did a summer at Cornell and liked it a lot.

For grad school I went to George Washington and I LOVED it. I was also considering American, and I think I would have liked that too. It's a little more "campus-y" than GW is, which I think might be better for undergrad unless you're very independant.

Kelly · Hermes

I'm about to graduate from the University of Louisville. I like it here -which is weird, because when I first started looking at colleges, it wasn't appealing to me at all. Here, though, it's really just what you make of it - there are some geniuses here and some really tough courses and programs. But there are some real idiots, too. I'm ashamed to say that on my first day of college, I was appalled to go to my first Latin class only to have a great portion of the class not know what our instructor meant by "noun" and "verb." I definitely had the options of going to more challenging schools, but in the end I'm still glad I went here. I really wanted to go to a private university, just about 15 minutes away from UofL, but my high school counselor sent the wrong transcript in and I didn't get a big enough scholarship - by the time the mistake was realized, all the scholarships were gone

But I'm glad. For reasons too long-winded to say here, a bigger and more diverse university was the perfect fit for me, which I didn't expect.

I chose UofL because I got a full scholarship, and it is only 100 miles away from home, but I still have relatives in the city - I can go home when I need to, but there are people here in case of an emergency. I thought I was moving worlds away at first, though - I actually cried on the way to move in to the dorms, because I knew I was going to be so homesick! And I still am - I'm moving home ASAP after graduation.

There were other options, of course, but in the end it was between these two schools. Most of my decision was geographically-oriented (i.e. I didn't want to move far from home!), so I was kind of limited in that respect. I think I applied to 6 colleges, and actually ended up going to the one that was the furthest away.

Lilykind · Hermes

I did my first two years of undergrad at Mary Baldwin College, a small Southern womens' college. I went because they had a early-entrance program (I was 15 when I was accepted) and I liked that their program didn't have any trainsition period at the high school level. Those were two of the most fun years of my life, even though I HATED living in such a tiny town without a car. I loved going to a womens' college though, because I felt like the vibe was really great and I also felt a strong sense of comraderie between all my classmates.

I transferred to the University of Southern California for my last two years. It's the best school in the country for my major (Communication) and it was located in a city I planned on living in long-term (Los Angeles). I wanted to live in a major city and go to a school that was really strong for my major. As a bonus, I also really got into football.

I tried to transfer to UCLA but they're tougher to get into than Harvard if you're an out of state student. I also considered NYU but since I'm originally from New York I'm sure I would have had to move in with my parents.

alagirl · Kenneth Cole

I went to Auburn University. I come from a family where that's where everyone went/goes to school, so I didn't really consider many other places too heavily. I guess it also helped that I got a full scholarship too.... I loved the town and it is growing pretty fast now and every time I go back for football games and to visit family, there is something new and exciting that has been built. Campus is beautiful and the people are some of the nicest you'll ever meet.

I did some traveling with some different groups I was involved in and went to the campuses of several other universities. I liked Cal Poly-San Lius Obpispo, Texas A & M, and Clemson really well.

jacL · Coach

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was in-state and I am so glad I went there. I didn't want to move too far from home but I was very close to going to the University of Illinois at Chicago because it was the next closest school that offered the program I wanted (which I ended up switching anyway) and I thought living in Chicago would be fun (I did move there after college). Price was a small factor (Chicago would have been twice the cost for me but that was probably the least important factor in my choice).

I was very happy with my state school. I loved the town and always had fun there. Also, because it was such a large school, there were so many opportunities, academically and socially. Sports and Greek life were very big but not the only way to have a social life, which was good for me because I was not into either of those. I feel some of my friends who went to smaller schools got pulled into sports and/or Greek life because they felt they didn't have any other options--not that that is a commentary on all small schools, just some, and I am sure this could very well apply to large schools too. I also loved how I got to meet so many different people.

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

I went to University of California, Davis. I liked it there (not the hot weather though). It had a laid back atmosphere, and was more studious than party-party.

I was also accepted to UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, but the Davis campus made me feel more at home. I toured the Berkeley campus but it didn't feel like "me."

halleybird · Hermes

The University of Arizona. I loved it. It was a fantastic school, especially for the money. I liked that it was 2 hours from home, which was close without being too close. I knew I would end up in state, since my grades enabled me to get a tuition waiver + cash each year, and my parents couldn't/wouldn't pay for an out of state school.

NCshopper · Hermes

I went to Wake Forest University and I loved it. Seriously, it was everything I thought college should be. It was the only school I applied to, even though we looked at a ton of schools--but I fell in love with it on my first visit and so that was that. I didn't know what I wanted to major in, so it was important to me to go to a school that was really good overall, instead of specializing in just a few things.

At that stage, after living in southern California for my whole life, I was totally ready for something different and moving to North Carolina fit the bill. Most of my friends at Wake weren't from NC either, so it was cool to be thrust into an environment in which no one really had an "edge."

lynnie · Chanel

NCshopper wrote:

I went to Wake Forest University and I loved it. Seriously, it was everything I thought college should be. It was the only school I applied to, even though we looked at a ton of schools--but I fell in love with it on my first visit and so that was that. I didn't know what I wanted to major in, so it was important to me to go to a school that was really good overall, instead of specializing in just a few things.

At that stage, after living in southern California for my whole life, I was totally ready for something different and moving to North Carolina fit the bill. Most of my friends at Wake weren't from NC either, so it was cool to be thrust into an environment in which no one really had an "edge."

My dad went to Wake! I will always have a soft spot for that school- my whole family is from NC on my dad's side (charlotte, boone/blowing rock, raleigh, winsten-salem).

I went to university of maryland, college park. Its a good school, has a really good rep. Education wise- i'd say pick the school with the best program for you. But having a school with a "name" definitely helps.

i liked going to a big school with a campus- not sure how i would have felt in a small town or going to a college in a city- nyu for example.

I picked a lot based on whether or not i thought i'd have fun/like it. And the fact that it was affordable for me. As long as the school is decent, i think the most important thing is whether or not you'll enjoy your time there.

jrhampt · Kenneth Cole

I went to University of Connecticut for my undergraduate degree, and it was okay. It was a big school, though, I didn't live on campus, and there are a lot of things I really can't stand about the way that university is run - mostly related to parking and getting financial aid screwed up in new and exciting ways every semester. I didn't really enjoy it until my senior year when I joined a really small department (geology, which has since been merged with NRME). I got offered full scholarships to a number of state universities, including University of Texas - Austin, Texas A&M, Florida State, Louisiana State, and I can't remember where else. Looking back, I wish I had gone to UTA instead - I think Austin is a great town, and UTA is a pretty good university as far as state schools go - but my parents were against that idea (long story).

needsfashionadvice · Kate Spade

I went to Southern Arkansas University...I know you've all heard of it, being such a huge school and all :) If I had it to do all over, I would have gone somewhere bigger like LSU or Univeristy of Arkansas. I did enjoy the small town atmosphere there but they didn't offer a civil engineering degree (which is what I really wanted to do) but I went there anyway and got an Engineering-Physics degree. Yeah it's proven to be the most USELESS degree ever.

Sandy · Kate Spade

I'm currently earning my Bachelor's at a technical college... and I never thought I'd be here. I entered my senior year of HS thinking that I would go to NYU (and I could have if I tried), but I quickly realized that I no longer knew what I wanted to do with my life. I didn't apply to any colleges, not even the good 'ole fall back school, University of Rhode Island (I'd bet that 3/4 of my graduating class is there right now. I don't mean that it's an easy school that anyone could get into, its just where most people end up). I decided to get my general classes out of the way at community college while I decided what to major in (why waste the money?).. it took me two and a half years to get that done and finally decide that I want to study architecture. I did a little digging and found that the school I now attend is the best school in my area for my major. Here, I get automatic acceptance to BAC (Boston Architectural Center) with advanced standing to earn my Master's. Plus, it's an accelerated program, so I'll get my degree in 3 years instead of 4. That makes up for some of the time I wasted at CCRI. The only downside is that I have to take all of the basics again; my school did not accept any of my transfer credits. Well, there is another downside: the price! I could earn three BAs at URI for the price I'm paying at my school.

I've found that some people turn their noses up at me when I say what school I attend... they think that a technical school is for electricians and mechanics. They're suprised to know that my program is one of the most intense and fast-paced around. I learn just as much as the kid at a four year university learns, but I learn it faster (and I go in the summer... blah!) I sometimes regret not going to a better-known university, but I really, really love my school.

-- Edited by Sandy at 20:28, 2007-02-21

Sevilla · BCBG

I went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) and graduated with dual degrees in International Studies and Spanish.

During my freshman year I didn't really like it too much, since it's in a smaller town and I wanted to be in a bigger city. After entering my sophomore year and really getting more comfortable with the school and what it offered, though, I LOVED it. I'm so appreciative of the international opportunities UNC offers students in the way of study abroad experiences, internships, etc.., and I ove the vast array of liberal arts courses you can take at Carolina. The school gave me some amazing opportunites that I'll be forever grateful for. I can't say enough about it!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I went to Kent State University for both my degrees. I really liked Kent. It wasn't my first choice. But, if I would've been able to go where I thought I wanted to go at age 18, I would've been absolutely miserable. The places I thought I wanted to go were small, expensive, private colleges in Ohio. I had to go to Kent (started at the branch campus near my home) for financial reasons; and I'm so glad I did. I like big schools; and Kent's rebellious streak was a perfect fit for me.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I went to LSU for undergrad and grad school. It was my second choice (gasp! - I'm from there) behind Univ of Florida. I went and did the tour of colleges in between my junior and senior year and toured GA Tech, UGA, UF, FSU, and then I had been to Ole Miss and Auburn before. I fell in love with UF. It was just gorgeous and the academics were great.

But I apparently was meant to go to the local school and you know LSU wasn't terrible. I had my fun there with being in a sorority and joining a student organization that was associated with a sports team. I made some really good friends, received a decent education and luckily had the head of my department help me land my great job here in Houston. So it all turned out.

Have you began to look for colleges? Are you at one now?