Tough College Decisions

[86 911]

I have just started my Senior year in high school right now and have to start getting my college applications out soon. I am applying to the UC (University of California) schools south of Santa Barbara. This would include UCSB, UC Irvine, UCLA, UCSD, and UC Riverside.
Just the other day, I got a advertisement through my e-mail about the American accredited "Franklin College" in Lugano, Switzerland. I am really looking into it and because it is approved by the College Board as well as a private 4 year liberal arts college, I am highly considering it. With my grades, admission to the college should be relatively easy. I really like European culture and the location of the college really appeals to me. Now I am wondering which college I should aim towards (assuming I will be accepted).

Here are my pros regarding the UC schools:
*Somewhat close to home
*I love the SoCal weather
*Friends are going to be in that area too
*The beach/surfing is great
*The schools give you a "top notch" education

Some pros about Franklin College:
*Location is unbeatable (imo)
*European culture
*Getting the chance to live and study in another part of the world

Would you think Franklin College would offer me a good eductation such as the UC schools? Honestly, if both schools gave me an equally great eduction, I would choose Franklin in a heartbeat. Here is Franklin's website: http://www.fc.edu
What do you think?

[Neilk]

What do you want to study and will studying and living in Europe help you achieve that goal? That's an important question. I am not sure how good Franklin is, but I am sure there are better universities in Europe.

I really like that you want to try something new. If you decide against Franklin, DEFINITELY do a semester/year abroad. If you only do a semester, do the spring one. It's longer and you can travel around Europe when you're done.

Good luck

[mattdavis11]

Study abroad later. Don't go where your friends are going, go as far away from home with out leaving the US. Doesn't matter what the weather is when you are studying. You can pull wool at places other than a beach. Vanderbilt. NashVegas, TN. sounds about right.

[86 911]

LOL. Actually I got the advertisement because I am signed up through College Board so I am signed up to get emails from colleges. My current GPA is about a 3.5, so I'm really applying to UCLA and UCSD just for the sake of applying. I should be able to get into Riverside or Irvine though. I'm taking the SAT 1 and 2 and ACT in November. As for Franklin, I am really interested in taking introductory German and courses in International business and communication.

[nostatic]

what do you think you want to do when you get out? Imho you need to go someplace that can give you a well rounded education but also has some name recognition. If I were you, I wouldn't go to Franklin...I'd never heard of it before now. That's a bad sign for someone who's been in academia for the past 20+ years.

If you're at UCR, surfing is a long drive. And it isn't the nicest place in the world compared to the other locales. Have you considered smaller liberal arts schools? USD (my undergrad alma mater), Point Loma Nazarene, and LMU come to mind. Heck of a lot closer to surf, and imho a better education. Smaller classes, more personal attention.

[fintstone]

Consider a military school.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by fintstone
Consider a military school.

They require haircuts.

[Porschephile944]

Being a current Junior in college I'm not sure I would recommend going outside the US for your full education, definitely do a semester abroad if your interested. Besides for name recognition one of the disadvantages to going to school is Europe is that it might be very hard to find a decent job in the US once you graduate. Going to school in the US will provide you connections through professors and your career center that should be able to hook you up with a job.

Just as a side note, the travel to Europe will wear on you very fast. My recommendation for distance from home would be something within easy driving distance, figure 5 hours at the most. Unless there are outside circumstances, but with being in southern California and liking the climate you should be all set. I'm about an hour and 20 minutes from home and love it because if I feel like going home for just a meal or to pick up something that I want I can do it without any problem and without feeling like I need to stay overnight.

My other suggestion is to apply to a lot of schools, esp ones your know you can get into, also apply to a lot of different size schools. This will leave lots of options open for you should you decide to transfer in the future. Also wait till you get accepted before vesting any campuses, an application might take 2 hours to fill out, visiting takes at least half a day most of the time and having a few excused absences from school during the spring of senior year is always nice.

[Tishabet]

It wasn't too long ago that I was in your shoes (I graduated from HS in '98) so I have a bit of a leg to stand on when it comes to doling advice.
Don't stay too close to home.
Definitely don't go anywhere because you will already have friends there. If you ignore the rest of my advice that's fine, but don't ignore this one!
If you're considering going to a school outside of the US but plan on returning to the US after, go to a school with name brand recognition. Employers looking at a resume with a school they've never heard of in a country they've never visited will not take you seriously. That's the bottom line...don't romanticize it.

[wludavid]

Gotta agree with Tshabet on this. (And I'm a year younger than he, so I have a leg to stand on, too.)

Right now you think you'll be BFF with your high school buds and that you'll marry your current girlfriend. Ain't gonna happen. (Most likely.)

Don't stay close to home, but don't go too far either. 3-8 hour drive is about right. The travel is wearing, and if you have to fly, it's tough if there's no airport real close and you don't have many friends there to pick you up.

Oh yeah-- wear sunblock, and remember that no matter what a stripper tells you, there's no sex in the champagne room.

[Rich76_911s]

What are you planning on studying?

I would suggest trying to spread your wings some and expand beyond Southern California. I might not got to Switzerland, realize they speak German in some parts and French in others. But if you are willing to romantize about being 5,000 miles away, get out there take a look at schools in other parts of the US. Consider schools in the North East, South, Colorado (my favorite), wherever. It is a great counrty you live in, experience more of it.

One thing I would STRESS and stress heavily. Is to get internships during the summers while you are in college. At the very least get one between junior and senior year. Having some revalent work experience on your resume after graduating is priceless.

My only other advice about college is to take as long as possible. You've already got a 911, I see no other rational reason to rush out of college to make money.

[tabascobobcat]

Originally posted by Rich76_911s


One thing I would STRESS and stress heavily. Is to get internships during the summers while you are in college. At the very least get one between junior and senior year. Having some revalent work experience on your resume after graduating is priceless.

+1
We don't hire anyone w/out an internship or a coop exerience.

[gaijindabe]

I went far away for college and then to Japan as an exchange student and then stayed over there to work and continue my studies.

I got home to New York and did not know a soul. It was a great experience - but I would recommend staying closer to where you want to build a career. You will build better networks, have more opportunities for internships and your education will have more relevance for potential employers. (Most of those HR dept gals are the most narrow and ignorant folks you will ever meet.)

That being said - it is a big world out there. Definately do the exchange thing for a semester, learn another language and travel a few summers if you can afford it.

Good luck!

[williecoyote]

I think it would be very hard doing college level work in a foreign country without a grasp of the language. That being said, many schools have programs where you can study abroad for a semester. You can also defer your admission for one year while you travel abroad.
Good Luck with your applications, SATs, ACTs, etc.

[Evans, Marv]

You expressed interest in language and international business. My first advise about choosing a school is to research the departments that you want to major in at many different schools. Apply at all of them you think would be good & acceptable to you. When you get out & look for a corporate job (if that's what you want), the companies know which departments are good & which aren't, and they give more consideration to people from departments with good reputations. German is very good, but you do know that the asian & oriental parts of the world are where the future opportunites are, especially in business. An engineer friend of mine who works for Bectel (sp ?) loves that part of the world & plans to retire there.
As for old school friends, I think everybody here will tell you once you are out of highschool, everybody eventually goes his/her separate way & makes his/her own life. Plus, it's fun to meet new people with new experiences, points of view and new ******* as well. Besides college is four, maybe six or seven years of your life, while your professional life will last forty years after that.

[kycarguy 935]

A friend of mine went there after high school and only stayed one semester. Its been over 20 years ago so I don't remember the reason he didn't finish. Good luck on whatever you decide.

[AFC-911]

You should do a semester abroad. I loved every minute of it (Quebec). I'm going to try to go to France next summer so that I can hopefully see some of my new friends from Paris.

If you do plan on studying abroad, try not to go on the ones where a bunch of kids from your Uni are on a tour of a country (or several ones).

IMO, I don't think it's a very authentic experience since you all stay together and speak English all the time (I've never been on one, but I think it's better if you actually live there as opposed to being a tourist). It is so much more rewarding when you can speak to the locals.

[legion]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Most of those HR dept gals are the most narrow and ignorant folks you will ever meet.

I can't agree with this more.

These people are the gatekeepers. Your resume won't get to the people who matter if they place it in the circular file. That being said, any of their personal quirks or predjudices can land your resume there...and no one else will ever get to see it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Don't go overseas till your 3rd year and then just do the fall.

When choosing a school you really have to think about what kind of person you are. Do you like action 24/7? Do you want a campus that is a city onto itself? Can you blend in with all sorts? Do you have a high tolerence for filth? Can you deal with large classes and being taught by a TA and not a prof? Then a State School is for you.

or

Do you want smaller clases thaught by a prof? Less varity of courses? Better dorms and better food? Smaller campus means more drama? Potential boondocks? Then maybe a small, private college is for you.

Pick 4 state bigs and 4 privates, 2 long shots (ivys or pseudo ivys) and a local community college in case you freak out or don't get in or can't decide. Vist the ones you get into.

Selection criteria - don't do a school sponsored tour! Find someone who already goes there and offer to buy lunch for an hour or 2 of their time:
1) Go on a Monday - check out the dorm bathrooms and staircases
2) Visit the Campus police and ask to see the arrest log (believe it or not it will give you a good sense of what went on over the weekend and will tell you how fun the school can be!)
3) Visit Greek Row (get a Pelican to contact his ol house and set you up!)
4) Check out the library, go to the reference librarian and ask for help on a specific topic (like the alloy selection of an oil cooled engine) and see how they treat you.
5) Find out where the students eat and sample such.


The school that gives you the best vibe will be your school. Remember, unless you are going to go to an Ivy, it really makes no diff were you went. If you do get to an Ivy then study a science or engineering and be prepared to work your arse off and then you won't get any better pay than a state dude but you will get a better knod for grad work. That won;t get you more money either but it does give you a few cents worth of bragging rights for about 3 years after you graduate then nobody gives a *****.

[RickM]

You may want to consider the cost of living in Switzerland.