Chicago, Charlottesville, Philly

I'm choosing between three universities in those three places to spend my next for years. Obviously I'm going to base most of my choice on the college itself but I'd like some input from those with experience on the music scenes. Going to shows here is a huge part of my life, and is one of the reasons other schools I was accepted to got knocked out of the running. I've kind of been watching Pollstar and I think I have a pretty good idea but want to hear from those who actually know.

Charlottesville obviously has the poorest scene of the three, Chicago the best. In Charlottesville, all you have is Starr Hill and Satellite Ballroom - do not get alot of great shows but a few.

If you can get into UVA, don't pass on it for the music, though.

Yeah, that's what I've pretty much guessed. UVA is such a great school but the other two (UPenn and Northwestern) are awesome too. I thought the stress of this whole college application process would disappear once acceptances/rejections came out,but it has only intensified.

if $$ isn't an issue, then go to Penn, it will open a lot of doors (you might not be thinking about this right now, but it will really come in handy in 4-5 years) and you'll always ask yourself "what if" if you don't go

Those are all great schools. What exactly are you wanting to major in?

yeah, i should have added that you can't go wrong with any of them … 8 years ago i probably would have chosen UVA, right now i would take Penn

Northwestern.
The distinction between it and UPenn is a small one. Plus, it's good to get off the East Coast and see that the rest of the country really is a different cultural beast.

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:
Those are all great schools. What exactly are you wanting to major in?

Right now, I'm not exactly sure. I'll be in the College of Arts and Sciences at all of them. I think I'll probably end up with either an International Relations type major or being an English or Literature major (I know, I know). Something in the humanities.

Charlottesville used to reportedly have a great local music scene… i don't know much about it now.

Personally I think seething metropoli are always better than little towns, and for that reason out of the bunch I'd choose Chicago.

Academically you'll do well by any of those, so it's OK to factor in other considerations, such as the type of environment that would make you most happy. Big city? Small town? Campus?

if you're like most people, what your degree is ultimately in will have little to do with what you ultimately do with your life, so look for fulfillment, challenge, and growth.

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
if you're like most people, what your degree is ultimately in will have little to do with what you ultimately do with your life, so look for fulfillment, challenge, and growth.

And who has the hottest guys you can drunkenly give it up to. If you're going to slore it up, you might as well wake up next to something hot; avoid those awkward walks of shame, ya know?

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
if you're like most people, what your degree is ultimately in will have little to do with what you ultimately do with your life, so look for fulfillment, challenge, and growth.

and balance.

i fucking loved studying english literature and history, but i'm kicking myself in the ass right now for not taking a couple of basic finance courses.

if only i knew then what i know now! seems like a novel subject, maybe i should write a book.

i say go to northwestern.

signed, a upenn grad

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:

i fucking loved studying english literature and history, but i'm kicking myself in the ass right now for not taking a couple of basic finance courses.

if only i knew then what i know now! seems like a novel subject, maybe i should write a book.

Yeah. Although most of what you need to know in the workplace, unless you're going for a specific profession like law or medicine, can be picked up on the job or through professional courses… you could probably learn all the basic finance you need in one evening class…

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
Yeah. Although most of what you need to know in the workplace, unless you're going for a specific profession like law or medicine, can be picked up on the job or through professional courses… you could probably learn all the basic finance you need in one evening class…

true enough

True on both claims, but at Northwestern you'll actually be spending most of your time in a cushy upper middle class suburb. Probably the same for UPENN as well.

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Northwestern.
The distinction between it and UPenn is a small one. Plus, it's good to get off the East Coast and see that the rest of the country really is a different cultural beast.

Go to UVA and then spend the money that you saved on tuition travelling to shows.

If money truly isn't an issue, I'd go to NW.

if I could do it all over again I'd go to NYU and spend four years pretending I was a Lower East Side bohemian.

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
if I could do it all over again I'd go to NYU and spend four years pretending I was a Lower East Side bohemian.

oh thats actually my new plan. im not quite sure how i can afford nyu but i can sure do a lot of pretending. but im always down in the LES anyway, and actually i prefer hells kitchen.

i mean its a sad day when places like tonic and sin-e are having to close their doors to accomodate new luxury condos. (i will not get carried away with my nyc rant) :) i like the grittiness of HK. hopefully it wont change too much.

as far as school - id still go back to santa barbara in a heartbeat. life on the ocean for four years, lots of parties, little clothing, oh yeah! thats the life. oh i got a degree there too ;)

out of those schools - id probably choose northwestern. have a lot of friends who went there and they all had positive things to say. but its the same with respect to the other schools. theyre all good choice and doubt youd make a mistake in either of them.

Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
i fucking loved studying english literature and history, but i'm kicking myself in the ass right now for not taking a couple of basic finance courses.

I agree with Hoya. I was an English major at a small college, and I LOVED it and it has served me very well (the ability to write well has carried me very far).

That said, I wish I'd taken a couple basic finance/econ courses. Keep that in mind, they can always serve you. You may not work in a "corporate" environment, but you'll always deal with money and financial issues no matter where you are.

My sister LOVED Penn and Philly. I personally would have wanted more campus (she was also an English major with a minor in Art History, and she's got a smokin' job in advertising now).

I don't know how Northwestern is situated in terms of its relation to the city around it. As folks have said, all three are great schools, but if my parents were fine with the tuition at all of them, I'd go Ivy League. (If you think you'll live in the midwest, though, Northwestern may serve you best).

Good luck. I know this part is SO stressful, but in the end you can't go wrong.

Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Probably the same for UPENN as well.

[/QB]
No no no. Penn's in fact kind of in the hood. My sister's lived in NYC for 10 years, but it was in west Philly where she was mugged twice, once at gunpoint!