I like the school I'm going to, but the town it's located in (Wichita Falls, Texas) is causing me quite a bit of distress.
The reason being: I am socially and politically liberal, and Wichita Falls is very conservative.
I am wondering if it's worth it to transfer to another college, or if I should stay here and tough it out.
Tim
If you like the school, it might be worth staying where you are...it depends on the nature of your distress. Are you being harassed, or do you just feel isolated? There are bound to be at least a few students who share some of your beliefs. In time, you might find common ground with even the more conservative students. I wish I had something more constructive to say, but my college days are loooooong past and I don't remember sensing a political climate on campus, one way or the other. I just hung out with the people who lived near me in the dorm.
I just feel isolated.
Tim
Tim, I also went to a community college first, then transferred to your lovely neighboring hell-hole Chickasha, Oklahoma for my last two years. But I actually only stayed one. Couldn't stand it. I transferred to Oklahoma University for my senior year and I was much happier.
I was specifically wanting to transfer to the University of Washington, but it costs an arm and a leg to go there, it's very difficult to get into UW, and the application deadline for Fall 2008 is in December 2007.
Tim
So your mind has already considered this possibility! There are "liberal" schools that don't cost an arm and a leg, even on the west coast, and you can get an outstanding education without going to an "ivy" type school. But remember -- wherever you go, there you are. Though it can be easier to be you in an environment where you feel accepted rather than simply tolerated.
What would be good examples, then?
Tim
I know austin is supposed to be very liberal... and pretty.
It seems most of the bigger cities have at least some sort of democratic populace. There also is a school north of Dallas (the highways that come from Ft. Worth and Dallas) was supposedly good for "turning straight girls into lesbos" according to one of my ignorant relatives. I imagine for all intensive purposes that that would mean its rather liberal.
Don't remember the name for the life of me, apologies.
What would be good examples, then?
Tim
I believe Western Oregon costs about half as much. If you are currently paying in-state tuition, you will not find anything comparable paying out-of-state tuition. Maybe there is something tolerable in Texas? I recall Austin being pretty liberal, and San Antonio was nice, too. If this is something that you are serious about then you should be talking to a guidance counselor who will have all of this type of information handy. This his/her job, and you've already paid for those services when you paid tuition and fees.
The only Pacific Northwestern state I could afford is Idaho, and that state is almost as conservative, if not more so, than Texas.
In fact the only differences between Boise and Wichita Falls is that (a) Boise is twice the size of Wichita Falls, and (b) in Boise, the Mormons control the town, where the Southern Baptists control Wichita Falls.
Tim
UT Austin is probably as difficult to get into as the University of Washington.
Tim
It's like society is deliberately raising the costs of all these liberal places to keep me out.
he he. Not likely that they're particularly aiming at you... but being 18-25 and liberal equals big money to colleges that can meet that need. More like supply and demand is in play here.
Are you afraid of paying back an expensive school's school loans? I wouldn't worry too much about that... it seems you'd be better off establishing connections in an area that better suits your interests academically and politically.
Hmm, that's why it would make more sense to have university funding coming out of Federal Taxes instead like in Australia. I also think the idea we have of not having to make any repayments on the university debt until a person gets a job and has an income above a certain amount is a better one.
I think manyt civilized countries do something similar. But the United States firmly believes that fairness and education belong to those who can pay top dollar for it. Disgusting.
I think the U.S. government should ban tuition hikes, or at least have a nationally set tuition rate.
Tim
California just had a HUGE tuition hike for its state universities. Thank god for the community colleges. But it does evolve into a university-educated elite class and a high school or community-college educated under-class. When money = education, the social stratification becomes increasingly severe.
I think the U.S. government should ban tuition hikes, or at least have a nationally set tuition rate.
Tim
California just had a HUGE tuition hike for its state universities. Thank god for the community colleges. But it does evolve into a university-educated elite class and a high school or community-college educated under-class. When money = education, the social stratification becomes increasingly severe.
And the best and brightest are not necessarily at the top.
Gee, you think so??
Hmm, that's why it would make more sense to have university funding coming out of Federal Taxes instead like in Australia. I also think the idea we have of not having to make any repayments on the university debt until a person gets a job and has an income above a certain amount is a better one.
That sounds like an excellent idea.
Tim
I thought that that's the case in TX as well... at least that was what my husband was saying about his student loans. We're supposed to start paying them in January or so, but he said that as we're a few $k below the poverty line we don't have to start paying on them yet. Of course, you do accumulate interest on them in the meanwhile, so not repaying them is self-defeating... the debt just grows and grows.
And what's worse, young people who don't want to go on to university are called "drop-outs". I think that is a very bad thing to call people, as if they are 2nd or 3rd citizens. At the very least, there should be more scholarships for bright young people from poorer families. I know there are sports scholarships but there should also be more scholarships in other areas.
I don't know whether I've mentioned this before, but I haven't encountered a single girl/woman at UTD majoring in EE or CS that did not have an academic scholarship... the scholarships are there, you just need to tell them you're going to major in something technical. After you're in, you can change your major to something else and keep the scholarship. Worked for me. <grin> And I didn't even do that on purpose.
If you're a guy it's a different matter though.
UT Austin is probably as difficult to get into as the University of Washington.
Plus UT Austin would cost $40,000, and that's in-state tuition.
That's $40k over the 4 years a degree would take, afaik... not per year. Or are you thinking of cost of living per year? Should be quite a bit less than $40k/year as well. In fact, I recall that UTD is the most expensive public school to attend (at least tuition-wise) in Texas at the moment.
Iiuc, how hard UT Austin is to get into depends on what you want to major in. Anyway, writing a good essay on why you want to go to a certain school can get you a long way. Also, you should be a transfer student at your age, I'd think... and if you're not, at least take all the blah classes such as History and Rhetoric at your local community college first... saves you a bunch.