Today marked marked my third college trip out of the three I had been considering. Unfortunately, only five schools in the area even have a general botany major. Four of those have environmental majors (I would prefer that to just plain botany), and three also have horticultural science (which is actually my first choice). All had art programs of some sort, and since I plan on minoring in studio art, that was a must. Each visit was a very different experience from the last.
First came Rio Grande. I'm not going there, end of story. They just had an environmental major, but in order to be in that program I would first have to get an associate's degree from a local technical institute. Their campus was in a shady neighborhood (not as in shaded by trees, but as in it looked as though it housed some unwholesome fellows). It was actually a community college, which is not exactly what I was looking for. They barely have an honors program, and when my mom asked about AP credits, the guy gave a blank stare and said he had no idea what their policy was on AP credits. I don't know if he had ever heard of an AP class. They also had no orchestra and no low-commitment choir, both of which I would be interested. In addition, the only way to help with technical theater was to major in it. On the aesthetic side of things, the architecture was horrible, and of the few students we saw, at least half were smoking.
Over spring break I visited University of Kentucky. It was much, much better than Rio Grande. The major I would go into there would set me up for careers in both plant conservation and landscape design. I haven't quite decided which of those two I'd like to do. When I went, it was raining steadily for most of the time with the occasional rumble of thunder and flash of lightning. Ca me fait heureuse. I have to say it was the prettiest of the three campuses as far as landscaping goes (perhaps architecture-wise, too). There are plenty of large trees well-suited to climbing, so I could shimmy up a tree and escape the world for a while if necessary. The library was pretty swell. It has more books than any other public library in the country, and Harvard is the only private college with more books. To maximize storage space, the shelves are packed close together, and to go between them you push a button that makes the shelves move to allow you to fit in between. I didn't like the dorm that we toured, but the guide said it was the worst they had. The biggest down-side of UK was bad enough that I might choose not to consider it solely for this reason: everything about the art program was dark and creepy. The program is housed in an old, graffitied tobacco warehouse on the bad side of town. Nothing grows anywhere near it. The student artwork on display was almost all dark and disturbing, and the few people in there were also disconcerting. I was extremely nervous and uncomfortable in that place. Unlike Rio Grande, they do have an honors program, they give AP credit, and they have an orchestra. They also have these things called learning communities within the dorms, and they sound interesting.
Yesterday I visited Purdue, the place where my parents, my dad's parents, his dad's dad, my mom's dad, my dad's brother, and several of my mom's cousins all attended college. It went swimmingly well. The weather was gorgeous, the dorms and food were nice, they have a specific Ag major for both fields I'm interested in, and the art department had happy art. It wasn't as pretty as UK, but the all-girls dorms are castle-esque, which fills me with glee. I've always wanted to live in a castle-esque place (but trust me, I'm not making my choice solely based on architecture). They, too have an honors program, fledgling learning communities, and an orchestra. Purdue is currently my first choice. If it weren't for their creepy art, UK would be tied with Purdue.
There were two others that I considered. Ohio State has the majors and minor I want, and based on all the nice mail they've been sending me, I could get quite the handsome scholarship out of them without much trouble. Unfortunately, the crime rate makes my parents nervous. They also don't have nearly enough green space for my emotional well-being. I'm exponentially more stressed out when I'm isolated from plants than when I'm with them. Miami has a botany major (I know a woman who got her degree in botany from Miami and now runs a greenhouse of indigenous species), but it has its negative points. My parents are very concerned about the alcohol consumption on campus. I personally know way too many people there for my comfort. I would enjoy being around a few of them, but I would rather not encounter the majority of the people I know there.
2 comments:
Let me comment on Miami, for it is that which I know. I also would like to make some general statements after that, for I know some of those, too.
On Miami and alcohol:
Alcohol is not consumed on campus, your silly parents. It is consumed in off campus, where good people do not belong, but only on weekends and on Green Beer Day, just like everyplace else. As a teetotaler (literally, one who sips only tea), I do not see these things.
On Miami and its trees:
You can climb trees, but the Man will fine you $300. Also, the squirrels that live in the trees are all enormously fat. Also also, nearly all the streets are named after trees. I myself spend my days walking up and down Maple Street.
On Miami's architecture:
It is red brick, even on some of the streets. There is also one odd stone structure in the east.
Miami and libraries:
Miami has libraries. I have not used them. Instead of packing their old books in, they pack them up and send them to the dark and mysterious "book repository," never to be seen or heard from again unless someone really wants such a book. The music library is really groovy, built with a massive budget under unfulfilled plans of a PhD music program, and I have used this library.
On the MU Symphony Orchestra:
They are most excellent, I must admit. This year they have done Mozart's The Magic Flute, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade, among others.
On known people at Miami:
You will not see them unless they are sought out. I only very rarely see anyone, anyway. Certainly you would not see me, for I am leaving Miami for UC and its Conservatory, as you may or may not be aware.
On smoking at Miami:
There is much smoking to be done at Miami (legally and otherwise), but as of next year there is to be a university-wide ban on the practice (as already exists for the illegal variety), which is excellent. Smoking inspires me to violence, or at least to wishes of violence.
On Money:
Ohio schools (and NKU for Cincinnatians, I think) mean a free $15,000 or so per year. This money is the difference between "in state" and "out of state" tuiton. I opine that this system is unconstitutional by the Privileges and Immunities Clause. For Purdue I hope there is money in your "legacy." I would think Purdue should cost somewhere in the thirties of thousands of dollars per year.
On "Learning Communities":
These are an illusion, for I am part of one. I am part of the honors one, in fact. I have done absolutely no learning by way of this community. I do, however, have air conditioning, unlike the majority.
On Ohio State:
That place depresses me, and I have never even been there. At 50,000 students, they are the largest campus in the nation, in the dead center of peaceful (sarcasm!) Columbus. I had to bring it up, for nigh unto all my high school associates are there.
On AP tests:
Miami and Ohio State, at least, take only a couple of tests beneath a 4 (at Miami Latin and German are 3's, I think), which is ridiculous and unnecessary. It is aimed at profit, and it upsets me. I cannot imagine Purdue or UK would be any different.
As one who considers himself to have largely defeated the Evil American University System, I have much, and indeed more, to say on both its evils and vulnerabilities.
I love Scheherezade!
Yes, Purdue would cost me roughly 30 grand, but I hope to get at least an eight to ten thousand dollar scholarship based solely on my academic achievments and other small ones from other places. I do stand some chance of being one of the students to get a full ride to Purdue though; my credentials aren't exactly shabby. The alumni scholarships for Purdue really aren't that great.
My mother is good friends with the mother of a UK student, and he actually finds their learning communities very useful. Purdue's don't seem to do much.
As far as AP tests, I'm not planning on getting any lower than a 4. I know Purdue only offers credit for a 3 in BC Calculus and maybe one other. If I get a five in AP bio, I get more than 24 credit hours from Purdue, which sounds pretty nice.
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