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Help me visit an out of state college
Ana Ng
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
As you could probably guess from the title, I am attempting to visit a college that is in a different state than the on I currently live in!
To be more specific, I am currently in Portland, ME and looking at 3 schools in the DC/Maryland area that I am interested in transferring to. However, I want to be able to physically visit these schools before going through the application process.
I've already messed up once - I was intending to fly down this May, but it turns out that is an incredibly popular time to visit schools, because two of the three schools I'm interested in are completely full for all May tours. So now, I'm looking at mid to late September to visit and will be sure to schedule the tours as soon as the dates are available.
I would appreciate any help/advice on:
1) Booking a flight to DC. I know the big names Hotwire and Priceline, but am not sure which is better or other sites to check. I'm also not sure which airport to fly into, although a brief google search is telling me Washington National is best for metro convenience.
2) Where to stay? Book a package deal of flight+hotel or try some other way?
3) Any general tips on scoping out a state that you may be relocating to. I've been to DC before but never with the serious thought in mind that I may find myself moving there.
4) Any general advice on college visits. This is my second time on this ride - but the first time I only visited one school in my state and that's where I went, so I didn't really need to worry about comparing different universities.
To be more specific, I am currently in Portland, ME and looking at 3 schools in the DC/Maryland area that I am interested in transferring to. However, I want to be able to physically visit these schools before going through the application process.
I've already messed up once - I was intending to fly down this May, but it turns out that is an incredibly popular time to visit schools, because two of the three schools I'm interested in are completely full for all May tours. So now, I'm looking at mid to late September to visit and will be sure to schedule the tours as soon as the dates are available.
I would appreciate any help/advice on:
1) Booking a flight to DC. I know the big names Hotwire and Priceline, but am not sure which is better or other sites to check. I'm also not sure which airport to fly into, although a brief google search is telling me Washington National is best for metro convenience.
2) Where to stay? Book a package deal of flight+hotel or try some other way?
3) Any general tips on scoping out a state that you may be relocating to. I've been to DC before but never with the serious thought in mind that I may find myself moving there.
4) Any general advice on college visits. This is my second time on this ride - but the first time I only visited one school in my state and that's where I went, so I didn't really need to worry about comparing different universities.
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Try to spend at least one full day on each campus, if you can swing it.. don't just make your appointments and tours and then go back to wherever you're staying. Spend some time in the student union, check out the cafeteria (eat at least one meal there if you can afford it), see the bookstore (and off-campus equivalent, because there usually is one that claims to be cheaper), visit the library and check out their computer labs (you WILL need to use both of these at least once no matter how awesome your computer is or how much you feel like you can just pull off the internet). Does the library have textbook availability? Scope out all of the facilities you can get access to and organize your time there to cover as much of the campus as possible. This will make for an incredibly busy trip, but since you can't just take a day trip whenever you want it's important to spend the time you have there wisely.
Before you go, try to make a real list of all the things that might be important to you about the appearance or functionality of a college or university, and keep it with you. Not just major things like a good teacher, but seemingly minor things as well, like how pretty the campus is, and how pedestrian-friendly. This can be used as a tool for comparison if two of the schools turn out to be particularly tough to choose from (maybe you are the kind of person for whom a lot of nature and a clean campus is important... I really can be), but keep in mind that's not the only thing you're doing. You also want to have a good mental checklist of the kind of situation you'll be walking into once the decision is made. Is it feasible to get around without having a car at all? Is it feasible to bring a car? What are your non-meal-plan food options? Is there a fitness center or a pool that's open to all students? Check out the wellness center as well as the counseling center, and you may be surprised at how important to your success in college it can be to have an idea how the counseling center works at your chosen school. Some schools provide everything from stress-related counseling to in-depth care and medication services, some provide for only a limited fraction of that. No matter how happy and well-adjusted you feel like you are, it's good to know what your options are if something comes up; this goes triple if you are not necessarily those things.
Since you're visiting a few different schools in the same few days, it will really pay to write down as much of your experience visiting as you can because it will help you to keep things straight between the schools. If you are only going to be in town a day or two then this is obviously an impossible list of things to do at each school, so if that's the case try to prioritize what's most important to you ahead of time, and keep careful track of how long it takes to get from one campus to another when planning out your trip.
2. Check with the school, they may be able to hook you up. Barring that, priceline or airbnb.
3. DC can be nice or sketchy, find a local.
4. Pay attention to how things FEEL. Do you feel like you fit in? Is it somewhere you WANT to be? Check out the city scenes for price and other stuff as well. In addition to classmates, you have to enjoy the city.
Also don't forget when you do your applications make sure to specifically write somewhere in the application when you visited and what you liked and mention by name specific classes you sat in on or professors you talked to. A lot of colleges want to see applicants who "show interest" so this can improve your chances of getting in and getting good aid.
When visiting colleges remember to not trust the recruiters. They are not there to help you. They are there to keep enrollment numbers up so that the school administration doesn’t have to deal with firing union employees. College recruiters will look you in the eye and lie left and right to get you into a program the school has trouble filling but doesn’t want to cut. Do a lot of research into any program at any school.
Sorry, had to get that out of the way. You're smart for looking for out-of-state schools. Although, Portland is one of my favorite "cities" in the states.
I'll second that official tours mean jack shit in terms of looking for a school. I don't know how it works for undergrad, but in graduate school, most departments make a point out of letting you meet other students without faculty supervision. This is the most valuable time you can have during your visit...as I think it is of utmost importance that you like the people you're going to spend most of your time with. This can truly "make or break" your experience. Try to meet as many people as you can through those clubs, and scouring the university website for events you might be able to attend.
When it comes down to it, it will be hard to make a hard objective decision. It's best to try to take it all in and just follow your first gut instincts.
You mention this is a college transfer - one thing you really need to do is talk with someone who can tell you whether your credits transfer cleanly. I don't know what engineering field you are thinking of, but ask about opportunities for undergrad research.
The worst that happens is you find people in the area that might be interested in meeting you if you don't want to bunk up with them.
GWU and Georgetown are both in fairly young, white and affluent parts of town (Foggy Bottom and, obviously, Georgetown, respectively). Lots of bars, lots of shopping, decent night life. Of the three big DC schools, American is in the quietest part of the city. And personally I think the campus is hideous, but whatever, that's just me. More than any of the other campuses, American is the one where I'd want to walk around the neighborhood the most to see if it's a place I could feel like living because it's got the most suburban feel.*
In case there are any American grads or students reading this, AU definitely has the most welcoming campus around -- I think it's the only one where the public is allowed and encouraged to use their library, and the students are super friendly. GW is a great school, but every time I walk through their campus, I find myself wanting to get in a bar fight with someone.
Are you planning on living on campus? Board can get pretty pricey at the D.C. schools (having known people who stayed on campus for grad school, anyway) so if you think there's a chance you might want to live off campus, I'd suggest grabbing some craigslist posts for apartments or rooms for rent in your price range, plugging them into google maps to find some that are either close to campus or close to a metro, and then visiting those neighborhoods just so you can start getting a feel for them. However, since you're brand new to the school's community, you'd probably be best off living on campus for at least your first year so that you can meet people.
*Georgetown is also situated in a very quiet, beautiful residential community, but it's so close to Wisconsin and M Streets that I can't ever think about it as "suburban."
If you happen to be looking at UMD, I live in the area and would be happy to give you an unofficial tour of the campus and neighborhood.
I'm going to try to ditch my car when I move... it's a money suck and I'd rather use public transportation, so that will definitely factor into my decision.
@SammyF my schools are GWU and UMD at College Park. Managed to narrow it down to two.
@<Omnicron-8643> I'll have to keep that in mind about Reagan... I think by default I'm a nervous flier, I haven't actually been on a plane before.
I know a ton of GW grad students who lived in that part of the city because it's a relatively affordable, quiet counterbalance to the bustle of Foggy Bottom. I also previously lived in what some people call NoMA (NE DC north of Massachusetts Ave but south of Florida off the NY ave metro stop, near Gaulludet University). I love that part of the city, and a lot of my roommates were GW grad students before I met my better half. But I am a 6'4", 200 lbs male, it's a little grittier near the H street corridor than other parts of DC, and some people feel intimidated by that. It just takes a lot more than that to intimidate me.
Edit: as I write this, I am reading that 11 people were shot a few blocks from where I lived in NoMA just last night in a drive by, apparently. Still not intimidated! I lived just two blocks from my PSA's police station and four blocks from the ATF's headquarters, there is a huge law enforcement presence! But I don't blame anyone who wants to wait for the Washington Post to stop referring to it as "the up-and-coming NoMA neighborhood" and start referring to it as the "firmly established and indisputably gentrified NoMA neighborhood."
I would suggest checking those places out if GW is still a serious contender after your campus visit.
Since you're looking at UMD, I can offer some advice on the area. First and foremost, it's a good thing you aren't planning on living on campus. Transfer students get shafted when it comes to housing; they're even a lower priority than those kicked out for drug violations. Also, do not be lured into one of the near-campus apartments. The proximity to the campus is tempting but you'll quickly find that places like the View, Varsity and Enclave are just like living in the dorms but with worse landlords. Avoid at all costs. If you absolutely must be within a 5 minute walk of campus, Courtyards (the off-campus university run apartment complex) is probably your best bet.
That all being said, College Park has some lovely local neighborhoods. Berwyn Heights is a 5 minute bus ride to campus and has some great houses for rent. You'll find some party houses around but the locals are pretty good at keeping their noise levels to the minimum. The Rhode Island and Metzerott Ave communities tend to be a little rougher but such things come with the territory. PG county is a high crime area but it's not nearly as bad as the alarmist university public safety alerts make it out to be.
For an older (over 19) student like yourself (and this is a massive assumption as you're married), I'd highly recommend Old Greenbelt. There's 1 bedroom apartments at an affordable rate and everything you'd need is within walking distance. It's a hippie community that never really grew out of the 60s; a microcosm of history and small town friendliness bordered by the large hustle and bustle of a DC suburb. There are families that have been there ever since its founding and will probably never leave. (A note: Old Greenbelt is different than Greenbelt proper even if they have the same postal name. You're going to want to look at the area west of the BW Parkway and east of the Capitol Beltway as shown in this map here..
Let's talk transportation now. I've never owned a car and I don't even have a driver's license. The bus coverage in this area is amazing even if they aren't exactly the most timely. You've got WMATA buses that are a buck and change per trip plus the University has its own fleet of buses that are free to use for students. They've got commuter routes that go out to Silver Spring and Shady Grove as well as routes that go right through the heart of Greenbelt. Everywhere around campus is pretty bikeable too save for Route 1 during rush hour. (Route 1 is the backbone of downtown College Park with shopping and restaurants galore.) Plus, there's a frequent shuttle that runs to and from the College Park metro station every 5 minutes or so. DC is always a hop, skip and a bumpy metro ride away.
Now a few notes on UMD itself. First, I'd like to draw your attention to this:
This is absolutely correct. I happen to be a victim of it myself and I never finished my degree here due to money and lack of career options. I was an English major (before that, Chemistry). University of Maryland consistently ranks in the top 25 for engineering and it's not an easy program to get into. You'd need to speak with an adviser about transferring your credits in but I can almost guarantee that if you've taken any engineering classes at all, they. UMD is very strict on in-house instruction. However, most of your general education courses should be transferable as an English class is an English class in their eyes. Just don't expect to get credit for Remote Systems 101. I could also talk to my partner about the CS department if you'd like. That's her area and all.
Despite being huge, Maryland feels like a small school because of how compartmentalized each department is. You'll be on a first name basis with your adviser even if they've got hundreds of other faces to deal with simply because they're that awesome. Networking is huge when it comes starting a career and you'll meet a whole ton of people. It'll take more work than a small school simply because of the volume of people to interact with but there's a reason everyone here ends up in a decent career after graduating.
Anywho, that's all I can think of off the top of head. If you'd like anything more specific, I'd be happy to indulge. Apologies if this read like an advertisement for UMD. I've been here for most of my life and have grown rather attached to my neighborhood. Also, it's my first post outside of the PAX forums so I figured I'd make it a good long one.
From: Bylaws of the University System of Maryland
Back when I was in school, it was a lot more lenient than I hear it is now. Out of state students make the university more money, after all. That said, if OP is planning on moving to Maryland full time and her spouse is planning on getting a job here, there could be a case to be made.
This is a good question - however I am a woman, married to a man :P