Year of school

isaac17

Hi,

I have to decide between 2 colleges to go to next year, and I absolutely cannot make a final decision. Any help or advice from everyone is appreciated.

School A:
2 hours from home
in the middle of nowhere (a small city)
have scholarships for like $3,000 and I won't need to work a job
Cold
living with a good friend, in dorms
very collegy experience-on campus in dorms, away from home

School B:
40 minutes away from home
living with my 2 BEST friends (in an apartment)
no scholarships, probably have to work a job all year
climate I'm used to
live 10 minutes away from the school

The other thing is that if I go to School A, I'll have to give up a lot of my musical dreams, leaving my band (we're actually really good, not being cocky). School B would be living with my band mates, with all our recording gear, finish our album, etc...

My parents really want me to go to School A because of the scholarships, and it being a slightly better environment.

What should I do??

The Cat

B. Working and studying isn't that hard (everyone does it here, and $3000 won't support you for more than a couple months anyway; you will have to work at both places), you'll be reasonably near family support which is awesome when you're sick or whatever, you can live in a real house, and you won't have to give up your music. The only risks are finding out that you love your friends but can't stand to live with them :P

isaac17

One of those 2 friends already lives with me at my house . We get along fine, and I've NEVER had a problem with my other friend. Academically, the two schools are identical. But if I went to A I'd be pursuing a lot of my other dreams, mainly my interests in Art. The downer I see in going to B (besides financially) is that I'd be working, and driving to classes 10-15 minutes away, which makes school seem like work. Socially I'd be limited a bit, where as School A I'd be in dorms with a bunch of other guys to have the full 'college social experience'. Also living on campus would make everything more connected as opposed to having to drive everywhere all day...

The Cat

yeah i keep forgetting everywhere that's not here is crap for public transport :P I must say, you haven't said anything about the course content or quality of teaching at these two places yet. Those should be your overriding concerns; when you're spending $mega on an education where you sleep is rather less important than whether potential employers will look at your diploma and chuckle politely before releasing the hounds.

isaac17

Well, the schools are pretty much the same academically. Nothing spectacular, but nothing to scoff at. I'm mostly just getting a year of school done before I leave the country for a year or two. I have a 3.5 gpa and a 30 ACT score, so I could really get into any school in my state, but these are both good schools ( and big, 24,000+ students at each). Like I said, they're pretty much equal academically.

Trowizilla

If you're living in the dorms, you'll have a meal plan and plenty of activities on campus, so if your scholarship covers that, you won't need a job. I had an excellent time going to school with maybe $250 spending money per semester, and that covered lots of fast food and liquor; I bummed rides with friends when I needed to go somewhere and generally spent a lot of time doing on-campus activities.

In your place, I'd go to School A. The "college experience" is not something I'd want to have missed out on, and it's pretty much impossible to replicate if you decide you regret not having it later in life. It also sounds like School A will let you pursue your interest in art. Plus, you'll get to live away from home and in the dorms, so you'll get to make new friends and grow beyond calling your parents for every little thing.

ihmmy

B, only because you said A = giving up your dreams. Dreams shouldn't be given up upon, -especially- around college when everything is changing and you're trying to pick a semi-decent direction to head it
assuming you won't go crazy working while in school that is. Some folks can't hack it, some can. I think dorms are overrated, but then again the ones here are tiny, stuffy, over priced, and filled with people I don't want to associate with. I think that living on your own/with friends makes you grow infinitely more than dorms do (at least, for most people, they do)

noir_blood

The only thing I can say, is that I REALLY regret not having the 'college experience'. Many will say part of college is moving into dorms, meeting new people and making new friends.

Neither college seems too far away that if you need your family or help they would be out of reach, and just because you live two hours away doesnt' mean you have to give up your dreams of music. Just like living in the same house doesn't mean you'll continue to create music with your friends. College changes things for a lot of people. I know that every semester I find I have less and less time to sit down and write like I want to(which is why I'm glad summer is here!)

isaac17

I guess I really need to decide really between the apartment/dorm lifestyles, and what I really want to pursue, music or art...

Lail

I'd vote A. I've always regretted not going to a school away from home where I could live in a dorm. Everyone I know who has, has loved it. Scholarship money is nice, though you'll probably still need to find a very-part time job.

If the music thing is holding you back, I'd really think hard about that. I don't want to be "that guy" and say you'll never make it, but as good as your band is, not everyone gets the chance to make it big. Plus you mentioned you're leaving the country anyway, and unless you're leaving WITH your band, that dream may be over?

contraband

for your first year of school, i'd recommend going A, 'cause the "college experience" is something that shouldn't be missed. really being on your own for the first time is definitely fun. i went to college with none of my very good friends--that let me spend all my time socializing and meeting new people. i do know people here who went to my highschool, and they tend to all just hang out together. it's like highschool 2, which would be lame from my perspective. get out and meet new people!

(the continuing-album thing is tough, though; i didn't have to factor that in when i left for uni)

Improvolone

I've worked with some amazing groups before (theatrical, not bands) who've worked in some amazing place. Everyone who has continued performing elsewhere after the group dissolves winds up a better performer with a more solid interest in what they like.
Bands don't stay together, it's what they do. Don't let this band (your first?) dictate your education choices. If you have an idea of what you want to study, go to the school that will offer the most for you.

My general rule is go as far from home as possible for college. I went 1400 miles away and I couldn't have been happier. It takes alot of distance sometimes to get your shit together.

subedii

noir_blood wrote: »

The only thing I can say, is that I REALLY regret not having the 'college experience'. Many will say part of college is moving into dorms, meeting new people and making new friends.

I'd generally agree with this. I'm not even a party person or anything, I tended to spend most of my time at the uni working, but there's definitely something to be said for being out on your own and being more responsible for yourself, and getting the opportunity to meet and hang out with people in your dorm, just talking or watching the odd movie when you're off the clock for the next assignment or whatever.

Run on sentences are fun.

Anyway, living at home and going to Uni is just going to makes it feel more like "school +". You never really take on anything for yourself then. It's refreshing being on your own time, setting your own work hours and still getting the work done.

isaac17

Thanks for all the input. I see exactly what you're all saying about the dorm experience, that's why I'm really leaning towards A. As far as being in a band, we've been together for 4 years now, and we're big into recording. We've been working on putting an album out for 2 years now, and we've just gotten to the point where we're confident with the recordings. The biggest thing is that I know music well, and I know the industry, and I know I'm never going to make it as a big band.

However, our songs are good enough that everyone I've showed it to has said they'd buy it on the spot. Simply finishing the album is what i want most... We have the technology to send recordings back and forth online (we both have $5000 + recording setups), but I don't really know that I'd take the initiative on that, we've tried it before and it was hard to get much done...