Help choosing a college...UNL or CSU?

[Enhance]

Well the latest is a pretty hard lean towards UNL. She recognizes that they have a much stronger program in her field of interest. The thing she is most concerned about at this point is being able to get the housing option she wants. We're going to do the official visit thing there before the end of March. If that goes well we may have another Husker for life.

What's her concern with housing? Getting into the facility on campus that she wants? I believe all freshman are required to live on campus their first year unless they have an immediate relative in the city.

 

[JJ Husker]

What's her concern with housing? Getting into the facility on campus that she wants? I believe all freshman are required to live on campus their first year unless they have an immediate relative in the city.

Oh she wants to be on campus, it's just that she wants a specific type of room. She's fond of the suite type rooms and preferably a newer hall. I guess she has a few specific ones in mind. Apparently there are some options she definitely does not want. The concern is what she wants may not be available. I don't have all the details.

 

[Enhance]

Oh she wants to be on campus, it's just that she wants a specific type of room. She's fond of the suite type rooms and preferably a newer hall. I guess she has a few specific ones in mind. Apparently there are some options she definitely does not want. The concern is what she wants may not be available. I don't have all the details.

Gotcha. No worries. I can say with a fair amount of assurance that she will probably be placed in a standard two person dorm room since a) she'll be so new and b) most of the better rooms are usually reserved and taken by upper classmen. Freshman tend to get the short end of the stick and little say in the matter (which is probably fair).

One thing she could look into is the apartment style living on campus but I don't know what the rules are surrounding those with incoming freshman. I lived in those as a junior and senior and it was great: everybody gets their own bedroom and they just share a kitchen and living space. The caveat was you only received two university meals a week; otherwise, you had to cook all your own stuff and get your own groceries. Paying for a full meal plan + the cost of the apartment is more expensive than living in a dorm with a full meal plan.

 

[NUance]

Perhaps her friendship shouldn't be weighed too heavily.  They might end up being better longterm friends if they DON'T room together.  Seems like when hs friends room together as incoming freshmen, there's about a 50-50 chance that they will get into some sort of squabble and end up hating each other.  

As to the location, I'm not sure I'd want to go to college in the shadow of my parents' hometown.  For me anyway, 30 miles wouldn't be nearly enough.  8 hours is a nice arm's length away.  Then again, all kids are different.  Maybe she's the sort who will want to come home every weekend, and have you and the wife drop in on her occasionally.  Ask her. 

I don't know that UNL has any better academic reputation.  Both schools are just okay.  But UNL definitely has more pull when it comes to having a following.  CSU will always play second fiddle to CU.  By contrast, UNL isn't just limited to Husker alumni.  Husker nation includes everyone single person in the state.  There may not be any other state with a more unified group of supporters and followers for a given school. 

Sportswise, there is really nothing to say.  CSU isn't in the same stratosphere.  And with this year being the beginning of the Frost era, it's going to be an incredibly exciting time to be in Lincoln next fall.  Now that I think about it maybe  I should go back to school again...  

 

[teachercd]

One of my classes of older students are all currently looking at colleges, a lot of them look at these small private schools with no sports to speak of and I don't try to influence them or anything like that, I don't care what school they attend but sometimes I feel like even though they say "Oh, I don't care about football" that they are missing the point.

It isn't so much about caring about the team...it is about the social aspect of it.  I can only imagine what it is like for sororities when they are getting ready for the first tailgate of the year...getting up at 4am so that they can get ready for 3 hours to make it look like they didn't take 3 hours to get ready.  Goofing around, having fun, pre-gaming...heading out in a big group to the tailgate spot you were invited to by another house or friends or whatever.  At a school like Regis or St. Thomas, I think you really miss out on that.

I think your daughter has narrowed it down to two really good schools and she can't go wrong.

 

[runningblind]

I just came across this, sorry for the bump if you were finished, but I felt the need to reply since I went to both schools!  I would agree with the comments above about both being on similar footing academically.  Both are fun towns, but have quite different atmospheres once you leave campus.  I am partial to both, grew up in WY, lived in NE 7 years and now live near Loveland. 

To me it comes down to a couple things:

1. If what she wants to major in is better at UNL, that is one leg up there.

2. I think everyone should go away somewhere to live on their own once in their lives.  It allows you to learn more about yourself and build life skills by having to figure things out on your own. 

UNL is not far enough that it would inhibit travelling back and forth.  My hometown is in the Black Hills and it is a similar drive to Lincoln than it is from here. I got back for major holidays and one summer.  My parents came a few times also.

The allure of her friend might be a deciding factor.  My best friend in HS went to WYO in Laramie, but I wasn't about to let cheap Husker tickets get away for 4 years!  We are still good friends to this day even with going to different schools.

Good luck with the decision!

 

[NUinID]

I really have nothing to add other than I escorted my 87 year old mother to my brother's daughter's graduation from CSU in 2016.  I was very impressed with the campus and Ft Collins in general.  There was a couple or really nice bars we went to while we were there.  

 

[JJ Husker]

Okay, so I'm explaining to my daughter that the home football schedule is not the most exciting this coming season but offering that maybe they'll win all their home games and that will maybe be a plus for her first season as an undergrad. She then says the craziest thing...."I probably won't go sit through that many football games". My question is, where did I fail as a father? Oh don't worry, she is sleeping in the backyard tonight.

Actually I'm not worried. She's never been to a home game in Lincoln and I predict it will only take the Akron game before she is hooked. Of course this is assuming she does end up going to Lincoln but it's looking promising so far.

 

[Enhance]

I think it'll change when she realizes how much of a social event game days are. The tailgating, partying, drinking and hanging out in the stands with your friends is one of the biggest draws. And, not to sound sexist, but this seemed/tended to be particularly true for most of the women I knew during my time as a student. They didn't really go because of the game but because their friends were going to be there and it was a fun time. I'm sure she'll quickly realize it's the thing to do on a Saturday in Lincoln.

 

[JJ Husker]

I think it'll change when she realizes how much of a social event game days are. The tailgating, partying, drinking and hanging out in the stands with your friends is one of the biggest draws. And, not to sound sexist, but this seemed/tended to be particularly true for most of the women I knew during my time as a student. They didn't really go because of the game but because their friends were going to be there and it was a fun time. I'm sure she'll quickly realize it's the thing to do on a Saturday in Lincoln.

Either that or she'll be extremely lonely  :lol:

I'm not worried. She's always been a fan and reps her Husker gear even if she doesn't watch the games too closely. Probably my fault for 3 hour stretches of bitchin' at our coaches and the refs.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

Okay, so I'm explaining to my daughter that the home football schedule is not the most exciting this coming season but offering that maybe they'll win all their home games and that will maybe be a plus for her first season as an undergrad. She then says the craziest thing...."I probably won't go sit through that many football games". My question is, where did I fail as a father? Oh don't worry, she is sleeping in the backyard tonight.

Actually I'm not worried. She's never been to a home game in Lincoln and I predict it will only take the Akron game before she is hooked. Of course this is assuming she does end up going to Lincoln but it's looking promising so far.

Honestly, that is a normal comment for any college kid, especially a girl.  Those Saturdays are going to be more of a social event, rather than sitting in the stadium for the actual game.  She will probably be at a tailgate party or other event with the game on, and there's nothing wrong with that.  Showing up hours before the game just to sit in the student section kind of sounds like a pain in the a$$, and I'm a huge Husker football game.  This isn't like when you and I were at NU where the students had assigned seats or blocks of seats.

 

[BigRedBuster]

Oh she wants to be on campus, it's just that she wants a specific type of room. She's fond of the suite type rooms and preferably a newer hall. I guess she has a few specific ones in mind. Apparently there are some options she definitely does not want. The concern is what she wants may not be available. I don't have all the details.

Everyone has their preferences and it's good that there are a variety of options for housing.

The sweet styles look awesome.  However, I would warn every freshman of one thing with them.  They are much less social than a normal dorm.  My daughter is a sophomore at UNL now.  There was a group of 4 girls that were good friends in HS that all went to UNL.  Two of them stayed in regular dorms and the other two stayed in sweet style apartments on campus.

The two that were in the sweets both claim they wish they had stayed in dorms their first year.  The two that did, found it much easier to meet people and form good friendships.  That's important in a first year in college away from home.

If your daughter understands that and that's what she wants.  Great...go for it.

 

[teachercd]

Honestly, that is a normal comment for any college kid, especially a girl.  Those Saturdays are going to be more of a social event, rather than sitting in the stadium for the actual game.  She will probably be at a tailgate party or other event with the game on, and there's nothing wrong with that.  Showing up hours before the game just to sit in the student section kind of sounds like a pain in the a$$, and I'm a huge Husker football game.  This isn't like when you and I were at NU where the students had assigned seats or blocks of seats.

So true...

That first game, whatever time it is...she will figure out that everything starts about 4 hours before kickoff.  It is the big event of the school year and it happens 7 times.  

 

[JJ Husker]

Everyone has their preferences and it's good that there are a variety of options for housing.

The sweet styles look awesome.  However, I would warn every freshman of one thing with them.  They are much less social than a normal dorm.  My daughter is a sophomore at UNL now.  There was a group of 4 girls that were good friends in HS that all went to UNL.  Two of them stayed in regular dorms and the other two stayed in sweet style apartments on campus.

The two that were in the sweets both claim they wish they had stayed in dorms their first year.  The two that did, found it much easier to meet people and form good friendships.  That's important in a first year in college away from home.

If your daughter understands that and that's what she wants.  Great...go for it.

Thanks for that insight.I hadn't considered that but I can see where you would be a little more secluded in one of the suites. I'll mention it to her so she can think about it.

 

[JJ Husker]

Honestly, that is a normal comment for any college kid, especially a girl.  Those Saturdays are going to be more of a social event, rather than sitting in the stadium for the actual game.  She will probably be at a tailgate party or other event with the game on, and there's nothing wrong with that.  Showing up hours before the game just to sit in the student section kind of sounds like a pain in the a$$, and I'm a huge Husker football game.  This isn't like when you and I were at NU where the students had assigned seats or blocks of seats.

Not like the good ole days. We'd start with a champagne breakfast about 8AM, be totally obliterated by late morning but still pull it together enough to be able to actually watch the game. In all honesty, I didn't pay that close of attention to the games when I was a student in the early 80's. Most all were well within hand by halftime. For some reason I can sort of remember going to the game but I don't recall how I got back to the frat...or the bars...or wherever the heck I went after the games. :lol: Sundays were definitely healing days.