<p>okay, so both of my parents are alums at the University of Iowa, and I decided this summer that I wanted to go to summer intensive there. that was it, nothing else. I wasn’t interested in the school, state universities were beneath me. i was going to go to a top LAC or something, just not a public school…</p>
<p>well, as you can probably guess, my parents gave me the traditional tour of campus, the pentacrest, the town around the university. </p>
<p>a strange thing happened to me. i realized that I really liked the school, and i would be happy going there. there was something about the big university and the nice college town feel that took me completely by surprise. </p>
<p>i know i will definately be applying there next year, and while i may not end up there, i am fairly positive that I will be accepted, and if that is the only place that I am accepted, I could definately see myself there.</p>
<p>so i beg all of the people on CC who are only really interested in the ivy league schools, keep an open mind and maybe look at a big state university or two. it could be your cup of tea. you never know. </p>
<p>Was that your first college visit? I bet you that if you visited some Ivy or other elite school (something big like Cornell) you may have the same experience.</p>
<p>Haha I’m just expanding on the open-minded-ness.</p>
<p>LOL, though congrats on immediately falling in love with the school. I found it hard to truly appreciate any particular campus, though I think the college I chose I would be happiest with, so we’ll see. So again, congrats on having the ability to see where you’ll be happy, and good luck with your apps</p>
<p>misterme2009-
nah, this wasn’t my first college visit. i have been to brown, uchicago, and georgetown. (among other less selective schools)</p>
<p>and i liked them all, but the weird thing about Iowa was that I wasn’t really expecting to like it, i thought it would be boring and cold. i guess that’s the power of an open mind. :-)</p>
<p>NB** the school isn’t my first choice per se, but more of a “dream safety” that everyone on this board describes.</p>
<p>I agree w/ the OP. I’m going to Iowa State this fall and I wasn’t a huge fan of the school until I walked around campus on my own one day and then took a real campus tour a month later. Some state schools are great places to get a good college experience with excellent academics and campus involvement. Iowa State is the #1 school in Intramurals and Recreation, #3 (behind Yale and West Virginia) in campus appeal–probably because the campus was designed by the man who designed Central Park, and the engineering and agricultural programs are among the top in the country.</p>
<p>I was never interested in the Ivy’s, the only school close to that that I applied/was accepted to was UNC-CH. Cost kept me from going there…but ISU makes me incredibly happy!</p>
<p>And to G-U-NOT, there’s alot to do in Iowa than OOS people think. Remember, the corn only grows from March till August :)</p>
<p>isnt that great when that happens! my sister very reluctantly looked at a school that would be considered an absolute safety. when she visited, she was shockingly surprised- she will be starting there this fall.</p>
<p>Bumping this so others will see. Perhaps the title should be FOR ALL YOU IVY MINDED!</p>
<p>I’m glad people have such wonderful experiences. My first college visit, I set foot on the campus and absolutely hated it. The feeling just came out of my gut and I glared around me hating everything. Guess that was a sign not to apply? Haha.</p>