HELP!! Need input on my choices!

alanamcdowell25
Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:34:57 +0000

Hey CCers! So i’m faced with picking between Berkeley, CU Boulder, and Naropa University (which is in boulder). Yes i know i have to commit by May 1st. This has just been so hard for me.

I’m going to be studying liberal arts (cog.sci, anthro, psych, that kind of thing.) I want school to be about the overall experience and the people, not just the academics. I don’t think i’m trying to get to grad school. I LOVE the outdoors and hiking, biking, camping and climbing are my passions. I’m very politically and environmentally aware, so i would want the student body to be as well. I like smoking weed and i do like partying a little bit but i wouldn’t want to get crazy that often.

I’ve been a good student (2220 SAT and 4.1+GPA) and I’m afraid i might not be as stimulated at Boulder as i would Berkeley. (and that it would be harder to find friends on my intellectual level) Is this even a valid concern?

Berkeley is cheaper, probably has the better academics, cooperative housing, chill people, and is closer to home (i’m from LA) so i’d be able to continue my relationship which is important to me. The past 8 mos. w/ my boyfriend (who goes to UCSB) have been the best of my life. If i were to go to Boulder the distance would be too much and we would just end it. I’ve sort of come to terms with that but it would just be so nice if we could stay together. Also i guess i could drive over to yosemite for weekend trips and stuff.

Boulder is SO beautiful, the rocky moutons are SO close, the air is so clean, their recreational facilities (which include a climbing wall!!) are absolutely top notch, and it wouldn’t be as challenging academically, so the curve would be easier and i’d have more time to do everything else i’ll want to do. There’s also a sustainability movement going on there. I’d be in the honors program and my 1st year housing would be with honors people.

Then there’s Naropa, which is the most alternative of the schools. I love everything about it (yoga & meditation are part of the coursework which is considered “contemplative”) EXCEPT that it’s SO small! (400 undergrads) and i’ve always thought i wanted the big school experience.

I don’t know how to go about deciding so PLEASE
any words of advice or tips or comments or anything would be much appreciated.
Thank you all <3