<p>To start of with, I’m not the type of person who loves school, I just love people. I do good in things I don’t like, but I only really make an intense effort to learn when I like the subject. I guess what I’m trying to explain is that, while I don’t fail classes and constantly skip them, I could be a better student than what I am now but I don’t really make then effort because I don’t enjoy it. I used to be a nerd (I know; horrible word choice lol), but I stopped liking being OCD about school, and I became more social. This has recently become relevant because I’ve started my college search. </p>
<p>I’m looking for a school that has a good reputation, but at the same time isn’t one of the intelligently elite. Basically, I want a school that has a good social scene but isn’t an academic failure at the same time. I plan to study Marketing, with a minor/double-major in Hospitality/Tourism Management (depends on what the school has), and become an event planner. I want to eventually manage movie/book/show conventions. </p>
<p>I can consider any state or area, as long as it’s not too isolated or far away from a nice city. That’s basically all the requirements I have… I don’t really know much about Universities, or what I can and can’t get out of them, so I don’t have much. I know I’m kind of dumb, but I want to go to school and I don’t know much… So thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I have a 3.0 average (with many AP’s), DECA stuff, and I help plan things at a Museum (volunteer). I’m in 11th grade. I know I suck, but I had a weird emo phase all of last year, so I stopped doing things. Heh :D</p>
<p>So, while I’m sure you would consider any state, that is usually a bit more wide open than you realize. Out of state tuition can be a real bummer on anyone’s finances and travel can really deplete you even more. Most people simply cannot afford to another state’s schools unless they are very fortunate financially. In those cases where you want to get away, often a private school is a better solution, but could you at least humor me and tell me what state you live in now? It will help us get it a bit more narrowed down.</p>
<p>I live in Utah. 
I don’t think it’s that bad, so I wouldn’t mind staying in-state too much. I left my area unspecified because I’m hoping that people will point me to cool event planning stuff. Like maybe a school that has good internships for people who want to work in entertainment management. I would prefer that the Hospitality/Tourism program is stronger; I like Marketing a lot, but I’m more concerned about the former because it’s my ultimate goal. Marketing is just kind of my happy compromise if I don’t end up doing much. Sorry for the long reply, I just wanted to explain my intentions for not providing a specific area! Also, my entire family is helping pay for my college, so as long as it’s not over $35,000 a year, I’m good.</p>
<p>Thanks - I’ll discount location for the moment - Fairleigh Dickinson has a top Hospitality program as do several major flagship Universities for their states. The closest to you would be Washington State University and UNLV - Feel free to check them out, but don’t rule out Utah State University itself - That field is one where experience is going to count more than the pedigree of your school. Indeed, many who do what you describe have no Bachelor’s degree at all, so be careful about being talked into going into debt for this field. Just my two cents worth - Others here may disagree, but I do think you are on the right track in looking for a way to get as much experience at the same time as you are getting your degree.</p>
<p>I agree with stanatedj. Saving money on an undergrad degree is going to trump the prestige of any tourism/hospitality program out there. In other words, dont search too long for an out-of-state school to gain an advantage in a hospitality major because its probably not worth it. If you can find an out-of-state private school to study business or marketing thats of equal cost or cheaper, then go for it, but youve got your work cut out for you. </p>
<p>As for Marketing being your happy compromise, it shouldnt be. Marketing is going to allow you more career options than focusing on the relatively smaller Hospitality industry. Marketing is just more broad-based. Employers in the hospitality industry wont penalize you for having a Marketing major, but you might find the opposite happening: if you are looking for a job in business other than hosp/tourism, then having the Hosp/Tourism major might make you appear to be too narrowly focused. If youre certain thats what you want to do, then fine. But trust me, many many students change their interests over four years and the ones that have a more broad-based academic profile are usually the ones with more career options.</p>
<p>If youre looking for another very useful minor for this industry, consider a minor in a Foreign Language. Spanish is probably your best bet.</p>
<p>Save a pile of money in-state and maybe youll want to up-the-ante and head off to grad school and make yourself even more marketable. Get as much practical experience as possible, like stanatedj said, and make connections with your people skills. Youd be set.</p>
<p>University of Utah: Major in Marketing, Dbl Minor in Parks-Rec-Tourism (Hospitality) and Foreign Language.
Utah State: Major in Marketing, Dbl Minor in Hospitality & Tourism and Foreign Language.</p>
<p>By the way, youre not dumb and you dont suck. Ha. Do you know how many kids on CC have near-perfect SATs and GPAs but cant write as well as you or cant be bothered with expressing themselves coherently or with a bit of humour? More than you could bang on the head with a clipboard.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you so much for your help. I appreciate your responses, and you’ve pretty much answered every question I had and then some!
I’ve decided to stay in-state, and just get as much experience as possible instead of seeking out unnecessarily expensive program’s. I’ll probably end up at the University of Utah since it has a better rep. </p>
<p>Oh, and Dunboyne, you major/minor suggestions are amazing. I think you just saved me a headache. 
I’m already fluent in Spanish, so I’ll have to choose some other language. I think German or French are my best bets, since the types of conventions I want to work in are more popular in Europe than in Asia. </p>
<p>Thank you all!</p>