<p>I am currently trying to decide between a few canadian and american universities to go to for exchange next year (I’m from australia).
I’m going to have a good time/new experience so interested more in parties, social life, res life, types of people in general etc rather than looking for the uni with the best education. Obviously the reputation of the uni is important and i do care about academics, but i am looking for a fun holiday haha</p>
<p>I have narrowed a large list down to:
Canada:
UBC
Queens
Waterloo</p>
<p>US:
California state uni
Michigan state uni
Oregon state uni
University of mississippi
University of richmond
University of washington</p>
<p>If anyone has any comments, advice, or comparisons between any of these options that would be greatly appreciated! Any specific info on particular residences would be helpful. In addition, I’m gay so I’m looking for a gay friendly uni where that would be a complete non-issue.
Also, i am only 19 - is it difficult to party and get your hands on alcohol if your underage in america?</p>
<p>What’s your major? Waterloo might be too techie for your taste.
For unique experience and parties, I would suggest URichmond, but I don’t know how gay friendly they are. Somebody who knows the school better than I do will likely chime in.
The most gay friendly schools would probably be UWA and Oregon State. Cal State U’s would also be “so what/non issue” but be aware they’re mostly commuter campuses, with many students living “at home”, so that there’s less on-campus life.UWA is the most residential of those.
Being gay would likely be a problem at Ole Miss (it’s conservative and Mississippi is notoriously not gay friendly) and might be at Michigan State.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I do not know anything about the Canadian schools on your list. Also being from Australia I am not sure you are looking to live in a cold place.</p>
<p>I think Michigan State and U Washington will be the best choices from your list. Both are good academic schools and large state schools that will provide you will plenty of partying opportunities. If you have an inclination towards big time college sports I would recommend both of these more so Michigan State for basketball and football.</p>
<p>I think Richmond would also be nice but I am not sure of the political culture down there. The academics are excellent however the school has a small student population which may be difficult for a transfer or exchange student to find their niche.</p>
<p>I would not recommend Mississippi(Ole Miss) it is a school that has often had problems with racism and homophobia. The academics aren’t up to par with the rest of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>I do not know much about the CSUs but California is some beautiful state.</p>
<p>Unless you’re choosing Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, or CSU Chico for your Cal State options, I’d avoid the system just as I would the University of Mississippi. Oregon State doesn’t have the party/ gay scene of its in state rival, but it’s still an accepting place with plenty of house parties. </p>
<p>If I were to choose an American university on your list, I’d go with the University of Washington. It’s in a suburb of one of the most gay friendly cities in the US, the party/ clubbing scene is very vibrant (although keep in mind that many clubs do not allow under 21s in), and it’s close enough to Vancouver and Portland to make trips to those cities viable on three day weekends. There’s also a much greater sense of community than at any of your Canadian options.</p>
<p>In the US, it’s very easy for under-21s o drink assuming the student goes to frat/ house parties and not bars (using a fake ID as an international on visa is a terrible idea). Some frats and sororities have programs whereby exchange students conditionally join the organization for a year’s time without undergoing the pledge process (a sort of prolonged training). Your Australian accent and foreign status will also help in procuring liquor/ getting invited to parties.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your advice! i have narrowed it down to UBC, university of washington, Queens, and CSU (with oregon and michigan as back ups). I have to list in order 5 preferences.
I have heard conflicting things about UBC - some people have said that the social life is not as good, perhaps because that most of the people that go there are from vancouver and already have friends that either go to ubc or are around the city so the need to make new friends is not as prevalent (compared to say queens). This may also be the same with CSU? Perhaps going somewhere like queens, people are somewhat forced to be more social as students are unlikely to be from kingston?? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? And which CSU campuses are the most residential?
Also how does the univ of washington compare to ubc socially? I can’t find much info comparing the two…
I also have a fairly strict budget, and i would definitely want to live on campus in residence, any info on difference costs for residences between the colleges (including meal plans etc). As well as info on how easy it is to live in good first year residences at each uni.</p>
<p>Chico State and San Diego State are legendary party schools with decent academics and lots of students living on campus. </p>
<p>The thing about UW and UCB would be the weather. I used to live in Seattle, and there’s an endless cold drizzle throughout much of the school year.</p>
<p>You can look up housing costs in the website. Simply google “name of university housing” and prices of each dorm/ living option should be listed.</p>
