College Decision Advice

[Manhattan]

Hello, I'm new posting here, but I have sort of a pressing issue that I need as many opinions as possible on...

I graduated from high school in 2009 and enlisted in the USMC. I got medically discharged after being in recruit training for more than two months, and so now I have a job working at a market research agency, which is a decent gig. I decided that I needed to go to school in the fall since the whole military plan fell through (for now at least, thinking of NROTC possibility). Recently I received notice that I have been accepted to the University of Iowa, University of Nebraska, and University of Missouri (I want to go to the Midwest for school, escape the East Coast for a bit). I am gathering as much information as possible about the schools, but I am still pretty torn. Please feel free to post any opinions you may have on any of these schools. If it is any help, I plan on majoring in meteorology/atmospheric sciences or in the case I go to Iowa, geography.

My thoughts so far:

NEBRASKA
+ Solid academic reputation, lots of research opportunities
+ Offers the major I am interested in (meteorology) in a good location for study in this field
+ Great football
+ Very friendly people (supposedly)
+ Only school on list with free speech rating of "green" (see: [url="www.thefire.org"]The FIRE[/url])
- Very homogeneous
- Very strict
- Located in Lincoln, NE, which doesn't strike me as a good college town

MISSOURI
+ Most favorable reviews by current students
+ Offers the major I am interested in (atmospheric sciences)
+ Columbia is supposedly a great college town
+ Beautiful campus and surrounding area
+ Tobacco/Alcohol taxes & laws are among most lenient in USA
- Not as good academic reputation as Nebraska or Iowa (except in Journalism)
- Mediocre football, decent basketball that gets destroyed by its rival, Kansas
- Greek is very dominant

IOWA
+ Best academic reputation among the three schools
+ Emphasis on writing, has world-famous creative writing workshops (I am very interested)
+ Iowa City is in a lot of top-10 lists, called the "Paris of the Midwest"... Oh the irony...
+ Good football
+ Large out-of-state population
- Does not offer meteorology or atmospheric sciences as a major, would probably go for geography
- Smoke-free campus

Thanks in advance and Respect,
Manhattan

[Tyler]

Not to sound biased but if you want to get into meteorology you want to go to Florida State.

[Stuie]

Go where the degree you want is.

Here's something colleges won't tell you.

98% of Employers look at Degree not Pedigree.

Football wouldn't be a factor for me, unless I am playing.

I don't trust the Greek System. (Took my brother from occasional drinker to Full blown alcoholic)

[Jeff_T]

If I were looking at those 3 schools I'd probably go Iowa, Nebraska then Mizzou. Going somewhere that has the major/degree you want to pursue should play a big role in where you're going though. Are you absolutely set on atmospheric sciences, do you have any experience with it or the classes that go along with it? When I started school I was in a pre-pharmacy program, then transferred schools and did anthropology, then photography and finally landed on Finance. I thought I knew what I wanted to do and that completely changed while I was in school. I'd highly recommend doing a campus tour and visit places you're interested in, if you have the time/money/etc. Good luck on your search. I know it's lame, but personally If I knew I was going to do Finance, I would have picked a school based on their football and how well I liked the campus/atmosphere before the program itself, since Finance is pretty standard...

[Boredom&Lunacy]

Meteorology? University of Oklahoma.

[quote name='Jeff_T' date='19 February 2010 - 04:09 AM' timestamp='1266574195' post='452397']
If I were looking at those 3 schools I'd probably go Iowa, Nebraska then Mizzou. Going somewhere that has the major/degree you want to pursue should play a big role in where you're going though. Are you absolutely set on atmospheric sciences, do you have any experience with it or the classes that go along with it? When I started school I was in a pre-pharmacy program, then transferred schools and did anthropology, then photography and finally landed on Finance. I thought I knew what I wanted to do and that completely changed while I was in school. I'd highly recommend doing a campus tour and visit places you're interested in, if you have the time/money/etc. Good luck on your search. I know it's lame, but personally If I knew I was going to do Finance, I would have picked a school based on their football and how well I liked the campus/atmosphere before the program itself, since Finance is pretty standard...
[/quote]

[delSol_si]

[quote name='Stuie' date='18 February 2010 - 12:39 PM' timestamp='1266518345' post='452208']
98% of Employers look at Degree not Pedigree.

Football wouldn't be a factor for me, unless I am playing.

I don't trust the Greek System. (Took my brother from occasional drinker to Full blown alcoholic)
[/quote]

I would like to know more about this degree vs. pedigree thing. One thing that scares me shitless is that my accounting degree/finance minor is from Southeast Missouri State, which is not ranked very high.


to the OP: you would probably be surprised at Mizzou football. I went to mizzou for a year and my sister is currently there and football is huge there. I have little to no interest in it myself, though. the town is a college based town. mizzou is insanely expensive, but highly regarded. And yes, they are a major greek college, which sucks...like if your not greek, then "fuck you" is the attitude when i was there, and i wasn't greek.

[PSU Smoker]

honesty if you are looking at meteorology you should look at Millersville...I know its on the east coast and is a fairly small school but I have to say they have one of the best meteorology programs. My brother went here and majored in Meteorology got offers to numerous grad schools while his friends in other majors and school werent getting anything. He decided to go on to UDel for his Masters in Geography and is getting full tution plus a 27k/year stipend (roughly). One huge pro with their program is the small class size and they are incredibly up to date on technology. I attend PSU for a few years and was able to see the Mets labs there and they were absolutely pitiful compared to Millersvilles...just an option for ya =)