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Which university to choose, USA? (exchange student from Britain)

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MenhirDenies
Posts: 9 - Karma: 17
I'm looking at coming to the USA for an exchange year 2017/18. I am ideally looking for the best university for research and of course the best for skiing! I am studying environmental science with a particular interest in how climate change is affecting the snow-sports industry and how we can make the industry more sustainable. As for skiing, i'd say i'm an advanced skier with a particular interest in back country, touring and free ride.

Suggestions so far have included WWU, Montana State, Colorado Mesa, Westminster College & Utah State. I am open to any other suggestions!! Unfortunately, Boulder and Uni of Utah don't offer exchanges.

Any help would be amaaazing, its really hard to get a feel for the different places being in the UK!

Thanks x
Nov 29 2016 12:22PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5711 - Karma: 20,627
You know what would help? Rank these items in priority on your list:

-Great green initiatives programs
-Location in relation to skiing
-Thriving metro area (nightlife, lots of cuisine options, good social life)
-Quaint small town feel (ski town vibes, secluded)
-Ability to get by without a car
-Access to an airport (within
Nov 29 2016 1:04PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5711 - Karma: 20,627
CaptainObvious.You know what would help? Rank these items in priority on your list:

-Great green initiatives programs
-Location in relation to skiing
-Thriving metro area (nightlife, lots of cuisine options, good social life)
-Quaint small town feel (ski town vibes, secluded)
-Ability to get by without a car
-Access to an airport (within


Don't know what the fuck happened there.

-Great green initiatives programs
-Location in relation to skiing
-Thriving metro area (nightlife, lots of cuisine options, good social life)
-Quaint small town feel (ski town vibes, secluded)
-Ability to get by without a car
-Access to an airport (within
Nov 29 2016 1:11PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5711 - Karma: 20,627
CaptainObvious.Don't know what the fuck happened there.

-Great green initiatives programs
-Location in relation to skiing
-Thriving metro area (nightlife, lots of cuisine options, good social life)
-Quaint small town feel (ski town vibes, secluded)
-Ability to get by without a car
-Access to an airport (within


Fucking Christ. There's got to be a bug or something cutting off at character limits. Here's where it keeps breaking:

(within
Nov 29 2016 1:12PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5711 - Karma: 20,627
CaptainObvious.Fucking Christ. There's got to be a bug or something cutting off at character limits. Here's where it keeps breaking:

(within


lol it's the less than symbol that is fucking it up.

(within less than 1 hr drive)

I'm sure there are some items I'm missing that would help narrow it down, but there are a lot of things you should consider especially if you want to experience more of the US than one little ski town. Maybe you don't, which is totally cool. For instance CO mesa is in Grand Junction, which is way out in the middle of the mountains and very secluded. I'm sure there are plenty of East Coast schools that could get you a cool city and quick access to some mountains if you're looking for both.
Nov 29 2016 1:13PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
University of Nevada at Reno
UC Davis
University of Washington

Ones to look at.
Nov 29 2016 3:20PM
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ched_der
Posts: 362 - Karma: 867
Western Washington
U of Montana
Colorado-Boulder
U of Utah
Nov 29 2016 8:15PM
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taylornicky
Posts: 2889 - Karma: 2,579
Unr lol
Nov 29 2016 8:16PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
Don't go to Utah State.

I personally hate Colorado schools except for a few. The ones that offer good skiing less than an hour away aren't great schools though.

Westminster is great.
Montana State is great, U of Montana is not.
UNR is great.
WWU is amazing. Dream school and I might transfer there.
Also UBC is worth looking into, but it's in Canada.

I know a decent amount about all the schools I just listed so if you have any questions just let me know.
Nov 29 2016 8:44PM
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.Duncan.
Posts: 1375 - Karma: 459
.lenconDon't go to Utah State.

I personally hate Colorado schools except for a few. The ones that offer good skiing less than an hour away aren't great schools though.

Westminster is great.
Montana State is great, U of Montana is not.
UNR is great.
WWU is amazing. Dream school and I might transfer there.
Also UBC is worth looking into, but it's in Canada.

I know a decent amount about all the schools I just listed so if you have any questions just let me know.


The only "great" academic/research school on this list is UBC.

To OP, Western Washington probably has the best Environmental Studies/Science program to skiing ratio of the schools you listed.
Nov 29 2016 11:53PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
.Duncan.The only "great" academic/research school on this list is UBC.

To OP, Western Washington probably has the best Environmental Studies/Science program to skiing ratio of the schools you listed.


I was talking great as in all around schools. UBC is definitely the best on that list academically. Westminster and UNR are pretty good as well though. Montana State isn't the best academically, but Bozeman is a pretty cool place.
Nov 29 2016 11:56PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,469
CaptainObvious.lol it's the less than symbol that is fucking it up.

(within less than 1 hr drive)

I'm sure there are some items I'm missing that would help narrow it down, but there are a lot of things you should consider especially if you want to experience more of the US than one little ski town. Maybe you don't, which is totally cool. For instance CO mesa is in Grand Junction, which is way out in the middle of the mountains and very secluded. I'm sure there are plenty of East Coast schools that could get you a cool city and quick access to some mountains if you're looking for both.


Gotta do a space before and after the less than


Captain < hugo
Nov 30 2016 1:54PM
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T.O.
Posts: 740 - Karma: 97
I don't know how good UNR's Environmental Science program is, but it's a great skiing school.
Nov 30 2016 4:09PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
T.O.I don't know how good UNR's Environmental Science program is, but it's a great skiing school.


The Enviro Science program at UNR isn't too shabby..
Nov 30 2016 5:41PM
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MenhirDenies
Posts: 9 - Karma: 17
T.O.I don't know how good UNR's Environmental Science program is, but it's a great skiing school.


Unfortunatly UNR don't do an exchange programme either. It looks like its between Montana State and Western Washington now, though I've heard both good and bad about them both!
Nov 30 2016 5:51PM
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MenhirDenies
Posts: 9 - Karma: 17
Thanks for all your help by the way guys, appreciate it!
Nov 30 2016 5:51PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
MenhirDeniesUnfortunatly UNR don't do an exchange programme either. It looks like its between Montana State and Western Washington now, though I've heard both good and bad about them both!


What good have you heard, what bad have you heard?
Nov 30 2016 6:01PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
MenhirDeniesUnfortunatly UNR don't do an exchange programme either. It looks like its between Montana State and Western Washington now, though I've heard both good and bad about them both!


Out of those 2, I would personally go WWU. I haven't looked into the academic side of things too much when it comes to WWU, but I can't imagine it would be worse than MSU. Bellingham is a great city and it's super pretty. Skiing is a bit far away.. about 1.5 hours to Mt Baker while MSU is only 30 minutes away from Bridger Bowl or about an hour away from Big Sky.
Nov 30 2016 6:03PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6794 - Karma: 23,540
MenhirDeniesUnfortunatly UNR don't do an exchange programme either. It looks like its between Montana State and Western Washington now, though I've heard both good and bad about them both!


Looks like you could ride your bike to the coast from Western Washington. You'd really get to experience the West Coast. Also you could take public transportation to a real big US city. Easy to get into real wild wilderness in Washington too. Or you could move to Montana which is really it's own different thing and also probably different than anything you see at home. Personally I'd go to Washington because it's probably got a whole lot more to offer in terms of different experiences besides the outdoors.
Nov 30 2016 6:10PM
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profa_212
Posts: 8647 - Karma: 32,669
MenhirDeniesUnfortunatly UNR don't do an exchange programme either. It looks like its between Montana State and Western Washington now, though I've heard both good and bad about them both!

Huh weird...we have a ton of exchange students....just a different program or what?
Nov 30 2016 6:17PM
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Stuuuuuuuuuu
Posts: 379 - Karma: 2,076
My cousin goes to Montana state and it looks super awesome for the skiing/outdoors aspect. I don't know what the academics are like though.
Nov 30 2016 6:17PM
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CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5711 - Karma: 20,627
Profahoben_212Huh weird...we have a ton of exchange students....just a different program or what?


Usually the exchange program is dependent on your home university. There are multiple exchange programs and it's dependent on which schools are in the same network as yours.
Nov 30 2016 6:24PM
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DirtYStylE
Posts: 3635 - Karma: 8,774
I am attending WWU so feel free to PM with any questions. Here are a few answers towards some of the things that you have listed.

The school has a top notch environmental science curriculum. With the school being mostly liberal, there are many students advocating for the school to be environmentally friendly. The school is also bordered by a park so for my geology and biology class we took a tour to look at the natural rocks and the different stages of forest growth.

Mt. Baker is the nearest mountain and it excels for touring and back country terrain.

I can also speak for UW, which is in Seattle so it has a big city vibe.

School vibes:
WWU - hipster
Montana - lumberjack
Utah has a lot of Mormons
If western Washington and eastern Washington had a baby it would be Colorado(Denver) I worked there over the summer and I enjoyed myself
Nov 30 2016 8:25PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,178
DirtYStylESchool vibes:
WWU - hipster
Montana - lumberjack
Utah has a lot of Mormons
If western Washington and eastern Washington had a baby it would be Colorado(Denver) I worked there over the summer and I enjoyed myself


lol
Nov 30 2016 8:31PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 19,088
Dartmouth.
Nov 30 2016 8:36PM
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