In highschool. Interested in Chicago. Need help! (dorms, living in)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by callmylifeline

oh, I'd be totally willing to live with several roommates, even.

Well, then that pretty much opens you up to live anywhere in the city, especially if you end up at Columbia.

And Avenger's right -- at this point there's not much more we can do to help. Figure out where what school you're going to first, then contact their housing services to inquire about roommate pairing, then come see the city for yourself and figure out where you're most comfortable. I will say this much though: more college students end up in Lincoln Park than any other neighborhood.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

That is a good idea. If you are serious and need a tour guide, I am available.

yeah for sure

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by Drover

Well, then that pretty much opens you up to live anywhere in the city, especially if you end up at Columbia.

And Avenger's right -- at this point there's not much more we can do to help. Figure out where what school you're going to first, then contact their housing services to inquire about roommate pairing, then come see the city for yourself and figure out where you're most comfortable. I will say this much though: more college students end up in Lincoln Park than any other neighborhood.

okay, thanks. this really helps a lot.
I wasn't planning on getting all my info from forums and such (even though that might be what it seems like)
but I plan on visiting
and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be at Columbia if I decide to come to Chicago.
And Lincoln Park?
Mmkay, thank you I'll keep that in mind

[NearWestSider]

Lincoln Park is where DePaul's main campus is.

Lincoln Park was the bohemian center of Chicago during the hippie days (late 60's, early 70's) but has long since been overrun by accountants, lawyers and financial analysts.

It remains a beautiful, historic neighborhood, but there is nothing hip or cool about it anymore, which is why artsy types generally hate it and avoid it like the plague.

DePaul itself is a good school, with a VERY good reputation in theater and peforming arts.

But be forwarned: The school is about as diverse as a shopping mall in Wisconsin, overwhelmingly upper middle class white suburban, just like Lincoln Park.

Coming from Montana, that might be foreign enough so that you find it interesting, but like everyone says, walk around and check it out for yourself.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

Lincoln Park is where DePaul's main campus is.

Lincoln Park was the bohemian center of Chicago during the hippie days (late 60's, early 70's) but has long since been overrun by accountants, lawyers and financial analysts.

It remains a beautiful, historic neighborhood, but there is nothing hip or cool about it anymore, which is why artsy types generally hate it and avoid it like the plague.

DePaul itself is a good school, with a VERY good reputation in theater and peforming arts.

But be forwarned: The school is about as diverse as a shopping mall in Wisconsin, overwhelmingly upper middle class white suburban, just like Lincoln Park.

Coming from Montana, that might be foreign enough so that you find it interesting, but like everyone says, walk around and check it out for yourself.

ooh. okay. maybe that Lincoln Park isn't such a good idea, then.
I'm looking for something pretty diverse. so hmm. okay. thanks a lot. I'll have to check it out for myself.

[tragicandfancytoo]

Originally Posted by Drover

Every single "L" line that runs downtown has a stop within two blocks of Columbia. That includes the Pink Line which serves much of Pilsen.

I will caution, however, that Pilsen still has a rather gritty feel to it. It's not a particularly dangerous neighborhood by Chicago standards but there are some crime and gang problems there. It can be pretty intimidating for someone who is new to the urban experience.

Pilsen is rather gritty indeed. It is also a rather youthful, bustling neighborhood and multitudes of students from columbia and saic, fresh from leafy suburbs, happily reside there. And as for the gang problems... try to think of them as gang solutions? Eh?

[NearWestSider]

Originally Posted by callmylifeline

ooh. okay. maybe that Lincoln Park isn't such a good idea, then.
I'm looking for something pretty diverse. so hmm. okay. thanks a lot. I'll have to check it out for myself.

And keep in mind that I am not disparaging Lincoln Park, nor am I saying there is anything wrong with it. In fact, it is a lovely neighborhood and a fine place for a lot of people, including someone like me, to live in.

I am simply saying that I would not recommend it to an *art* student, unless you've got a time machine that can take you back to 1970 :-)

If you were majoring in finance or pre-med, it would be a different story altogether.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by NearWestSider

And keep in mind that I am not disparaging Lincoln Park, nor am I saying there is anything wrong with it. In fact, it is a lovely neighborhood and a fine place for a lot of people, including someone like me, to live in.

I am simply saying that I would not recommend it to an *art* student, unless you've got a time machine that can take you back to 1970 :-)

If you were majoring in finance or pre-med, it would be a different story altogether.

Oh, I bet it is a really nice part of town, for sure, but I don't think it might be what I'm looking for.
I'll keeping looking, and keep my eyes wide and my mind open to any place that crosses me.

[Sailaway50]

Originally Posted by Drover

What many of us have been trying to tell you all along is "not necessarily" but it's not entirely out of the question. It will depend on your own comfort level, and you need to know what the neighborhood is about to figure out if it's your thing. We're trying to give you the heads-up, though there is no substitute for checking it out on your own.

I couldn't agree more.

I hate to sound like a wet blanket parent, but I do have one daught who went away to college and the experience was the opposite......small town (if Epcot had "college land" this would have been it...idyllic, IVY even, etc...). The huge change seemed.....healthy, good, safe anyway.

There was no academic faceplant BUT. The cultural, etc., change (I'd say almost 100 percent from how we "live") was pretty challenging and, in the end, she came back to commute in the city to college.

So, I'm not opposed to trying something new. But, Pilsen might just be too much all at once. If Columbia worked out, I'd say try the urban campus housing right nearby. Freshman year, being close to other students and the campus is a big plus and will c onnect you to the school. You wouldn't have to commute by pub trans, but could walk to your classes. If you're away, connecting to fellow students and campus life is essential your first year, I feel, unless you're rooming with someone you know. If staying in campus housing near the school works, Pilsen could be a step taken the next year. I'd rather see a campus or part time job NEAR the campus to supplement a little higher housing cost.....and you get meals in a dorm for cheaper than you can cook/eat out for yourself from an apartment.

But, as many of us have said.....visit, see for yourself.

Good luck!

As far as internships, I'm sure any college would have that info, if not on the website, then elsewhere. Usually, the college's academic catalog states whether internships or coops are available for college credit or available for a particular major and are listed by department or major. A call to a department head or admissions counselor should adress that also.

[callmylifeline]

Originally Posted by Sailaway50

I couldn't agree more.

I hate to sound like a wet blanket parent, but I do have one daught who went away to college and the experience was the opposite......small town (if Epcot had "college land" this would have been it...idyllic, IVY even, etc...). The huge change seemed.....healthy, good, safe anyway.

There was no academic faceplant BUT. The cultural, etc., change (I'd say almost 100 percent from how we "live") was pretty challenging and, in the end, she came back to commute in the city to college.

So, I'm not opposed to trying something new. But, Pilsen might just be too much all at once. If Columbia worked out, I'd say try the urban campus housing right nearby. Freshman year, being close to other students and the campus is a big plus and will c onnect you to the school. You wouldn't have to commute by pub trans, but could walk to your classes. If you're away, connecting to fellow students and campus life is essential your first year, I feel, unless you're rooming with someone you know. If staying in campus housing near the school works, Pilsen could be a step taken the next year. I'd rather see a campus or part time job NEAR the campus to supplement a little higher housing cost.....and you get meals in a dorm for cheaper than you can cook/eat out for yourself from an apartment.

But, as many of us have said.....visit, see for yourself.

Good luck!

As far as internships, I'm sure any college would have that info, if not on the website, then elsewhere. Usually, the college's academic catalog states whether internships or coops are available for college credit or available for a particular major and are listed by department or major. A call to a department head or admissions counselor should adress that also.

I think that's really essential, you're right.
I would really like to live on the college campus, especially if I'm planning on staying in Chicago for a time.
For a long, long time
I think that's a great idea living in the dorms, it would probably be a lot cheaper to live there. And thanks for the advice on the internships and such.
I'm definitely going to check it out.
thank you so so so so so so so much.