[addie8910]

I'm considering moving here from Texas to go to CCSU but I'm not sure. If I didn't I would end up in San Marcos, TX going to TSU but I really want to get out of Texas. TSU is alright but not the greatest school, CCSU is better, but the upside is that it is 30 min. outside of Austin which I like. So I have a few questions:

1. It seems like people think CT is not the best place if you aren't raising a family so I want to know if there is anything interesting for younger folks. Are there record shops, cool bookstores, etc? I love music, which is one of the reasons I like Austin (live music capital) so will I be bored here?

2. Where I live now people love fast food, driving huge pickups, watching Will Ferrell movies, and listening to rap and country. This is what I am trying to get away from. I would like to find people who are interested in music that isn't on mtv or bet, aren't obsessed with abercrombie, and occaissionaly pick up a book. Are there any people into indie music here?

I have been wanting to get out of Texas since I moved here with my family (Army) and this seems like it could be the opportunity, I just don't know if the higher cost of living and out-of-state tuition is worth it.

Texas isn't all bad, only mostly

[skytrekker]

Connecticut is not all about nuclear families- a Man, wife and kids. We actually have many single people here, a thriving Gay & Lesbian population and diverse demographics, ethnically, racially, familial, and everything else!

I attended CCSU in the mid to late 70s - and today the Campus is a far more attractive place then the rather 'dirty' somewhat faded place it was in the 70's. The Campus is tight, small, very pretty, with small pubs, ethnic restaurants nearby (Italian, Latino, Polish etc)-

The campus is liberal- where compact cars and hybrids are far more the norm then huge pickups and Suv'S.
Film and the arts are renowned- with Montgomery Clift, Spencer Tracy, Ava Gardiner, Katie Hepburn , Meryl Streep and Gregory Peck garnering more interest then Will Farrell. The New Britain Museum of American art is one of the best in the county.

Proximity to West Hartford, Hartford- with great Arts (21st best in the nation) The CT shoreline is less then an hour away, NYC, Boston, Vermont and Maine within 1.5-3 hours make CCSU a great place to be.

[reason180]

Originally Posted by addie8910

Are there any people into indie music here?

Indie shows in Hartford:
MySpace.com - Rock yer Socks - Manchester, Connecticut - www.myspace.com/rockyersocksbooking

Indie shows in New Haven:
MySpace.com - Manic Productions - Everywhere, Connecticut - Rock / Rock / Rock - www.myspace.com/manicproductions

Record Stores:

Trash American Style - Was a record store in Danbury, CT for many years. They got pushed out of their space, now they do flea markets until they can find a new space.

MySpace.com - Trash American Style - 21 - Male - DANBURY, CONNECTICUT - www.myspace.com/trashastyle

MySpace.com - Redscroll Records - WALLINGFORD, Connecticut - Hardcore / Punk / Other - www.myspace.com/redscrollrecords

[uconn99]

Go to UConn.

[mels]

As far as location goes, I think you'd be better off in New Haven. Look at SCSU, also part of the CT State University system.

[uconn99]

There is nothing bad about the New Britain/West hartford area the school is in.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mels

As far as location goes, I think you'd be better off in New Haven. Look at SCSU, also part of the CT State University system.

Nice suggestion. The New Haven area is probably the best in CT. for those seeking a more unconventional, outside of the box type of lifestyle.

[mels]

Originally Posted by uconn99

There is nothing bad about the New Britain/West hartford area the school is in.

True, but New Britain or Newington (or W Hartford for the matter) don't conjure up images of cool music stores, independent bookshops, etc. I am not saying they don't exist, maybe they do, but there would be no comparison to what you can find in New Haven.

If you like Austin, then New Haven will be a much, much better fit than CCSU and that area.

[yankee.peddler]

Originally Posted by mels

True, but New Britain or Newington (or W Hartford for the matter) don't conjure up images of cool music stores, independent bookshops, etc. I am not saying they don't exist, maybe they do, but there would be no comparison to what you can find in New Haven.

If you like Austin, then New Haven will be a much, much better fit than CCSU and that area.

CCSU and SCSU (along with ECSU and WCSU) are not interchangeable parts. For example, CCSU is known for its engineering program; SCSU is known for its nursing program; and ESCU is known for its early childhood education program. Perhaps the original poster is exploring a major available at Central (e.g. engineering) that's not available at Southern.

[Geotennis777]

I currently go to CCSU and I can honestly say that it has a BEAUTIFUL campus and its just an all-around great school. The State of Connecticut is literally pouring money into the school (new athletic facilities, the construction of a new library and academic buildings) and soon enough it will be one of the best schools in the nation. The academics are challenging and CCSU offers Division I athletics (Go Blue Devils!) The music education program is the second best in the country, and the school is renowned for its education program. The school has a large undergraduate population (close to 12,000) but only 3,000 live on campus giving it the feeling of a small school with the resources of a much larger one.

As for New Britain, it's not too nice of an area, but the one thing it has going for it is its close proximity to much cooler locales such as nearby Hartford, West Hartford, Newington, and Farmington.