University of Colorado at Denver Questions (Boulder, Lake City: credit, home, dorms)

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by jjacobeclark

If you're expecting to attend college parties or socialize with other students outside of class, then you're definitely looking at the wrong university.

What about someone who just wants to study but live in an urban environment too? I'm looking into UCD mainly because I'd rather live in Denver than Boulder. I don't need the parties and all that stuff or the traditional campus. I prefer city-based campuses, actually. I just want to study and live in a city environment with all that entails. Do you think UCD would be good for someone like me?

[jjacobeclark]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

What about someone who just wants to study but live in an urban environment too? I'm looking into UCD mainly because I'd rather live in Denver than Boulder. I don't need the parties and all that stuff or the traditional campus. I prefer city-based campuses, actually. I just want to study and live in a city environment with all that entails. Do you think UCD would be good for someone like me?

It could be good for you, in theory. Just as Auraria isn't a typical college campus, Denver isn't a typical big city. If you want to move to a big city for the sole purpose of experiencing city-life, then Denver definitely isn't the right place for that. Denver is the place where outdoor enthusiasts store their equipment during the week. Unless you feel the allure of the Rocky Mountains beckoning to you, I would keep looking.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

What about someone who just wants to study but live in an urban environment too? I'm looking into UCD mainly because I'd rather live in Denver than Boulder. I don't need the parties and all that stuff or the traditional campus. I prefer city-based campuses, actually. I just want to study and live in a city environment with all that entails. Do you think UCD would be good for someone like me?

It depends partly on what you want to study. The University of Denver is a more traditional college campus that is in Denver. Come take a look before you make any decisions.

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by jjacobeclark

It could be good for you, in theory. Just as Auraria isn't a typical college campus, Denver isn't a typical big city. If you want to move to a big city for the sole purpose of experiencing city-life, then Denver definitely isn't the right place for that. Denver is the place where outdoor enthusiasts store their equipment during the week. Unless you feel the allure of the Rocky Mountains beckoning to you, I would keep looking.

That's interesting. I've never heard that about Denver before. I realize every city is different, and I'm used to East Coast cities which aren't exactly mountain towns or anything, but that just seems weird to me that Denver wouldn't fit in with other large cities. I'll have to do more research on it, apparently.


To Katiana,

I'll definitely make a trip out there before setting my plans in stone, and I'll be doing the Film Studies option of the English major. You know anything about that?

[psulions2007]

To the OP- Have you considered the University of Washington? You seem to really want to live in a city with lots of opportunities...and Seattle is definitely one of them. The city of Seattle has an enormous, vibrant culture, opportunities to go skiing/snowboarding in the Cascades, beaches and boating opportunities (even though the water is cold, people seem to enjoy swimming), etc.

In addition, UW is an excellent, traditional-setting school that has a decent Civil Engineering program. As an undergraduate, I highly highly recommend that you go to a school that offers a traditional setting and not a commuter school. I've been to both and there is nothing like the educational, research, and social opportunities that a traditional school offers.


Also, to help you out further, here are the best civil engineering programs in the nation as ranked by US News and World Report:

1. University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA 4.7
1. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL 4.7
3. Stanford University | Stanford, CA 4.5
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA 4.4
4. University of Texas, Austin (Cockrell) | Austin, TX 4.4
6. Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA 4.3
7. Purdue University, West Lafayette | West Lafayette, IN 4.2
8. California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA 4.1
8. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI 4.1
10. Cornell University | Ithaca, NY 4.0
10. Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA 4.0


Of those universities, UCB and UTA offer the best city life as UCB is in the SF Metro area and Austin, TX is a rapidly growing, beautiful area with many, many opportunities. I would stay away from GT as Atlanta is not the best city to live in (way, way, way too much crime).

Anywho, good luck with your search!

[jjacobeclark]

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

That's interesting. I've never heard that about Denver before. I realize every city is different, and I'm used to East Coast cities which aren't exactly mountain towns or anything, but that just seems weird to me that Denver wouldn't fit in with other large cities. I'll have to do more research on it, apparently.

I never said Denver wouldn't fit in with other large cities, it fits in just fine with other large sprawling western cities like Houston, Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

Originally Posted by xGrendelx

To Katiana,

I'll definitely make a trip out there before setting my plans in stone, and I'll be doing the Film Studies option of the English major. You know anything about that?

Regarding the Film Studies program, it is done in conjunction with the Community College of Aurora. You would have to attend CCA for the first two years of the program. After that you would transfer to UCD to complete the program. I personally don't mind the city of Aurora, but as I'm sure you will find out, many posters on here absolutely loathe the place.

[xGrendelx]

Originally Posted by jjacobeclark

Regarding the Film Studies program, it is done in conjunction with the Community College of Aurora. You would have to attend CCA for the first two years of the program. After that you would transfer to UCD to complete the program. I personally don't mind the city of Aurora, but as I'm sure you will find out, many posters on here absolutely loathe the place.

I saw you posted that in another forum, so I asked the school about that and they didn't say that was the case. They said the program is done at the Auraria campus downtown. Is that done in Aurora the first two years just to fulfill the gen ed requirements? If so, I don't know if that would really apply to me. I'm going to be transferring as a junior.

[wanttomoveeast]

xGrendelx: I finished at UCD. If you are coming as a Jr. you might just be able to start at UCD, it would depend on what courses they took in from your other school. I know one prof. at UCD in film study and he is a lawyer that works in that field. I think UCD is an excellent school, but it definitely depends on what field you are in.

Also, if you plan on working, Auraria fits in nicely. I go to classes at night at CCD now, and it's really easy to get from downtown to Auraria via bus/train. Also, if you take 2 or more classes, your student ID is your bus pass.

[jjacobeclark]

https://www.coloradofilmschool.net/

[vegaspilgrim]

xGrendelx, I'd listen to what jj has to say, but I'd also take it with a grain of salt. That guy is an alcoholic and moved back to Milwaukee because Denver's drinking scene wasn't up to par for him. Now, I saw your photo albums-- nice!-- from one photo junkie to another. Denver is lot more urban than Virginia Beach or Salt Lake City, that's for sure. The Auraria campus is designed like a normal college campus (except for no stadiums or dorms right on campus and it shares the same campus with 3 schools), and it happens to be adjacent to downtown, just on the other side of Speer Blvd. You can easily walk there from anywhere in downtown.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I really don't think it's worth it to spend gobs of out of state tuition money to go to school at UCD. It's not that UCD isn't a good school, it's just that it's not meant to be a "destination" school. It's meant to be a practical school for people who already live and work in Denver who are looking for a convenient, affordable way to further their educations, often times part time. As an in-state resident I think it would be a good value. As an out of state, the whole "affordable" selling point doesn't apply and I think quite frankly it would be a waste of money when you can get the same or better quality education in your home state.