CU Denver or SJSU? (Boulder: rent, schools, living)

[nicolekatrinab]

Hi All! I have never done a forum question before so here's to hopefully getting some good responses.

I am a little bit conflicted. I am a 22 yo female graphic design looking to complete my MBA. I have been accepted to both CU Denver and SJSU but am having trouble deciding which area would be best for me.

I currently live in Southern California so SJSU seems more familiar to me. But I have been to Colorado twice in the last year and absolutely loved it there [though most of my time was spent in Boulder].

Both schools are equally good in terms of program quality so it really is all about living. Can anyone share some good insight? What are the pros of Denver. Has anyone moved from OC to Denver that can give me good advice as well? I worry I'd miss the ocean but to be honest I almost never go to the beach and I work where we have ocean views.

Thank you in advance for your response

[contiempo]

Honestly, at 22 without significant work experience neither are going to advance your career very far. This is not a knock on you but a reality of the state of the economy and higher education.


But if you must go, go to the least expensive option. The ocean or mountains or whatever will be waiting when you finish.

[Willy702]

That's a tough one. Both are probably good options, but location limited. In other words your MBA from SJSU probably won't take you far in Denver, but should do good things for you in the Bay Area market. Same for CU, although I kind of wonder how many people outside this region realize Boulder is the more prestigious location to be a graduate of. Either way an MBA is never a bad thing to have, its becoming a requirement to get into a lot of business jobs these days.

[nicolekatrinab]

Contiempo I do have good work experience. I already work as a Graphic Designer and have worked in other areas as well.

Willy 702, unfortunately Boulder did not have my program and of course the tuition is much more steep for an out-of-stater like myself.

I am more/less looking for input on which is better for LIVING. The schools are equally reputable.

[brown_dog_us]

If both programs are equally reputable then pick the cheapest one. There are great things to do near both locations. I think San Jose doesn't have the night life, but SF is an hour away and SF blows Denver away. Denver has the mountains, but you can be in Tahoe in just 1.5 hours more, at the beach in less than 45 mins, run the trails above Palo Alto, Yosemite in 3 hours, and in the wine country in 2 hours.

fwiw, the wife and I almost took a jobs in SJ a few weeks ago, so I was out there a couple times looking at housing and the lifestyle. I'm 40 with 2 kids, so I have different priorities, but I was comparing Denver to San Jose.

[davebarnes]

NPV
ROI

Get the degree at the lowest cost.
(I was lucky, my employer paid 100% of my MBA)

[nicolekatrinab]

Thank you for the helpful feedback brown_dog_us and davebarnes! The program cost vs. housing cost cancel each other out, which is why its been a tough choice. Where I save money on tuition in SJ, I spend on rent. Where I save on rent in Denver, I spend on tuition. They equal about the same after totaling it out for a year.

It is hard to choose where you will be living for the next 2 years when you have lived in the same place for 22 Gotta find a way to comfortably leave the bubble.

[mic111]

I think you should pick San Jose. Your young and sound a little bit sheltered. San Jose has alot more diversity in everything, not just people. Denver is the sort of place you retreat to after you live in the bay area and want to raise a family in a smaller city with lower cost of living or really enjoy the mountain outdoors. If it is only for 2 yrs pick the more dynamic location and experience as much as you can before you get tied down into a career and/or family life.

At the end of your schooling you will either be loving the big city lifestyle or be looking for something else. If Denver is the right move you know it and right now you don't know it.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by nicolekatrinab

Hi All! I have never done a forum question before so here's to hopefully getting some good responses.

I am a little bit conflicted. I am a 22 yo female graphic design looking to complete my MBA. I have been accepted to both CU Denver and SJSU but am having trouble deciding which area would be best for me.

I currently live in Southern California so SJSU seems more familiar to me. But I have been to Colorado twice in the last year and absolutely loved it there [though most of my time was spent in Boulder].

Both schools are equally good in terms of program quality so it really is all about living. Can anyone share some good insight? What are the pros of Denver. Has anyone moved from OC to Denver that can give me good advice as well? I worry I'd miss the ocean but to be honest I almost never go to the beach and I work where we have ocean views.

Thank you in advance for your response

Honestly I think they are both about the same. What about weather? Have considered that? Denver winters get cold and snowy. San Jose is closer the the climate that you are used to.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by mic111

I think you should pick San Jose. Your young and sound a little bit sheltered. San Jose has alot more diversity in everything, not just people. Denver is the sort of place you retreat to after you live in the bay area and want to raise a family in a smaller city with lower cost of living or really enjoy the mountain outdoors. If it is only for 2 yrs pick the more dynamic location and experience as much as you can before you get tied down into a career and/or family life.

At the end of your schooling you will either be loving the big city lifestyle or be looking for something else. If Denver is the right move you know it and right now you don't know it.

I agree that San Jose has more diversity in people, but how else is it more diverse? And I'm not sure that San Jose is necessarily more dynamic then Denver. San Francisco, Yes. San Jose, umm...