Mockiller's Weblog Site • NuTang.com

mood: Anxious and perpetually perplexed

I made a Pros/Cons list for the 2 universities I have narrowed my list down to.
I feel obligated to post it here...

And my apologies for the somewhat obnoxious title of this entry

.
And if this Pros/Cons list has totally irrelevant items on it...that shouldn't matter to normal people...but to me they have some weight to them...

University of Portland

Pros

New Seasons Market (Possibly the Whole Foods of Oregon...?)
Bon Apetit Dining Hall full of sustainability/organic items
P4 Program for business students; ropes course during Orientation to build trust/connections among new students; E-scholars; Business 101/University 101 to help transition to college and introduce freshman to one another...
Possibly a more "established" institution compared to HPU
Undoubtedly higher chance of friends road-tripping up to visit
At least I'd know one person there! My sheer awesome overnight host - Kirsten. Invaluable source of advice.
Music venues/acts in Downtown Portland I'd be interested in
Numerous school-wide events such as the Midnight BBQ (incredibly fun...heheh) + Price is Right
They produce a YEARBOOK. Since I already have a total of 4 years working on a yearbook staff, this is so appealing.
Portlandia
Business school = AACSB accredited (national level)
Michael Pollan just spoke!
On-campus gelato shop
Rain/cold weather = lush greenery and cherry blossoms...
Just ranked #1 for return on investment school in Oregon (Bloomsburg/Businessweek)

Cons

I have not seen any farmers' markets yet.
A bit far from Downtown
AP/IB credits don't transfer. Hahaha.
Costco is a bit far, it seems.
Not as much diversity as Hawaii Pacific U.
More costly than Hawaii. About $10k more...
Rain + cold weather. If I was constantly shivering in early April, how will I be in the depths of winter?

My other option is Hawaii Pacific University.
I visited U of Hawaii at Manoa...and I did not love it, so I crossed that off my list - even though I could have continued with my Thai language studies there...maybe even gotten a Thai minor! *Sigh*.

Hawaii Pacific University

Pros

Taro pie @ McDonald's
Nearby Honolulu Costco
Visible farmers' markets
Serious diversity from the large population of international students
AP/IB credits transfer over
I'd live in "off-campus housing" (essentially just 2 former hotels converted to University Housing by the owner) in Downtown Waikiki. ONLY a few BLOCKS from Waikiki Beach. I would walk to the beach every single day, heheh.
I'd take majority of my classes at the HPU downtown campus in bustling Honolulu.
Near Chinatown. Just a few blocks away from D-town campus.
Intercultural Day each year...along with some other school-wide events that boast of culture/fun.
Hawaii Five-0 . "BOOK 'EM, DANNO!"
Cheaper tuition
Getting to know public transportation real well, since I'd be taking the bus from my dorm in Waikiki to D-town Honolulu (about 20 min.) every morning and evening. The on-campus housing/dining hall is located on the "Windward Campus" 30 minutes away via shuttle. The off-campus housing would be more convenient for me and I could just get the off-campus meal plan.
Gandhi's descendant came to speak at the Windward campus.
Complimentary HPU binder/agenda book (?)
Hawaiian shaved ice/delicious tropical fruits

Cons

Higher cost of commodities in Hawaii
Possibly too much hustle/bustle/detached feel of the school campus...the downtown campus has classrooms and offices scattered in various office building high-rises within a block of each other + the student body didn't feel as "cohesive" as other enclosed campuses.
No "freshman seminar" type of class to help with the transition, at least - not to my knowledge. Only an Orientation period for new students...
I do not know anyone here...yet...no actual student to "guide me"
Public transit every morning/even to/fro school could get tiring.
Not yet AACSB accredited but [according to their website] they're a member.
Only regionally accredited (WASC)
Tropical weather (which I am absolutely fine with) = TROPICAL BUGS (which scare me half to death.
Not as "established" as U of Portland...since HPU is still fairly new (est. '65).
Socially awk. admissions officers + rude/standoffish Dean of Business Admin. The dean would not come out to talk to my mom and I or simply say hello to us EVEN WHEN we were a few yards outside his office. The secretary was literally walking back and forth relaying our messages/questions to him. Pretty ridiculous, in my opinion.
I feel like I should mention this also. Large roaches.

Bottom lines: If I went to Hawaii, I would have to fend for myself more and be living the city life. It'd be a more unconventional first year of college. Possibly becoming more independent and my own person quicker...

If I went to Portland, I would have a conventional college life in this "college town". Trips into downtown here and there. Having a "buffer" between the real world and sheltered, enclosed college campus/college life.

Hmm...

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