Author Topic: Khan's Search for a University (Texas A&M?) (Read 9862 times)

Shaka Khan · « **on:** September 17, 2011, 07:34:33 PM »

The gist:
- My scholarship papers are finally complete.
- US is the destination.
- I didn't know how to begin the search or where to find the time during this busy season, so I contacted an agency to help me with the process.
- I was asked to give a list of states or universities that I wish to apply to. I told them if I had an idea I wouldn't have asked for their help in the first place.
- This is where the bore comes in, long story short, I need to hear some recommendations.
- Fwiw: I have 60 transfarrable credit hours under my belt in Computer Science, and intend to continue in the same field.

The easy route would be to suggest states, so I can work my way from there. Aside from having decent universities, the ideal location should not rape me financially (or literally), should have a tolerable weather by US standards, and last but not least should be an interesting place. It doesn't have to have a perfect combination of those factors, just a nice balance.

For reference, here's long list of all the recommended, non-suspended Universities. [link]

For what it's worth, I'm not looking for BESTEST UNIVERSITY EVAR, as I know how to reach the top 100 ranked US universities' page, I'm just looking for a nice place to start at after the long hiatus. (I also don't want to go back to hating life. A nice place would help prevent that)

I'm not sure if I've given enough material for anyone to work with me, but anything at this point would help.

Final requests:
- Please keep smartassery to a minimum. This is REALTALK, dammit.
- Please don't make it harder or more complicate that it should. I've ran out of Xanax.

Thank you, and may Allah be with you.

Except Himuro.

Robo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:37:00 PM »

It sounds like you're just looking for a location, mainly. Leaning to anywhere in particular at the moment?

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:43:37 PM »

Not really, to be quite honest. I've never been this indecisive about anything in a long time. Every recommendation I've gotten so far came from friends who want me to join their Universities, mainly for some feel good time, when all I want is to be as far from any Indian as possible.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:49:06 PM »

I'll go to bed now, but I'll check this thread out first thing in the morning. Don't disappoint me dammit!

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2011, 07:53:38 PM »

asking forum denizens to help you make life decisions is asking for trouble

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:11:15 PM »

You should go to Texas A&M

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:11:20 PM »

Quote from: CajoleJuice on September 17, 2011, 07:53:38 PM

asking forum denizens to help you make life decisions is asking for trouble

- I'm asking for general feedback. I know next to nothing about the US when it comes to anything other than nice vacation spots.
- I'll obviously make the final call after doing more research. Don't worry, I'm not an idiot, I got this.
- I trust AT LEAST a few of you to give some valuable feedback, this is not GAF. It shouldn't be as random (hopefully).
- I just needed a thread to dump my progress in.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:12:13 PM »

Quote from: Shah Rukh Khan on September 17, 2011, 08:11:20 PM

- I'm asking for general feedback. I know next to nothing about the US when it comes to anything other than nice vacation spots.
- I'll obviously make the final call after doing more research. Don't worry, I'm not an idiot, I got this.
- I trust AT LEAST a few of you to give some valuable insights, this is not GAF. It shouldn't be as random (hopefully).

I'm just making excuses for me not having good advice to give.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:39:02 PM »

I know I'm biased, but Tennessee is a really great place to live for both weather and experiences. Nashville and Knoxville are amazing cities. Maybe check out MTSU or Nashville State?

Mandark · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:48:08 PM »

What sort of experience are you looking for?

Do you want to live in a city? Near a city? A big city?

Is weather going to be an important factor? Could you walk through freezing temperatures half the school year without making yourself miserable?

What about ethnic diversity? Would you mind being one of the only terrorists on campus?

spoiler (click to show/hide)

As if I had good followup suggestions depending on his answers. Still, this can be important shit, kids!

[close]

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2011, 08:59:38 PM »

Should have come to Canada. Less choices for unis would have been less stress.

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on September 17, 2011, 08:11:15 PM

You should go to Texas A&M

Austin has one of the best compsci departments in the world.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:18:20 PM »

That's true. You could also check out the University of Cincinnati. Rated one of the prettiest campuses in America and has an amazing engineering program as well as compsci. Not to mention Cincy can be a pretty cool city and pretty close to a lot of cool surrounding cities as well.

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:43:26 PM »

Berkeley or Stanford if you have a good academic record.

Himu · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2011, 01:04:40 AM »

Assuming you're planning to be a designer, go to school in either NYC (NYU has a great design program) or Cali. I'm looking to get a masters degree from Academy of Art in San Fran, myself. Online degree, bitches.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2011, 05:28:42 AM »

So far so good. Thanks guys.

@Mandark:

- I have no problem with living in a city or near a city. Actually if I wasn't so concerned about rest, big cities would be my main preference.

- I'm ok with freezing cold winters as long as they don't dominate the other seasons.

- I have no problem with being the only brown kid on campus, but I'm hoping to be mistaken for an Israeli rather than an dirty sand Negro.

@Smooth: I don't think my shaky track-record will get me into top universities to be honest, but I'll try.

Maximus · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2011, 07:39:59 AM »

Why not Canada?, I mean its got a better quality of life in most pointless index things they do every year, especially places like Vancouver.
Actually I'm sure that would be a great place to go to what with that Vancouver film school that makes all those cool video shorts.
I would advise Ireland since its dirt cheap for college but sand people go mad here from the rain, apparently 200 hundred days of rain a year is unnatural, well I say building cities in the desert is unnatural...yeah that told them....

Barry Egan · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2011, 08:47:41 AM »

Canada: Cheaper tuition, lower academic standard for entry, high academic standard of education

.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:09:19 PM »

Quote from: My F*cking Grandpa on September 18, 2011, 08:47:41 AM

Canada: Cheaper tuition, lower academic standard for entry, high academic standard of education (Image removed from quote.).

and bags of milk

Go to Texas my brown friend. Austin is a great city, isn't a conservative cess pool, impressive compsci/programming/etc schools, and the weather will be familiar to you.

BlackMage · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:10:29 PM »

UCLA is the best school, in my opinion.

Himu · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:16:37 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on September 18, 2011, 12:09:19 PM

Quote from: My F*cking Grandpa on September 18, 2011, 08:47:41 AM
Canada: Cheaper tuition, lower academic standard for entry, high academic standard of education (Image removed from quote.).

and bags of milk

Go to Texas my brown friend. Austin is a great city, isn't a conservative cess pool, impressive compsci/programming/etc schools, and the weather will be familiar to you.

why the fuck do you keep suggesting texas? texas is a cesspool outside of austin.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:24:12 PM »

solved

Himu · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:33:38 PM »

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2011, 12:54:57 PM »

Holy shit.

drew · « **Reply #23 on:** September 18, 2011, 04:55:04 PM »

Quote from: BrandNew on September 17, 2011, 09:18:20 PM

That's true. You could also check out the University of Cincinnati. Rated one of the prettiest campuses in America and has an amazing engineering program as well as compsci. Not to mention Cincy can be a pretty cool city and pretty close to a lot of cool surrounding cities as well.

when i lived in calhoun i heard gunshots every other fucking week, one time it was automatic. a burglar got shot in the leg running out of an apartment next to us and some guy got car jacked on our street. also the campus is completely cut off from downtown and the entire campus is made out of concrete, making it slanty doesn't change a fucking thing, i don't care what the brochure says. oh and the "green spaces" are all in a place where nobody goes

Groogrux · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:32:10 PM »

I'm with Drew on this one. Cincy is a rough city a lot of the time. Besides, you said you wanted somewhere interesting to go, and that's nowhere near Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, or Arkansas. Yeah, I know Arkansas is not really in that group of states, but it's still a pretty fucking boring place to be.

Himu · « **Reply #25 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:49:41 PM »

Honestly, I'm disappointed in Shah.

Oh hey, another arab going for an ENGINEERING major, who woulda thunk it.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

demi · « **Reply #26 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:54:22 PM »

Go to Chicago, there is a huge gay following. And bears.

You can also find this in the Austin area.

Himu · « **Reply #27 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:59:25 PM »

My cousin attends Purdue. Great engineering school. I think he's gay, hit em up.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #28 on:** September 19, 2011, 06:36:29 PM »

Quote from: drew on September 18, 2011, 04:55:04 PM

Quote from: BrandNew on September 17, 2011, 09:18:20 PM
That's true. You could also check out the University of Cincinnati. Rated one of the prettiest campuses in America and has an amazing engineering program as well as compsci. Not to mention Cincy can be a pretty cool city and pretty close to a lot of cool surrounding cities as well.

when i lived in calhoun i heard gunshots every other fucking week, one time it was automatic. a burglar got shot in the leg running out of an apartment next to us and some guy got car jacked on our street. also the campus is completely cut off from downtown and the entire campus is made out of concrete, making it slanty doesn't change a fucking thing, i don't care what the brochure says. oh and the "green spaces" are all in a place where nobody goes

surprise surprise, drew is still a moron

T234 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 19, 2011, 07:15:10 PM »

Cincinnati is fucking gangster-iffic trust me, dunno what the fuck Brandnew is on, probably something he should pass this way.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #30 on:** September 19, 2011, 07:25:05 PM »

sure it is, but that's not to say the city isn't fun to hang around or degrade the quality of the university.

Madrun Badrun · « **Reply #31 on:** September 19, 2011, 07:39:26 PM »

He is going to America. Every city gangster-iffic.

T234 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 19, 2011, 07:42:15 PM »

I didn't say it was unfun, I just said it was Gangster-riffic. HUGE difference. More fun than Lexington, that's for goddamn sure.

Himu · « **Reply #33 on:** September 19, 2011, 08:30:46 PM »

why the fuck are people suggesting someone from the middle east who has never been to america go to school in fucking Tennessee or goddamn ohio to begin with?

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #34 on:** September 19, 2011, 10:36:00 PM »

Quote from: Stringer Bell on September 19, 2011, 08:30:46 PM

why the fuck are people suggesting someone from the middle east who has never been to america go to school in fucking Tennessee or goddamn ohio to begin with?

...

this might be one of the stupidest things you've ever posted. that's saying something.

Himu · « **Reply #35 on:** September 20, 2011, 02:40:38 AM »

how is it stupid? if you've never been to the usa, why would you want to live in Ohio or Tennessee? Visit? Sure. But live, much less go to college? Northeast or Cali. Seattle area if you're pushing it.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #36 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:09:33 AM »

Why not Texas though?

Himu · « **Reply #37 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:12:57 AM »

because texas has shit for culture outside of austin.

Boogie · « **Reply #38 on:** September 20, 2011, 08:05:02 AM »

Quote from: Maximus on September 18, 2011, 07:39:59 AM

Why not Canada?, I mean its got a better quality of life in most pointless index things they do every year, especially places like Vancouver.
Actually I'm sure that would be a great place to go to what with that Vancouver film school that makes all those cool video shorts.
I would advise Ireland since its dirt cheap for college but sand people go mad here from the rain, apparently 200 hundred days of rain a year is unnatural, well I say building cities in the desert is unnatural...yeah that told them....

"I'd recommend you go to Ireland, except it rains a lot. So instead, let me recommend you Vancouver."

tiesto · « **Reply #39 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:06:44 AM »

Somewhere in NY or Boston... Brooklyn Polytechnic, MIT, or even a state school (especially for CS)... go to Stony Brook and then we can hang

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #40 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:23:58 AM »

In a few hours the agency will send me a list of Universities I have a fair chance at based on my qualifications. I'm not holding my breath, though. I'll post it later.

(Dis gun be good)

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #41 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:28:32 AM »

Hope you get something nice mate.

Quote from: Boogie on September 20, 2011, 08:05:02 AM

Quote from: Maximus on September 18, 2011, 07:39:59 AM
Why not Canada?, I mean its got a better quality of life in most pointless index things they do every year, especially places like Vancouver.
Actually I'm sure that would be a great place to go to what with that Vancouver film school that makes all those cool video shorts.
I would advise Ireland since its dirt cheap for college but sand people go mad here from the rain, apparently 200 hundred days of rain a year is unnatural, well I say building cities in the desert is unnatural...yeah that told them....

"I'd recommend you go to Ireland, except it rains a lot. So instead, let me recommend you Vancouver."

:'( :'( :'(

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #42 on:** September 20, 2011, 12:51:53 PM »

Ok, here's the partial list (basically the first Universities to respond positively):

Quote

University: Wayne State University
Country: USA
State: Michigan
City: Detroit
Course Name: Computer Science
Course Link: http://www.cs.wayne.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=7&id=22&Itemid=38

University: Wright State University
Country: USA
State: Ohio
City: Dayton
Course Name: Computer Science
Course Link: http://www.wright.edu/majors/cs_more.html

university: University of Oregon
Country: USA
State: Oregon
City: Corvallis
Course Name: Computer Science, Mathematics
Course Link: http://admissions.uoregon.edu/majors/math%20and%20computer%20science

University: University of North Texas – UNT
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: Denton
Course Name: Computer Science
Course Link: http://www.unt.edu/majors/ucsci.htm

I haven't looked any of these up yet. Thoughts? (As in "Shit list: y/n?")

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #43 on:** September 20, 2011, 02:52:32 PM »

Funny story: My dad got his PhD from the University of North Texas, I was actually born in Denton, TX.

Himu · « **Reply #44 on:** September 20, 2011, 02:53:26 PM »

A fellow Texan.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #45 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:08:00 PM »

Yup, looks like they mixed them up.

drew · « **Reply #46 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:17:26 PM »

DO NOT go to school in detroit, in fact do not go there for any other reason either

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #47 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:19:36 PM »

Quote from: drew on September 20, 2011, 03:17:26 PM

DO NOT go to school in detroit, in fact do not go there for any other reason either

Wayne State is a good college. But yea, if you plan on coming to Michigan I'd focus on U of M, Eastern Michigan, or Michigan State.

Groogrux · « **Reply #48 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:23:44 PM »

Agreed, stay away from Detroit. Dayton isn't much better either. I'd go with Oregon.

tiesto · « **Reply #49 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:25:50 PM »

Quote from: drew on September 20, 2011, 03:17:26 PM

DO NOT go to school in detroit, in fact do not go there for any other reason either

I want to go for this one day:
http://www.demf.us/

T234 · « **Reply #50 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:30:04 PM »

Quote from: drew on September 20, 2011, 03:17:26 PM

DO NOT go to school in detroit, in fact do not go there for any other reason either

For once I agree with drew.

The time I went it wasn't that far off from Robocop

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #51 on:** September 20, 2011, 03:57:42 PM »

Come out to Washington state!
We've got Seattle University and University of Washington right in the city. Seattle U is a Jesuit school, but you don't have attend church services or anything. UW is crazy diverse, you'd fit right in.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #52 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:05:03 PM »

Both came up during my meeting, and they said they're going to check their requirements and see if I qualify. I'm not holding my breath for University of Washington, though; the admission is tough (the programs are tougher), and it takes them forever to reply. But it was one of my top picks, for what it's worth.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #53 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:06:56 PM »

Seattle U is also right in the heart of the gay district.

I went to Pacific Lutheran University down south in Tacoma, WA for my undergraduate degree. I have no idea about their computer science department, but it's a great small school that's very forward thinking and progressive. Only religious requirement for graduation is two religion courses (everything from Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, Christianity, etc.).

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #54 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:36:56 PM »

I'm guessing the people ragging on Detroit have never been. It's a weird city. One minute you'll be in the most beautiful urban area, next minute you're in Afghanistan. But as long as you stay from the bad areas (and don't do stupid shit) it's fine.

Himu · « **Reply #55 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:39:46 PM »

When I went to Detroit when I was young it was shit city. The weather was also awful. The only thing i remember during my time there was that the Simpsons episode where Homer goes to the Chili Pepper cook off aired when I was visiting.

Worst Christmas vacation ever

T234 · « **Reply #56 on:** September 20, 2011, 04:40:16 PM »

I've been to Detroit, PD. It's no place for a foreigner's first visit to the country, at this point I'd rather them go to Newark.

TakingBackSunday · « **Reply #57 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:10:18 PM »

North Texas would be cool, but I'd probably pick the Oregon one just because Oregon is fuckawesome.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #58 on:** September 20, 2011, 06:18:53 PM »

Maximus · « **Reply #59 on:** September 20, 2011, 07:51:55 PM »

Quote from: Boogie on September 20, 2011, 08:05:02 AM

Quote from: Maximus on September 18, 2011, 07:39:59 AM
Why not Canada?, I mean its got a better quality of life in most pointless index things they do every year, especially places like Vancouver.
Actually I'm sure that would be a great place to go to what with that Vancouver film school that makes all those cool video shorts.
I would advise Ireland since its dirt cheap for college but sand people go mad here from the rain, apparently 200 hundred days of rain a year is unnatural, well I say building cities in the desert is unnatural...yeah that told them....

"I'd recommend you go to Ireland, except it rains a lot. So instead, let me recommend you Vancouver."

Vancouver Rainfall. Average Annual Rainfall: 1117.2 mm
Ireland Rainfall: Between 1000mm to 1250mm

.......I stand by my badly thought out advice

News:

Author Topic: Khan's Search for a University (Texas A&M?) (Read 9862 times)