Granada University?

Studying abroad in USA with english university?

• I am in year 13 and i'm intending to go to uni this September to do chemical engineering. I would like to study abroad in my 3rd year (doing a masters course) in USA. If I go to Leeds the choices are: University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of South Carolina, University of New Mexico, University of Mississippi, UMass Amherst, University of Kansas, University of Illinois, University of California, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Old Dominion University, North Carolina State University, Juniata College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Colorado School of Mines, Arizona State University If I go to Sheffield the choices are: Case Western Reserve University, Drexel University Philadelphia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Montana State University-Bozeman, Oregon State University-Corvallis, University at Buffalo (SUNY), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Maryland at College Park, University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Oklahoma-Norman, University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin Madison, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University I would like to go somewhere very fun and social and that is in reasonable travelling distance to another city, I don't want to be in the middle of no where. I'd like it to be good for engineering and preferably hot weather but that's the least important factor. Also as the drinking age is 21, I will be under age for half the time that I am there, what are the parties like in america? On films you see under age people drinking in the red plastic cups? Obviously while i'm in another country I don't want to be breaking the law, are they very strict on drinking? Thank you!

• Answer:

  Best bets are: South Carolina, New Mexico, California, Arizona, North Carolina, and Texas. They are all large state schools that are known for great weather, good academics, and plenty of activities. Worst choices: Wisconsin, Kansas, Juniata, Colorado, Montana. All in the middle of nowhere. I know people who go to Wisconsin, Kansas, and Juniata and that is their biggest complaint. As a study abroad student, you don't want to be isolated. It's also a lot harder to travel to other states, which would be much easier if you went to a school in the Northeast. I go to college in a private school in the northeast but I have plenty of friends who go to schools all around the country. What I've learned is that public state schools are almost always more fun than the private ones and that schools in California and the South are the best because you're never limited by the weather. If you don't like the cold definitely DO NOT go anywhere in the north, especially Montana. My cousin from Germany just finished studying abroad there and he froze his butt off. Public universities are usually a lot less strict on drinking, too. It is a known fact that students drink on campus but it's more a matter of not making it obvious. You can drink in your room (pregame) and then head out to the frat houses to party. Most of the parties are sponsored by the sororities or fraternities. And yes, people drink out of red cups. It's kind of the standard thing for parties. Because the drinking age is so high, American students tend to consume alcohol a lot more recklessly. So be prepared to see a ton of kids get completely hammered. But don't worry about getting in trouble, it's very easy to get away with drinking on campus. It's a little harder to smoke weed and the repercussions are greater, so I would avoid that. Hopefully that helps! Hope you enjoy America! :)