Hello, everybody. First post on JC. I found this to be an interesting thread as I am a possible transfer student as well. Right now, I am a freshman at Southern Illinois in Carbondale, enrolled in their flight program. The only reason I'm even really here is because during the second half of my junior and the first half of senior year in high school, I kinda slacked off a bit, and when last December rolled around, I thought it would be a good idea to finally start applying for college. I was actually planning on just going to community college, transferring somewhere after two years, getting a non-aviation degree, and getting my ratings somewhere else. However, then in mid-December, I took a shot in the dark, and actually got accepted into SIU's flight program, so I just "winged it" and here I am.
Yet, I am not that impressed with the place. It's very unorganized, unproffesional, and we're stuck in the late 70s/early 80s as far as technology goes. I had an idea about all of this coming into the place, but now I feel like I could develop into a better pilot elsewhere.
Now, during my junior year in high school, I was actually really set on attending UND, but then kind of lost interest in flight for a little while, after getting completely ripped off at a local FBO. However, now that I'm back in it, I pretty much know that this is what I want to do, and after doing some research I think I'm going to give UND a shot.
I didn't realize that the requirements/application process was so easy. I thought SIUC's was a piece of cake, but after going through with UND's, I think I can get in. I hear how Grand Forks is cold/boring, but it is actually a bigger town the Carbondale, and we have the rednecks and binge drinking (ugh) down here too. Yet, some things that attract me is the fact that your out-of-state tuition is actually cheaper than our in-state down here, and our tuition is still going up to pay for even MORE construction than we already have on campus. Also, the hockey scene sounds really cool up there. We have division 1 sports teams here, but our fans are like Dodgers fans in the sense that they show up late after tailgating, and leave early to go drink some more (not saying the drinking part is Dodger fan-like). I understand that the drinking scene is just typical college, but I feel like here it is the "main event," and that sucks.
Anyways, sorry for the length, but feel free to weigh in on this. I feel like I'm pretty set on my decision, but I want to be careful and also schedule a visit if I do get accepted. Any opinions, good and bad, are accepted. Thanks a ton.