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1. New York University (NYU): Launched in 1831, New York University has evolved into the country's largest private, nonprofit center of higher learning, enrolling more than 50,000 students. With Broadway shows, world-class dining, sports teams, fashion, architecture, and rich historical traditions, it is not difficult to understand the allure of degree programs in the Big Apple.
2. The University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA): Founded in 1919, UCLA is a leading research institution, rivaling more established centers in Europe and New England. But you need not be a scientist to benefit from education in L.A. Given the region's entertainment industry, few cities can offer comparable training in and access to fashion, film, music, television, and other multimedia.
3. The University of Chicago: Founded by oil magnate John Rockefeller in 1890, the University of Chicago is emblematic of the city's undying spirit and frontier mindset. Chicago benefits from an influx of creative minds from America's heartland, both coasts, and beyond. Ethnically diverse, industrially robust, and filled to the brim with entertainment and culture, Chicago is a natural first choice among college students.
4. Rice University: Founded in 1912, Rice University arguably enjoys one of the easiest jobs in the world. It produces a steady stream of qualified graduates who enter Houston's constantly diversifying and expanding economy. Second only to New York in terms of Fortune 500 firms, Houston remains a formidable player in health care, aeronautics, energy, manufacturing, and transportation.
5. Boston University: With roots dating back to 1839, Boston University is a relative newcomer in a city renowned for higher education. However, you need not be a historian or scholar to appreciate Boston's allure. Italian cuisine, romantic river cruises, and ballgames at Fenway Park are just a few of the treasures awaiting you in the "cradle of liberty."
6. Georgetown University: Officially established in 1789, Georgetown University offers its students first row seats to politics and democracy in action. When not visiting the capital during legislative sessions, feel free to walk the hallowed halls of Washington, DC's historic monuments, federal agencies, or unrivaled museum system--all without spending a dime.
7. City College of San Francisco (CCSF): City College of San Francisco has had little difficulty becoming the country's largest community college since its 1935 founding. Surrounded by Bohemian art enclaves, professional sports, towering financial buildings, and oodles of history, it is not difficult to understand why San Francisco is the ideal city for career changes. Reinvent your life with just two or more years of schooling.
8. The University of Pennsylvania: Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania might be tempted to rest on its laurels as the crucible of early American activism. However, despite its rich history, Philadelphia remains a progressive city, preferring to think that its best days remain ahead. With constant energy, health care, and biotechnology breakthroughs plus an endless list of "first-in-America" institutions, such optimism is probably warranted.
9. University of Washington: Located on the breathtaking Puget Sound, the University of Washington ("U Dub," as it's referred to by its students) is smack-dab in the middle of the action of Seattle. With a coffee shop or cafe on every corner, a vibrant music and nightlife scene, and a plethora of outdoor activities minutes away, Seattle seems as if it were made for the 18- to-23-year-old, college student crowd.
10. Johns Hopkins University: Originally modeled after Germany's education system, Johns Hopkins University has campuses in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC. Baltimore's unique position along the Atlantic Coast, flanked by Washington, Philadelphia, Annapolis, and New York, makes this school accessible to students from all over the globe. Benefiting from a constant influx of new ideas and technologies, Baltimore has emerged as a natural leader in energy, health care, and bio-medicine.
Whether you want to attend vocational classes, a bachelor's degree program, or graduate school, consider the many advantages that come with studying in a major city. Your education extends well beyond the confines of your campus as you mingle with professionals, friends, and every day citizens just living one day to the next.
About the Author
A freelance writer, Stanley Rubenti currently lives in Bangkok where he writes columns for a variety of publications. Stanley holds a B.A. in history.
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