Our (Chilly) Visit to UC Boulder!

While attending the annual NACAC conference in Denver a few weeks back (the Superbowl of the College Admissions and Counseling world) we took some time to rent a car and visit both the University of Colorado in Boulder and Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Our colleagues from the College Counseling Department at two other local independent schools joined us for our mini college roadtrip. You can see how chilly the October weather was in the mountains of Boulder in the picture above. It was hard to believe that we left 80 degree temperatures in Washington and there was snow on the ground out west!

Here is Ms. Carter's write up of our visit to UC Boulder:

What was there not to love? I did post a photo on my Face book page with the caption, “If I had to do it all over again!”

Right off the bat, “CU” as the students fondly refer to their beloved UC, Boulder is an easy 30 minute drive from the Denver airport. If the ease of getting there leaves you unimpressed, the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains will not. We visited the school on an odd overcast dreary day, but even so the campus sold itself. The Tuscany style buildings with the backdrop of the mountains left you wondering if this was a school or a resort (side note: a brand new outdoor pool over looking said mountain range being built). But make no mistake, this top rated university and its students take their academics seriously. The flagship university of Colorado, CU boasts loads of majors but is especially proud of its science departments. The university just received word that David Wineland, a professor in Physics just received the Nobel Prize (the 5^th time a CU professor has been named a Nobel winner); in addition, they have just received a 1.4 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation to study climate change.

But when you need time away from the books, there is plenty to do on campus. The football stadium sits smack in the center. There is always a pep rally before games complete with a marching band and a mascot (any guesses about who the CU mascot is?)The campus has its own museum and its performing arts calendar is packed with student performances as well as big name entertainment coming to Boulder. And if all that is not enough, you can always take to the slopes or go for a hike.
Getting around campus is easy with a bus system, but most students we saw were walking, on bikes, or skateboards! After our tour, we spent some time in downtown Boulder and it was like walking around a Sundance catalog. There are loads of shops and restaurants and the preferred "uniform" seems to be jeans and boots. If you have any questions about UC Boulder (or would like to see more of our photographs), talk to your college counselor.
A report of our visit to Colorado College will be up later this week!

Published by: TSM and SKC