by Melinda Wirth

Connecticut is located in the northeast section of the United States, between New York Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Although most Connecticut towns are inland, there is a sizeable strip of coastline, which offers some very scenic salt-water beaches. The Connecticut landscape is diverse-you will find rolling green hills, vast cornfields , wide meandering rivers, and even a small mountain or two. The largest cities are Hartford (the capital), and New Haven. Connecticut is halfway between New York City and Boston, and trains and buses travel regularly between these two cities. Connecticut has the highest per-capita income in the United States because so many New York City business people live in the southern part of the state.

There are many different colleges and universities in Connecticut, the most prestigious being Yale University in New Haven. However, the University of Connecticut at Storrs is the state�s flagship public school.

Yale University is one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Its ivory-covered walls attract thousands of applicants, including some of the most influential families in America. In fact, President George W. Bush earned his undergraduate degree at Yale, and so did his father, former President George H.W. Bush. Attending Yale University is extremely expensive-over $30,000 per year for undergraduates. But having a degree from Yale University is a very impressive feather in your cap.

The University of Connecticut, or UConn, is an interesting paradox� the school itself is huge, but it is located in a tiny town. UConn was founded in 1881, and started out as an agricultural school with only 5 students. Since then, enrollment has increased to over 18,000 students with 5 campuses. The majority of students go to the main branch in Storrs, a small town located 25 minutes northeast of Hartford. However, students seeking specific majors go to other locations. For example, students majoring in marine science attend the Avery Point campus in Groton, CT, because of the prime waterfront location. Law students study and work in West Hartford, CT at the UConn Law School. Most people, however, find their degree programs in Storrs.

Storrs is the quintessential college town. In fact, the university takes up almost all of Storrs. UConn even has its own zip code because of the sheer number of people living in this compacted area. UConn really is a city unto itself�you can find almost everything you need on campus. There are many different dormitories for both graduates and undergraduates and most have dining halls inside. The dorms are situated around the periphery of campus, with the academic buildings in the middle. The Co-Op bookstore offers class books as well as leisure books, art and school supplies, food, gifts, cards, and a vast array of University of Connecticut clothing and merchandise. There are several apartment complexes a couple miles off campus, although these apartments are very difficult to get into, and the rent is high-around 350.00- 450.00 per person plus utilities.

UConn offers virtually every major you can think of. You will find people majoring in everything from history to computer science to sports management. Speaking of sports, athletics are a major part of university life. The focal teams are both the men�s and women�s basketball teams, both of which have won national championships. UConn offers many varsity sports, as well as club sports and intramurals. If sports isn�t your thing, UConn also has a nationally recognized theater program and many different student organizations. Chances are, there is a club of students representing your country!

When my friend Lucy first came to UConn, she kept asking me what there was to do for fun. It was hard to give her an answer, because if you are under 21, there isn�t much nightlife. There are several bars on campus that are popular with older students and fraternities, but they enforce the 21-and-older law fairly strictly. If younger people want to go out, there are dance clubs and coffee houses in Hartford, which is about 25 minutes away. There are shopping malls, cinemas, and restaurants within 20 minutes of campus, and if you don�t have a car there are university-sponsored buses that make regular trips on the weekends. However, students at the University of Connecticut are very social, and it is very common for entire floors in the dormitories to get together to have parties, watch movies, or play sports. As with most colleges, students at UConn form strong and lasting friendships.

Connecticut is a great place to study if you want to enjoy a combination of quiet, picturesque study spots and state of the art academic facilities. In fact, the State of Connecticut is spending over 1 billion dollars on improving the University of Connecticut. New dorms, apartments, and academic buildings are being constructed with the latest technology and design. Whether you decide to go to a private school or a public school, you will undoubtedly enjoy the many different kinds of people and places in this New England state.