anyone from Florida area?

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:37 am

Hey all, this is about which graduate program I'm going to attend. I'm still trying to decide between Indiana University and Florida International University. Cal arts didn't accept me, and Northwester hasn't responded one bit. IUPUI (Perdue) responded, but I'm probably going to turn that one down.

Anywhow, I'm having trouble finding info about FIU's music tech program. It's still very new (one graduate so far) FIU itself seems to be quite new, and so I'm pretty much info-less about FIU. Has anyone had any contact with anything FIU?

It's a tough choice. IU's program is nice, they're offering me full scholarship, with paid teaching position. The program I applied to is a telecommunications degree (in multimedia) where I can concentrate on composition. IU's music department is also top notch. Downside.. weather. I hate being cold. Also, Indiana doesn't seem to be the most commercially successful place to be for a composer. Or, atleast I think so anyway. Also, since IU is a huge school, the student to teacher ratio isn't too good. It's probably around 15 students to 1 teacher.

FIU, on the other hand.. since it's a new program, the student to teacher ratio is really high. 4 students per teacher. (atleast for the music tech program anyway) The program is new, and leaves lots of freedom. For FIU, I'll be in the music department, whereas in IU, I'll be in the telecommunications department. FIU is probably going to give me an out of state tuition waiver, also with a paid teaching position, although the pay isn't quite as good as IU. Weather is going to be really nice, and the faculty is nice. FIU seems to have that "nice little community" feel to it.

Oh well, I'm not really sure. It's not really a win-win situation. I thought I'd get in Cal arts, so I wasn't really worried about the other schools.. but now I have to decide. Any advice? It's hard for me, cuz I'm all the way here in Tokyo. A tough choice to make for a person half way accross the world. :-s

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2004-04-12 04:39 ]

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:05 pm

Florida is a horrid place. Phosphate waste is creating an environmental and an economic catastrophe for the state.

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:24 pm

Was it Florida or Callifornia, that elected Arnold?

Nisse · Post by **Nisse** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 4:37 pm

That was California.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:19 pm

Wether may bother you, but it may be an incentive too, cos you are going to be more time into places, so perhaps studying more.

I woudn't chose just like this... for what people may tell you here. If I were in your situation myself, I would collect 20 mails, or something like that, 10 from each faculty from actual students over there, I would right to them and explain the situation. Then I would read careful their "direct" impressions and would decide which one to go. Nobody will speak better than those into the faculties, just an idea, sorry not to be able to answer anything else.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:32 pm

Have you checked out McGill U. in Montreal?

http://www.mcgill.ca/music/theory/recording/

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:42 pm

I would love to hear from one person who thinks he should move to Florida.

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:53 pm

Nasty summers, polution, & rednecks or nasty winters, polution, & rednecks. I would base my decision on the reputation of the school. Believe it or not though you may be able to find more culture in our nations appendage.

[ This Message was edited by: scary808 on 2004-04-12 22:55 ]

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:09 pm

I'm in the process of checking out the students and also some of the faculty. I did think about applying to Mcgill, but I remember I didn't meet the application requirements. Awesome school tho.

So, Florida could be a horrid place to be eh. I wonder if Indiana would be any better since it's pretty much out in no where land. People from Indiana told me that the seasons were beautiful..

I'm planning to move to Cali after I gradute anyhow. There's no way I'm going to get a job, or stay in Indiana or Florida.

medway · Post by **medway** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 3:24 am

Florida is far from horrid. I live here and although its not perfect, I'm happy.

Basic Pitch · Post by **Basic Pitch** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:13 am

Florida Horrid?

Yea maybe in an alternate plane

Florida is Eden!, beautifull weather daily, amazing night life, tons of great performance venues and well as theatrical venues, plenty of music stores, nightclubs, beaches, palm tree's and sunny weather daily.

Also in florida your always a few short hours away from anything, I live in the west palm beach area, im 3-4 hour from tampa bush gardens, 2.5 hours from orlando, disney, universal & hardrock, 2-4 hours from the florida keys depending on which key you go to.

I dont know about polution, everyday is so bright and perfect, the beaches are blue green and wonderfull the last thing I notice is smog or stink, were not talking about New York here

And not to offend any of the women on this forum, but florida is like the motherland of incredibly stunning women.

I doubt I will ever leave this state, I love it too much. Now this is all going to depend on where you live in florida, as some one had suggested rednecks, well yea, but thats very north lol, like leading into the georgia area, its not like in florida every one is walking around in cowboy boots & hats with straw sticking out of they're mouth lol.

Where ever you end up im sure you will enjoy it, but take my word, florida is paradise, atleast it is in south florida, why else do you think all the stars live and party down here, im juist a 40 minute drive to south beach and 30 mins ft. lauderdale

Cheers!

[ This Message was edited by: Basic Pitch on 2004-04-18 12:18 ]

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 1:42 pm

There you have it, Ken.

You can't go to Florida because you'll be way too busy with the sightseeing, nightlife, beachcombing and oogling those stunning women(probably bubbles, eh?) to get down to your studying.

Basic Pitch · Post by **Basic Pitch** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:57 am

Hey now,

I was always under the impression that oggling comes hand in hand with music

I do realise though that I didnt speak much of the school since I dont know much about it personally, I was just touching on the points of the state in general, there is plenty of good stuff here to keep you busy "when you need a break from all that studying"

Cheers!

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:00 am

Well, I checked FIU's online campus cam, and guess what. The campus cam's default position is zoomed in on the poolside, waving palm branches, sunshine.. Man, they know how to motivate students!

In terms of school, things are looking a bit brighter for FIU since it's more concentrated in music. IU's program is a bit more general, although it's versatile enough to let me do music. So, there is an obvious difference in the program's nuance. I'll be calling FIU today to find out what's going on.

Ahh, paradise.. I really do hope the school has what I need.

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 10:35 am

I don't know about the schools but Indiana is not a bad place to live. You might find the weather a bit more temperate than Florida although the winters can be rough. Still we haven't had a really bad winter in many years.

As far as Florida is concerned, I'm surprised at the posts but what do I know. I fell in love with St. Petersburg when I was down there a couple of years ago. I know it gets hot and muggy in the summer but the roads down there are superb

Probably cheaper to live there than Indiana.

btw: are you going to be bringing your new wife along? That's got to be a culture shock

[ This Message was edited by: krizrox on 2004-04-20 11:39 ]

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:22 pm

well, my wife should do fine. She was born in Atlanta Georgia, lived her childhood in Long Island, and speaks fluent english. So she'd be alright in that sense.

But she may have a culture shock of going to a tropical climate. I'm perfectly fine with hot weather, as I'm from Taiwan. (even closer to the equator)

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:26 pm

Interesting. That'll make it easier on both of you.

Well, all I know is, if I had to choose between Indiana or Florida, not knowing anything about the schools (which I don't), I'd pick Florida.

But that's just me. I'm sort of a beach person and like I said, I fell in love with St. Pete when I was there a few years ago. Watching the sun go down over the Gulf ocean was nearly a religious experience. Even the locals all stop and gawk and they live there

The musical climate down there is probably more interesting as well.

I had a young client in my studio a while back who went to study music at some school in Florida (I don't know which one).

Anyway, I can't offer any more useful insight. Hopefully, someone else can provide a bit more meaningful feedback than I can. My vote is for Florida and I'm sticking with it

In fact, take me with you.

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:55 pm

Perhaps I was a bit more critical of FLA than I really feel about it. I lived there while going to school & I had a great time. There is almost always something to see & do. Those sunsets were very beautiful! I lived a bit inland so I didn't make it to the beach much.

I started thinking about this thread when I looked at my feet last night. The tan line from my sandals is almost gone.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:51 pm

well, I called the director of my program, and I'm now sure I want to go to Florida. Their program is almost exactly what I want to do. A mix of video, music comp, dsp processing, theater, and installations. All of which I have already taken a bite of in one way or the other. Indiana's program is about "interactive media", which in their case, seemed to translate almost directly to games. Games are cool, but it's not all I want to do. The art scene in Florida seems to be more active also. So the verdict is, Florida.

FIU's currently working on a financial aid package, and so after that's been decided, I'm going to officially turn down IU.

wsippel · Post by **wsippel** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 11:14 pm

Moving to California?

My cousins were born in Cleveland, Ohio, and lived in California for some years. One of them moved to Freiburg, Germany, some years ago (as soon as he got an opportunity), the other one is working in Florida now (don't know the city, there's a large and well knows military school there). He just got married, otherwise he would have moved to Germany, too (Freiburg or Berlin).

I never visited the USA myself, but this makes me think...!?