Colleges in Vegan Towns
Posted by choc soy chica on May 22, 2008 · Member since Jan 2008 · 57 posts
I am wondering about colleges in vegan friendly towns because I wont survive in a meat eating town. Please list some colleges thank you.
The World's Largest Collection of Vegetarian Recipes
I go to Cornell in Ithaca, NY, and I find it very vegan friendly. It has your typical pizza/cheesy college food places, of course. But there are a good handful of vegan-friendly cafes, many vegan friendly restaurants, a great co-op for groceries, and even a raw food restaurant. People tend to label things well as vegan, and they know what vegan is even at non-vegetarian restaurants. I just went out to lunch the other day at a popular Mediterranean restaurant, Aladdin's, and they have so many vegan options for the entrees, and guess what else! Vegan chocolate mousse cake! So, things like that. That restaurant isn't even vegetarian, but they know what's up. It's cool.
The library cafe where I work (Manndible) offers extensive vegan goodies. They have loads and loads of pastries, salads, a vegan soup everyday, burritos, soy milk for coffee and granola, etc.
Ithaca is great! There is also Ithaca College in addition to Cornell.
Ok, I don't think I would get into cornell but Ithaca College may seem like a possiblity.
Portland, OR is very vegan friendly, has the best public transit system in the country, and has 4 + college campuses (not including community colleges and trade schools) in it's vicinity: Portland State University, North Western College of the Arts, Reed College, Merylhurst University, there's a bible college, as well as another one or two that I've forgotten the names of.... plus we have an Art Institute of Portland. Good luck in your college hunt!!
I'm in Ann Arbor Michigan--we have a lot of colleges--U of M, EMU, Concordia, WCC and I think Ava Maria is still here too--anyways--A2 is pretty friendly--we have 2 or 3 vegetarian restaurants, two Whole Foods (one that is being built now will be the biggest in the country) and there are a lot of regular restaurants that are veg friendly too :) I have been veg for almost a year and I have had no problems at all!
Also--Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green Ohio has a great vegan restaurant (and there rec is AMAZING too!)
Portland, OR is very vegan friendly, has the best public transit system in the country, and has 4 + college campuses (not including community colleges and trade schools) in it's vicinity: Portland State University, North Western College of the Arts, Reed College, Merylhurst University, there's a bible college, as well as another one or two that I've forgotten the names of.... plus we have an Art Institute of Portland. Good luck in your college hunt!!
Oregon Health & Science University is in Portland (I don't know what field you are pursuing), but I applied there for Grad. School (didn't get in).
I wish that I could recommend the University of Montana...but it's really not that veg-friendly (better than some). Missoula, MT is a pretty great place to live though!
I'll put my vote in for Seattle as well, vegan life is sweet here. Expensive, though. There is University of Washington, and they are required to take a certain amount of students who spend 2 years in the local community college system if you think that might help you get in. There's also Seattle Pacific University and Seattle Central University.
I was able to get along fairly well as a vegan in Pittsburgh, too, and it's a lot cheaper.
thanks. I have no idea what I will major in. All I know is that I need to be somewhere Vegan friendly
The University of Wisconsin (Madison) is a great university in an awesome, liberal, veg-friendly city.
thanks. I have no idea what I will major in. All I know is that I need to be somewhere Vegan friendly
This is speaking from experience, and from meeting plenty of college/university students in my two years of undergrad so far: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, or at least have a major or field you're interested. Don't waste your money going to college because it's what's "expected" - the next logical step out of high school. Don't just go into it because your parents, guidance counselor, teachers, and the system tell you to. So many of my fellow students are just floundering, wasting their time and their (parent's) money.
Look at the program first, find one that fits you and your interests, and THEN consider vegan-friendliness of the town/college.
Now there's MY two cents.
thanks. I have no idea what I will major in. All I know is that I need to be somewhere Vegan friendly
This is speaking from experience, and from meeting plenty of college/university students in my two years of undergrad so far: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, or at least have a major or field you're interested. Don't waste your money going to college because it's what's "expected" - the next logical step out of high school. Don't just go into it because your parents, guidance counselor, teachers, and the system tell you to. So many of my fellow students are just floundering, wasting their time and their (parent's) money.
Look at the program first, find one that fits you and your interests, and THEN consider vegan-friendliness of the town/college.
Now there's MY two cents.
I agree with Laurabs. College is expensive enough, you have to be sure that you're doing what YOU want to do. About the vegan thing, you'll manage wherever you go I believe.
The DC area, including MD and Northern VA are all vegan friendly and there are plenty of first class universities to choose from. The downside is that it's expensive to live here, especially in DC. University of Maryland is a very well respected school and the tuition is more reasonable than the colleges in DC. Huge campus that even has a co-op on site and vegan friendly eateries within walking distance.
And I agree that you should at least have some idea of what you'd like to major in rather than going in blind. What are you good at? What are you interested in? You really need to have some sort of focus since college is a huge time/effort/financial commitment.
The Twin Cities are very vegan friendly. I am pretty sure that St. Paul has the highest colleges to people ratio. And since I work for the University of Minnesota I have say that we are awesome and you should come here!
Also, I would disagree that you should know what you want to study before going to college. Yeah, have an idea of what your interests are, but you really have at least sometime to decide, while you work on your generals. We don't make students declare a major until just before they enter their third year.
thanks. I have no idea what I will major in. All I know is that I need to be somewhere Vegan friendly
This is speaking from experience, and from meeting plenty of college/university students in my two years of undergrad so far: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, or at least have a major or field you're interested. Don't waste your money going to college because it's what's "expected" - the next logical step out of high school. Don't just go into it because your parents, guidance counselor, teachers, and the system tell you to. So many of my fellow students are just floundering, wasting their time and their (parent's) money.
Look at the program first, find one that fits you and your interests, and THEN consider vegan-friendliness of the town/college.
Now there's MY two cents.
Solid advice! I probably won't ever work in my major, I suspect. I chose it because I was good at it and because it's an up-and-coming field. I mean, it's ok, I still need a degree, but it's frustrating.
You will definitely manage wherever you choose to go. There are vegan foods at every basic supermarket. Beans, fruits, vegetables, grains.
I am more writing to second other people's posts, since by the time I logged back on my ideas were taken!
1. UMD is great! I was at the co-op this morning and I forgot how much I missed it! They take "terrapin express" dollars there (a debit-card system off of your ID card) but I don't know how that is hooked up to the meal system. (You might want to ask an undergrad--I was a grad student there so meal plans weren't an issue). Plus you're right down the street from the Berwyn cafe (see the "restaurants in your hometown" thread), and a short drive away from all of the great ethnic places in Langley Park. Plus there's a larger organic market (called My Organic Market, or MOM) not that far away.
2. I've done a lot of work with the University of Minnesota, and they're fabulous as well. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and I was very impressed with both the knowledge of the cafeteria staff and the environmental friendliness of the campus. It seemed very bike-friendly, plus they had very user-friendly recycling and composting in the cafeteria I was in.
My two cents on the knowing what to do: A general idea is good, but remember that so much else will catch your mind in the meantime, so some flexibility in that respect is good. Therefore, it often makes sense not to declare your first year. My undergraduate alma mater even made a rule that freshmen were not ALLOWED to declare majors.
HOWEVER, I would say this advice works best if you are in a arts-and-sciences type major. If you are doing something more specialized (e.g., certain forms of engineering, schools of music or of the arts), you best be sure that's what you want to do, because you will be LIVING it nonstop.
I agree with what is being said about having an idea about what you want to do...before you go in. BUT this doesn't mean you can't change your mind...I would say it would be best to have made up your mind, and be on that path...by the middle/end of your 2nd year. I went into college wanting to be a vet. (pre-vet. major), but changed in my first year (semester maybe) to a double major bio/psych...just based on interests. I have quite a story...which you can read about elsewhere....but I don't even know if I'll use my degrees, either. NEVERTHELESS, if it is YOUR choice to go to college, and you have certain interests you want to pursue...it's definitely the best thing to do (I loved it).
On another note...my husband went to college with an idea of what he wanted to do (physics/engineering), but later switched to psychology b/c it was easy..and he had other things on his mind..(another different story!)...he now very much 'regrets' this decision since it cost him time and thousands of dollars in loans...which we now must pay each month. So, he's now going back to school for computer science...
SO, definitely do it for you....have an idea....if you change your mind, think about it and always do what's BEST for you! Oh yeah, don't base it all on what will be veg-friendly...you can always work around that, and the school environment/program choices/cost are all more important in the long run.
Other UMD'ers! Even the Frostburg Campus (which isn't completely integrated yet) has vegan options in the cafeteria.
what do you mean "integrated yet?" KLike with vegan-ness or other issues?
Other UMD'ers! Even the Frostburg Campus (which isn't completely integrated yet) has vegan options in the cafeteria.
what do you mean "integrated yet?" KLike with vegan-ness or other issues?
I think it means integrated into the main campus?
I agree with what is being said about having an idea about what you want to do...before you go in. BUT this doesn't mean you can't change your mind...
Absolutely! I started university planning to major in English. I also wanted to grow as a person, learn, become independent, and have a new world opened up to me. Well, I'm not doing English - I'm doing poli sci and women's studies. The second goal, of growing as a person, etc., is ongoing. Just make sure you're going to college for the right reasons!
I have so many ideas floating my mind. I Love taking pictures and wanted to get a job with national geographic when I am older because I also love to travel, so many factors come into play with that job. Then I'm a writer, so I can major in English with a minor in creative writing. I just have to decide for now.
I'll put my vote in for Seattle as well, vegan life is sweet here. Expensive, though. There is University of Washington, and they are required to take a certain amount of students who spend 2 years in the local community college system if you think that might help you get in. There's also Seattle Pacific University and Seattle Central University.
I was able to get along fairly well as a vegan in Pittsburgh, too, and it's a lot cheaper.
Really!?!? that is of great interest to me since i am applying to U of W right now (for grad school) i actually did go to a community college firt--hmmm...wonder if it will help me out! Thanks for the tip!!!!
Pages