College Tucson or Boulder
My daughter is off to either Tucson or Boulder in the fall. What college would be better for her father (me)? I know I will be visiting her often so I will need to bring my bike and running shoes. I like hills so either school
looks promising. I hear both locations are bike friendly. I live in Southern California so Tucson is closer, an 8 hour drive but I think either school she attends we will be flying to. Your thoughts are appreciated.
I’m a bit biased as I grew up in Phoenix and my little sister goes to UofA, but I’m gonna say Tucson. You can ride year round (in fact the winters are gorgeous) and for climbs you have Mt. Lemmon and quite a few others (28 miles up and then right back down). Plus Fairwheel Bikes is there which gives you something to drool over.
Does she have any say in the matter?
I grew up in CO and went to undergrad at Boulder so I’m biased opposite of the previous poster. I haven’t been to Tucson so I can’t speak to the qualities of that city. On the other hand I can tell you that Boulder is an amazing place to live and visit as a triathlete/cyclist. There’s a good reason that Boulder is becoming one of the main homes to a lot of triathletes. It’s sunny more than you’d think in CO, there’s access to endless climbing and riding out your back door, the town is beautiful, trail runs are abundant, etc. If you’re a skier then you’re 2 hours from the mountains in the winter time. Boulder is about 45 minutes from DIA so its easy to get to if you fly. As far as downsides it does snow throughout the winter, but not as much as you’d think.
Boulder is a great place… I wouldn’t have gone to college anywhere else. I live in Southern California now along with you and would have no qualms about moving back there.
Does she have any say in the matter?
+1
Typical triathlete…
I was deciding between those two schools and chose Boulder. I made the right call.
My father would agree, even though he lived in Flagstaff at the time.
But based on your question, Boulder is better for her so she’s farther away from you. /pink (maybe)
I’ll be a killjoy and ask what her major is. Beyond that Boulder is pretty great. I’ve gone to CU for undergrad and grad. I’m about to finish and I have to say I’m very sad to leave Boulder. I’ll be trying to find my way back someday.
But based on your question, Boulder is better for her so she’s farther away from you. /pink (maybe)
Ding!
I live in Boulder and did my undergrad at CU (whose tri team, by the way, is defending five national titles in a row… BUFF 'EM UP). During that time, I met some amazing people, including athletes from the UofA’s tri team. I went down to Tucson and partie–I mean, trained hard-- through two spring breaks. I can speak from experience that either will be an amazing experience. The people at both are surprisingly similar: you’ll find your hippies, your trust funders, your frat guys/sorority girls, and your hipsters. Either way, I remember walking into a social gathering in Tucson and thinking, “Hmmm, this could be any party in Boulder…”
What is your daughter studying?
CU and UofA have some really, really respectable programs. It’s hard to beat CU’s engineering programs and their psych and physiology programs are top 5. Computer science and physics are also stellar (especially astrophysics… bum bum shtttt).
That said, the weather is pretty different. Students live in Boulder during the ski season in Boulder or the Nice Season in Arizona. If she’s an athlete, that’s something she should consider.
Does she have any say in the matter?
+1
Typical triathlete…
You’re paying tuition…so having a say is valid. I would also say Tucson, closer to more races, training year round, close to Phoenix, San Diego, LA etc.
Both are great party schools. CU has the advantage of legal recreational pot, even though she’s not old enough yet. UofA coeds are definitely hotter than CU ones.
Tough decision for a dad.
Thanks! Environmental Design (may end up in advertising). I have some say it seems my daughter the new CEO of the house and her mother like Boulder a little bit better. Since I have never ridden in either location I am neutral I just want to best outcome for my personal athletic experience. My daughter is very athletic and will be doing a fair amount of running. She isn’t into skiing and isn’t a pot smoker yet so those activities are not part of the decision process. Love the discourse, thanks!
My son just finished his freshman year at UofA, and I brought him home on Friday. As for him (I know, why should his opinion matter?), he said it was the best year of his life.
As for me, I’ve went to Tuscon probably six times over the year. I haven’t ever brought my bike, but usually run on a trail along an arroyo near the freeway. However, I’ve driven over to the hills so I can say there would be some good places for you to ride. Make sure you get an early start.
But having been through this now with 2 kids, there never seems to be much “me” time. I’m lucky to sneak in a 1-hour run. Other than that, it seems to be about my kids (aka “my wallet”) – “I need food”, “I need more hangers”, “we need to go buy books”, “I (aka me or my wife) need to pack/unpack”.
Plust, isn’t trisports.com located in Tucson?
Ask her what she’s looking for in a college. Then ask her for her pros and cons. Ask more questions if there are gaps. But let her make the choice. And tell her she’s done a good job choosing.
That is what I did. My younger one just graduated from Virginia Tech. #1 in her class. My preference was Carolina. I never told her and I never will.
She’s off to NCState in the fall. Full ride.
She made the right choice.
Your daughter’s ready to fly. Put the gas in her tank and watch her soar.
I feel like this thread should have been in pink font. Is the OP really soliciting opinions on what college his daughter should attend based on which one is better for his training when* he* visits?? No one thinks this is a bit odd?
That said, Boulder all the way.
My mom was born in Boulder and my brother who is in prison went to UoA so let her make the choice.
Yes a bit odd. One way or the other I will be riding in either Boulder or Arizona this year. As for the post just trying to feel out the two locations in the end it is her decision. Just like to hear peoples opinions and trying to get myself pumped up for what is next. Many thanks!
James Chriss
Both schools are terrific.
I think that you simply need to accept the fact that she’ll choose a school based on anything and everything other than what you want.
But if this is the basis for future training trips, I support both choices.