What's the difference between the Big Apple and the Windy City? Is Red Sox fandom all it's cracked up to be? Is everyone in L.A. aspiring to be the next Brad Pitt?
University alumni who have experienced life in Chicago, Boston, New York City and Los Angeles offer insights into these popular cities.
Boston or bust?
Elissa Fix, a 2007 Law graduate and six-month resident of Boston, said Charlottesville and Boston are not as different as one might imagine.
"I actually think it could be more similar than I would expect because ... Boston has more of a community feel than most big cities," she said.
Despite this similarity, however, she said it can be a little hard to get used to the faster-paced lifestyle of Boston. Fix said people in Boston are less chatty than those in the South.
"They're not unfriendly, they're just business-like," she said.
Fred Arens, a 2006 College graduate and one-year Boston resident, said he thinks the stereotype of Bostonians as ill-tempered or impatient is not entirely true. He also said he thinks the image of Boston as an Irish-Catholic town is just a stereotype.
Though these generalizations may be untrue, Fix said the image of most Bostonians as die-hard Red Sox fans is based in reality. She said it is almost cult-like at times, but easy to get caught up in and very fun.
"Red Sox mania" is just one pastime Boston has to offer. Arens said there are several movies currently being filmed in Boston and many museums to visit.
"It's a real hub of entertainment right now," he said.
Arens also said the nightlife is first-rate because so many colleges and universities are in the area.
With all the activity in Boston, Arens said he would recommend University students consider moving there for the variety of experiences available in the city.
New York City: The apple of our eye?
With all that New York City offers, Kevin Wu, a 2006 graduate and one-year New York City resident, suggested students not miss out on anything.
"I guess you should try everything here," he said.
Abby Bellows, 2006 College graduate and resident for 1.5 years, said while there would be one fun thing going on in Charlottesville that she'd know about, there are many activities and events happening in New York City that she isn't always aware of, and she would rather have it that way.
Bellows added that she loves the access New York City provides, both to experts in any field as well as community. One of these is the Jewish community.
"There's a vibrancy that you don't have anywhere else outside of Israel," she said.
Despite her current sense of community, however, Bellows did not always feel this way. She said she started working at an intense job right after moving to the city and did not have an opportunity to adjust or meet people beforehand.
Wu, on the other hand, said the transition was not very hard for him, but it was a little difficult getting used to the pace and anonymity of New York life. He said he also had to get used to the difficult and expensive housing search.
"When I first moved here, that was the most ridiculous thing I had to deal with," he said.
Bellows said she would recommend those planning to move to New York City come prepared with ways to stay calm.
"I feel like the volume is turned up on all aspects of New York," Bellows said, adding it can be hard for people to stop and catch their breath.
Chicago: What's up with the Windy City?
John Milko, 2007 College graduate and five-month resident of Chicago, said people don't seem to recognize that the quality of life in Chicago is on par or even above cities such as New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"Don't underestimate what the Midwest has to offer," he said.
Milko said he enjoys the large number of outdoor options such as a nearby beach and large park plus lots of green spaces.
Jennie Averbook, 2006 Commerce graduate and four-month Chicago resident, noted the quality of the social scene.
"The bar scene is awesome," she said, noting, however, that she does not enjoy the club scene as much because people are forced to wait in line even when there is room inside. She said she has more fun in Lincoln Park than downtown because it is more casual and has cheaper drinks.
Both Averbook and Milko live in Lincoln Park and said it has a residential feeling.
"It doesn't feel like you're living in a big city," Milko said.
Averbook said the area is similar to Charlottesville in that you can see people on the street you know. She also said the people are nice, "just like [in] Charlottesville."
"It was a pretty easy transition just because the people here are really friendly and really inclusive and accommodating," she said.
One difference between Charlottesville and Chicago lies in the diversity of the residents, according to Milko. In Chicago, he said he expects to see all different kinds of people including celebrities, college students, the homeless and pro-athletes.
"Charlottesville pretty much has a defined kind of group of people where Chicago is much more ... of a melting pot," he said.
Los Angeles: All fun in the sun?
Sonja Demuth, a 2005 Engineering graduate who has lived in Los Angeles County for 2.5 years, and 2003 Commerce graduate Chris Arnwine, former L.A. resident, both said they would recommend experiencing life in Los Angeles.
Having grown up on the East Coast, Arnwine said L.A. has completely different landscapes and personalities than what he was used to.
He said the stereotype of superficiality in Los Angeles is true in a sense: There is a culture of cosmetic surgery and a focus on trying to look beautiful.
Demuth said you will run into the self-involved aspiring actresses and actors in Hollywood, but there are different types of people in other areas.
While Demuth said she likes the good weather and ocean view from her balcony, there are some scenic elements of Virginia she prefers.
"One thing I do ... extremely miss is the seasons," she said, adding that she also misses Charlottesville's historical architecture.
Demuth and Arnwine agree, though, that there are many entertainment options available. For example, Hermosa Beach has a fraternity-style atmosphere, according to Demuth. Also, with Hollywood nearby, Arnwine said movies are a bigger deal in Los Angeles than elsewhere.
With everything L.A. has to offer, Arnwine said it is a good place to start a career and is worth experiencing for at least a few years. But, he said, it is not somewhere he would want to live long-term.
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