If you read my previous post you would know that I have been considering the University of Arizona as the institute of higher education where I will pursue a MBA degree. Consequently, that would make Tucson, the location of the school, my new home, at least for the next three years. I did a lot of research on Tucson and the school, but knew that I would be unable to reach an educated decision about whether I would like it there without direct experience. It was this realization that took me to Tucson last week.
I am lucky enough to have an amazing Mom that took off two days of work and suffered through four horrendous plane-rides to come with me! (A girl couldn't ask for a better mom!) We had so much fun exploring and eating and playing. We discovered a couple of DELICIOUS restaurants, got our nails done, went to a movie, went to the Arizona Sonora Desert museum, and bunch of other things.
If I had to describe Tucson in one word I would probably have to say: Breathtaking. Of course, it is impossible to describe Tucson in one word! It is beautiful, warm, green, alive, perfect, wonderful, fabulous, delicious, exciting, and a million other words. I was worried at first because from the air Tucson looks fairly sparse and dead. All thoughts of death end the second you get outside though! It is gorgeous. There are trees everywhere, huge trees, and palm trees, and flowering cacti, etc. I can't understand how anyone could think of Tucson as sparse and desert-ish. Granted, there aren't a lot of grassy lawns, the Tucsonians favor the zero-scape landscaping. However, with the hundreds of multi-colored adobe homes, this zero-scape look actually belongs, grass would look out of place. There are huge parks in several locations throughout the city, with plenty of grass!
Tucson's beauty is surpassed by only one thing, the University of Arizona campus. Now I went to BYU which is nestled under the towering Rocky Mountains, and is absolutely breathtaking. I am quite partial to the geography and landscape of BYU. I have to be honest though, The University of Arizona campus is even more beautiful than BYU. I never thought I would say that, but the U of A campus is unbelievable in itself.
I met with the two directors of admission for the MBA program while I was there. I think that
they were impressed with me, but they couldn't have been as impressed as I was with the program itself. It sounds absolutely perfect, in every possible way. I can't wait to be a student there. The way they have the program set up is really cool. You go on an international trip spring break of your senior year and have internships both the summer of your first and second years. They have an incredible career development program that works with top companies to find internships for their students. Also, they offer quite a few scholarships, so there may be hope for eating in graduate school after all!
If you haven't guessed by now I'm in love with Tucson. I truly think that it is the place for me, I felt really good about it the entire time I was there. The plan is to hopefully move down there by the end of August. I am hoping to get a job, an apartment or condo, and get involved in the singles ward and institute there. I would then apply to the school in November and start fall of 2010. Hope it all works out. It is time for me to move on, and Tucson really feels right as my next step.
***In un-related news: Bones is on tonight, the second-to-last episode of the season. To use Erik's favorite word: It is going to be absolutely EPIC!!!! This means that I will be a complete basket-case tonight from seven to eight, and probably in some basketish-case-state until the finale next Thursday. Just warning you all now!***
