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[shortred]

Hello everyone!

As I'm sure you all can see, I'm new here. My name is Sara, I'm a 23 year old mother of one beautiful little girl, and well having some thoughts of FINALLY chasing my dreams to go to college and study astronomy.

Back when I'd first left high school, I'm almost certain our wonderful counselor had mapped everything out for me as to where to go, and what to take, but it seems like its been so long, and I'm hearing a lot of different things, I'm hoping someone here could help me!

I'm from around Chicago, I guess, Saint Charles, IL to be exact. I'm really looking to get a full on bachelors degree in astronomy, or something that would really have a lot to do with studying the cosmos!

I guess what I'm really looking for is some input from any of you fine folk on good schools or programs of study in the Chicago area for this area of study. Please if I'm not on the right track... help me get on it! Throw any and all ideas at me. I'm not even at the beginning of this journey, I haven't even started it yet!

Thanks so much ! (in advance)
Sara

[patrickm]

Hiya and welcome to the Chicago Astronomer board.

Can't help on the schooling beyond knowing that Triton, Northwestern, and U Chicago all have astronomy programs and observatories right here in town. I know not their specifics, but all have frequent public viewing. These viewings are usually run by undergrad and grad students from the respective astro programs. I would encourage you to keep asking around, but also to head out to their observatories and start asking the students there for input and advice about their experiences.

Hope you are good at math! My one college astro class was 80% math! Cool, but still...

Welcome and hope you can make it out to a viewing sometime soon.

Best,
Patrick

[shortred]

Hey, thanks Patrick!

I'm currently looking into U of Chicago. I'm glad you brought it up or I'd never have thought to look there. I'm going to be doing a lot of counselor visiting in the next few months to figure out exactly my best fit.

While I'd absolutely love to attend a viewing, currently I'm working at 4am and its hard for me to do anything that involves being out after dark. lol. HOPEFULLY some day soon that might be possible though!

I'm always looking for more input as well so if anyone has anything else to suggest or offer me please let me know~!

-Sara

[Paulie pchris00]

It's probably out of range for you, Sara, but Valparaiso University has an excellent astrophysics program. They have a small observatory on campus, and remote access to larger telescopes at Kitt Peak, AZ, and in Chile. The instructors usually take students to the telescope on Kitt Peak the summer before their senior year. I have attended many of their observatory open house nights and public lectures, and the school is highly regarded. BUT, it is a private school, and well, you know how private school tuitions are, I'm sure.

Oh, and the name of the observatory in Arizona? SARA! (no kidding!)

www.valpo.edu/physics/

www.valpo.edu/physics/astronomy/SARA.php

[shortred]

Wow... would it ever be amazing to go to that school!