[Strel]

I'll say this much: give little weight to the opinions of former FSU students that didn't get more than a couple of miles from campus when they lived here. They only know about 15% of the city, and it's not the best part.


Tallahassee is a very green, politically liberal but culturally Southern. This is an article from 2000 that I think describes the place from my perspective pretty well, and I've lived here since 1987.

Travel: Classy Tallahassee

[doggiebus]

Tally is a great place to go to school. As a graduate from FSU, I had a great time there. Its a small town, plenty of things to keep you busy with. Not to far from the beach for a day trip. Football Season is huge there (or at least it was when I was there) so even those who don't care for football get in the spirit.

[staywarm2]

Originally Posted by grad_student200

If I had to guess, you may want to look at options such as the University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, and Miami for larger metro areas that have more things to do other than the college party atmosphere.

Let me warn both students that Miami is a Spanish speaking city. If you don't speak Spanish, you will be left out anywhere but (possibly) on campus. I lived down there 12 years and with our limited Spanish, my husband and I were so frustrated. Trying to find a bagel in a grocery store? Unless you know the Spanish word for bagel, forget it! I was looking for needles one time and not one person in the store knew what I was talking about. And they don't mind talking badly about you right in front of you, etiher! (Luckily I had an American friend who secretly knew Spanish.) If you must go down there, take a Spanish class and carry a pocket Spanish dictionary to get along.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by grad_student200

I graduated from FSU with a master's degree last December and have lived in Tallahassee since 2002. I am originally from Arizona. I will divide my feedback into academic and social categories.

Academics: In my experience, FSU is very strong in the life sciences, social sciences, and public health. I took biochemistry at FSU, and the course was as difficult as a real medical school. The reason I know that is because I took summer anatomy lab with medical students in Colorado. So FSU is strong in science. Despite the extreme recession, students from the healthcare majors have had success in getting jobs. The professors are generally of very high quality, and most students I meet do not complain about the quality of education. The classes are usually hard but within reach of good grades as long as you study hard. I worked while earning my 2nd master's degree. It was very intense and time consuming. But the credential was worth it, and my job opportunities are extremely good. I still have my engineering job at the state, but I could move if I wanted.

Social Life: It depends on your background and age. The social life at FSU seems most appealing to undergraduates and very young graduate students. The main social events seem to be parties like tailgaters, small clubs, and other "college party" type of social gatherings with alcohol. I know pool parties are very popular. So FSU's reputation as a "party school" is very realistic on the weekends. The football games generate a high level of school spirit and social atmosphere. But in my opinion, this type of lifestyle is most appealing for those ages 18-23 - the young college crowd. If that is your preference of a "social life", then FSU will be a good fit.

There are other social factors that must be considered. FSU is mostly a small Protestant town in the more rural part of the state. I was raised as a devout Catholic and am Native American from Arizona. The campus has good diversity in terms of ethnic groups. But in terms of religion, there is not a lot of diversity. Most of the people at FSU or North FL are Protestant. So as a devout Catholic I am really out-of-place. I found a small Catholic student group on campus and played basketball with them. But the religious diversity is not there. Tallahassee was a Confederate town in the mid-1800s. So modern Tallahassee is a typical Protestant town of the deep south - the "Bible Belt." In that regard, it may be a culture shock in some ways.

So dating and social life are extremely limited for older graduate students in their late 20s or more. The social atmosphere is best for 18-23. As an older graduate student, I outgrew the "party" lifestyle back in the 1990s, so I never socialized in that way. Since I train for high-altitude running year-round, I was able to play a lot of campus intramural basketball. That was my only social life. So FSU does have a very good campus intramural sports program that can give you the best of times. But other than that, I had nothing as an older graduate student for socialization. I have never been able to meet a Catholic female closer to my age (mid 20s to 30s). The only females who liked me at FSU were undergraduates who partied too much. And they were usually Protestant. Dating was a mismatch. I had no desire to regress to partying with alcohol just for the sake of dating.

In terms of outdoor sports, I find Tallahassee limited. I was a mountain runner in Colorado and went up many peaks in the Colorado Rockies. Florida is flat and at sea level. It is also very humid. The outdoor sports are rather limited by Colorado standards, and the level of running and cardio fitness do not match the running communities of Colorado (e.g. Boulder). It's just normally too hot for outdoor running.

So as a younger graduate student, I think you would be happy at FSU if you are Protestant and like to party with undergraduates. But if you are a more serious graduate studentwho has outgrown the party phase and is not Protestant, then you will probably not be happy at FSU. I fell into the latter category for the most part (except for campus basketball). Most older graduate students I meet can't wait to leave. I am trying to move to Miami, FL because it has millions of people with more things to do and more religious diversity.

On the positive side of FSU, I like the fact that the school respects the symbol of the Seminoles. As a Native American, I grew up in a town with extreme racial tension between whites and Native Americans in Arizona. I never really exprienced that at FSU, so acceptance of Native Americans is good. There were a few negative incidents over the years, but not very frequent. So racism against Native Americans is not bad like in South Dakota or rural Arizona.

[b]If I had to guess, you may want to look at options such as the University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, and Miami for larger metro areas that have more things to do other than the college party atmosphere. The people who seem to be the happiest at FSU are traditional southerners who are Protestant and enjoy NASCAR, tailgaters, football, pool parties, Gulf beaches, and are comfortable in a southern geographic climate. I don't fall into that category so I am trying to move. But I revere the quality of my FSU education.

great points in bold, something to be considered. Me and my gf also feel the same way... I went to FSU 99-02, lived in tallahassee 1990-02, have been back for 6 months to be closer to family and grad school...but now leaving and going somewhere else for grad school, my gf was tracked to start her program this fall and also leaving and shares the same sentiments... We are a couple, I'm 28, but we like to meet other similar couples, go out on our own, make friends, events, etc. even younger that isn't based around alcohol, family or church activities, non existent. Everybody I have met that have similar views and have been friends with over the year was either wanting to leave when done, or already on their way out.

That being said, if they are paying you, and it is top 30 or so program in your field and you have no other offers, I would do it.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by staywarm2

Trying to find a bagel in a grocery store? Unless you know the Spanish word for bagel, forget it!

That's because there ISN'T a Spanish word for bagel. Ignorance is bliss.

[Seattle23]

I'm from a big city and I thought it would be cool to move somewhere new, I knew someone that went to FSU so I decided to give it a shot.. what the F was I thinking. I am not kidding you, there is nothing to do. There are a few clubs and bars, but I haven't been into that since I was 18. You're a good hour away from the beach, and about 2 hours away from a good beach. There's NO good restaurants, no one can drive here, customer service sucks, there's crazy racist people and I'm talking about racist black people, granted there are racist white people as well (it is the south), but I've never ran into it this bad, and the cops love to mess with you and then go home and beat their wives. My boyfriend has been called a skin-head numerous times, simply for having short hair (hello- it's FL and it's freakin hot!) Umm let's see what else, oh yeah, 35% of the population in Tallahassee alone has AIDS and I believe Quincy has one of the highest AIDS population in the country which is like 20 mins outside of Tally, might as well be Africa. Not to mention, I went to my DR to get a physical and she told me out of all the places she's lived this has the worst STD rate she has ever come across. So I mean, yeah, be careful! lol. I am locked in here for another year, but I'm getting back to the west coast as soon as graduation day comes! As far as FSU goes, it's obviously a good school, but it's jam-packed with students to a frustrating level. Anyway, if you're from a small town where there's not much to do anyway, and you like that suffocating/cabin fever feeling, maybe you'd like it. I came here w/ an open mind and an eagerness for new experiences and it got old after about 3 weeks. lol. Just being honest. Goodluck.

[JonSch7]

First off....I don't know if anything Seattle said was true. I doubt it would be true in any city. I moved up to Tally from S. Florida to go to school, and have been here ever since.

Tallahassee is not a racist city at all. Come on, the mayor is black/asian mix, FSU police chief is black, city manager is black, and it is a democrat county. People have one bad experience, and they believe everyone isthe same way. I doubt anyone called her friend a "skinhead". Does anyone really use that term? Police mess with people and then beat their wives? I can think of maybe one officer out of nearly 800 in this town in the last five years ever do such a thing.

My only advice to you is, be open-minded about Tallahassee. It isn't a small town! Most that say this only travel four or five blocks from campus. Go out and take a drive, and see what it really has to offer!

[flyers29]

It's a pretty standard Southern college town. Yes the capital being there does give it some non-college town identity as well (compared to say, Gainesville), but you can't really ignore the college presence. I'm a big-city person so it was a "go to school and get out" type of place for me, but it's still a pretty decent town. I'd say grad_student's comments on the social aspects are pretty right on though.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by Seattle23

I'm from a big city and I thought it would be cool to move somewhere new, I knew someone that went to FSU so I decided to give it a shot.. what the F was I thinking. I am not kidding you, there is nothing to do. There are a few clubs and bars, but I haven't been into that since I was 18. You're a good hour away from the beach, and about 2 hours away from a good beach. There's NO good restaurants, no one can drive here, customer service sucks, there's crazy racist people and I'm talking about racist black people, granted there are racist white people as well (it is the south), but I've never ran into it this bad, and the cops love to mess with you and then go home and beat their wives. My boyfriend has been called a skin-head numerous times, simply for having short hair (hello- it's FL and it's freakin hot!) Umm let's see what else, oh yeah, 35% of the population in Tallahassee alone has AIDS and I believe Quincy has one of the highest AIDS population in the country which is like 20 mins outside of Tally, might as well be Africa. Not to mention, I went to my DR to get a physical and she told me out of all the places she's lived this has the worst STD rate she has ever come across. So I mean, yeah, be careful! lol. I am locked in here for another year, but I'm getting back to the west coast as soon as graduation day comes! As far as FSU goes, it's obviously a good school, but it's jam-packed with students to a frustrating level. Anyway, if you're from a small town where there's not much to do anyway, and you like that suffocating/cabin fever feeling, maybe you'd like it. I came here w/ an open mind and an eagerness for new experiences and it got old after about 3 weeks. lol. Just being honest. Goodluck.

Wow. 35% of the city has AIDS, huh?

What color is the sky on your planet?

I've lived here 22 years, a bit more than three weeks, and I think I can safely say you really don't seem to know much about Tallahassee at all.