College student moving to Springfield. (Chicago, Peoria: university dorms, neighborhoods, school)

[BrianneMichelle]

I am college student from small town in southern IL. I am going to finish school in springfield, IL and have decided to stay in springfield college - benedictine university dorms while i'm in school. I've visited the area and it seems decent but is it known as a good part of town or a bad part? it's near lincoln park and oak ridge cemetary. Every time i tell someone i'm going to move to springfield a look of disgust comes over their face, I just haven't met anyone who is positive towards the idea. any imput would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[breer23]

The area around SC-BU is a bit of a mix. The area to the west and south are a mix of decent and not-so-decent neighborhoods. The area to the north and east goes from older-but-nice (around Lincoln Park) to average, blue collar neighborhoods (south of the fairgrounds). There is not a lot to do in that area within walking distance, except for the park (with area pool and ball fields) and, of course, Mel-O-Cream donuts, the finest donuts in all of the land (rivals the best in St. Louis, easily).

[Maintainschaos]

Springfield is alright as far as a small-to-medium-sized city is concerned. You might find it a bid bland for a college kid's taste, but then again if you're coming from S. IL. it might seem like a bustling metropolis. Some of the more interesting things could include all the museums that are available, the historic stuff is kind of interesting, maybe catch a movie at a drive-in or hear some live music at some of the different venues, grab a book and a coffee, or go golf, hike, jog, or bike in the parks / bike trails. Any place that you live is really what you make of it. And hey, if you get bored, just catch a train to StL or Chicago.

[TrixxiSpumoni]

Springfield College is a good one. Springfield (the city) is an odd mix of people and places. If you go one way, there's corn and farmland. On the other hand, they have a lot of good live music spots and funky little restaurants. The lake is incredible, or you can always find little rivers and streams heading away from town. There are definite sides of town to stay away from, but you will know them when you see them. I thought it was a great place to grow up in. What small town in Southern Illinois are you from?

[BrianneMichelle]

Originally Posted by TrixxiSpumoni

Springfield College is a good one. Springfield (the city) is an odd mix of people and places. If you go one way, there's corn and farmland. On the other hand, they have a lot of good live music spots and funky little restaurants. The lake is incredible, or you can always find little rivers and streams heading away from town. There are definite sides of town to stay away from, but you will know them when you see them. I thought it was a great place to grow up in. What small town in Southern Illinois are you from?

I'm from Effingham

[breer23]

So, just curious - did you decide on SC or LakeLand College (from a prior post)?

[BrianneMichelle]

Originally Posted by breer23

So, just curious - did you decide on SC or LakeLand College (from a prior post)?

It's a little more complicated then that. My sister is thinking about taking her undergrad pre req classes @ llc, so i decided to check around about it for her. I'm not going to SC, I'm going to St. john's college and they don't have a campus so SC was nice enough to let me live at there dorms.

[breer23]

Originally Posted by BrianneMichelle

It's a little more complicated then that. My sister is thinking about taking her undergrad pre req classes @ llc, so i decided to check around about it for her. I'm not going to SC, I'm going to St. john's college and they don't have a campus so SC was nice enough to let me live at there dorms.

You mean the nursing school at St. John's? I see - yeah, they don't have a campus, per se.

[freethinker09]

springfield sucks. sorry but its true. i predict you wont stay long. im getting out as soon as i can...

[breer23]

Originally Posted by freethinker09

springfield sucks. sorry but its true. i predict you wont stay long. im getting out as soon as i can...

It can, yes, but a lot of it depends on what you do, who you meet...things like that. In many ways, most mid-sized towns in the midwest are similar, but what happens to (or for) you can make all of the difference...for example, love Bloomington-Normal, hate Peoria - but that's just from my experience.