Is my impression of Indianapolis accurate? (Fishers, Carmel: mortgage, live, zoning)

[W & C]

Originally Posted by Durpie22

https://career.iupui.edu/outcomes/in...e%20employment.

https://kelley.iu.edu/recruiters-com...orted%20status.

https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/pr...ters_stat.html

IUB Average starting salary for Finance $70,970 + sign on bonus
IUPUI Average starting salary for Finance $51,794

Purdue Mech Engineering average starting salary $78,589
IUPUI Mech Engineering average starting salary $60,543

Companies do care and the companies with the highest paying positions recruit from more reputable schools for entry level positions.

Hmm.

Well, facts are facts and looks like there's something to this after all.

If I may though, I'd suggest there could be other factors - f.e. since Purdue and IU are full campuses, so to speak, whereas IUPUI is mostly a commuter campus, are Purdue/IU alumni more likely to hail from and return to bigger, more expensive cities post-graduation ?

Obviously, starting salary expectation will be different in say, Bay area vs. Indy.

[Don_Draper]

Originally Posted by Last Second Larry

Weather: Yes

Entertainment: I'm a concert guy so I'll focus on venues. The Fieldhouse is big but the sound quality depends heavily on the act. Elton John and Trans-Siberian Orchestra sounded absolutely amazing there, but the heavier the music, the rougher the sound quality. Most of the best shows I've ever seen were at Deer Creek Music Center (Ruoff). Just don't sprain an ankle getting crazy on the steeply pitched lawn! Murat Theatre is my absolute favorite venue. The Egyptian Room is great to see a heavy band, but the most unforgettable shows were seeing bands like Yes and Dream Theater in the Theatre due to the incredible sound quality. Best sound quality of any decent sized venue, except probably the Circle Theatre, which used to do rock concerts in the 80s but hasn't in a long time. The Slippery Noodle Inn is an iconic, legendary blues bar that is a must-go-to-at-least-once. The Vogue brings in the occasional gem. Most underrated venue is probably the Rathskeller. The Emerson Theater has extreme metal bands, moshpits, etc. and is still known to attract some big name bands, if you're into that music! Saw the Stones at the 500; wish the track would do more shows as it proved to be an above-average venue and I've always loved the staff (the Yellow Shirts!). Going to see a show at TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park restaurants in a few weeks; I've heard it's great as well.

Restaurants: I'm going low-to-medium end places I like to eat lunch at when I'm working in that part of town. Tony's on 116th west of Keystone, Bbi Cafe at 59th and Georgetown, Yanni's Golden Gyros on West Washington, Burrito Joint at Morris and Tibbs, India Palace at 38th and Lafayette Rd, Brewskies Pub at Southeastern and Fisher, and my favorite is Heidelberg Haus at 42nd and Pendleton Pike.

Cost of living: Going up but still not too crazy. I've traveled around the Midwest quite a bit lately, and in my opinion we are doing as good as or better than anyone else in the region in this category.

Good neighborhoods: I'm going off the beaten path and citing lower-middle class examples that I'm very familiar with. Eagledale and Chapel Hill aren't bad neighborhoods, nor is Decatur/Valley Mills area (everything W of Mann Rd, S of Kentucky Ave). Wanamaker and Mooresville are still decent towns, as well as New Palestine, and they haven't seen anything like the explosive growth of places like Westfield or even Greenfield. Beech Grove has gritty spots but overall is a pretty nice place.

Singles scene: ALWAYS good here, just gotta get out there! Neighborhood bars are great, downtown and Broad Ripple are always happening, but sometimes dives are the best. There are records spinning, open mics, dance floors, and wandering eyes all over town.

Thanks for your post and the one other that got back on the topic. I favor 80's music, even cover bands more than anything else.

I'm married, so will be in Carmel most likely. If in the unlikely event I ended up divorced, nice to know there's a good singles scene. It sucks where I currently live.

Where I live is pretty cheap, ex housing. Well, it was, anyway. I'll get a cost of living increase to move, so not too concerned. Just thinking might be better to rent for a year and not buy at the top. Still, will be stuck in Carmel for schools.

[sheerbliss]

Originally Posted by Durpie22

https://career.iupui.edu/outcomes/in...e%20employment.

https://kelley.iu.edu/recruiters-com...orted%20status.

https://www.purdue.edu/gradschool/pr...ters_stat.html

IUB Average starting salary for Finance $70,970 + sign on bonus
IUPUI Average starting salary for Finance $51,794

Purdue Mech Engineering average starting salary $78,589
IUPUI Mech Engineering average starting salary $60,543

Companies do care and the companies with the highest paying positions recruit from more reputable schools for entry level positions.

I'm a former mechanical engineer. I rarely found salaries (or opportunities) to be anywhere in the neighborhood of anything reported in the media; I'd trust figures from a college even less.

[indy_317]

Originally Posted by W & C

Well, facts are facts and looks like there's something to this after all.

If I may though, I'd suggest there could be other factors - f.e. since Purdue and IU are full campuses, so to speak, whereas IUPUI is mostly a commuter campus, are Purdue/IU alumni more likely to hail from and return to bigger, more expensive cities post-graduation ?

Obviously, starting salary expectation will be different in say, Bay area vs. Indy.

I checked the Kelley data. Nothing on location, number of jobs, cost-of-living adjustments, etc.. IUB takes the state cap for out-of-state undergrads, which last I was told was 40%. IUPUI, being 150 years younger, hasn't gotten to that level yet. Lots of IUB kids, many who come for the business school, are from the Chicagoland and greater NYC area. I wouldn't be surprised if many returned home after college and of course jobs in those areas are going to pay entry level positions vastly more than what a similar job in Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, Louisville, Evansville, Cincinnati, etc. pay.

I know two recent IUPUI grads who got public safety jobs in Hamilton County. First year wages, $70K.

[Durpie22]

Originally Posted by indy_317

I know two recent IUPUI grads who got public safety jobs in Hamilton County. First year wages, $70K.

What's public safety? Like a police officer?

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Kluch

I think the degree can matter dependent upon the position you're trying to secure. However I think as time goes on it matters less and less. Yes, if I was applying for a position at Google (right out of school) it would matter. But in my industry (IT, data analytics, programming) it seems to matter less and less from my experience. I graduated in 2012 and it felt like a bigger deal then than it does now. I have friends that broke into this industry within the last 5 years (who have very good/stable jobs) by attending local tech schools in their area. As time goes on I feel there's less emphasis on where you got your degree and more on your experience and ability to learn/grow/tackle difficult problems.

This.

Sure, graduating from Harvard or Yale can be your entry into a white shoe law firm, for example. But that says nothing about your abilities.

For example, my real estate attorney of 25 years has remarked that he’s never had a client ask where he got his law degree. I don’t know, either, as I’ve never asked him, either. He’s a damned good attorney and has always done well for me, which is what matters.

RM

[W & C]

Originally Posted by MortonR

This.

Sure, graduating from Harvard or Yale can be your entry into a white shoe law firm, for example. But that says nothing about your abilities.

For example, my real estate attorney of 25 years has remarked that he’s never had a client ask where he got his law degree. I don’t know, either, as I’ve never asked him, either. He’s a damned good attorney and has always done well for me, which is what matters.

RM

All true - but a prestigious degree can open the right doors for you and right doors can propel one's career. It's helpful but with the right drive not necessary as evidenced by multiple billionaires who made their fortune without ever even graduating college.

[Berteau]

Originally Posted by W & C

All true - but a prestigious degree can open the right doors for you and right doors can propel one's career. It's helpful but with the right drive not necessary as evidenced by multiple billionaires who made their fortune without ever even graduating college.

billionaires aren’t paid a billionaire salary by someone though. They usually built companies from scratch and are hiring people with college degrees. I bet all their executives have college degrees.

[W & C]

Originally Posted by Berteau

billionaires aren’t paid a billionaire salary by someone though. They usually built companies from scratch and are hiring people with college degrees. I bet all their executives have college degrees.

True, hence my mention of the right drive needed to get to be that titan of the industry.

[Don_Draper]

I'll be there this weekend. What neighborhoods should I look at to buy a house? What about nightlife? Good bars/restaurants? I like Carmel, but not much home inventory and inflated prices. I need other ideas for my family.