[sunshineann]

Does anyone have any information, or personal experience with this college? As i have written earlier, our family is looking to possible relocate to the area, and my husband is looking to get his degree for Culinary. They are asking him to possible start this month..(Yikes !!) They stated they have housing for families on campus, (until we can find something ourselves) although that makes me a little nervous. Even though i was a kid once, i dont want to live with our girls (12,8,4) near the college age students. And honestly, i am extremely scared to move this quick. Part says just do it...what could be worse. and the other part says...Lord help me...So if anyone has any input i would so appreciate it.
Thanks in advance...

[bepperoo]

Which school? Not familiar with it. What area is it in?

[Jswee]

NMC is a great school, it started off as a community college in the 1950's and is now a University Center offering four year degrees through Central Michigan, Ferris, Western and several other Michigan Universities. Very nice main campus located just a block from a public beach and close to the Civic center that has a community pool, ball fields, walking & biking track, etc. The Culinary program is gaining a strong reputation within the hospitality industry. The building for the Culinary program is in the Hagarty Center, which is a beautiful new building that is located in downtown Traverse City, right on the bay. I've heard that Lobdells, which is the restaurant that is run by the culinary students as part of the program has great food. The building also houses the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, which is part of NMC. There is lots of rental housing located pretty close to NMC, that would be a notch above your typical student rentals that you would find in A2 or Lansing. Traverse City is a great area to raise a family, great schools and lots for kids to do. If you have any specific questions about the Traverse City area I'd be happy to answer them, just direct message me with them.

[MittenDweller82]

Hopefully you have substantial savings, TC has prices inflated almost on everything due to its popularity as a tourism destination. I live in Ann Arbor, but took classes there (Northwestern) through a UM extension program during the summer months as part of my degree. Again I cannot stress enough the cost of housing will be almost as high as Ann Arbor, along with the inflated prices on food and various necessities. I know little else about the quality of education given at NWMC, but the scenery around the place sure is appealing. By all means follow what you think is right, although I would do considerable research on housing options, as there is really no "cheap" place to stay in the area, especially with a family of that size. Bottom line: Weigh in all of your options, and I wouldn't recommend a hasty decision, often getting back to where you started is harder Good Luck

[Rapunzll]

Traverse Epicurean Classic

The culinary school is a good one, and NMC is a wonderful school. It is not your typical community college. I got an associates degree from there and I tell ya, I had many teachers who could easily be teaching in bigger schools, but they want to live in TC. There was a survey done once years ago that showed students who did their first two years at NMC did better by graduation time than kids who went to directly to a four year school. It's a good school, and I never had a class where the teacher didn't know my name and a little about me. There are also a good number of adult students, so your husband shouldn't feel at all out of place.

There are a couple of dorms as well as apts. I've never been in the apts, so I don't know what they are like. I would expect they are kept up nicely though, and your kids would probably go to Eastern Elementary, which is one of the better schools, and TCAPS overall is a good school district.

Good luck. It's a wonderful place to raise a family!

[Jswee]

Originally Posted by Sociologist

Again I cannot stress enough the cost of housing will be almost as high as Ann Arbor, along with the inflated prices on food and various necessities.

Rental rates have come down some in the last year up here and there is more rental housing available than you would normally find. As far as food prices, you just have to know how to shop. Buy in bulk at Gordons food service or at the Sara Lee outlet store. Buy fresh local produce from the farmers market and freeze it or can it yourself. There is a sav-a-lot which has pretty low prices on a lot of items. I shopped for groceries at a Kroger in Macomb county a couple of weeks ago and did not notice any huge difference in grocery prices from what you pay up here, so I think to some degree it's all kind of relative.

[Rapunzll]

Originally Posted by Jswee

Rental rates have come down some in the last year up here and there is more rental housing available than you would normally find. As far as food prices, you just have to know how to shop. Buy in bulk at Gordons food service or at the Sara Lee outlet store. Buy fresh local produce from the farmers market and freeze it or can it yourself. There is a sav-a-lot which has pretty low prices on a lot of items. I shopped for groceries at a Kroger in Macomb county a couple of weeks ago and did not notice any huge difference in grocery prices from what you pay up here, so I think to some degree it's all kind of relative.

And best of all, when you shop, you aren't in Macomb County!

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by Jswee

Rental rates have come down some in the last year up here and there is more rental housing available than you would normally find. As far as food prices, you just have to know how to shop. Buy in bulk at Gordons food service or at the Sara Lee outlet store. Buy fresh local produce from the farmers market and freeze it or can it yourself. There is a sav-a-lot which has pretty low prices on a lot of items. I shopped for groceries at a Kroger in Macomb county a couple of weeks ago and did not notice any huge difference in grocery prices from what you pay up here, so I think to some degree it's all kind of relative.

I have nothing against TC, its quaint (getting busier), and has parade of non-stop traffic from May-September. My parents rent out a property on Torch Lake, so I spend a minimum of a month in the area every summer. Any rental that doesn't include a apartment complex will having you paying near 1000 monthly. While this may not be a lot in terms of Ann Arbor or other metro Detroit communities, it doesn't seem financially responsible for a family looking for value. Now on to yummy food! I agree, farmers markets in the area are awesome...but why compare them to the chemically manufactured slop that is save-a-lot? Have you seen the investigative work of CNN and others on their products? (Their store brand canned carrots have every known cancer causing preservative, nearly 10, yes 10 separate chemicals!!!) No, get me to the farmers market (or Moomers Ice cream) and I'll be happy. Not downing TC at all, its a great place, I just wouldn't consider relocating unless I had a job set in stone and deep pockets.

[sunshineann]

But cant we say that about alot of places now a days? We've been on both ends of the spectrum to be honest, from broke to okay to not too bad. We know how to make it if this world ends up in a depression again. Where alot of people who are well off are going to be struggling.
I do value everyones opinions. And i'll have to tell you, Some of them make me nervous, and alot ease my mind. We are a large family, and for us, our main concern is our children. We want a better place than where we are now, and their father wants to spend their childhood with them, and not a stop in on weekends deal. In my mind right now, i'd rather try and probably struggle to be in a good place then go to a horrible place and be okay.
At our age starting over is really frightening. You have to start somewhere and why not just go for it. (i think im trying to convince myself..lolol)

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by sunshineann

But cant we say that about alot of places now a days? We've been on both ends of the spectrum to be honest, from broke to okay to not too bad. We know how to make it if this world ends up in a depression again. Where alot of people who are well off are going to be struggling.
I do value everyones opinions. And i'll have to tell you, Some of them make me nervous, and alot ease my mind. We are a large family, and for us, our main concern is our children. We want a better place than where we are now, and their father wants to spend their childhood with them, and not a stop in on weekends deal. In my mind right now, i'd rather try and probably struggle to be in a good place then go to a horrible place and be okay.
At our age starting over is really frightening. You have to start somewhere and why not just go for it. (i think im trying to convince myself..lolol)

Where are you now if I may ask? Your situation is like so many others across this country, and moving is no small decision, I myself have made several mistakes in that sector. I have a daughter, and I also want the best for her future, and think someday I will be moving out of Michigan to fulfill that. Traverse City is a beautiful place, and my experiences there have been positive. My only concern with your situation is the cost of living in that area (again I don't know where your coming from so I can't compare). In my current situation (recent college graduate, loans, and a new daughter) I would look for the best of both worlds, safe, but cheaper. Good luck with your search, but do a lot of research!