[grimstuff]

Hello everybody--this is my first post in the Michigan forum. I have a good shot at a doctoral program at UM, but my wife and I don't know anything about Michigan or Ann Arbor. We're looking for advice on whether we should move there or not (if I'm accepted).

I've heard Ann Arbor is a nice college town, but that's pretty much it. Is it a beautiful area? Is the town nice? (I know this sounds like a dumb question.) How much sprawl is there? Any sprawl doesn't probably compare to what we have out here in parts of CA, but i'd still like to know your impressions.

Is the countryside nearby? Meaning that you can drive ten minutes or so and be in a rural area?

Being that UM is a huge university, I assume there is a diverse range of shops, restaurants, etc. in AA, and that there are lively events like fairs, farmers' markets and stuff like that. Is this true?

Also, what is the housing quality like? I've gone on Craigslist and it seems most, if not all rentals are very drab-looking apartment buildings. Is this just the case for college student-serving complexes, or are there nicer, affordable rentals in other parts of town? What are the best parts of AA to live? My wife and I are not "young college kids", and we would very likely have children while i would be getting my phd.

Finally, does anybody here work at the UM Medical Center? The reason is my wife will be looking for work as RN and we'd like to get an idea of which places have good work climates.

Oh yeah, and here's one more question: how culturally and economically separate is AA from Detroit?

Thanks a ton for any help--

--David

[YAZ]

AA is a great town to live and raise a family. Winters may be rough on ya at first, but you'll get used to it.

The U of M Medical Center is world class. St Joe's Mercy is excellent too.

There are woods, rivers, and lakes all around Ann Arbor; not to mention parks and golf.

Superior Township, a little northeast of AA, is one of my favorite places in MI.

The annual Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is a hoot! Overpriced stuff but fun to walk around.

Not a real big town, but it has enough "sprawl". Strip malls are prevalent, not so much in the downtown area though. Very lively 'lil place, especially on game days. Very pedestrian friendly. I'd much rather walk around that town than drive.

Doesn't even come close to Motown. Different animal.

But, you're close enough to spend the evening at a Tigers' game or Fox Theatre.

Good schools, both public and private.

Does anyone know if Mongolian BBQ is still in business on Main St?

[Coldjensens]

The answer to almost all of your questions are "Yes" and "it is great."

Compared to California not much Sprawl. A few miiles from downtown and you are in woods or rolling hills with lakes or farm country. UNless you go East. THen is it prettymuch spread out sprawl but still sprawl all the way to Detroit.

Stay out of the ugly apartments. rent a quaint victorian home tons of them are available.

Ann Arbor is my favorite City, bar none. I have visited 37 states and never found a city that I like as much.

the last two questions are different. "No" and "very."

[MICoastieMom]

I concur, and would like to add that I have several family members who work for U-M hospital. They are always looking for good nurses. C'mon up!

[Huckleberry3911948]

this was a very very good post. i know this town.
rep comin your way asap.

[sunshine girl2]

I recently moved to Ann Arbor from Florida and have to say that the apartment situation has been my biggest issue. I think I may have posted about it before (I can't remember if I posted it, or just thought about it).

I haven't found a reasonably priced apartment that is as up-to-date as the one I had in Florida. There are nice apartments, but they cost quite a bit more than I expected (and I came from Palm Beach County in FL... an expensive place). The nice ones that approach my budget range (which is higher than it was in FL) are slightly out of town.

Now that's not to say there aren't good places to live, but it depends on what you're looking for. My preference is for modern and clean and newer, and I prefer apartments or condos as opposed to living in a house in a family neighborhood. It's hard to find in Ann Arbor... most apartments are out of date or expensive.

Long story short, I am unable to replicate (or come close to) my Florida standard of living apartment-wise, even with a 20% increase in my budget.

Hope that helps!! Good luck to you.

[MittenDweller82]

Originally Posted by grimstuff

Hello everybody--this is my first post in the Michigan forum. I have a good shot at a doctoral program at UM, but my wife and I don't know anything about Michigan or Ann Arbor. We're looking for advice on whether we should move there or not (if I'm accepted).

I've heard Ann Arbor is a nice college town, but that's pretty much it. Is it a beautiful area? Is the town nice? (I know this sounds like a dumb question.) How much sprawl is there? Any sprawl doesn't probably compare to what we have out here in parts of CA, but i'd still like to know your impressions.

Is the countryside nearby? Meaning that you can drive ten minutes or so and be in a rural area?

Being that UM is a huge university, I assume there is a diverse range of shops, restaurants, etc. in AA, and that there are lively events like fairs, farmers' markets and stuff like that. Is this true?

Also, what is the housing quality like? I've gone on Craigslist and it seems most, if not all rentals are very drab-looking apartment buildings. Is this just the case for college student-serving complexes, or are there nicer, affordable rentals in other parts of town? What are the best parts of AA to live? My wife and I are not "young college kids", and we would very likely have children while i would be getting my phd.

Finally, does anybody here work at the UM Medical Center? The reason is my wife will be looking for work as RN and we'd like to get an idea of which places have good work climates.

Oh yeah, and here's one more question: how culturally and economically separate is AA from Detroit?

Thanks a ton for any help--

--David

The Ann Arbor community is somewhat different than the rest of Michigan, most would save more progressive and certainly liberal. UM is a world class research university, Ann Arbor has a very high number of PhD grads/students when compared nationally. With many of the students being from the major cities across the globe, you will run into virtually every culture and belief, and there is a venue to support almost all of them.

As far as your request to live in a more quite area, most PhD and professional students group on the west side of A2 where there are a good number of homes for rent, and nice apartments. Most prices are 800+ for a 2BDR, and a little higher for a home. (I lived in this area when I was an undergrad, it was very quite).

You will find most undergrads and noise will be centered along State St. and central campus and points east, likewise most of the venues in that area cater to undergrads. The coffee and tea shops along Main St on the west end of town are popular locations for graduate students and professionals alike.
If you move here you will probably run into a large number of west coast transplants, particularly from northern cal and Oregon. Culturally it is similar, many people are outdoor minded and like their organic food, bikes rule downtown. Your wife should have little trouble being employed as an RN, UM is always hiring, and there is also a large VA hospital, along with St. Johns medical center, which just completed a new complex.

There is a good number of parks in Ann Arbor, but if you like mountain biking and hiking/camping, there is awesome recreation about 20 minutes to the NW at Pinckney Recreation area.

Good Luck

[alliteration]

Yeah, my senior year I lived out in the apts on Pauline in between Stadium and Maple. A lot of grad students and professional students lived out there. I liked it quite a bit, there really weren't any undergrads and it was quiet and the apartments were pretty nice and a lot cheaper than those closer to campus. And its really not that far from campus anyhow, you could walk straight down Pauline and run right into Michigan Stadium and it was maybe 1.5 miles or so. I lived in a 2 bedroom and I think the rent was about 750 or so a month.

I had some friends who lived on the southside, if you keep going on Main like you're heading towards the mall and there were some nice places in there as well that I know some students live in. I don't think rents were too bad, but then again they had 4 people splitting rent. At any rate, AATA services pretty much every area of the city and AA isn't that huge, so its not that big of a deal to live out on the west side at all, since its only a short bus ride from pretty much everywhere to campus, plus if you're a student, its free.

[grimstuff]

Thanks a lot for the input, everyone, this is really helpful.