Moving to Minneapolis!!! (Welcome, Cleveland: student loans, unemployment rate, transfer)

[MxdWithLuv]

I'm moving to Minneapolis for school & just want some general information about the area.

I've been accepted to U of M & Metropolitan State University, i'm not sure which school I will attend but i'm leaning more toward MSU because its much smaller than the U of M. I reviewed the schools on studentsreview. com, it was helpful but not much.

I'm from the South so i'm a little bit worried about the cold weather, I actually prefer cold weather more than hot weather but I know Minneapolis' cold weather can be harsh at times. What are must some must haves to get through the winter season?

What neighborhood would be good for me if I decide to attend MSU (diverse, affordable, safe, good nightlife)?

What is the dating seen like in Minneapolis (interracial, etc.)?

[MPLSCleveland]

Originally Posted by MxdWithLuv

I'm moving to Minneapolis for school & just want some general information about the area.

I've been accepted to U of M & Metropolitan State University, i'm not sure which school I will attend but i'm leaning more toward MSU because its much smaller than the U of M. I reviewed the schools on studentsreview. com, it was helpful but not much.

I'm from the South so i'm a little bit worried about the cold weather, I actually prefer cold weather more than hot weather but I know Minneapolis' cold weather can be harsh at times. What are must some must haves to get through the winter season?

What neighborhood would be good for me if I decide to attend MSU (diverse, affordable, safe, good nightlife)?

What is the dating seen like in Minneapolis (interracial, etc.)?

Welcome to Minnesota MxdwithLuv! Happen to go to Metro State myself. I am also originally from the South also (Texas).
When it comes to where to live if going to Metro St, it is dependent on what is your major. If it is business, I would look in Minneapolis or over in the St Paul neighborhoods right across the border from Minneapolis. This is because most of the core business classes (accounting/finance/Business Administration) are actually at the MCTC campus in downtown Minneapolis. All other majors, and a good number of Gen Ed classes will be either at the downtown St Paul campus or the Midway Campus (also known as the Energy Park building). If that is the case, then go with Saint Paul. On specific neighborhoods, especially St Paul, I am not an expert. I am pretty sure some of the other people on here can help ya out on that though.

On the cold weather. My biggest recommendation is a nice warm coat, gloves, and a good hat/beanie. It does it get cold here (at least it is to us Southerners), but your body will acclimate to it pretty quickly (not like it has a choice). Liking cold weather is a positive. Just remember, when it gets the coldest (we do get a few weeks were it is brutal, -20 and below during the day), your body will not be too happy. IT is worth the trade off though, the late spring and summer months are absolutely fantastic.

I am not too sure how the dating scene is out here. Just remember, Minnesotans love the southern charm though.

[kuan]

Go to the U. The class offerings are much greater, plus you can do graduate level courses should you choose.

[golfgal]

Metro State does not have the best reputation--go to the U of M OR apply at some of the smaller private schools around the Twin Cities. Don't let the price deter you. If you have good grades the scholarships you can get offset the higher costs and often ends up being LESS expensive then a state school or the U of M.

[silverjet]

I would also go to the U. You can always transfer someplace else if you don't like it.

[uptown_urbanist]

I agree; go with the U if you can afford it. The U is a top public university; Metro State is somewhere people go if they're older, have kids, are working school around work, etc (at least that's my impression, which may be wrong, but it definitely seems geared towards the working adult with other responsibilities). I think it has some good programs, and I'm sure the education itself is decent, but in general it doesn't have the name recognition factor that the U does, and the choices of classes are far more limited. Don't let the class sizes at the U scare you; there are some large intro courses, but many of the upper level, and even many of the lower level, classes are far smaller. It's a huge school and there's a lot of opportunities, but you do have to be willing to seek them out or follow through on them on your own. If you really want a smaller school experience I agree with golfgal that you could check out some of the private schools, as their financial aid packages might make them more affordable than Metro State or the U.

Don't worry too much about the cold. You'll get used to it, and it doesn't last all year. You'll be able to study for your spring finals outside.

Not sure about the dating scene, or what you mean specifically by interracial, but if that means are people willing to date people of other races, then yes, that won't be problem. I would assume that the dating scene would be better at the U than at Metro State because of sheer size and my impression that Metro State has more married students, but could be wrong. Certainly the U is filled with single people of all ages and races.

[Repubocrat]

I graduated from Metro State and honestly, a college degree is not worth much these days anyways. If I had gone to the U of M, I would have graduated with about 60K in student loans and I would probably be unemployed or working a job making about $12/hr, at least I was able to graduate from MSU debt free. The U of M has a better reputation but I don't know if that will really help you when the unemployment rate here starts to reach double digits. A bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma in this great Obama economy.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

A bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma in this great Obama economy.

This was also true 10 years ago, FWIW.

[MxdWithLuv]

Originally Posted by MPLSCleveland

Welcome to Minnesota MxdwithLuv! Happen to go to Metro State myself. I am also originally from the South also (Texas).
When it comes to where to live if going to Metro St, it is dependent on what is your major. If it is business, I would look in Minneapolis or over in the St Paul neighborhoods right across the border from Minneapolis. This is because most of the core business classes (accounting/finance/Business Administration) are actually at the MCTC campus in downtown Minneapolis. All other majors, and a good number of Gen Ed classes will be either at the downtown St Paul campus or the Midway Campus (also known as the Energy Park building). If that is the case, then go with Saint Paul. On specific neighborhoods, especially St Paul, I am not an expert. I am pretty sure some of the other people on here can help ya out on that though.

On the cold weather. My biggest recommendation is a nice warm coat, gloves, and a good hat/beanie. It does it get cold here (at least it is to us Southerners), but your body will acclimate to it pretty quickly (not like it has a choice). Liking cold weather is a positive. Just remember, when it gets the coldest (we do get a few weeks were it is brutal, -20 and below during the day), your body will not be too happy. IT is worth the trade off though, the late spring and summer months are absolutely fantastic.

I am not too sure how the dating scene is out here. Just remember, Minnesotans love the southern charm though.

Thank you for your response. When I told my friends & family I wanted to go to school in Minneapolis the first thing they said was "do you know how cold it gets there". I will make sure I invest in a nice big coat, gloves, and a beanie!! Is it true that people have to keep an electric blanket on the hood of their cars when it gets too cold? The "southern" definition of cold & the "northern" definiton of cold tend to vary so i'm hoping I get used to it quickly.

My major is going to be Political Science, the reason why I was leaning more toward Metro St was for financial reasons. U of M wouldn't be too bad if I had in-state tuition but since i'm coming from another state the tuition is a little bit high!! My parents paid my tuition when I obtained my Associate's Degree & when I attended the University of South Carolina for one semester, I really don't want to burden them again. If I have to attend Metro St for a little while & establish residency, i'm willing to do that. I also don't like the "big university" feel, I went to the University of South Carolina for a little while & I hated it (USC has around 25K students) given the size of U of M i'm pretty sure I won't like it. I'll look at a few private colleges also. Do you like Metro St so far? Any insight on the school would be helpful!!

I guess I have southern charm, i'll make sure I use it!!!

[MxdWithLuv]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Metro State does not have the best reputation--go to the U of M OR apply at some of the smaller private schools around the Twin Cities. Don't let the price deter you. If you have good grades the scholarships you can get offset the higher costs and often ends up being LESS expensive then a state school or the U of M.

Metro State does not have the best reputation in regards to what? Academics? Safety? Please inform me!!