Murfreesboro? (Jackson, Woodbury: credit, waterbugs, apartment)

[Mike in TN]

If you have any questions about the educational leadership department I'd be happy to share my thoughts.

I'm a recent graduate and my wife is working on her Master's with the department.

[bran_smith]

someone told me that you have to go there a semester before you can actually get into the program is that true??And they are unorgainized are they, ive heard soo many rumors about TSU and im finding them to be true?
and any information about it would be great..
Thanks

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by bran_smith

someone told me that you have to go there a semester before you can actually get into the program is that true??

If you're referring to MTSU, essentially that is true. To be accepted into the teacher education program you'll need to have passed something like 9 credits at MTSU, a passing Praxis I score (ACT score of 22 within 3 years will substitue) have something like a 2.75 gpa, complete Educational Foundations and Educational Psychology, and have 3 interviews (one with a current public school teacher, a professor from your major, and someone from the ed. leadership dept).

I think that's pretty much it. Being admitted into the program is a prerequisite for a bunch of your courses though.

My advice, if you transfer take the two aforementioned classes right away and take the Praxis I exam if you need two. Those will hold you way back if you don't get them done.

[northcountrygirl]

Originally Posted by MA_brnNrsd

I also agree, I have lived here since September with my fiance and we both enjoy it except for the traffic, we still aren't used to it. But it is no where near what bigred said. I very rarely hear about crime here. We live in Woodgate Farms and coming from MA I think its pretty decent in price. You definitely get more for the buck. Its higher then what you want to pay but we have over 1100 sqft and garage and pay around 800. The Avenue is a very nice place to shop, been there a couple times. We looked around at lots of apartments before we moved and my finace was adamant that we needed a garage because he has a Corvette and he didn't want it out in to open. Murfreesboro is a family friendly place. I think you will enjoy it here just as everyone else is.

I have lived in Murfreesboro for 6 months myself and I love it here. I can tell you that kids come first here in a big way. I've never known friendlier or more helpful people. Everything you could ever want is close and easy to get to, the cost of living is great and there is work here. This is the absolute best small town feeling / big city I have ever seen.

[bran_smith]

I have been studying for the PPST but haven actually took it yet...I should have my associates this summer if volstate dont screw me over..soo is that going to help me out?
thanks

[Lamplight]

I suppose I have a little different take on Murfreesboro. I've lived here for 29 years, and I hate this town. Others have stated that traffic is horrible, but no one has mentioned why it is horrible. People in this town will usually be reasonably friendly when you meet them face to face, but as soon as they get behind the wheel they become insane, idiotic maniacs. You'll always either be sitting stopped in traffic, or going 20mph over the speed limit. If you have the audacity to go the speed limit, you will be tailgated constantly, honked at when you have the nerve to turn (and nearly rear-ended every time), flipped off, etc. And God forbid you decide to try getting around by foot or bicycle. Also, every traffic light here is a drag race at the front line, and a Nascar race in the following rows.

Every other vehicle here is a lifted truck with straight pipes. If you enjoy that, you'll be in heaven. If you're like me and find it obnoxious, then you will, like me, be planning your exit strategy as soon as possible (although that's a minor part of why I hate it here). The vehicles that aren't lifted trucks with straight pipes usually house occupants who feel in necessary to listen to their music loud enough that folks in Woodbury can hear. You will enjoy this if you are a rap fan.

The weather here is great for about a month in Spring and maybe a couple of weeks in Autumn (which doesn't come until November). I like winter here but most people don't, which is normal of course. Summer here is brutal. Last August was by far the hottest weather I've ever been a part of (110+), but it's the 90 degree mornings and nights with 90% humidity that really get me. Most people here complain about heat all summer long, but still insist they love summer. I haven't figured that out yet. Summer lasts from May through September. October usually brings daytime highs of only 85 or so, which by then feels great. We usually get a light dusting of snow a couple times each winter, maybe half an inch or so. Last winter we actually got two or three inches, which was a nice change of pace.

If you like spending your time shopping, eating, and being stuck in traffic, you'll love it here. If you plan to be a nursing assistant, electrician, general contractor, landscaper, car salesman, or real estate agent you'll fit right in. If you think it's perfectly acceptable to drive with your gas pedal to the floor around a public square where people are walking, then welcome home!

If you want to live somewhere where people have patience, enjoy walking or biking to the store, and aren't obsessed with sports, hunting, and cars/trucks, then you might as well keep looking. When I was young Murfreesboro had about 30,000 people. You could walk across the street without worrying about being mowed down by the parade of SUVs and pickups coming at you at full throttle. Store clerks were friendly and actually knew what they were doing. Every other store wasn't a cash-advance or title loan facility. It was a great place to live back then. Now it will be a great place to leave.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

I suppose I have a little different take on Murfreesboro. I've lived here for 29 years, and I hate this town. Others have stated that traffic is horrible, but no one has mentioned why it is horrible. People in this town will usually be reasonably friendly when you meet them face to face, but as soon as they get behind the wheel they become insane, idiotic maniacs. You'll always either be sitting stopped in traffic, or going 20mph over the speed limit. If you have the audacity to go the speed limit, you will be tailgated constantly, honked at when you have the nerve to turn (and nearly rear-ended every time), flipped off, etc. And God forbid you decide to try getting around by foot or bicycle. Also, every traffic light here is a drag race at the front line, and a Nascar race in the following rows.

Every other vehicle here is a lifted truck with straight pipes. If you enjoy that, you'll be in heaven. If you're like me and find it obnoxious, then you will, like me, be planning your exit strategy as soon as possible (although that's a minor part of why I hate it here). The vehicles that aren't lifted trucks with straight pipes usually house occupants who feel in necessary to listen to their music loud enough that folks in Woodbury can hear. You will enjoy this if you are a rap fan.

The weather here is great for about a month in Spring and maybe a couple of weeks in Autumn (which doesn't come until November). I like winter here but most people don't, which is normal of course. Summer here is brutal. Last August was by far the hottest weather I've ever been a part of (110+), but it's the 90 degree mornings and nights with 90% humidity that really get me. Most people here complain about heat all summer long, but still insist they love summer. I haven't figured that out yet. Summer lasts from May through September. October usually brings daytime highs of only 85 or so, which by then feels great. We usually get a light dusting of snow a couple times each winter, maybe half an inch or so. Last winter we actually got two or three inches, which was a nice change of pace.

If you like spending your time shopping, eating, and being stuck in traffic, you'll love it here. If you plan to be a nursing assistant, electrician, general contractor, landscaper, car salesman, or real estate agent you'll fit right in. If you think it's perfectly acceptable to drive with your gas pedal to the floor around a public square where people are walking, then welcome home!

If you want to live somewhere where people have patience, enjoy walking or biking to the store, and aren't obsessed with sports, hunting, and cars/trucks, then you might as well keep looking. When I was young Murfreesboro had about 30,000 people. You could walk across the street without worrying about being mowed down by the parade of SUVs and pickups coming at you at full throttle. Store clerks were friendly and actually knew what they were doing. Every other store wasn't a cash-advance or title loan facility. It was a great place to live back then. Now it will be a great place to leave.

I am not going to criticize you for your post because your feelings are very common for someone who has lived in the same place for 29 years. When you have live in other places, like I and others here have, you really begin to appreciate Murfreesboro in comparison to other places you lived. When you live someplace for 29 years you tend to take a lot for granted. We have not seen the radical changes like you have. Compared to Clifton, NJ, where I was born and raised and lived for 26 years, present Murfreesboro is paradise to me.

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by Steve_TN

I am not going to criticize you for your post because your feelings are very common for someone who has lived in the same place for 29 years. When you have live in other places, like I and others here have, you really begin to appreciate Murfreesboro in comparison to other places you lived. When you live someplace for 29 years you tend to take a lot for granted. We have not seen the radical changes like you have. Compared to Clifton, NJ, where I was born and raised and lived for 26 years, present Murfreesboro is paradise to me.

I agree that my dislike for this town is likely due to living here so long. Also, I will say that I would rather live in Murfreesboro than probably any of the other towns in this area. I suppose it also doesn't help that what I consider an ideal town would be quite different from Murfreesboro.

For example: for a town of over 100,000, our public transportation is pathetic. In fact, there was no public transportation that I'm aware of until last year, and it mainly runs while most people are at work, and doesn't go near many of the places I need to go. Bicycling and walking other than for recreation is practically unheard of here and will get you a hefty dose of harassment if you do it very often. There is a commuter train from Lebanon to Nashville but none from Murfreesboro to Nashville. How much sense does that make?

I realize I'm coming off as incredibly negative, because I am. So let me list the positives of this town:

1. The older downtown area is great. We have a beautiful square and courthouse and it is surrounded by interesting businesses and wonderful old houses. Most of this area is a pleasure to walk, bike, or drive through.

2. We have a pretty nice multi use path here (The Stones River Greenway). It is great for people who want to get out and walk or bike on a nice day for fun, and since it runs through the center of town, it's somewhat useful if you want to get somewhere without driving (although most don't use it in this way). It will be much better when they finish the newer sections of it, as well.

3. If you like live music, there are plenty of events here to keep you entertained; everything from rock to bluegrass.

I'll try to think of some more later.

[rossc]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

Bicycling and walking other than for recreation is practically unheard of here and will get you a hefty dose of harassment if you do it very often.

You mean you get heckled from people driving by for riding a bicycle? As well as bicycles, we also use Segways for short distance commuting. I wonder what they'd say about that.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

I agree that my dislike for this town is likely due to living here so long. Also, I will say that I would rather live in Murfreesboro than probably any of the other towns in this area. I suppose it also doesn't help that what I consider an ideal town would be quite different from Murfreesboro.

For example: for a town of over 100,000, our public transportation is pathetic. In fact, there was no public transportation that I'm aware of until last year, and it mainly runs while most people are at work, and doesn't go near many of the places I need to go. Bicycling and walking other than for recreation is practically unheard of here and will get you a hefty dose of harassment if you do it very often. There is a commuter train from Lebanon to Nashville but none from Murfreesboro to Nashville. How much sense does that make?

I realize I'm coming off as incredibly negative, because I am. So let me list the positives of this town:

1. The older downtown area is great. We have a beautiful square and courthouse and it is surrounded by interesting businesses and wonderful old houses. Most of this area is a pleasure to walk, bike, or drive through.

2. We have a pretty nice multi use path here (The Stones River Greenway). It is great for people who want to get out and walk or bike on a nice day for fun, and since it runs through the center of town, it's somewhat useful if you want to get somewhere without driving (although most don't use it in this way). It will be much better when they finish the newer sections of it, as well.

3. If you like live music, there are plenty of events here to keep you entertained; everything from rock to bluegrass.

I'll try to think of some more later.

I have to agree with you 100% on the public transportation situation. With so many of us doing the drive to Nashville and back daily, you would think we would have an established transit system. More people commute between here and Nashville than here and Lebanon. Now you really have me thinking about this one...LOL.

Our town square is beautiful and the history around here is fascinating!