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Applying to grad school in Ithaca and Syracuse for next fall. I'll be relocating from southwest Ohio (Dayton area), and am mostly interested in what sort of cultural differences I can expect. I've lived in the lower Midwest all my life, except for a brief stint in the northwest Ohio/Akron area. What's living in upstate NY like? What are some things I should keep in mind?
Also curious about cost of living and other such concerns, of course. If I'm accepted at Cornell (in Ithaca), I'll be getting a $24k/year salary for teaching part-time; $17k if I end up at Syracuse. Would definitely prefer to live alone, but also open to grad housing, if there's anything affordable in either area.
Applying to grad school in Ithaca and Syracuse for next fall. I'll be relocating from southwest Ohio (Dayton area), and am mostly interested in what sort of cultural differences I can expect. I've lived in the lower Midwest all my life, except for a brief stint in the northwest Ohio/Akron area. What's living in upstate NY like? What are some things I should keep in mind?
Also curious about cost of living and other such concerns, of course. If I'm accepted at Cornell (in Ithaca), I'll be getting a $24k/year salary for teaching part-time; $17k if I end up at Syracuse. Would definitely prefer to live alone, but also open to grad housing, if there's anything affordable in either area.
Any info would be much appreciated!
You probably won't find it to be that much different from Northeast OH. Cost of living is about 4% higher than the national average in the Ithaca area and about 4-5% lower than the national average in the Syracuse area, give or take and depending where you live in each area.
Syracuse has more of blue collar vibe than Ithaca, which is essentially a college town. Both cities are relatively quite diverse culturally for their size. Syracuse as a metro is a little bit smaller than Dayton at around 662,000 people in the 3 county area and the Ithaca metro has about 105,000 people or so. Both cities are about an hour apart via I-81 and Route 13.
Would you have a car? Do you have an idea as to what you want in a neighborhood? What about personal interests? If you have any other questions, don't be afraid to ask.
I'll definitely have a car. As far as interests: bookstores, coffee shops. I like to have a couple decent-sized malls, plenty of restaurants and movie theaters, and whatnot around. Not into clubs and bars, etc., so the "nightlife" isn't of all that much concern. Southwest Ohio is pretty conservative, so I'd prefer a more moderate-to-liberal area, if possible. (Somewhere you don't have to leave the room when Obama turns up on the TV, LoL). I've also recently started attending some pop culture-themed conventions two or three times a year, so it would be great if there some occasional events like that within two hours' drive or so, but I know that one's a little more idiosyncratic.
I'll definitely have a car. As far as interests: bookstores, coffee shops. I like to have a couple decent-sized malls, plenty of restaurants and movie theaters, and whatnot around. Not into clubs and bars, etc., so the "nightlife" isn't of all that much concern. Southwest Ohio is pretty conservative, so I'd prefer a more moderate-to-liberal area, if possible. (Somewhere you don't have to leave the room when Obama turns up on the TV, LoL). I've also recently started attending some pop culture-themed conventions two or three times a year, so it would be great if there some occasional events like that within two hours' drive or so, but I know that one's a little more idiosyncratic.
I'll definitely have a car. As far as interests: bookstores, coffee shops. I like to have a couple decent-sized malls, plenty of restaurants and movie theaters, and whatnot around. Not into clubs and bars, etc., so the "nightlife" isn't of all that much concern. Southwest Ohio is pretty conservative, so I'd prefer a more moderate-to-liberal area, if possible. (Somewhere you don't have to leave the room when Obama turns up on the TV, LoL). I've also recently started attending some pop culture-themed conventions two or three times a year, so it would be great if there some occasional events like that within two hours' drive or so, but I know that one's a little more idiosyncratic.
I, too, am from Ohio and now live in the area. I grew up in Cleveland and went to college at Ohio State. Much like Ohio, upstate NY is very conservative, except in patches near cities and colleges. You will be fine in either Syracuse or Ithaca. Just steer clear of the houses with the "Repeal the Safe Act" signs.
We must have an awful lot of party-hater/libertarian types here in the SW 'burbs and countryside. Repeal the Safe Act signs and bumper stickers are right alongside the Support Local Farmers/Anti-Fracking/pro Renewable Energy signs.
The Safe Act, btw, doesn't actually keep anyone safe if you read through the legislation itself. It's a piece of ironically-named nonsense, like the Patriot Act or annual NDAA... sort of like when land developers named their housing tracts' streets after what USED to be there. lol. The name makes you think one thing while the regulation does the opposite. Clever. Our government officials have a penchant for it... makes me wonder if it's some kind of inside joke.
Totally a joke. I forgot the requisite I am bad with emoticons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by proulxfamily
We must have an awful lot of party-hater/libertarian types here in the SW 'burbs and countryside. Repeal the Safe Act signs and bumper stickers are right alongside the Support Local Farmers/Anti-Fracking/pro Renewable Energy signs.
The Safe Act, btw, doesn't actually keep anyone safe if you read through the legislation itself. It's a piece of ironically-named nonsense, like the Patriot Act or annual NDAA... sort of like when land developers named their housing tracts' streets after what USED to be there. lol. The name makes you think one thing while the regulation does the opposite. Clever. Our government officials have a penchant for it... makes me wonder if it's some kind of inside joke.
For pop culture conventions the biggest I aware of is Scare-a-Con, formally Scare-a-Cuse. It's held at a casino about an hour East of Syracuse.
I'm afraid this area is two small to get the big names but still a lot of stuff there. I'm a big Walking Dead fan and they generally get a couple of red shirts from past seasons. This year they are all pretty minor but three of them are coming.
Applying to grad school in Ithaca and Syracuse for next fall. I'll be relocating from southwest Ohio (Dayton area), and am mostly interested in what sort of cultural differences I can expect. I've lived in the lower Midwest all my life, except for a brief stint in the northwest Ohio/Akron area. What's living in upstate NY like? What are some things I should keep in mind?
Also curious about cost of living and other such concerns, of course. If I'm accepted at Cornell (in Ithaca), I'll be getting a $24k/year salary for teaching part-time; $17k if I end up at Syracuse. Would definitely prefer to live alone, but also open to grad housing, if there's anything affordable in either area.
Any info would be much appreciated!
I worked pretty regularly in Ohio when I was living up in Syracuse. I actually commented on it several times to friends and coworkers that Ohio as a whole state generally seems comparable to upstate NY.
I have visited Akron and Cleveland several times, and had a brief stay in Cincy for a job interview (they made me an offer, but I went with a job in Philly instead). Definitely agree with you on the conservative-ness, that was something that was brought to my attention when doing my research on Cincy. Plus several people I had met had stressed its conservative nature as well. It was a definite concern of mine when looking at relocating.
Both Syracuse and Ithaca are definitely more liberal, especially Ithaca with its more crunchy vibe. I'd say size-wise, more comparable to Dayton where you are, definitely smaller and less "city" amenities than Cincy. While both cities would fit your needs, I would lean more towards Ithaca for your interests.
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I am bad with emoticons.
