Young, Moving to DSM Metro (Des Moines, West Des Moines: apartments, dorms, safe area)

[lms1107]

Hi, I'm going to be moving to greater DSM in the next year.
I'm just out of high school and am going to be going to DMACC Ankeny. I am thinking about living in one of the newer apartment style dorms just off campus.
I was wondering what you guys thought about DMACC and Ankeny in general?

[scatteredthunder]

I went to DMACC 20+ years ago. I commuted. I thought it was fine for the most part. I've attended a few other community colleges since then, and it seems similar.

Ankeny has grown a lot since that time though, so I have no idea what anything is like there. From what I read about the traffic, it might be a good choice to live nearby.

[Meemur]

Yes, the biggest complaint I hear from DMACC Ankeny students when I run into those from outside the area is not being close enough to take part in all of the activities, so live around the campus if you have that opportunity.

Ankeny is not a typical college town because DMACC is a small college, so don't expect a long strip of bars, book stores, head shops, and the like. However, there are affordable restaurants and several pizza places.

DMACC - Ankeny is also *not* a "party school." Although you will find a small segment of party animals, my overwhelming impression is that most students are there to complete their programs and either move on to ISU or U of I or go out and start a career. That is, you're not going to find keggers every night.

If you are a serious student, you'll appreciate that, as well as the good study groups you'll find (I've observed a few in my wanderings on and off campus).

Be aware that there's a lot of construction going on as the new student center is being built. Some students are complaining that there's no where to eat or sit. That's not totally true. Alternatives have been made, such as the campus "coffee house" was rebuilt in Building 6 (?), whichever one the library is in, and different food trucks are coming in. I end up over there for lunch sometimes.

If you live somewhere like Campus Town (Campus Towne?) apartments, you might be able to get by without a car because it's down the street from a small strip mall with a Jimmy Johns, and a little farther is a new HyVee Grocery. However, if you need things like a mall, you'll need access to a car to get down to West Des Moines (Jordan Creek).

I don't live right in Ankeny, so I can't tell you much else.

Added: if I had a son or daughter with an interest in any of the programs on that campus, I would be comfortable sending them. Ankeny is a mostly safe area (nowhere is 100% safe on the streets at 2 am!) if the usual precautions are observed, and I believe most area employers think well of DMACC's programs. It is a two-year college, but they seem to do a good job with what they offer.