Thoughts on Muskegon & Baker College (Grand Rapids, Flint: amusement park, crime, credit)

[Waves5]

I am a female in my late 20's looking to relocate to Muskegon to attend Baker college for a year. I am from the tip of the mitt and have never been to Muskegon. What are your thoughts on the area? If you were choosing between living in Flint or Muskegon, which one would you choose? Any other sources for finding housing here besides glive and craigslist? While we are at it, anyone have any rants or raves about Baker college-Muskegon? Any insights would be helpful, thanks!

[TNKY]

While I have never attended Baker, I have heard some good things about it and very little bad. I have lived in Muskegon for several years and, while I would pick it over Flint, I have been trying to leave for 3 years now.

The beaches here are very nice. Outside of that, there is very little good about this town. Now comparing it to Flint, it is better. But comparing it to 90% of the rest of America, Muskegon isn't so great. Crime is high, poverty is high, unemployment is high, other than the beach and amusement park there isn't much to do here. And winters are much harsher than on the east side of the state.

Visit here. What do you like to do? Many people drive 45 minutes to Grand Rapids to shop, dine or see concerts.

[allbusiness]

Sadly, Muskegon is not in good shape. Lots of poverty and a political system that, to me, seems broken.

It is WAAAAY better than flint, though.

Baker is a fine school but Davenport, Grand Rapids Community College and others would provide better opportunities for finding a nice place to live -- perhaps a community to call your own.

[Jandur]

Even my friends that were born and raised in Muskegon will admit it's pretty much a dump these days.

[GreatLakesStateofMind]

Originally Posted by Jandur

Even my friends that were born and raised in Muskegon will admit it's pretty much a dump these days.

Sad but true

[dgraham1211]

Be careful about any program at Baker that needs an internship/externship. I went there and after completing all my classes with a 3.8 GPA, they can't find any hospitals to take students for internships. The dean told us that this is happening in all their programs. So after 3 years of taking classes and student loan debt, I can't finish and get my degree.

And btw, Muskegon is awful.

[TNKY]

Wow, dgraham1211, that is horrible. So sorry to hear that.

Hey OP, are you reading this? It appears all agree, Muskegon is the lesser of 2 evils vs. Flint, but still not a great choice. I mean to narrow your choices down to Flint and Muskegon is like saying, "Hmmm, between 2 of the worst cities in MI, where will I be happiest." If you are still reading this, research some nicer areas of the state before any decision is made.

[intelfan11315]

Muskegon can be kind of ghetto, but come on people.. it doesn't even come CLOSE to Flint. What kind of joke is this? Muskegon is right by Grand Haven, which is a wonderful city, and also has some pretty dang nice areas too. I personally wouldn't want to live in muskegon, but its really not as bad as the people are making it sound.

I attended Baker College for a short period of time before transferring to the University of Kansas. There are definitely good and bad about the school, but in the end I would have to recommend against it. I am far from a bitter student, I got good grades there and was VERY happy with the teachers. They really want you to succeed, and went out of their way more than any other professors I've had at my other schools. It was actually one of the professors at Baker College that told me to leave and go for my dreams of finishing my engineering degree. They really do care about you. That being said -- unless you are doing the nursing program, it just really isn't worth going there. It is great for the nursing program because there is no wait list, so you have to make sure you get a 4.0 and you'll get right in. Remember though, if you don't have a 3.8-4.0 you probably wont have a shot.. so be realistic about what kind of grades you can pull. If you're not going to do nursing, the other paths at Baker College aren't going to make you enough money for what you pay to go there. You're much better off doing a community college, spending WAY less and getting the same type of degree. Plus it is a little bit easier to transfer credits from the community college.

Feel free to send me a private message here and I will be more than glad to help you with whatever you need

[tuebor]

I agree with burgler09. I've lived in the Muskegon area for a few years (Norton Shores). There are good deals on houses, but there's no way would I come here just to go to school. If you already had roots here, Baker might make sense, but for what it costs to go to Baker, you could go to a real university, or go to a community college and transfer.