Deciding between Minnesota and Chicago too (Minneapolis, St. Paul: neighborhoods, schools, live)

[tracivrn]

I am a 43 year old divorced female, deciding if I should move to Chicago or Minnesota-St. Paul/Minn area. I have lived on the West Coast and East Coast, and since I am from Michigan, I miss the midwest-the people and changing seasons and a lot of other stuff. I will be applying to grad school in one of these places. I am an RN, so I am not worried about getting a job in either place. I would just like some input and opinions on where I should move to, given my age and situation. Please let me know what you think, it will be appreciated.
Traci

[golfgal]

I don't know about Chicago but in Minnesota nurses are highly paid and have great scheduling flexibility in the various hospitals. Many of the hospitals will let you work longer shifts and fewer days which might come in handy for class scheduling. Nurses with no experience start in the $40,000 range but since you have experience obviously you would be making more then that.

My impression of the singles community based on looking at comments on other boards here is that the Chicago singles community is much younger. I think you will find many divorced women your age working in the various hospitals around the cities and should be able to find people to do things with--at least that was the case when my mom was working as a nurse.

[K-Luv]

It all depends on what you are into or want. Since you mentioned that you are 43 and single and going to grad school for nursing (?) I am assuming that you are looking for the city with the better single life for a women your age, and also the best grad school, maybe.

At your age and being single, I would say Chicago hands down. I don't know about grad schools in Chicago, but I know that the med school at the U of M is pretty darn good. Oops, I meant to say UMTC.

Also, the TC have some pretty good hospitals to work in.

I dunno, what are the other criteria that you are looking for?

[KristenDuLac]

Originally Posted by tracivrn

I am a 43 year old divorced female, deciding if I should move to Chicago or Minnesota-St. Paul/Minn area. I have lived on the West Coast and East Coast, and since I am from Michigan, I miss the midwest-the people and changing seasons and a lot of other stuff. I will be applying to grad school in one of these places. I am an RN, so I am not worried about getting a job in either place. I would just like some input and opinions on where I should move to, given my age and situation. Please let me know what you think, it will be appreciated.
Traci

Hi Traci,

I have lived on the East Coast, the West Coast and Michigan and I vote for Minneapolis. I moved here in 1992 and have been here ever since. I have moved 17 times so I have a lot to compare it to. The neighborhoods are lovely with beautiful old trees and lakes - even within a few blocks of downtown. The entertainment is as good as Boston and less expensive.

I was 45 when I moved here, single, didn't know a soul. mod cut
Kristen

[dangelofnb]

Both great choices. In a nut shell, you have much more in Chicago and maybe too excessive in numbers, choices and area to choose from. Minneapolis/St. Paul has it all and experiences the seasons more so in my opinion. My daughter is also a nurse and considered Dallas, Chicago and Minneapolis in her destination. Chose DFW and now wishes she chose MSP.