Visiting Minnesota? Everything you need to know here!

[Slick Willy*]

It's a fantastic university. Absolutely loved my time there. There are going to be cheaper options out there, but it's definitely an experience.

If you're into the urban vibe, which I love, I think you'd enjoy it.

Is this going to be your first visit to campus?

IMO I'd say that's actually part of the reason we lose so many of the blue chip athletes - the UM campus isn't "collegey" enough. Comparable to places like Madison, Des Moines, and any number of others in the Big 10.


What's up with their new policy of "no description" descriptions on the campus recently?

 

[Louie the Blue]

IMO I'd say that's actually part of the reason we lose so many of the blue chip athletes - the UM campus isn't "collegey" enough. Comparable to places like Madison, Des Moines, and any number of others in the Big 10.

From what I've been told, I'd have to agree. I toured Madison, and the campus/city is beautiful and is centered around the school. I think having own sports facilities now, such as the Bank, is definitely a plus, though.

In an ideal world, from what I've read, UMN would be essentially Wisconsin. Both are great academically, too.

 

[gphr513]

IMO I'd say that's actually part of the reason we lose so many of the blue chip athletes - the UM campus isn't "collegey" enough. Comparable to places like Madison, Des Moines, and any number of others in the Big 10.


What's up with their new policy of "no description" descriptions on the campus recently?

I don't think it's a big issue. Sure, some kids might want a smaller campus feel, but just as many others might want a large city campus.

And as for your question, there is a lot of politics involved, which makes it probably not a good topic of discussion here...

 

[gphr513]

In an ideal world, from what I've read, UMN would be essentially Wisconsin.

 

[Louie the Blue]

Both are great universities academically. Just the sense of college atmosphere is the main difference from what I can tell.
But UMN is in a big city, which is one of the reasons I look forward to visiting UMN!

 

[gphr513]

Well let us know how the visit goes

 

[Slick Willy*]

With all the flat great talent I've seen head out of state just to jump over to Wisconsin over the years (basketball players in particular) I have to believe the Madison v. Minneapolis thing has to have been somewhat of a big factor.


I'd suspect just the fact that a smaller "college town" vibe could possibly have been the kicker for many good players over the years.

 

[Paul Bunyan]

It's not a college town, that's the difference. It's a City or Cities with a college that happens to be in it.

That's the difference between a lot of places and that's one of the main reasons they wanted TCF on the grounds, to bring a lot of that back that was lost by playing at the dome.

 

[MuckOG]

My son is currently going through the process of deciding which school he wants to go to. He crossed the U of M off his list because he didn't like how big it was. He's leaning towards St Cloud right now, but is still going to check out Duluth, Eau Claire and Mankato....which I'm happy about because it's much cheaper to attend those state colleges than either the U of M or Wisconsin.

 

[Minnesota]

My son is currently going through the process of deciding which school he wants to go to. He crossed the U of M off his list because he didn't like how big it was. He's leaning towards St Cloud right now, but is still going to check out Duluth, Eau Claire and Mankato....which I'm happy about because it's much cheaper to attend those state colleges than either the U of M or Wisconsin.

Let us know if you decide to visit St. Cloud; a few hooligans (myself included) around HFWild attended SCSU and we'd be happy to answer any questions.

 

[MuckOG]

Let us know if you decide to visit St. Cloud; a few hooligans (myself included) around HFWild attended SCSU and we'd be happy to answer any questions.

I'm an SCSU grad myself....which is nice because he now qualifies for a "legacy" scholarship

 

[Minnesota]

I'm an SCSU grad myself....which is nice because he now qualifies for a "legacy" scholarship

Score - get that legacy money, little Muck.

 

[gphr513]

My son is currently going through the process of deciding which school he wants to go to. He crossed the U of M off his list because he didn't like how big it was. He's leaning towards St Cloud right now, but is still going to check out Duluth, Eau Claire and Mankato....which I'm happy about because it's much cheaper to attend those state colleges than either the U of M or Wisconsin.

Yeah, it's not for everyone.

Me personally, I loved how there was always something going on, campus was always busy, and there was always something to do.

And the campus itself has so many nooks and crannies. Sometimes I'd take different routes walking home from class, just because. I think it was junior year when I stumbled across this little sitting area with a fountain in the middle, that I had literally never seen before, after two years of going to school there

 

[00xtremeninja]

Minnesota not "collegey" enough? da hell? Is the mall area not beautiful enough and lined with enough buildings to give it that stereotypical college feel? and all the of the surrounding buildings behind it too.

If that's the case about why prospective athletes don't want to come here, then I suggest people go look at University of Miami's campus. Pretty much the same type of atmosphere.

 

[MuckOG]

Minnesota not "collegey" enough? da hell? Is the mall area not beautiful enough and lined with enough buildings to give it that stereotypical college feel? and all the of the surrounding buildings behind it too.

If that's the case about why prospective athletes don't want to come here, then I suggest people go look at University of Miami's campus. Pretty much the same type of atmosphere.

yeah, but Miami also offers a few things that Minnesota can't:

- Beach
- Babes
- Bling
- Boosters with ca$h

 

[00xtremeninja]

it is a little bit of a hike to get to the beach from campus, but I would do it every day in the winter.............

the neighborhood it is in is kind of dumpy

bling..............yeah...............can't argue that one.

and yeah, boosters with cheddar definitely helps lol

 

[Slick Willy*]

Minnesota not "collegey" enough? da hell? Is the mall area not beautiful enough and lined with enough buildings to give it that stereotypical college feel? and all the of the surrounding buildings behind it too.

If that's the case about why prospective athletes don't want to come here, then I suggest people go look at University of Miami's campus. Pretty much the same type of atmosphere.

It's just a theory. Think about all the Big 10 schools and how many of the campuses are in cities as big or bigger than Minneapolis/St. Paul?

 

[Slick Willy*]

Without even doing much Googling http://btn.com/2015/01/29/dienhart-a-look-at-the-top-7-campuses-in-the-big-ten/

 

[gphr513]

Without even doing much Googling http://btn.com/2015/01/29/dienhart-a-look-at-the-top-7-campuses-in-the-big-ten/

Oh man, one guy doesn't have us in his top 7, let's board up the athletic department. It was a good run.

Everyone is looking for different things in a college. Some kids will like Madison. Some kids will like Minnesota. Some kids will like Iowa. So it goes.

 

[00xtremeninja]

ok, growing up in SE WI and spending a lot of time in Madison, yes, their campus is great and their football games are incredible fun to go to. I chose the U over WI because the U and Minnesota in general is leaps and bounds ahead of the game in the area of psychology, so it was in my best interest to do my schooling here.

Madison is also a legit party town and its reputation is known across the land, which is also an appeal for some kids.

but to put Iowa friggin City and Bloomington Indiana in over Minneapolis, puke.

 

[57special]

Yeah, it's not for everyone.

Me personally, I loved how there was always something going on, campus was always busy, and there was always something to do.

And the campus itself has so many nooks and crannies. Sometimes I'd take different routes walking home from class, just because. I think it was junior year when I stumbled across this little sitting area with a fountain in the middle, that I had literally never seen before, after two years of going to school there

Some might want the small town dominated by a University thing. It's a pretty insular thing.

Others will prefer to be in the middle of a good sized city while going to school. WAY more things to do in a bigger city... I would far prefer the latter if I was young again.

 

[Paul Bunyan]

ok, growing up in SE WI and spending a lot of time in Madison, yes, their campus is great and their football games are incredible fun to go to. I chose the U over WI because the U and Minnesota in general is leaps and bounds ahead of the game in the area of psychology, so it was in my best interest to do my schooling here.

Madison is also a legit party town and its reputation is known across the land, which is also an appeal for some kids.

but to put Iowa friggin City and Bloomington Indiana in over Minneapolis, puke.

Bloomington, which I went to has a spectacular campus, way better than the U's in the eyes of most neutral observers, because it's a college campus in a college town. In fact, it's usually one of the most highly rated IN the country.

The U is a university that happens to be in a city, it's completely different. Really, you can't judge one over the other. It's like rugby and football. Similar, yet different.

 

[Louie the Blue]

What's making it tough is that UK offered me some $ and the campus is beautiful.

 

[MuckOG]

What's making it tough is that UK offered me some $ and the campus is beautiful.

Cost is important. You don't want to be buried in student debt when you graduate.

 

[00xtremeninja]

True that, if you can get scholarships, take em