Relocation- Cities

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Relocation- Cities

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Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
So I'm in the midst of looking at graduate schools and pretty much every program that fits what I'm looking for are in states and cities I have never been before, except for two which just happen to be in/within 15 minutes of my home town (Duke and UNC woo). I am planning to visit most of these schools at some point, but I figured I'd see what sort of input on the actual locations anyone here on EF has to offer.

My current top options are located in Madison Wisconsin, Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota, Seattle Washington and in/around Boston Massachusetts.

Also, one of the universities that seems well suited is in Austin Texas. Although I know Austin is supposed to be a pretty great city, I feel like I have pretty much no interest in being in Texas, or the south in general, really. Is that totally unreasonable?

Have any of you lived in any of these places or live there now? Please please please tell me all about it!
11/13/2011
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Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Minneaplois is big, but quiet. I don't know about madison, Boston is big, cold, loud and full of bad drivers. If you don't mind me asking, what program and master's or PHD? I'm a master's student and have been to multiple colleges, so i know what it's like to move to a new city, sight unseen.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I haven't looked at the numbers in a few months, but last time I checked Austin, Texas had the fastest growing economy in the country. It would be easier to find a job there if you need extra cash or decide you want to stay there indefinitely. But, if you don't like the South, then you don't like the South.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Boston has a rather high cost of living - ex: a semi-decent one bedroom apartment is $1500 and up (ps: make sure it has 'heat and hot water included'). And the drivers really are bad ... there's a reason they're called 'Mass-holes'. But it's also a very walkable city with lots of culture. It just depends on if you don't mind living in a big noisy city, or taking the commuter trains to/from the quieter (but not cheaper) suburbs.
11/13/2011
Contributor: LQ LQ
Austin doesn't "feel" terribly "Southern," compared to smaller cities. It's a lot more laid back & liberal. It kinda feels like Denver or any fairly mellow large city. It's not as "speedy" as LA or NYC... but it's still an active place. Lots of music & art & things. I guess you'd say it's more... uh... cosmopolitan than you'd expect from Texas. It's like a weird oasis or something.

You might hop down for a visit & just see if you like the vibe. I was surprised by it the first time I went there. If you are going to be in the South for whatever reason... Austin is the place to be.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
Minneaplois is big, but quiet. I don't know about madison, Boston is big, cold, loud and full of bad drivers. If you don't mind me asking, what program and master's or PHD? I'm a master's student and have been to multiple ... more
I'm looking at Sociology Ph.D. programs that have particularly strong resources within the area of demography and population studies. Trying to stay away from universities that have terminal masters programs/have a masters but not a Ph.D. as it tends to take longer to complete a Ph.D that way and they also don't tend to have the resources I want (like having direct ties to/running its own population research center).

I'm hoping to be able to visit at least some of the universities and cities before applying, just to get a vibe for the surroundings and what not. And I would probably go visit wherever I got accepted before making the final decision.

Right now I'm mostly just trying to suss out as much info on what it's like to live in some of these places as possible. Honestly, if I get accepted by the right program I won't really care where it is and would make due. Though the prospect of staying in the South doesn't enthuse me at all. It's still nice to have a general idea of what the areas are like.
11/13/2011
Contributor: eeep eeep
Minneapolis/St.Paul area is pretty nice. They have a great local music scene with a lot of diversity, depending on your music preferences.
If you are considering the University of MN for grad school, I know a lot of their programs have really great funding options. The area around campus always has a lot going on, and people are pretty friendly. Uptown is another very nice area to live in and has kind of an artsy/hippie atmosphere, and is also very GLBT friendly.
11/13/2011