<p>ottothecow- i'm guessing you're from minneapolis. I really like to hear that you love it so much up there. I'll be going out of state so I'm a little nervous. Have you talked to anyone who's going there or already did? If you have what do they think of it? It seems like everyone i've talked to loved so thats definitely promising. I'm just trying to make sure i'm making the right decision.</p>
<p>hi, I'm from Louisville, Kentucky and I have been accepted to University of Minnesota also. I can't get any financial aid because I'm an international student, but I'm still considering going there. If I do decide to go there, then I'm kinda worried about the weather there cuz I heard it was freezing cold!!! is that true?</p>
<p>Both of my parents went to the U and I have tons of friends (including my girlfriend) who will be going or currently are attending. It's a big state school so it is what you make it, but there are some great opportunitys there. A couple of years ago, I shadowed a physics grad student and the facilities they had available to them were great. </p>
<p>As to the weather...the last few winters here have been very tame (its starting to look like a pattern) but it can get cold and it does snow. Some good winter clothing and you should have no problems...just make sure you know how to have fun in the snow.</p>
<p>I lived in Minneapolis for most of my life until i graduated out of H.S. Minneapolis is a wonderful city, just about everything you would need to survive. When I came back to Minneapolis in December, it was negative 10 degrees fehranheit, so bring lots of warm clothes. But the U of M does have a tunnel system, so if its too cold to walk outside, take the tunnels that go under the buildings around campus. (You need to catch the bus outside if you want to go from Minneapolis Campus to Saint Paul campus, about a 5 minute bus ride, and buses come every 4-5 minutes). Don't bring your car if you don't need it, parking here at a minimum is 3.25 a day. </p>
<p>I went here for 2 years while still in H.S. The courses are pretty challenging, and the elimination of general college at the University of Minnesota before the year 2010 would make them a top 3 public research university in the U.S. as compared to our teens-early 20s ranking right now. (General College houses kids who did not get accepted to the U of M, but are given a second chance, about 1/3 of freshmen are in this college at any given time). </p>
<p>Some of the general classes have large lectures (Anywhere from 10 to 500 students). However the recessitation classes are wonderful and T/A's are very knowledgable.</p>
<p>If you're looking for Research Opportunities, you can get them right away as an undergrad, and get paid about $10ish an hour for conducting a project. Also they have specialized freshmen seminars, where its a single-two credit class that teaches to only freshmenn and covers a topic that you would usually not take, something fun ;)</p>
<p>City of Minneapolis = Great Place. Kids play hackysack, and juggle out in the open grass, alot of kids skate and bike around campus. Alot of students do homework on the steps of buildings and on benches and tables outdoors. If you don't like staying outdoors, you can go inside and play video games, shoot pool, play billards in student union buildings.</p>
<p>People are generally very nice. Once on a cold cold day, -20 degrees? lol. Kids were passing out hot cocoa while I was walking to class. If you drop something, someone will definately pick it up and chase after you to give it back to you.</p>
<p>That sounds really good. I'm visiting again this coming weekend just to make sure I'm making the right decision. One question though, do most kids come in with a bunch of friends from high school or are they mostly starting over new?</p>
<p>about 50 percent come into the school with a group of a few friends, 10% come in a crowd (5+ friends) and about 40% come to the school knowing almost no one. Even if you come to the school with friends, the chances you will get the same classes are very slim, and most kids study independently, while 25%ish study in "study group" with a few other kids at a table. During exam time, almost everyone is trying to find the most quiet place possible :P. A good place is one of the dozens of libraries with the math library, in my opinion, the best :P</p>
<p>so i'm probably transferring to chicago next year because the u of m won't give me any money. i think if the u wants to become top 3 it might have to treat its students a little better.</p>
<p>Well I think there is a big difference between the U offering money and Uchicago offering money as it would not take much aid/scholarship to make 4years at the U cost the same as a year at UChicago.</p>
<p>merit based scholorships for freshmen are pretty rare, however there are alot more scholorships after freshmen year from the college that you belong too, with Institute of Technology being the hardest one to get a scholorship from</p>
<p>Money has been a difficult thing to obtain from this school as of late. I applied sometime in November and immediately received the Midwest Student Exchange tuition discount, along with the National Scholarship, basically letting me pay in-state tuition rates. I applied to the Institute of Technology and I am hoping for a freshman assistance scholarship as well. Also, I have been put on "pending status" for IT honors (poor standardized test scores), and I was told that I am one of four kids waiting for a spot. Does anyone know the likelihood of me getting into IT honors, being on a 4 person wait at worst?</p>
<p>I would say you have a pretty good chance...</p>
<p>show them that you are interested (IT is definately worth it).</p>
<p>As they start getting "no thanks" letters from people who have been accepted to privates, those honors spots will open up.</p>
<p>Well it's official. I'm going to be a Golden Gopher. I just signed the papers and now all I do is wait for the fun stuff to start. I visited this past weekend and that pretty much sealed the envelope for me. Good luck to the rest of you on making this decision. Are any of you thinking of joining me next year?</p>
<p>mintyfresh, we should hang out next year. we can go SHOPPING!!!!</p>
<p>haha we definitely should. And we'll start out big- hitting up the Mall of America first!</p>
<p>So besides me and johankian, who else is for sure at Minnesota next year? We've got to make some connections before going into this huge unknown. Anyone?</p>
<p>I'll be at Minnesota next year... !</p>
<p>Now I really can't decide anymore! I just got a call from UMN and the person told me I was accepted into the IT Honors Program. I've narrowed my decision down to Emory and UMN and I'm getting financial aid from neither schools, so money is going to be a big problem for me. Help me decide! Thanks.</p>
<p>Ok, I finally made my decision. I'm goint to University of Minnesota! It will totally be a new experience for me in Minnesota.</p>
<p>Awesome! You're going to have a blast. And I'm guessing UMN would be less expensive so there's two positives.</p>