<p>What kind of people am I going to meet?/Is it diverse?
Is the English department good?
Does it have good dorms, which residence hall is the best?
Does it have a good social and night life?</p>
<p>anyone? there’s go to be someone</p>
<p>C’mon Desiree, you’ve got to do a bit of research on your own. Also, you know, or should know if you live in the upper plains, that ethnic diversity in the Dakotas is limited, with the exception of the native American population, which is significant in South Dakota (the only state that celebrates a holiday for indigenous folks).</p>
<p>Where do you currently reside and what ignited your interest in South Dakota State University?</p>
<p>My sister has a BA in English from SDSU. (Sorry San Diego, but South Dakota had a university first!)</p>
<p>She went on to Arizona for her MLS and had no problem with the academics (this is from someone with a 19 on her ACT). </p>
<p>I also have quite a few relatives who went there as well. (There is even a scholarship in my grandmother’s name)</p>
<p>It is as diverse as one would expect in the upper-midwest. There are Americans of German and Norwegian descent! (sorry, local joke) You also have East-River and West-River kids (if you are from SD, you know what I mean, if not, look at a map). Since SDSU is the ‘ag’ college, you will have quite a few farmers and ranchers who send their kids there. Diversity is where you look for it. If you are not from around there, it will seem diverse in that there are so many different types of people that you do not really know. If you mean what are the percentages of government racial categories…it is not so diverse as schools located in places with higher percentages of those categories. Only about 14% of the state are ‘minorities’. People don’t tend to be as ‘racist’ as you might find in other places, but they can be a little cautious of strangers. Most are genuinely curious and may seem to be a bit nosy compared to people from larger cities.</p>
<p>It has been nearly 40 years since she was there, so I cannot really say which dorms are good. Most likely I know parents of some of your future classmates.</p>
<p>One of the best things about SDSU is the Dairy in the Microbiology building. Fresh Ice Cream that is very good. (If you eat it at night, that would count as ‘night-life’.) There will actually be a good social life, but it will take some getting used to if you are not from around there. Suggested reading ‘How to Talk Minnesotan’ (seriously) the dialect in Eastern South Dakota is similar and the book is hilarious. </p>
<p>I am more than happy to answer specific questions about the culture. Lots of really nice people. </p>
<p>Bumping your thread after 8 minutes? Really?</p>
<p>I’ve done a lot of research of South Dakota and SDSU, I was just asking these questions looking for answers of people who actually have attended the school.</p>
<p>I’m Latin American, in the Caribbeans right now. What ignited my interest was how affordable the college is, and also it’s a brand new area and environment that I would totally love to learn about.</p>
<p>@Torveaux that was really helpful, and made me chuckle a few times.
Thanks for that, and I might ask you more questions lol</p>
<p>Yeah, for shure…you betcha, don’t cha know, Torveaux.</p>
<p>O.K. Desiree, Torveaux has given you a good start. Yes, all SD Board of Regents colleges are very affordable. I’m most familiar with SD School of Mines & Technology, which unfortunately for you does not award English degrees. The little I have heard about SDSU is that it’s a stronger university overall than U of SD. Regarding student life, the basketball team has exacted a few upsets in recent years and has been selected for the NCAA tournament. So that might provide a bit of “zing” in the campus social life. At many U.S. colleges sporting events are a big deal.</p>
<p>My brief exposure to the state of S. Dakota has left me with a favorable impression. And I am a big-city person. An anecdote; traveling several years ago across the country, a friend and I noticed a shy looking solitary Black man at a roadside restaurant in South Dakota. After a moment or two we asked him to join us. It was kick to learn that he was a graduate health sciences student (maybe nursing?) from Haiti, of all places! He said he was enjoying himself in the Dakotas but was completely unprepared for the weather, as he departed the plane upon his arrival only wearing a windbreaker…in January! Brrr. Otherwise, he was happy in SD. I’ve been to SD lately to visit the Black Hills area. The state still appears to be a welcoming place.</p>