Things I learned in my sophomore year at the U.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Minnesota
1

<p>I wrote a list of things I learned in my first year here <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-minnesota-twin-cities/1531160-things-i-learned-at-minnesota-p1.html"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-minnesota-twin-cities/1531160-things-i-learned-at-minnesota-p1.html&lt;/a>, so I'd figure I'd write another one for my sophomore year. Like the last one, this has nothing to do with academics.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>It’s super freaking cold up here! Oh and the school actually does shut down if it gets that cold. Thank you polar vortex.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re pre-med, and you think you’re “so focused” on doing medicine and think you won’t do anything else, you will likely graduate late. You should probably find some alternate studies, because you will likely change. </p></li>
<li><p>This is probably one of the most underrated schools due to its relative easiness getting a job after graduation in the Twin Cities and its low cost.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot more people than I would’ve thought actually change their major. Lots of people come in with a lot of AP credit so the assumption is that students know very well what they want to do and graduate within 3 years, some even 2. As a result, a lot of people graduate late. This fact makes you feel a little bit better. </p></li>
<li><p>The NFL is way more popular than college football here. </p></li>
<li><p>Chicago is not considered a Midwestern city, and nobody here considers me to be Midwestern. Apparently Midwesterners really do look at Chicago as the New York of the Midwest. </p></li>
<li><p>On that note, a lot of people here judge you if you’re from Chicago (or the suburbs). </p></li>
<li><p>A Packers fan will never date someone from Chicago. That’s OK, though, because when was the last time Packers fans were known to be attractive?</p></li>
<li><p>The university and the city really love construction: so many new apartments, the new light rail, and the new stadium. </p></li>
<li><p>Rap music isn’t as big here as one would think (or at least I thought). I understand some of the lyrics of rap are weird, but people get too political about them (these are usually people from Middlebrook).</p></li>
<li><p>Speaking of, Middlebrook is still considered the “weird dorm.” The unfortunate part is that it’s partly true. I’d apologize to Middlebrook residents, but most of them agree, and I used to live there so I’d know pretty well.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve still never been to a high school party or a freshman party, but I’m pretty sure they’re the same. </p></li>
<li><p>The hockey riots after we lost the championship (which actually weren’t really riots) were pretty funny, until people’s cars got totaled and buildings were set on fire. </p></li>
<li><p>A lot of people were really upset with those riots, including the president, but college students, when e-mailed not to do something, will go ahead and do it, because they were told not to. </p></li>
<li><p>When a college team that does really well plays in a game that causes rioting, nobody knows who to blame, who went out of line, and who caused it. </p></li>
<li><p>The reporters at those riots were pretty f*cking stupid for trying to get coverage of what was going on in Dinkytown. Seriously, did they actually think they would not get interrupted by anyone?</p></li>
<li><p>People get very upset over usage over the word c*t, even just when used for when losing in a video game or referring to a television character.</p></li>
<li><p>Greek life here exists, but it’s not at all popular.</p></li>
<li><p>In fact, a lot of students judge frat boys and sorority sisters, and a lot from Carlson.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of students here judge way too much in general.</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t know if this is for most colleges but a lot of people here are Liberals (advocates for gay rights, feminists,
anti-racists, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>If someone says something along the lines of “Oh yeah I love Black people,” they’re probably racist. </p></li>
<li><p>The “Minnesota Daily” often times bring up the lack of diversity and the university claims that they’re working hard to increase diversity here. </p></li>
<li><p>Drunkdonald’s (the McDonald’s in Dinkytown) is hilarious to watch on Friday and Saturday nights. </p></li>
<li><p>That McDonald’s even has bouncers on occasion. </p></li>
<li><p>Basically anywhere in Dinkytown is great to watch on a weekend night; you will find yourself in long lines when you’re drunk, especially at Drunkdonald’s and Mesa Pizza.</p></li>
<li><p>Coffman Union is the only student union in the Big Ten that has an escalator. The tour guides mention this quite a bit when they’re there.</p></li>
<li><p>Our rivalry with UW-Madison isn’t like Ohio State-Michigan; I grew up a big Ohio State fan, and I had to get adjusted with not detesting our rival school. It’s more like a “friendly” rivalry. Still, better dead than red!</p></li>
<li><p>They really try to get students to go to the games by handing out free tickets. This has gone down since the year before, though. </p></li>
<li><p>You’re not an alcoholic if you’re in college.</p></li>
<li><p>A lot of hipsters or hipster-like people attend here.</p></li>
<li><p>You will most likely need to be in Greek life if you want the true “pre-gaming” football experience. </p></li>
<li><p>Greek life is very expensive and time consuming. </p></li>
<li><p>Mesa Pizza is so good on its own. When one is drunk it tastes like heaven.</p></li>
<li><p>The campus is so ginormous you get so tired after going back to your place or to a class. Walk with a friend. </p></li>
<li><p>Minnesotans are so reserved and quiet. I was able to (unintentionally) cut in front of a huge line to get a free
vegetarian burger, and no one said st.</p></li>
<li><p>The north has so many natural blonde girls. Gotta love it!</p></li>
<li><p>I love this school, but Iowa and UW rage way harder than they do here. I doubt you can find a party on a weeknight. </p></li>
<li><p>On that note, making friends here doesn’t seem to be that easy. Maybe I’m too ugly for someone to want to talk to me, but a fake smile isn’t what one wants to see when one says “hi.”</p></li>
<li><p>After very cold months, warm weather is very uncomfortable. It takes a week to start appreciating it.</p></li>
<li><p>All of the crime alerts in the Fall semester showed me that too many students here are WAY too trusting. Really if some shady looking person asks to "borrow" your cellphone at night, WHY would you give it to them? Use your better judgement, don't be too trusting in a city (no matter how small), walk with a group of friends, cover all of your stuff, and don't show off anything flashy. </p></li>
<li><p>A Minnesotan’s job is to hate Wisconsin, the whole state and every single team, particularly the Badgers and the Packers.</p></li>
<li><p>The 2014 Frozen Four semifinal game between the Gophers and UND is the greatest hockey game that ever happened and have been played. </p></li>
<li><p>The 2014 Frozen Four final is the worst hockey game that ever happened. </p></li>
<li><p>Union College sucks.</p></li>
<li><p>So does UND and UW.</p></li>
<li><p>This school is awesome, no matter all of the bad things you can think of. Trust me, in the end, it kicks a*.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I think that leaves the majority of things I learned in my sophomore year. The last two just needed to be said. Rah!</p>

2

<p>hi quirky - I get a kick out of your lists. My S is leaning toward UMN next year and was on the fence about Middlebrook mostly because it seems cut off and the nasty walk to east bank in the 6 mos of winter in MN. I’m curious about your #11 comment about Middlebrook being weird. Why is it considered weird by students living there and not living there? Would you live there freshman yr if you had it to do over again? I thought the positives were that there may be more OOS students there incl international students (we’re from MN so the only negative that S could think of to go to the U was being around the same ppl he has always been around) and that students are less about partying and a bit more studious than avg population. I’d love to hear anything else you have to say about Middlebrook. Thanks!</p>

3

<p>Thank you lol. Middlebrook students are considered “weird” because a lot of students there are known for being more reserved and a lot of students just chose to stay in. The majority of the OOS students are from Wisconsin or the Dakotas; I’m from Illinois, and the one reason I chose here was because I didn’t know anyone else; I wanted to start afresh. That actually ended up being more difficult for me to adapt. This certainly isn’t a party school, but I don’t think it’s because so many students are studious. A lot of students explore the cities and there are other activities on campus.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t live in Middlebrook again because I felt most were reserved and didn’t really want to go out. I do like to party and go out. Also, it was further away from everything else, and I thought that it was separated from the rest of the campus. All of my classes were on east bank so it was definitely a pain to walk all the way there. There are buses now so it might not be as bad. There are also lots of over-political students there. It’s obviously not true for all residents, and I do have friends from Middlebrook. What does your son want?</p>

4

<p>Son has mixed feelings about where to stay. We are from MN so he wants to meet ppl from other areas - so thought Middlebrook may have an advantage since it’s advertised as housing honors and intl students (assuming students from OOS may be honors students coming in part for merit money or honors classes). He did note how bad the walk would be in the winter to east bank. I think he better spend some time visiting some of the dorms this fall. </p>

<p>Where did you end up moving to after Middlebrook?</p>

5

<p>OP: How do you know so much about parties at the U if you’ve never been to one? Also how do you know about Greek Life if you aren’t in it?</p>

<p>@Momme32 Have your son check out the 17th Avenue Residence Hall. I’m staying in it this fall and it is luxurious compared to all other dorms. It’s many people’s first choice and it is just awesome. Best food, best rooms, best location, everything. He will have to submit housing extremely early or be in an LLC to get in though. I would highly recommend it. I’m a transfer student and rooms are 35 square feet bigger than my dorm at my old school. Plus you can see the Minneapolis skyline from the 5th and 6th floors</p>

6

<p>@MomMe32 a lot of out of state students domestic were from the Dakotas and Wisconsin, probably like 90%; I noticed a lot of the international students generally stuck together, especially if they were from the same country. Some did converse with Americans, but not a lot. I live in an apartment close to TCF Bank Stadium called Argyle house; it’s close to the Superblock if you know where that is. 17th Avenue is probably the best dorm for anyone, but it fills up fast. </p>

<p>@TransferGopher I have been to plenty of parties; where did I say I haven’t been to one? And you just hear stuff about Greek life from others and the U. There was a whole newspaper article on the rising prices of Greek Life and it’s common knowledge about how much time consuming it is being in a Frat and/or pledging one. </p>

7

<p>@quirky294 whoops, I misunderstood you in 12. My bad!</p>

8

<ol>
<li><p>That’s because the local NFL team would only be competitive in the NCAA and the Gophers, well, when I was a freshman there they only beat Rice.</p></li>
<li><p>I figured that walking to class should count as a PE credit. I rode my bike across the river between classes all winter long. </p></li>
<li><p>No way someone from Minnesota or the Dakotas was looking to get a veggie burger, even a free one. Either the line was full of FIBs or they were just standing around laughing at someone who would actually eat a veggie-burger. Why is it that vegetarians always want their food to look/taste like meat. Just eat the meat! I never want my burger to look like a veggie.</p></li>
<li><p>Add this to number 1 and you understand why so many people actually live there. </p></li>
</ol>

9

<p>We enjoyed our visit to Minneapolis last week and I can understand why so many people relocate there. Culver’s alone was enough to convince me! Y’all do have mosquitoes, but that’s the price you pay for all the beautiful lakes and the Mississippi. So excited for son relocating there!</p>

10

<p>Nice list! I’m from Minnesota and am going to the U this fall so I’ll make a few comments.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Cold, of course. Summer always makes me miss snow…and snow makes me miss summer.</p></li>
<li><p>I like to hear that!</p></li>
<li><p>I’ve never paid attention to football. The Super Bowl will be held here my senior year…not sure how I feel about thatyet.</p></li>
<li><p>Yup, I would not really consider Chicago part of the “Midwest” culture-wise. Definitely our NYC.</p></li>
<li><p>I’ll be staying in MB and judging from kids I’ve seen on the FB page, there are going to be a lot of strange kids. That’s true in any dorm though. I know a lot of cool kids that will be in MB with me though.</p></li>
<li><p>Do people use this elsewhere and not offend people?</p></li>
<li><p>Definitely a reason why I chose the U over Madison.</p></li>
<li><p>Hooray Minnesota!</p></li>
<li><p>When someone cuts in front of me, I’m always too afraid to say anything. Could be the Minnesota nice thing, but mostly I’m afraid I’ll get hurt…</p></li>
</ol>

11

<p>@Torveaux‌ always picking on FIBs lol. That line was just standing there waiting for a burger from a barbecue; I just went up and asked if they had a veggie burger and they just gave me one. My roommates said that’s very stereotypical Minnesotan.</p>

<p>@Montegut‌ That’s good; I’m assuming you’re southern with “y’all.” I hope he’s ready for -20 degree weather!</p>

<p>@heptagirl‌ Yeah I’m definitely missing snow haha. It’s so hot here. I might’ve been too harsh with MB in my lists, but a lot of people there were very different from myself. I’ve used back home and it upset people if I called them that (obviously). They just told me that, though. And that’s so Minnesota haha. It’s probably a general northern thing.</p>

12

<p>I actually used that word once on a movie character and everyone in my room got very upset. </p>

13

<p>@Momme32 Just to add a differing opinion regarding Middlebrook. I have a LOT of experience with that residence hall so I just want to put that out there.</p>

<p>Middlebrook is a fantastic place to live. Every residence hall has a different feel and this one is no exception.</p>

<p>Potential cons:
-walking across the bridge (or just taking the connector) to get to classes
-not being constantly in the middle of all of the action</p>

<p>However potential pros:
-having the ability to be academic and taking yourself to the action
-meeting people from different countries/backgrounds (all LLCs in Middlebrook attract a much more diverse crowd)
-being close to West Bank classes</p>

<p>I found that I was able to party when I wanted and make friends when I wanted. I was also able to be very academic and buckle down without people being too loud down the hall. Walking across campus ends up not being too big of a deal after you get used to it. My friends and I grew to actually like that walk back home after a night out.</p>

<p>So the experience will be what you make it. If you are into partying you will find those kids that party in Middlebrook. If you’re not, you will find kids that like to bake or watch movies. After all, it is the largest residence hall which means even more opportunities to meet people and pursue interests. </p>

14

<p>@quirky294 I’m definitely looking to apply here as one of my schools, but I’m on the bubble as to whether I should attend, should I get accepted. I’ve been scouring the internet for some inside information and your lists are helpful.</p>

<p>All in all, can you create a general list of pros and cons for Minnesota, because I’d be happy to hear input on this matter. I’m mostly interested in the student body and atmosphere, but any advice is good advice. Tips specifically or generally to the University would be great!</p>

<p>Plus you said you were from Chicago, or the suburbs, or something to that effect. I’m curious as to how the move affected you, because I too am from Chicago, by that I mean a suburb.</p>

<p>And if you wouldn’t mind, how did you do in high school that lead to your acceptance, and did you get any scholarships?</p>

<p>I know I’m asking a lot, but you seem to know your way around. Plus, my family doesn’t really have the time to visit the campus and get live insight. (I however have visited Minneapolis for a Journalism Conference and it is quite swell). I’d be happy to learn about all the nooks and crannies that the internet and people as enlightened as you can provide.</p>

15

<p>@confusedteen15‌ Yeah sure. I think the pros and cons depend mainly on what kind of a person you are. For me, the pros were a lot of nice people and the great job opportunities and academics here (like you needed to hear that). Some of the cons for me personally were that a lot of students here are too political and a lot of people here seem to be reserved. I just wanted to be around a lot more relaxed and social students. On the weekends in Dinkytown (the unofficial hub for lots of students) the overall vibe is pretty great. If you tell me the kind of activities you like doing or what kind of a person you are I can create a better list for you.</p>

<p>With regards to my moving to Minnesota, I noticed a lot of northerners are very passive aggressive and defensive like as though as if they always have something to prove, especially to Chicagoans. Which suburb are you exactly from?</p>

<p>I had around a 3.6 GPA in high school with a general upward trend. I didn’t get many scholarships, and it’s actually very hard to get scholarships unless you’re in-state. I also was on the varsity tennis team and I had an internship before I started my senior year. </p>

<p>You can ask me more, either on here or personally message me. I don’t mind at all. Are you hoping to study journalism?</p>

16

<p>@quirky294 I’ve actually dabbled into journalism, but I’ve found my strengths to be anywhere but! You’re almost like the carbon copy of me from what I’ve read. I too am playing varsity tennis, and I’m from a Northern Suburb that’s probably closer to Wisconsin than to Chicago! Your grades are a bit better than me, but thanks for the insight!</p>

<p>Weatherwise, similar, better, or worse than the weather we get in Chicago? Although I don’t particularly enjoy the cold and want to move somewhere warm for college, Minnesota may be an exception to the rule.</p>

<p>And, how’s the tennis scene up there? Are you on the team or have you tried out or do you play intramurally?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

17

<p>@confusedteen15‌ Wow that’s cool that you and I are alike haha. The incoming GPA disparity here is pretty large. I’ve definitely met students that made me question the admissions process, and I’ve met others for whom this was their safety school. </p>

<p>Weather here is pretty similar in the summer. Winter is brutal, as you’d imagine. During the polar vortex, the wind chill here made the wind chill in Chicago look cute. 20 degrees got to be pretty warm for me. I can handle cold weather much better when going home.</p>

<p>I saw the tennis team play a couple of times. I tried out for the club team last year but I didn’t make it. I know one of the captains well and he actually told me that year was unusually competitive. If you want to try out, you should definitely look up and e-mail the coordinator because it’s not exactly well-advertised.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

18

<p>Wait, @quirky294 when did you get your decision back? I applied two days ago! If I can get in and choose to go, we definitely gotta hang out. You gotta show me the ropes around town!</p>

19

<p>@confusedteen15‌ I applied around the same time and I got my decision in February. And yeah sure thing haha.</p>

20

<p>@quirkey294 I was looking through this thread after getting accepted into the U the other day. I loved reading your insight as I am also from the suburbs of Chicago. I had a few more questions if you wouldn’t mind answering it would be greatly appreciated!
If you could do it all over again, would you go to the U?
Did you have a hard time adjusting/making friends not knowing anyone? (This is my greatest fear)
What dorm would you suggest for freshman?
Thanks so much:)</p>