<p>I used to live in a suburb of the Twin Cities when I was in elementary school, since then I've lived in DC and this horrible redneck town in the Florida panhandle, called Pensacola. I really like UMN, but I'm still not sold. I really want to be in a very progressive environment after living in a regressive town for the past few years. Right now, I'm stuck choosing between Berkeley, UW-Seattle, or UMN for college. Berkeley is of course progressive and socially active and Seattle is also chill and progressive. I'm worried that I'll be surrounded by the "midwestern ideals" if I go to UMN. Does anyone know how progressive UMN or the Twin Cities are?</p>
<p>you’re debating whether to go to berekley or UMN?!?!?!?!
I mean berekley is really hard to get into…so many would kill to go there!</p>
<p>You’re calling Pensacola a redneck town? Where would you ever get that opinion??? haha</p>
<p>It sounds like you have a tough choice. Out of those three, UMN is probably the most conservative overall, but I would definitely call Minneapolis-St. Paul progressive cities. They consistently rank among America’s most literate, smart, and exciting cities. And because UMN is basically downtown, it’s in a pretty urban neighborhood, which usually equals “progressive.” </p>
<p>But coming from Pensacola, even Mobile looks “progressive”… So it’s certainly not going to get worse moving to Seattle, Minneapolis, or especially Berkeley lol.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m stuck choosing between UMN and CU-Boulder, so I’m in a very similar boat.</p>
<p>norabelle- ha, i know! people say i’m ridiculous not to go to berkeley, but it’s so freaking expensive for OOS compared to UMN.</p>
<p>AT9- haha. thanks about the advice about it’s progressiveness. yeah i know, aren’t Minneapolis and Seattle tied for the most literate city? or something like that? yeah, when i visited i really liked how campus was set in the city. lol about Mobile! Boulder is nice, i’m not too familiar with the CU though, but your decision sounds equally difficult! i like how i’m in the honors program at UMN, because i was too lazy to write another essay for UW, haha. i like how UW accepted me as a junior. and all three have excellent study abroad programs, so this is just extremely difficult.</p>
<p>You are correct… I believe the literacy ranking is 1.Minneapolis, 2. Seattle, and 3. St. Paul. I know, it’s pretty geeky that I know that, but urban studies and geography are in the running for my second major, so I love studying things like that haha. </p>
<p>I still don’t know where I’m going for sure, but both Boulder and Minneapolis are awesome. And it sounds like you have some great options as well! I’ll just be glad to get out of the Southeast. I mean, I’m a conservative, and I can’t stand the backwardness and ignorance in this region of the country! haha</p>