Midwestern Days

[pollaczek]

A week ago today Emma and I landed in St. Joseph, MI, her hometown on the southwestern Lake Michigan beachshore, and land of ice-cream, fudge, and spectacular Bells Beer (actually based in lovely Kalamazoo). All of this time has been greatly appreciated after two happy weeks on the road, camping in northeastern Oregon at Wallowa Lake, driving

Comments

[ganatronic]

My parents both went to college there. And I was thinking about applying there for grad school. But I'm not so sure. I remember the campus being nice. But from what I've heard, the entire region is so middle-of-the-giant-field. I look forward to hearing your take on it. I'm sure it's a fun place. Lively music scene, I bet.

[pollaczek]

I know, the whole region is so middle-of-the-giant-field. The only advantage to hill-less areas is that the biking is a breeze (save in the winters!). But in a way, I feel more than prepared for it after spending four years in the even more podunk place of Oberlin, Ohio. And the university honestly seems to truly define the whole two towns, offering the best employment opportunities, the most young people, and the cheapest (and presumably tastiest) nearby food. And the music scene, please please please, I hope is vibrant and accessibly cheap (unlike that of southern california). Still, it wouldn't have been my first choice of place to live, so I understand your hesitation! I don't know what type of graduate program you are thinking of applying to, but if it has anything to do with Natural Resources or Environmental Science, I'll have Emma to keep me posted. And hey, if both your parents made it through the place just fine!...

[ganatronic]

Well, only one of my parents actually made it through the place. My dad spent too much of his time traveling through the steam tunnels and playing in rock bands, so he ended up dropping out.

I'm not applying for natural resources or environmental sciences, but rather social work. I really want to go to the east coast, preferably nyc, and I'm trying to weigh if it's worth the debt.

[ganatronic]

I meant to ask: do you have any opinion of Madison, both as a town and as a university? David recommends the place, and another friend to me the town is great. (I'm also looking at communications/journalism as a major, fyi.)

[pollaczek]

I hear you on the attractiveness of the east coast. Certainly, too me it seemed like a strange and bewildering place for an undergrad, but now I find the idea of living in a place like NYC quite compelling on some level. Still, I hear you on the expense: the excellence of the program would have to greatly outweigh going into serious debt paying for tuition and housing

[ganatronic]

Thanks for the info! Researching schools really takes up a lot of time. But hopefully I'll be able to make some good decisions. Madison looks dope -- and maybe I'll be able to visit at some point in the near future. It really helps to get firsthand (or secondhand) feedback, like you're giving me. Otherwise, all the websites start blending together.
Funny thing: my parents received the UCI alumni newsletter the day you posted this. Well, I thought I it was funny.