University of Minnesota

I loved UMD! The tunnels are a lifesaver in winter. Professors were great and knew us well since it's small. The education program had a cohort of about 30, which felt supportive. Duluth feels like a small town—easy to navigate, but housing is limited. Yet there's so much natural beauty: parks, trails, waterfalls right near downtown.

I love spotting local artists' tags around campus. Once you start looking, you'll notice different styles. My favorite is the Keith Haring-inspired art on the east bank. It makes the campus feel vibrant and creative.

I lived in LP for six years and liked it for the most part. The 2 bus gets you to West Bank, and the 6 runs down Hennepin to campus areas like Dinkytown and Stadium Village. Not much for bars or restaurants—Lotus is good though—but it’s easy to get to Uptown or downtown. I’d avoid anything around Grant and LaSalle; it can get sketchy but has improved since Speedway closed.

I would suggest checking out Marko Apartments. It's very affordable and not too far from campus.

I took CPSY2301 and honestly, I loved it. The professor made the lectures engaging and fun, which is rare for a lecture class. I'd highly recommend this course to anyone.

Living on the West Bank, the Washington Ave Bridge is full of memories. I spent countless hours crossing the river, whether in the sunlight heading to class or on cold winter mornings dashing through the indoor walkway. I still love the campus and Dinkytown, and the Weismann art installation is a favorite. Some new high-rises bother me, but Mesa Pizza and Annie's Parlor are still amazing.

I never had to reactivate my transit pass, even during the summer. I worked an on-campus job for two summers and my student group required daily trips on the Green Line and the 2 and 6 buses. It was really convenient and reliable.

As a CSE student at U of M, we're told never to take courses S/N. It seems weird because the few liberal education courses we can take are usually GPA boosters, so it would be dumb not to let them count toward your GPA.

The Minneapolis campus is split into east and west banks, and where your classes are really matters. Driving is a nightmare with limited, expensive parking far from buildings. Biking is great if you can handle the cold. The best part is the metro transit pass included in student fees, which makes apartment hunting near transit routes a smart move.

I highly recommend not taking 20 credits your first semester. No matter who you are, that first semester is the worst—you need a lot of time for yourself. Drop to at most 16, but honestly I'd suggest 14 or even 12. I took 17 my first semester and never again.

I spent a summer here and found campus pretty quiet but still with a few events happening. It was a nice change from the busy semesters. Overall, the peaceful atmosphere was enjoyable, and there were enough activities to keep things interesting.

I live by Loring Park and take the express bus to campus every day. That part is nice. But I'd warn others: avoid Steven's Square. You'll get followed at night and break-ins are common.