Living in Minnesota?

starlight13 · Jan 26, 2008

What is Minnesota like?
How are the nursing schools?
Whats the weather like?
What are the best parts to live in?
Do the nursing schools have long waitlists also?
Are there lots of activities for a young person?
Is it a good place to raise a family?

While I can't really speak to the nursing schools here I can talk about the other points you asked. I was born and raised in MN and then moved away for 17 months to go to nursing school in NC only to come back here. I love MN and all it has to offer. As for the weather, well it's cold in the winter and hot in the summer. We definitely have all four seasons and that's one of the things I really like and that I didn't feel I got so much in the south. You get used to the cold and while the summer days are hot the nights cool off and it's great to be outside. I have always lived in the Twin Cities area and really like it. The suburbs are a great place to raise a family and you're still close enough to the city to enjoy everything there. There are tons of museums, concerts, theater events, bars, everything. There's plenty to do as both a young person and a person with kids. I hope this helps, if you have any more specific questions let me know.

freezebabyRN · Jan 29, 2008

Hello! I'm not sure where exactly you would be coming from, BUT the winters are extremely COLD. Just recently we had 30 BELOW ZERO with the wind chill! We are looking at moving away just because I am sick of the extremly cold winters here. summers are hot in July and HUMID! I've lived in MN and WI all of my life. YEs there are very long waiting lists for nursing schools esp if your going for you ADN. I actually went to a school that did not have a waiting list closer to Duluth, MN (Cloquet, MN), and the plan was they were not going to have a waiting list you either get in or you do not and would have to reapply. You will have your gen ed classes to complete first. No clue if you went to a 4 year university though. The other day at work one of the girls said there is no waiting list at a school in Coon Rapids (not sure when school that is), but truely most of them you will see anywhere from 2-5 year waiting list.

Hope that helps!

MNmom3boys · Jan 29, 2008

The school your co-worker was referring to was probably Anoka-Ramsey Community College, and the reason they have no waiting list is that they enroll each new class on a first come first serve basis - so you had better plan on getting in line early. (Like you would for hot concert tickets... :no: )

To Pumpkin -

Your questions are rather opened ended, but I want to keep from writing a book, so I'll try to be brief. :nurse: Minnesota is a big(ger) state - what it's like and the best parts to live in totally depend on where you are in the state and what you want in a place to live. (Same thing for activites - are you looking for "culture" or are you looking for "outdoors adventure", or the "party scene", etc?) The state ranges from the Twin Cities metro area all the way to extremely isolated farming or mining communities and everywhere in between, depending on the part of the state in question. As for the weather, I have to concur with previous posters, and add that it is currently -5 w/out windchill, and forecasted to get down to -15 tonight (again w/out windchill) in the metro area. July/August are commonly in the 80s/90s.

I am most aware of ADN nursing programs in the metro area. I am not aware of any w/ "waiting lists" because they enroll each class seperately. Depending on their admission policy - see ARCC above - some enroll based on Gen Ed reqs finished and GPA, some on first come, first serve. You would need to check out specific schools for a more complete answer than that.

As far as the best part to live in, and a good place to raise a family - we have been in this house (in the NW suburbs) for 15 years and are raising our three sons here. We are very happy w/ our neighborhood, schools, job opportunities, etc. As w/ anything, your results may vary...

Good-luck w/ your reasearch, and your possible upcoming move.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Feb 5, 2008

The weather isn't that bad here. There is about 4-6 weeks each year when MN has the best weather in the world. (Late April/May. Sept/Early Oct.) I really would not want to live anywhere else except MN for the long term.

I know that Ridgewater CC in Willmar/Hutch has a first come admission policy for nursing school. If you want to get into a program and are wiling to apply to several schools you should get in without much of a wait.

AprilRNhere · Feb 6, 2008

Comming from someone who grew up in GA...here's my opinion.

It's COLD COLD COLD. Unless you live in the cities, there's little to do in rural MN. It's difficult to get ahold of things I'm used to having access too.

BUT- pay vs cost of living is near the top of the list for nurses in the US. And...it's a great place to raise a family. Good mid/west values, a bit of a slower pace of life. After planning to move back to the south for 5 years, when i finally finished school, I decided to stay.

Good luck to you whatever you decide!

FromNH2VAwherenext · Feb 25, 2008

I interviewed at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) 10 days ago and I love the hospital... but I'm a single 35 yr old who needs cultural and outdoorsy stuff to do. I talked a few strangers' ears off on the plane about stuff to do in Rochester and the 20-something said NOTHING and the 40 something who's raising a family said it's great... what about those of you who are in my situation (THERE are still 35 yr old singles out there, right? :crying2: ... Has anyone had any luck on the dating or social scene in Rochester? I'm originally from a small town in NH (5,000) and now live in Richmond which is slightly overwhelming... just so you know my background and what I'm comparing Rochester to. I am waiting patiently (?) for Mayo to get back to me re: the oncology RN position I applied for.

deleern · Feb 25, 2008

I live in the Northwest corner, they Had school 2 hours late d/t Windchills of -50.... yes -50... I have seen them cancel school when it is -80... that does not happen often. we have an excellent nursing program at our community college. It is open enrollment in the LPN program and its by application in the RN. I had to wait one semester and then I started the Partime program. I had all the required classes. Done by the fall semester, so I had just one class and clinicals. We get a lot of transplants from the metro area because they are tired of the long waitlists, i have heard 3-5years.

I don't know about activities for young people. while i was in nursing school I didn't have time for anything extra. It is a great place to raise a family.

I have lived here my whole life and will be 49 soon. never considered moving. enjoy both winter and summer... but Love sping and fall.

freezebabyRN · Feb 27, 2008

Good luck on getting the Oncology job. I think Rochester would be a great option. I heard nothing but good things the healthcare system on the patient side, and working there. The buildings are beautiful (Been there once). Anyway, check out http://www.city-data.com/city/Rochester-Minnesota.html for more details. I love to use citydata.com to find out things about cities. The average age is your age (35); however, no clue how many singles are running around. Good luck!

Brian, ASN, RN · Feb 28, 2008

Yes, good luck on the Oncology Job. Wikipedia is another great option for city details and resources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester,_Minnesota

FromNH2VAwherenext · Feb 28, 2008

Good luck on getting the Oncology job. I think Rochester would be a great option. I heard nothing but good things the healthcare system on the patient side, and working there. The buildings are beautiful (Been there once). Anyway, check out http://www.city-data.com/city/Rochester-Minnesota.html for more details. I love to use citydata.com to find out things about cities. The average age is your age (35); however, no clue how many singles are running around. Good luck!

I checked out the city-data site when I was first looking at relocating to Rochester and it was pretty discouraging... too cold, not enough going on, etc. etc. Maybe I'll try wikipedia, as Brian suggested, too. It never hurts to hear from "real" people on forums though ;-)