Minnesota

**zappa22** · 02-24-2009, 04:36 PM

Hi all,

I am new here in TM. Yesterday I received an e-mail from UMN with my first admission offer. I am quite happy and I would be very thankful if some of you guys could share information about the program itself (difficulty, faculty, students) and also about how is life in Minneapolis/St.Paul. (i.e. life cost, housing, leisure, transport etc).

Thanks in advance and good luck to you all.

**pevdoki1** · 02-24-2009, 05:27 PM

Since everyone gets funding and no one gets kicked out for failing the prelims, the environment is very cooperative. Some problem sets are very long, and tests can be very difficult, but I really haven't been that stressed out this year. I feel that I'm getting very good training here, and I don't think anyone in the first year class is unhappy with their choice.

If you're into theory, Minnesota is a very good place to be. If you want to do some kind of experimental stuff (or New Keynesian macro), you're probably better off someplace else.

As for living in Minneapolis, I like it. Cultural life here is quite rich for a city its size. The Guthrie Theater (15 minute walk from the department) is absolutely world class; I've seen 4 plays there so far, and they have all been phenomenal. The Minnesota Orchestra is great - I used to live in NYC, and I think it's better than the New York Philharmonic. If you're into jogging or biking, there are special lanes for it all around the city (jogging along the river is especially nice). Finally, some of my classmates biked to the department the whole winter, so it's really not as brutal as you would expect.

Congrats!

P.S. The cost of living here is very reasonable. I split this apartment with another first year for $550/month, but some people pay much less. The bus to school is 2 blocks away from my place, and a really good supermarket is 5 blocks away (though I admit I got lucky in this respect).

**zappa22** · 02-24-2009, 07:40 PM

thanks pevdoki1!

**teflon_johnny** · 02-24-2009, 08:02 PM

What a thoughtful and helpful post!

**jeeves0923** · 02-24-2009, 08:09 PM

Waitlisted. Hmm. What a strange process :-). I don't anticipate tying up anyone else's spot...

**dixiechick** · 02-24-2009, 08:57 PM

Is Minnosota done with its application process?

All those people who did not get e-mail up till now are out of game?

**boiboi1986** · 02-24-2009, 09:01 PM

how do u find the cold

**C152dude** · 02-24-2009, 11:59 PM

pevdoki1: you rock. I bought my flyout tickets last week. Will you be around for the weekend? I am looking forward to Saturday night -- I hear it can go pretty late.

**thesparky** · 02-25-2009, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by pevdoki1

no one gets kicked out for failing the prelims

Wait what? No matter how much you fail, you won't get kicked out?

**jbs02002** · 02-25-2009, 02:25 PM

I agree with pretty much everything pevdoki1 said. I am a first year and it's been a lot of fun so far. The first semester is a lot of work, especially the second quarter. And yes, no one gets explicitly kicked out for failing prelims. I think they might encourage you to switch to the ag econ program or something if you still haven't passed prelims by your third year or so, but you more or less get as many tries as you need.

I'm also one of the guys who bikes to school no matter what the weather is like, so I can honestly say that it really isn't that bad. My grandparents live here and they have said that this winter has been the coldest ans snowiest in a long while, but it has really been very tolerable.

The flyout last year was really impressive, so if anyone is considering UMN you should really try to make time to go. It's a lot of fun, too. When I was visiting last March, I was up until 4am one night partying.