Comments | dambo: So...

dambo

So...

Jun 25, 2005 01:07

if you had to choose between moving to Grand Rapids, MI (Grand Valley State University) and Dallas, TX (Southern Methodist University), which one would you pick and why?

please let me know ASAP, since I have to make a decision by Monday...thanks!

PS: the full story later.

Comments 36

yrsuchariot June 25 2005, 06:12:26 UTC

I looked at their websites and I think I would go with Grand Valley, because it actually offers women's studies classes. Plus, Texas scares me! And I'm wary of academic institutions with religious affiliations.

hope you don't mind the reply jennfromtx June 25 2005, 11:31:09 UTC

Being wary of institutions with religious affiliations is just like a man being wary of going to a Woman's university (like Texas Woman's University here). Most colleges now-a-days do not force any beliefs down your throats even if they were founded on them. Men attend TWU and aren't expected to act like a woman or become one for that matter.

I can see why you would be intimidated by our great state, though. With our massive land coverage and influence in the U.S., Texas tends to be feared. That's one of the many great reasons why I love it here. ;)

Re: hope you don't mind the reply dambo June 25 2005, 11:54:57 UTC

ok tell me please, since your posts were very helpful...tell me what you think about SMU's name and religous affiliation and what kind of school it is, what kind of students i would find there.

this is one of the most important things to me and nobody has addressed it

thanks so much!!! :)

Re: hope you don't mind the reply jennfromtx June 25 2005, 12:06:54 UTC

Here in Dallas, when you tell people you attend or even teach at SMU, they are pretty impressed. It's not your normal college that you would just drop in one day and decide to attend. It is more of an upperclass university since it is private and does cost more than public colleges. Have you checked out this web page? It lists the demographics of those at SMU, including the faculty and diversity. As any college student is most likely to do, students there do enjoy going out and experiencing Dallas night life, but, the campus is close enough to White Rock Lake, a lake known for its biking/running trail that goes 9.2 or so miles around ( ... )

Thread 10

around_midnight June 25 2005, 07:30:08 UTC

What happened to San Francisco?

Texas scares me. =\ But, there are parts of it that are liberal. =)

readytoruck June 25 2005, 22:31:24 UTC

ya my neighborhood's streets are sponsored by a local liberal organization!

haha, Austin's liberals are that New Left type or they're hippies. The elected chief of police for Dallas PD is a black lesbian liberal!

jennfromtx June 26 2005, 01:37:41 UTC

she's actually a hispanic lesbian liberal. ;)

tullster June 25 2005, 09:03:54 UTC

Have either of you ever been to Texas? Or are you just repeating what you think you know about it?

jennfromtx June 25 2005, 11:17:05 UTC

*claps* Bravo! ;)

heh inkychu June 25 2005, 10:28:51 UTC

SMU has women's studies classes...my teacher teaches them there. Duhhhhhhh.

Re: heh inkychu June 25 2005, 10:29:44 UTC

http://www.smu.edu/womens_studies/

Re: heh yrsuchariot June 25 2005, 18:09:14 UTC

Okay, I guess I'm just stupid, because I couldn't find that!

Re: heh inkychu June 27 2005, 08:43:50 UTC

No, just a funny coincidence that you touched on something when I happen to know a women's studies professor there personally :)

jennfromtx June 25 2005, 11:24:50 UTC

Hey there...I saw one of your posts in the dfwlj community and decided to pop over here for a reply. I am in Dallas (actually in a suburb just NW of the city) and find it to be a great place to live. True, the drivers here can be uncourteous, but so can Floridian drivers (especially the gray or blue-haired ones). :) There is a wonderful arts district with lots of diverse music and culure. SMU is more of the affluent type, but to me, that'd be more optimal as a work environment mainly for the contacts and associations available. Don't get me wrong, Grand Rapids is a beautiful area (if you love shoveling snow, then you'd love it up there) and I am sure it has positive attributes as well. But, since I have only lived in Dallas (between the two...originally from Houston) I can only give an opinion about here. Dallas offers many opportunites, just like most major cities. Plus, if you find the SMU campus to be pretentious, just know you only work there and you can commute around town to places that feel more "at home" or more your style. ( ... )