Houghton, MI

[Shake]

Either my search skills are really bad or there was still no thread for this place.

 

So I know it is beyond freezing for a very long time, pretty small and very isolated but besides all that, how is it?. I guess is the kind of place you either love or you hate and it is not for everybody...

 

 

- A friend told me that undergrads rule the place, all they think about is partying  and it is almost impossible to get away from them. I currently live in a building packed with them and they are all party animals, obnoxious brats, etc. No way I'm gonna move to the end of the world just to find myself with no chances of social interaction other than binge drinking and sleep deprivation. Is it really so or you think he was exaggerating?

 

- How is the cost of living up there?. I have the feeling that housing is a challenge (especially if you do not want to live close to undergrads) and It looks like housing options are scarce. Comments?

 

-  Can you live without a car (international student)? and without a snowmobile?

 

- Are there stores other than to buy the essentials? I mean is it like 'Northern Exposure' or will I be able to actually buy clothes/see a movie every once in a while?

 

- How do you reach civilization?. How do you get there coming from abroad? Fly to Minneapolis/Chicago/ Detroit and then train/bus?

 

- Do you at least get 3-4 months of decent weather?

 

- Can you practice acquatic sports in the Lake Superior when the weather allows for it?

 

- I am international, female, single and in my mid 30s. Even if I love the place (love the outdoors and cold weather) will I want to kill myself for lack of social interaction? (not to mention the dating scene, although I will hopefully be too busy to date anyway)

 

Thank you for your help!

Edited February 21, 2014 by Shake

[Vene]

Well, I'm not from Houghton, but I grew up in the lower peninsula so I might be able to help a little bit.

 

 

-  Can you live without a car (international student)? and without a snowmobile?

I doubt public transportation is very good there (take this with a grain of salt), but I really don't see why you would need a snowmobile. Although one may be fun to have.

- Do you at least get 3-4 months of decent weather?

Snow will mostly likely melt away in March-April and May is generally pleasant. It stays warm until sometime in September and you can expect a snowfall in November. A dusting in October isn't unheard of.

- Can you practice acquatic sports in the Lake Superior when the weather allows for it?

Depends on what you call an aquatic sport. You can certainly go out there on a boat. If you're really adventurous you could try to swim in the lake, but it's going to be cold.

- I am international, female, single and in my mid 30s. Even if I love the place (love the outdoors and cold weather) will I want to kill myself for lack of social interaction? (not to mention the dating scene, although I will hopefully be too busy to date anyway)

Well, it's an engineering school, so I'd expect it to be very male dominated. But I imagine there's opportunities everywhere for people to socialize and date, otherwise there wouldn't really be people living there.

[Shake]

Thank you SO much for your answers!

I appreciate the help. There's so little info about this school from a grad student perspective....
I talked to a couple of current grads and they both said they are VERY happy with everyting but everyone I've talked to in every program has said pretty much the same thing. Which can only be good, of course