Hey, I'll see if I can help. Popoy is probabally the person who should be anwsering this, but he's studying for the boards so I'll take a shot at rooting for DMU.
There are some things that I dont like about DMU, the 1st year lecture hall being high and pretty much the only thing on my list.
It's true that there is a lot of construction that is going on campus but I dont think it's going to be that bad. Let me tell you why. My undergrad campus has in the middle of a big building boom since my sophmore year, and having lived through 4 new buildings and a parking structure being put up I can tell you the worst part about construction is the first couple of weeks of each building, this is the time that they pound in the supprots. But after that it's gravey, there is verry little noise, at least from what I've noticed any way. The good thing is that at DMU they are just building 1 big builing and they are going to start that at the end of this month and classes dont start untill August, so the heavy stuff should be done by then.
As far as the 1st year lecture hall goes, yeah it's a big and flat room, but the good thing is that there are 3 huge screens that come down from the cealing so that you can see the lectures.
Andrea is right there are no internet connections at the desk's in the lecture hall, but that's not a bad thing. Why is that not a bad thing you ask? I'll tell you why, because the whole campus is wired for wire-less internet. Basically you can be anywhere on campus or starbucks and many other places and log on to the internet, hence no need for hard wired internet connetion anywhere on campus. Did I mention that they are installing the wireless internet at 7 or so apt complexes around school where most of the DMU students live?
You dont have a wireless capable computer, not a problem, cuz every incomming student will get issued a Gateway 450, wireless ready and with all the medcial software included. You get to keep the computer after you graduate. You also get not 1 but 2 Handheald computers that are wire-less ready. 1 your 1st year and 1 the begingin of your 3rd year again with all the medical software uploaded.
The old gym is torn down now and all the equipment is in a new temporary gym untill the new building is finished. I think that they've also bought some new equipment, but dont hold me to that. Because the temporary gym does not have a place to play baskett ball or other court games, during the construction of the new gym the school will pay 50% of the cost of getting a YMCA membership. DMU is also big on student wellness. If you want more info on that go to the student services page on the
DMU website.
As far as the cold, yeah it's going to be cold, but I dont think there is going to be much of difference in temp. But the good news about DMu is that most of the buildings have sky walks on them and so do the downtown buildings so you can avoid the cold if you want to.
As far as the age difference is the schools it not that big Kirksville was founded in 1892 and DMU was founded by Dr. S.S. Still a child or grandchild of AT Still in 1898. I really doubt that a difference is age of 6 year is going to have a big effect on tradition and history when you consider that both schools are over a hundred years old (105 years old for DMU).
Lastly the thing that I really liked about DMU was the people, people, and people. I'm sure KCOM is the same when it comes to the people department, however Des Moines is a much much bette place to be then Kirksville.
Over all DMU is a student centerd and in the process of changing. I'm a big fan of aventures and DMU chageing environment is the right place for me. No matter what school you choose, congratulations and good luck.
JP (Popoy) did I miss any thing?