I currently live in Minneapolis and used to live in Dallas for a bit, actually. I am going to be honest. It is dang cold here. It also gets pretty hot and humid in the summer. Although spring, summer, and fall are a lot nicer than right now. BRRRRR.
That being said, I love Minnesota. The state is beautiful- lots of open spaces with forests, farms, and lakes. Minneapolis is a vibrant city with a lot to do whether you like music, art museums, restaurants, or just hanging out.
I went to the U for undergrad and took some classes there in high school. It is a BIG school, so it felt overwhelming for me at first, but the benefits are amazing. There is a wide range of classes to take within the University so you can take classes that are specific and interesting to you. It's also inexpensive to attend; I think even for people who are paying "out-of-state" tuition.
I don't have a ton of experience with the School of Public Health. I have a few co-workers that went there and liked it. I also attended one of their round table conferences and that was fascinating. The profs that presented seemed enthusiastic about public health and psyched about their subject areas. It is also in the "top ten" of the grad school rankings and seems to have some national recognition that it is a decent program.
Good luck with the decision making!
I knew that they conducted interviews but I dont know if this means they interview each applicant. So wondered.