Pre-vets and vet students: Tell me about Ames and ISU!

[nyanko]

So I didn't want to stick this into the Iowa State thread since it isn't about veterinary admissions, but is sort of tangential.

If UCDavis doesn't pan out for me this year, I may have a very good opportunity at Iowa State for a multi year Ph.D. fellowship. I know that Iowa State is a real up-and-comer in the research arena and have already identified and spoken with faculty members there concerning my research interests. I was on the fence about applying, but yesterday I got a couple of personally addressed emails in rapid succession that convinced me that I have a good shot at the fellowship.

Anyway, it is hard to get a good idea for the "feel" of a place through google or whatever, so if anyone who is a current student at ISU or even just has interviewed there would like to tell me about Ames and the school, it would be well appreciated.

How's the community? College town-ish or not? Is a car required? Where do graduate/professional students tend to live? How's the cost of living? What is there to actually DO? Any major cities close enough that actually have things to do? Anything else you feel I should know or want to expand on?

Thanks in advance for any insight...

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[rileyroo]

How's the community? College town-ish or not? Is a car required? Where do graduate/professional students tend to live? How's the cost of living? What is there to actually DO? Any major cities close enough that actually have things to do? Anything else you feel I should know or want to expand on?

Thanks in advance for any insight...

And how far away is the closest hockey arena...

 

[nyanko]

And how far away is the closest hockey arena...

You know, I actually debated putting that question there for serious but decided that other things were more important for now and that maybe I'd ask later.

 

[rileyroo]

You know, I actually debated putting that question there for serious but decided that other things were more important for now and that maybe I'd ask later.

well i threw it out there for ya, so maybe someone will be able to answer it...just in case! 😀

 

[rugbychick16]

And how far away is the closest hockey arena...

Lol Xcel Energy Center home of the Minnesota Wild would be about 3.5 hours north in St. Paul

 

[Starwrecker]

How's the community?
Friendly, quiet

College town-ish or not?
Very

Is a car required?
No, there's a pretty extensive bus system that students can ride for free

Where do graduate/professional students tend to live?
All over town. There's no shortage of apartments, etc. as well as student housing through the university.

How's the cost of living?
What are you used to? Depends a lot of how much you want and the area of town you want to live in.

What is there to actually DO?
I don't know...I don't get out much. 😛 Movies, bars, crappy mall, bowling/laser tag/arcade, paint your own pottery place, many others I'm sure..

Any major cities close enough that actually have things to do?
Des Moines is 30 miles to the south and has plenty (IMHO)

Anything else you feel I should know or want to expand on?
I've been here 8 years now...hated it to start...but the Ames/DSM area has grown on me. Like anything...it is what you make it. I've always really liked the University and what it does as far as research, and depending on who your opportunity is with, it could be a really good thing. Good luck. 🙂

 

[nyanko]

How's the cost of living?
What are you used to? Depends a lot of how much you want and the area of town you want to live in.

Thanks for your input Starwrecker!

As for what I'm used to, it runs the gamut. I've lived in Boston (very expensive), Ohio (very inexpensive), Orlando (in between), and now northern California (expensive). I guess like, for comparison's sake, how much would a 2 bedroom/1 bath duplex that's pet friendly with a small yard cost in the area?

edit: as far as asking what there is to do, I would really like to know what kind of like, outdoorsy stuff there is. I enjoy cyclocross and other types of trail and road cycling, snowboarding, hiking, etc..

and on that note...is it bike friendly?

 

[Starwrecker]

I'd say probably $700-900...but I could be wrong. I'll try to check a bit and let you know.

Ames is incredibly bike friendly...there's lot of trails and parks. There's Ledges state park west of town. Several lakes in the area. RAGBRAI at the end of July every year (bike ride across the state). Seven Oaks ski 'slope' west of town; Sleepy Hollow 'slopes' in Des Moines. (Iowa is flat, so good 'slopes' don't really exist)

 

[twelvetigers]

I bet you could buy a place and pay mortgage instead of rent if you wanted, depending on your credit etc... I bet the mortgage would be the same as or, more likely, less than what you have paid for rent in Davis.

Not that I've ever been to Iowa, but I've noticed that the midwest has very reasonable housing prices outside of big cities.

 

[HopefulAg]

It's cold...

There's a pretty good Mexican place called El Azteca, and evidently a really good BBQ place called Hickory Park, which was jam packed with an hour long wait on a Saturday night. That itself isn't surprising, but the restaurant has NO sign or really any other identifying marks visible from the road (at least in the dark) and yet it was still that crowded, so they must be good. Was interested in seeing how Iowa BBQ compared to Texas BBQ but alas, went with Iowa Mexican vs Texas Mexican instead 🙁


That's all I know about Ames lol. Oh and yes, the mall is crappy. It's like two strip malls were back to back and they decided to fill in the alley between them to make a normal mall. Pretty much a shotgun shoot affair.

 

[Sharpei5]

I was in Ames for about 24 hours but from what I could gather, all the people seemed extremely nice, Hickory park was delicious, and I think a lot of the veterinary students live in the Trailer park outside the schools because it is walking distance and pet friendly, apparently you can get snowed in once in awhile so its best to live close.

 

[Morganator]

I have always lived in Midwestern states, but have lived in a number of different cities here. I'm also an older applicant and have worked in some positions in the past and spent time traveling to big cities also - so take my opinion for what it's worth.

I love Ames, but if you're used to a big city with a ton of things to do - you need to know that the shopping/cultural activities aren't going to be the same. Someone mentioned the mall isn't very good - which is true. There is the Jordan Creek mall 45 minutes away in West Des Moines though which is very nice and upscale. The nightlife consists of your typical college town bar atmosphere, but it's not a dance club type atmosphere like you'll see some places (this isn't Jersey Shore 😉). Des Moines is fairly close (30-45 minutes depending on where) and there are a lot more options and cultural activities, but still it's only a city of 350,000 people so you can't expect too much. There is a minor league hockey team in Des Moines, and there may be options for rec league hockey at the ice arena they play in. Overall, there isn't a million things to do in Ames/Des Moines but there's plenty to keep me busy and you won't find nicer people.

As far as outdoor activities - there are tons of recreational leagues to play in in Ames, and ISU has a huge intramural organization. There are bike/running trails throughout Ames, and as someone else mentioned a state park close for hiking. Sorry to say but snowboarding isn't really an option out here - I wish it was (skiing anyway, I just got back tonight from Breckenridge CO - spent all week skiing out there). But over winter or spring break you could go out to Colorado with a group of people (about a 13 hour drive). Otherwise, just realize that from November to March it's pretty darn cold here, so outdoor opportunities are limited.

As far as major cities, it's incredibly easy to head up Int. 35 and get to Minneapolis/St. Paul in about 3.5 hours. Kansas City is also about that far, and Chicago is about 5.5-6 hours.

I know a lot of ISU vet med graduates and all of them have great things to say about the school. Unfortunately, most of what I know about the school has to do with the vet med program and not the research programs. Just realize that you'll be in the midwest in smaller towns and if you're ok with that and some cold weather - you'll get along just fine here. I just get upset with the people that come from big cities or from the south and continually complain about the cold or the slow paced lifestyle out here. Take my opinion as you will, as I am hoping to move back to Ames and would like to be there the rest of my life - so you know my opinion may be a little skewed. Either way, I've lived in 6 cities in 3 midwest states, and the Ames/Des Moines area has been my favorite of all of them.

 

[Morganator]

Oh, I forgot about housing. The apartment complex companies overbuilt a couple years ago, so there are a ton of different apartment options in Ames. Most complexes are offering free gym memberships and high speed internet service for signing a lease with them, as they are fighting over tenants to fill the buildings. You could probably find a nice 2 bedroom apt for $600-$700 a month. A small starter house in Ames runs about $100-120k, depending on what you're looking for. You can rent small houses for around $800-$900 usually. If I get accepted, I'll be living in the trailer park. You can buy a nice trailer for $30k - and have a pretty low payment and live right by the vet school. They're easy to sell also since there's always new students buying them every year. As others have mentioned they're pretty nice and have mostly vet students living in them so it's kind of a small community of students.
Anyway, I've probably written too much info but pm me if you have any other questions about ISU/Ames/Des Moines.

 

[Hopeful2014]

How's the community?
Quiet, a small-town atmosphere

College town-ish or not?
Definitely, a very different city in the summer

Where do graduate/professional students tend to live?
It sounds strange (and kind of cliche Iowa), but there is a trailer park less than 1 block away from Vet Med. I would say about 65-75% of vet students and interns live in this trailer park since it's convenient and fairly inexpensive. There are also A LOT of apartments in the area, which the buses run to and from all day. Vet students can also purchase a parking pass for $100 per semester for the lot closest to Vet Med.

How's the cost of living?
Most trailers can be purchased for $15,000-$25,000 (good investment if you go here for 4+ years). Most two bedroom apartments are from $750-1000 per month, one bedrooms are around $500-800 per month.

What is there to actually DO?
Similar activities to any college town: tons of restaurants, movie theaters, bars, and the vet school hosts a lot of activities for students to participate in!

Any major cities close enough that actually have things to do?
Des Moines would be the closest (about 30-45 minutes away)

Anything else you feel I should know or want to expand on?
Ames is a great city with a lot of wonderful people and beautiful scenery if you go away from the central part of the city a little bit. It is definitely a city that's based around the college, but it's been nice to always be welcomed as an ISU student by the Ames community!!

 

[nyanko]

Thanks for the info, everyone. You guys rock! 😀 Please, keep it coming.

This morning I got an invite to come out and visit and interview for the fellowship opportunity at ISU, about 16 hours after I submitted my application (with some items still outstanding). So please, tell me nice things about the place so I can calm down a little bit.

 

[Poochlover11]

Wow!! I didn't realize there were so many fellow ISUers on this forum. I've spent the last few years at ISU and grew up in Iowa. I have to say if you don't like cold or snow-DON'T COME TO IOWA! Hahaha, just a while back we had a blizzard and it was horrible : P Bleck! I have to say that in Ames itself there isn't a ton of stuff to do (Im not a drinker so I don't go to the bars). There are lots of restaurants-I have to say Hickory Park is one of my all time favorites!! If you go there you must try the old fashioned hot meat sandwich with hickory smoked beef-its delicious!! There is also an amazing pizza place here called Great Plains-def check that out.

Like someone said before the mall here is crappy-but Des Moines isn't that far and Jordan Creek Mall is nice and large. In the mall here in Ames though, there is a cheap movie theater-matinee is like 1.75 I believe. There is also a glow in the dark minature golf course in the mall and if you get a group together it can be fun.

Even though a car isn't required I would recommend having one. Especially if you want to get out on the weekends and head to Des Moines or what not. It can get a little claustrophobic in Ames. And it's not fun to wait on the buses, especially in the winter when it's really freakin cold (and Iowa is really cold trust me : P).

Ames itself is a nice town, people are friendly (one of the nice things about Iowa), but it's definately a small town and not a big city (with dance clubs and what not.)

I know you aren't talking about vet school, but if that becomes something you want to do a lot of vet students live in one of the two trailer parks right next to the vet school. The older, more run down trailer park allows you to have dogs, the newer nicer one only allows cats.

But other then that I would say Ames has been a pretty decent place to attend school, I guess it all depends on what you are use to and like. Hope that helps! And I would laugh if I knew anybody on this forum who goes to ISU

 

[nyanko]

I have to say if you don't like cold or snow-DON'T COME TO IOWA! Hahaha, just a while back we had a blizzard and it was horrible : P Bleck!

I said tell me nice things!! 😛

Thanks for the insight. It does sound like a nice place. I guess the thing is, my hesitance regarding the location is the only thing that is holding me back from being really excited about this opportunity. Truth be told, if I get an offer for this, it would pretty much be amazing for my career. My potential PI is a superstar (a 102 page CV, seriously...) and it's a 3 year USDA fellowship, and it's exactly in my research area. But I really, really love Davis and UCD, and I would have a tough time turning down any kind of admission here (be it Ph.D. or DVM) to go to Ames, even considering the financial and career implications.

I wish I could visit for more than one day, to get a better feel for it.