University of iowa

[Anonymous]

“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

Compared to most of the US, Iowa City is fairly safe.

Keep your nose clean and you won't have to worry about security cameras.

The weather in the spring, the summer, and early fall can be delightful. It has a long cold season.

The vibes that you're giving off suggest that either you're a foreigner, you have some untreated mental issues, or both. Academia can be very tough for some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

I live in a west coast city, pretty sure Iowa is safer. Maybe security measures are to help offset random crime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

I appreciate the specifics. Lets folks meaningfully consider the impact (if any) they'd have on them/their DC. Many thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

Compared to most of the US, Iowa City is fairly safe.

Keep your nose clean and you won't have to worry about security cameras.

The weather in the spring, the summer, and early fall can be delightful. It has a long cold season.

The vibes that you're giving off suggest that either you're a foreigner, you have some untreated mental issues, or both. Academia can be very tough for some.

You already speak Iowa Nice, responding poster. You will fit right in. Come and tuck yourself into ignorant bliss.
-PP Prof

[Anonymous]

Sadly I think the gun violence can be on any U.S. campus. The video stuff is creepy though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

I appreciate the specifics. Lets folks meaningfully consider the impact (if any) they'd have on them/their DC. Many thanks.

Except it's misleading. A man was shot and killed on the Ped Mall in 2017; since then, there have been a few instances where someone fired shots (and was later arrested) but no one was killed. You'd think it's the South Side of Chicago with regular attacks from these posts.

Iowa's a really nice community, and a relatively low-key environment generally, so it seemed like the usual DCUM phenomenon where some hater emerges to dump incessantly on a school (whether it's Michigan, Wisconsin, Chicago, Notre Dame, WUSL, UMCP, UVA, Duke, Columbia, Penn, Penn State, etc.) was less likely. But guess not.

[Anonymous]

Spent time at U of Iowa as a grad student years ago, & have visited several times in the last 6 years. I love the whole place, town & university. It’s much smaller & less overwhelming than most other Big 10 schools. City has all you need for shopping & restaurants. Lots of students from Chicago area.

Out in that part of the country I would also check out Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State. They are all prettier than U of Iowa & offer better merit aid. Of those, Nebraska is in probably the liveliest city. Lincoln is the state capital & has a population close to 300,000—big enough to offer significant numbers of internships during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD with 3.8uw/4.4w 28 ACT got 9k/yr. They offer up to 15k I think. Your kid will probably get closer to 15.

We LOVED it when we visited. Iowa City is a great place with tons to do. Campus was beautiful too.

Where did she ultimately attend?

She’s still deciding! But Iowa is one of her top 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Iowa nice” is real if you are a wealthy straight white male (I am). There are deep racial tensions here. There are regular shootings (with guns, people get shot, people are killed) on the pedestrian mall two blocks from campus, where your child will be walking. There are police and cameras everywhere. Iowa City (including UI) is an AWS “city on a cloud” grant award winner; they have cameras and facial AI installed everywhere, even in dorms. Your child will be catalogued. “Tracked and stacked” is what they call it.
It is very cold and very dark, or very hot and very humid. Not much in between.
I truly hate it and feel like I’m dying.

-Prof PP

I appreciate the specifics. Lets folks meaningfully consider the impact (if any) they'd have on them/their DC. Many thanks.

Except it's misleading. A man was shot and killed on the Ped Mall in 2017; since then, there have been a few instances where someone fired shots (and was later arrested) but no one was killed. You'd think it's the South Side of Chicago with regular attacks from these posts.

Iowa's a really nice community, and a relatively low-key environment generally, so it seemed like the usual DCUM phenomenon where some hater emerges to dump incessantly on a school (whether it's Michigan, Wisconsin, Chicago, Notre Dame, WUSL, UMCP, UVA, Duke, Columbia, Penn, Penn State, etc.) was less likely. But guess not.

There was a shooting last week! Outside the boba tea cafe. Cops everywhere. Arrested a person “on the run” from Chicago at the cheap motel across town (242 exit) hours later. Where is the news? Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Caitlin Clark is leaving. Iowa is over.

[Anonymous]

I went there for grad school and had an amazing time. It’s a lovely walkable town with so much to do.

[Anonymous]

Also Chicago based organizations recruit from Iowa. A lot of my undergrads had great job opportunities and internships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me about your experience with visits or child attending. Junior DS has visited in-state MD schools and prefers a larger school. Need some OOS back-ups for UMD that aren't too expensive. Not really a SEC guy.

TIA

Iowa isn't inexpensive from out of state. It's $50K out of state tuition/room and board, etc. Plus travel costs.

Do they offer merit aid to OOS students with strongish stats? 3.9UW 10-12 AP classes.

Yes. My kid with lower stats than that (3.7 UW and 7 APs )was offered some merit. I think it was 10K/year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo White

There are a lot of international students from Asia. But, yes, it’s pretty White compared to the Maryland suburbs.