Those of us who live in and have ties to Rust Belt cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, and Rochester are quite familiar with the perception issues.

Many of these cities boomed between 1900-1950 and then struggled in the 1970s-1980s. Stabilized slowly while shrinking/having aging populations in the 1990s. Cleaned up and improved their urban amenities in the 2000s-2010s but have never boomed like in their heyday.

A lot of the issues have to do with relatively smaller job markets, cold weather, and economic vitality issues in the urban core (because we still aren't in an era of prosperity for low income and blue collar workers).

That said, it's amazing how affordable a nice life can be in these metro areas compared to the DMV. That's exactly why I don't live in the DMV anymore. I couldn't afford a SFH in a nice place on one GS-13 salary. I'm much wealthier now but it would cost a lot to move back.

My own kids may stay in the Rust Belt after college. I'm okay with them only visiting DC and NYC on vacation. I just hope they can build careers here.

I also don't get the hate for Cleveland. My SIL was recently commenting and judging negatively how a friend's child who is at Case had to be in Cleveland. I had to bite my tongue from laughing at her.

SIL has a junior at VA Tech yet still disparages a city school? I love VA Tech as my own child attended there a few years ago and had a great experience, but there is just no way one can compare Blacksburg and the surrounding nothing-ness to all a city offers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is graduating from Case this year with an engineering degree and choose a job in Cleveland (he could have came back to the DMV with the same company). Loves the city, lower cost of living and midwestern feel. go to the art museum, sports, and food. Plans on moving to the Ohio City or Detriot Shoreway area.

I don't understand why Cleveland is not appreciated more. I really don't. Have people who look down on the city actually visited recently, especially the area where CWRU is located?
Cleveland has so much to offer and the University Circle area (where Case is located) is amazing with so many quality museums, Severance Hall, gorgeous metro parks, Little Italy and incredible restaurants. I just don't understand the hate for Cleveland because it just doesn't make sense.

PP, Congratulations to your son on his upcoming graduation and new job opportunity!

+100 Cleveland also offers several major hospital systems, companies/agencies such as Sherwin Williams, NASA, and Jones Day, and easy access to many major cities in the region. Cost of living is manageable too!

Anonymous wrote:My kid is graduating from Case this year with an engineering degree and choose a job in Cleveland (he could have came back to the DMV with the same company). Loves the city, lower cost of living and midwestern feel. go to the art museum, sports, and food. Plans on moving to the Ohio City or Detriot Shoreway area.

I don't understand why Cleveland is not appreciated more. I really don't. Have people who look down on the city actually visited recently, especially the area where CWRU is located?
Cleveland has so much to offer and the University Circle area (where Case is located) is amazing with so many quality museums, Severance Hall, gorgeous metro parks, Little Italy and incredible restaurants. I just don't understand the hate for Cleveland because it just doesn't make sense.

PP, Congratulations to your son on his upcoming graduation and new job opportunity!

My kid is graduating from Case this year with an engineering degree and choose a job in Cleveland (he could have came back to the DMV with the same company). Loves the city, lower cost of living and midwestern feel. go to the art museum, sports, and food. Plans on moving to the Ohio City or Detriot Shoreway area.

I know that there are so many of these rankings constantly being announced but it does seem like Case is an excellent option if your student wants research opportunities. It is a great school and nice it is being recognized for all it has to offer:

https://case.edu/news/cwru-now-1-fastest-growing-research-university-aau?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=thedaily_universitynews

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We stayed at the hotel on campus and it was great. Convenient and right near where the tour starts from. The breakfast that was included was also very nice.

The Glidden House. That is also my favorite place to stay while visiting DC at Case.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is good. All the museums are within walking distance of Glidden House.

If your son likes history, he may enjoy LakeView cemetery which isn’t far at all from campus.

I used to live in Cleveland Heights and second this. Also, baseball season is right around the corner. I'd try to catch a game if they're in town when you go.

Anonymous wrote:We stayed at the hotel on campus and it was great. Convenient and right near where the tour starts from. The breakfast that was included was also very nice.

The Glidden House. That is also my favorite place to stay while visiting DC at Case.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is good. All the museums are within walking distance of Glidden House.

If your son likes history, he may enjoy LakeView cemetery which isn’t far at all from campus.

For hotels, the Courtyard Cleveland University Circle is right next to campus. Clean & convenient. We stay there whenever we can get a room!

My sophomore loves the school. Hates the weather, so prepare your kid for cold! You're at least visiting a the right time to get a feel for the winter.

Look at all the museums in the University Circle area to see if there are any cool temporary exhibits.

If by any chance your family is obsessed with tacky Christmas movies like Elf and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation you might like Castle Noel in Medina about 30-45 minutes away.

https://castlenoel.com/

There may be traveling Broadway or a Baldwin-Wallace theater production in town. I also (no lie) recommend the Severance Hall "Meet the Instrument" short concerts for little kids. A Cleveland Symphony player discusses their journey, describes their instrument, the demonstrates it using short selections from the classical repertoire. I don't see any of these right now but there is this:

https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/events/beethoven-lives-upstairs

West Side Market, restaurants in Ohio City/Tremont area, little Italy restaurants and bakeries (close to CWRU!), Cleveland art museum/University Circle area, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Enjoy your visit!

We stayed at the hotel on campus and it was great. Convenient and right near where the tour starts from. The breakfast that was included was also very nice.

Go when the weather gets warmer. More pleasant experience.

Will be visiting CWRU - looking for hotel recommendations and any ideas for fun things to do / restaurants / places to visit etc to help my DC get a sense of Cleveland. DC is current junior interested in history and sciences. DC plays guitar so Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is on the list so far. If your DC attends, please feel free to weigh in on how they like it, pros/cons etc. TIA!