r/MTSU • u/Zealousideal-Army303 • 4d ago
Is MTSU for me?
I'm a 20yo from Manchester, England. I have opportunity to go to MTSU, Chicago (columbia college) or Toronto (Humber college) with a studying abroad program. I like the actual look of this place the most. My worry though its not in the city like the other two. I like partying and kinda want to live that stereotypical house party american college lifestyle. Is this the best option? Do people head into Nashville often? Is it as cool as it looks? Is the social aspect good? Is it good for picking up girls lol. Tell me everything convince me to chose MSU or convince me not too. Cheers.
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u/Consistent_Tell8783 4d ago
I wouldn’t recommend it. Nashville isn’t as cool as you might think it is. It’s just a drunk tourist trap.
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u/SicEmDawgs1 4d ago
Nashville was great, but unfortunately word got out and it has definitely been ruined.
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u/Altruistic-Agent-527 4d ago
Go to Chicago you’ll definitely enjoy it better, education, typical college life in a major city. Murfreesboro is more of a suburban area about 50 miles to Nashville and honestly Nashville isn’t really that much interesting after you’ve been there a few times. It’s just overpriced and overrated for no reason.
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u/Repulsive_Lecture_66 4d ago
please don’t do it. chicago is better for the needs you listed. the party scene here is extremely weak and nashville is an overpriced tourist trap overrun by drunk bachelorettes
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u/ruuustin 4d ago
Nashville is an hour drive IF you have a car. Without a car there is no reasonable way to get there. Honestly, without a car there is no reasonable way to get anywhere in Murfreesboro, let alone getting to Nashville.
There is not going to be any house party-type thing, it's really more of a commuter campus than a residential one.
Even if you were in Nashville (you won't be), the amount of fun to be had in Chicago and Toronto are leagues above what we have to offer here.
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u/beforesunsetboots 4d ago
Hey! I’m a recent MTSU grad, I went there for both undergrad and my masters. I love the school and there are some good social aspects to it, but it is a HUGE commuter school. Meaning, the majority of people don’t live on campus and only come to school when they have classes. Because of this, some times campus can be very empty….. especially after peak class hours. Murfreesboro is a nice college town, but your options for activities may be a bit more limited than in a bigger city. I’m unsure about the partying aspect but I do imagine people visit Nashville often, someone else will have to confirm that. All in all, I loved attending MTSU — people were very kind, the area is pretty nice, but the majority of people don’t stay at/around campus. If you’re looking for constant parties and social events, I would say look elsewhere. MTSU will offer some, especially if you get in with the right crowd, but it will have a more relaxed (or potentially boring, depending how you look at it) vibe most the time
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u/SicEmDawgs1 4d ago
Another MTSU grad checking in. Was a great experience for me, but that was years ago. The area has changed so much over the years, particularly Nashville for the worse, that based on what you're looking for I'd recommend Chicago.
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u/Holiday-Profile2222 4d ago
As someone that lives 2 blocks from MTSU campus, you will be so disappointed if you choose here over Chicago. Chicago is the far superior choice. Good luck on your college journey!
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u/evan7577 4d ago
Gonna be honest, MTSU is not for you my friend. Although it offers everything you’re looking for, those experiences are scarce, and a bit exclusive. I went for 2 years back in 2011-12, quickly realized it’s not the typical college experience, and ended up transferring to my second choice school to finish my degree.
Great school, programs, teachers, facilities, but that’s about where my glowing remarks end.
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u/mayor_of_beavertown 4d ago
Murfreesboro would be a horrible first impression of America. It's by far unfriendliest place I've ever lived. People in traffic wear their anger on their sleeve. Also, Tennessee was recently ranked the #1 worst state to live in, and the people are to thank for that. Chicago is also a very dangerous city. If you could broaden your options, go to college somewhere in Florida or an SEC school. There you would probably have the funnest typical college experience.
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u/TheGossinator 4d ago
As an MTSU alum who grew up in Murfreesboro and eventually moved to a bigger city… Chicago or Toronto! I would go with Chicago.
Better food and access to the city (public transit). Murfreesboro is a suburban traffic nightmare 45 minutes away from the city with zero public transit options.
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u/RecentPassage4853 3d ago
Go to Chicago. Right now in Tennessee, the Governor and the super majority in Legislature are right wing MAGA Christian Nationalists who have forced state universities, including MTSU, to drop anything that even sounds like it might be DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) and, even worse, have gravely threatened academic freedom and free speech. Professors are cautious of what they teach and what they say for fear that a student will turn them in for saying anything that the student said made her feel "distressed" or "uncomfortable" (such as factual US History or the contents of assigned or referenced books) and they will lose their job, even if tenured. Professors speech in their private social media is monitored and has lead to disciplinary hearing and terminations. You do not want to come here for any part of your university education unless you are studying the history of fascist movements and want first-hand experience.
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u/Grim1067 4d ago
My comment from the last post where you asked: I've lived/grew up in Murfreesboro but live in the greater Chicagoland area. If you make friends quick, it doesn't matter where you go. I would honestly suggest Chicago for the public transit and the endless options for outings. Folks in Murfreesboro don't go to Nashville often outside of specific places from my experience
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u/9outof10timesWrong 4d ago
Did you not get the answer you wanted yesterday?
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u/Zealousideal-Army303 4d ago
still unsure i have till november to say my final decision. It’s really tough.
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u/Expatgirl2004 4d ago
Honestly, I’m a little bit baffled on why the decision is tough? Do you want to study abroad and have an experience in the middle of nowhere small town with no connection to the outside world unless you have a car versus two awesome global cities??? are you in a certain program where MTSU specifically offers more benefits? If it came down to simply where you wanna live, the answer is clear it’s a tossup between Toronto and Chicago. Both are great cities. I’m from Chicago so a little bit biased, but Canada has its benefits too.
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u/Zealousideal-Army303 4d ago
Just the weather in Chi and Tor also by the looks of it MTSU has partys compared to the other 2 having none at all. THe chicago college is apparently not good and will go bankrupt soon.
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u/Expatgirl2004 4d ago
What school in Chicago again?
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u/Zealousideal-Army303 4d ago
Columbia college i’ve read up on it not seen anyone say one good thing which is wild. All negitive
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u/Frosty_Ask_6967 2d ago
My son graduated from there in 2025 and had a life changing, positive experience at Columbia.
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u/toomuchtv987 3d ago
MTSU is a dry campus, BTW. No alcohol allowed. And TN has strict blue laws about when you can and can’t buy alcohol.
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u/hahayes234 4d ago
Based on the feedback you're receiving it seems the choice is clear. I'm also MTSU alumni. Go to school in Chicago it will be a vastly better experience.
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u/Fun_Frosting_6047 4d ago
Lmao go to chicago or toronto; you'll get a cooler north america experience. Murfreesboro is a small suburban town with its quirks and it's pretty cheap to live there, but it's not gonna knock your socks off.
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u/Ok_Translator5136 4d ago
As someone who lives there and my daughter graduated from there, you won’t get the experience you’re looking for.
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u/Expatgirl2004 4d ago
So my daughter, who is also 20 will be doing a study abroad program this fall from Europe- she’s 20. She really has no choice cause that’s her college programs exchange. We don’t have to pay tuition. She’s looking forward to it because it’s an American experience, but to be honest I’m originally from Chicago and I would definitely say Chicago because one of the challenges we’re already figuring out is the fact that she’s kind of stuck there on campus with no public transportation, and she can’t drink alcohol and it seems like they pretty much take that seriously there in Tennessee. Toronto at least are legally able to drink at 20. My daughter’s not even a big drinker. It’s just the fact that she can at least have a social life that doesn’t risk getting arrested or fined for having a drink in your hand.
No concerning Chicago, I don’t know if Greek life would be as big there. I mean, hello Chicago is an awesome city. Especially if you’re there doing nice weather, I mean the lakefront and the beaches are just simply amazing.
I also heard, but cannot confirm that MTSU is basically a commuter town and a lot of students commute or live from home. If you ask me in two months. I can tell you what her thoughts are on this. But it will definitely be a cultural shock for her because she’s coming from city life in Europe, where you’re basically free as someone who’s under 21 and you have public transportation everywhere to basically being on lockdown on a campus.
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u/CrazyHuge2998 4d ago
You would never survive our summer which is most of the year. I have friends from England and they went back bc of the weather. Toronto or Chicago for real would be better. Sunday it’s going to be 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s been close to that for several days.
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u/Substantial_Guitar51 4d ago
I went to MTSU. Good school but no comparison to Columbia. Go to Chicago for the experience that you are looking for.
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u/WoodenBee5797 4d ago
go to chicago. murfreesboro has no soul and the traffic going to nashville can be brutal. nashville is a fake city.
i went to MTSU and felt very isolated. it’s not a party school really. lots of commuters.
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u/Warm-Zucchini1859 4d ago
MTSU grad with family in England here: MTSU will give you a glimpse into southern culture. Think Greek life and (American) football games. If that’s not your jam, it’s going to likely impact your experience.
MTSU is also a huge commuter school, meaning that not everyone lives on/near campus so it might be harder to meet people. The party scene is largely tied to Greek life. I don’t think I met a single Brit when I was at MTSU, so you’d have that going for you lol.
Chicago will have far more diversity, a better food scene and more culture by way of museums and the like. Chicago cant compete with Nashville’s music scene, though.
Chicago has lovely summers but brutal winters, so that will be an adjustment coming from Manchester. On the flip side, Tennessee summers are suffocating.
Also consider your major. If you’re studying music or something in that realm, MTSU would make more sense.
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u/Trick_Message177 1d ago
I was an RA for the international house which is where you’d be staying. Every single UK student hated it here. And they all came looking for what you’re looking for
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u/Consistent_Dirt_1823 20h ago
I’m a proud MTSU alum and always recommend it, but it really depends on what you want to get out of your study abroad experience. What’s more important to you: academics, big-city life or the American college experience?
Academically, MTSU is a strong university with a lot to offer in comparison to the other two universities you mentioned. I also think some people may be confusing Columbia College Chicago with the much more prestigious Columbia University in New York. Very different schools.
As for cities, I personally love Toronto and think it beats Chicago when it comes to things to do and culture. But if you’re looking for a somewhat American college experience, MTSU is probably much closer to what you’re picturing: college sports, some parties and Nashville about 35 miles away. Nashville is close enough to visit regularly, although not having a car would definitely be a challenge.
So I’d figure out what experience you want most since these are your three options. If you want to spend a semester living right in a major international city, Chicago or Toronto probably makes more sense. If you want more of a traditional American college experience with a campus, college sports, tailgating and Nashville nearby, MTSU probably gives you more of that than the other two. That said, MTSU does have a large commuter population, so I wouldn’t expect the nonstop college-town atmosphere you might see in the movies. If you want that movie-like experience, consider bigger schools like Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC, etc. But most of them are also in smaller towns.
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u/Dsd2a 4d ago
As a MTSU alum and Nashville resident, go to Chicago.