Poll New York or Chicago?

[MJR]

Lately I have been thinking about my future as of college location and after college which city would suit me best. Purdue which is good for engineering is about 1 hour from hicago which is really great considering I want to establish a family near a big city. My two choices are NYC and Chicago. What are the pros and cons of each and what would be the best for a family?

I know NYC is very expensive, but if I were to move there it would definitely be outside of the city and not in it. As for Chicago it is more affordable. Since I am guessing some of you guys been there, I want your two-cents as to what is best.

 

[garyw]

I believe Wayne Hale went to Purdue. :thumbup:

 

[Tex]

Looks like you've already chosen for yourself after seeing your avatar there. Nonetheless, I voted New York. Chicago is really windy and bone chilling cold in the winter. Not that New York doesn't get cold, its just amplified in Chicago with the wind able to race down Lake Michigan. Given the countries jobless rates, you will likely find yourself living where ever you can find work though.

 

[MJR]

Looks like you've already chosen for yourself after seeing your avatar there. Nonetheless, I voted New York. Chicago is really windy and bone chilling cold in the winter. Not that New York doesn't get cold, its just amplified in Chicago with the wind able to race down Lake Michigan. Given the countries jobless rates, you will likely find yourself living where ever you can find work though.

True about the job part. I am just going to have to be persistent. :thumbup:
How is the city life in both of them? Safe?

 

[Hielor]

You don't have to stay in the city you went to college in after you graduate...

 

[MJR]

You don't have to stay in the city you went to college in after you graduate...

Never said that. It just happens to be that Chicago is close to Purdue. Or the other way around.

 

[Tommy]

Provided you can find a job in either city, I'd say it comes down to what you like to do on your time off. NYC has more theaters, museums, art galleries, ballet, etc. In other words, the "High Culture" type stuff.

While Chicago also has good museums and galleries, etc, it tends more toward "common culture". If you like the Blues, Chicago is the obvious choice, and has a vibrant local music scene for most genres. If you are into outdoor "Nature" activities, Chicago is close to many more parks, dozens of state parks in lower Wisconsin and Michigan are within "Day trip" range. There are better hunting and/or fishing opportunities.

If you are, or want to be a pilot, Chicago is likely a better choice, with less restricted airspace, and is an easy drive to Oshkosh, WI, home of the largest experimental aircraft show in the country. While O'Hare is the busiest airport in the country, the NYC area has more large international airports so tends to have a slightly higher air traffic density.

Keep in mind that while Chicago has a lower cost of living, salaries tend to be lower as well.

If you do decide to live near Chicago, do NOT live in Rockford. It's close enough to commute (but figure at least an hour each way if you work downtown), but has a very high crime rate for it's size, the schools are below average, and really has little to recommend it.

I can't speak for NYC, but political corruption is a fairly accepted way of life in and around Chicago. It almost seems to be a point of pride that it's "more corrupt than New Jersey". But I don't know if NYC is any better in that regard - I've been there but only for a few days at a time. I lived around Chicago for years, and don't miss it much now that I'm gone.

 

[DanM]

Tommy, everything you said is too true, especially the political part, lol. I once saw Rod Blagojevich at Midway airport. Another draw to Chicago is the Museum of Science and Industry, not that it itself should really contribute to your decision, but they have the Apollo 8 CM there. I always have to take personal time with it, it's kinda like an old friend to me. It's part of how I got into space.

 

[MJR]

Tommy, everything you said is too true, especially the political part, lol. I once saw Rod Blagojevich at Midway airport. Another draw to Chicago is the Museum of Science and Industry, not that it itself should really contribute to your decision, but they have the Apollo 8 CM there. I always have to take personal time with it, it's kinda like an old friend to me. It's part of how I got into space.

Thank you guys for the info. Do you know if NYC has Aerospace jobs? Kind of what I want to go in.

Anyway, do you guys have pictures of the downtown?

 

[Tommy]

Do you know if NYC has Aerospace jobs?

I doubt it has very many, Aerospace industries tend to be located farther south. I remember some town in southern WI (Appleton, I think, about 1 1/2 hours drive from Chi-town) was trying to get a "Spaceport" designation, but don't know if anything ever came of it. I think they were trying to be the Mid-west's hub for sub-orbital tourist flights by Virgin Galactic. It wouldn't be suitable for Orbital launches - just about any useful heading would have major population centers downrange.

Rod Blagojevich at Midway airport.

How that man could claim that there was nothing wrong with selling a Senate seat to the highest bidder, and do so with a straight face, is beyond me!

 

[MJR]

I doubt it has very many, Aerospace industries tend to be located farther south. I remember some town in southern WI (Appleton, I think, about 1 1/2 hours drive from Chi-town) was trying to get a "Spaceport" designation, but don't know if anything ever came of it. I think they were trying to be the Mid-west's hub for sub-orbital tourist flights by Virgin Galactic. It wouldn't be suitable for Orbital launches - just about any useful heading would have major population centers downrange.



How that man could claim that there was nothing wrong with selling a Senate seat to the highest bidder, and do so with a straight face, is beyond me!

Ehh. Figures. I still have some backups so we'll see how things end up.

 

[fireballs619]

I have lived in the Chicago suburbs since I was born, and I must say that the experience has been great. I frequently visit the City, and, once you get away from the more tourist oriented centers, the city really comes to life. You have to consoder this, because you can't expect to visit the museums every weekend throughout your college experience. I can't speak for NYC, but I think Chicago is the best choice.

Chicago itself isn't where the attraction ends, though. Many of the suburbs outside of the City have great places to hang out. Again, I have never been to NYC, so I can't really compare the two acurrately, but, as a resident of the area, I'll vouch for it. Plus, I saw a dude riding his bike with a chainsaw once. I mean, c'mon, that's awesome.

 

[Izack]

Plus, I saw a dude riding his bike with a chainsaw once. I mean, c'mon, that's awesome.

From a distance, maybe. :rofl:

The only reasons I can see for bringing a chainsaw into town are:
1. Undead army rampaging through the streets infecting the helpless inhabitants. (Boomstick optional.)
2. Municipal elections.

Neither of which I'm particularly keen on witnessing up close.

 

[Hielor]

Thank you guys for the info. Do you know if NYC has Aerospace jobs? Kind of what I want to go in.

Anyway, do you guys have pictures of the downtown?

Instead of deciding on a city and then looking for a job there, why don't you figure out what kind of job you want and look for cities where they have those jobs? Also, what exact kind of "aerospace job" do you want? There's lots of things to do in the aerospace field.

For aerospace in general you haven't got many choices as to location. Florida, Texas, Alabama, Colorado, and the west coast have relatively dense concentrations of aerospace employers.

I'd suggest you narrow down what you're looking for. Instead of "aerospace," say "aeronautical engineer," or "electrical engineer working in the aerospace field" or "programmer working in aerospace" or whatever. Then, find (major) aerospace companies that hire that specific discipline and see where they have work sites.

I can tell you right now, if your goal is "an aerospace job in Chicago or New York City" you're not going to do very well for yourself. There's absolutely no reason to confine yourself to just two target cities at this point in your life, especially cities that aren't known for work in the field you want to work in, and especially when you don't even know specifically what you want to do. You've got an entire country to pick from.

Many companies may also be more interested in applicants who indicate that they're willing to move wherever the company needs them to move. After graduating college is the perfect time for a cross-country move, since you're going to be moving anyway.

 

[MJR]

I said I would like to do Aerospace, but I will probably end up doing stuff with computers. Either hardware, programming, or 3d work. I know what I want to do in life and I am just trying to pick a place that offer me a good location that fits the description. I don't really want to move in the middle of nowhere because I am a lively person who loves to walk down the downtown streets and enjoy the beauty.

 

[orbitingpluto]

Rationally, there are better places to look at for jobs in computers or aerospace, and despite my civic love I have to say look elsewhere first. If your going to move here for college that is a different story, but I can't seriously say you should pick Chicago as your home forever.

In favor of it it isn't as bad as some people think. For one thing Chicago isn't the windiest city(that came from how much hot air citizens blew to get the World's Colombian Exposition back in the late1890's, and isn't weather related) and despite the politicians city government still works. The Museum of Science and Industry is very good and we even have a German U-boat from WW2, in addition to the Apollo 8 capsule(there is also a Zephyr Diesel trainset, though trains aren't everybody's cup of tea). The lake is great to walk by, and is nice even in the winter. As to your question about crime, it really depends on the neighborhood and I can't give a blanket opinion. It feels safe downtown and on public transport,though there are places I wouldn't think lightly of going.

Best of luck planning your next moves!

 

[Hielor]

I said I would like to do Aerospace, but I will probably end up doing stuff with computers. Either hardware, programming, or 3d work. I know what I want to do in life and I am just trying to pick a place that offer me a good location that fits the description. I don't really want to move in the middle of nowhere because I am a lively person who loves to walk down the downtown streets and enjoy the beauty.

"Stuff with computers" is even less specific than "aerospace"--you can, for example, work with computers in the aerospace industry, and I did just that with a programming co-op in the spring of 2008 with USA.

There's a whole lot more places that aren't "in the middle of nowhere" other than Chicago and New York. Any major metropolitan area will have "stuff with computers" nearby.

 

[MJR]

"Stuff with computers" is even less specific than "aerospace"--you can, for example, work with computers in the aerospace industry, and I did just that with a programming co-op in the spring of 2008 with USA.

There's a whole lot more places that aren't "in the middle of nowhere" other than Chicago and New York. Any major metropolitan area will have "stuff with computers" nearby.

I can get real specific and down to the nitty gritty. I just don't see that you would be interested in it. Like saying I want to do programming with the language of python making scripts and such. You probably could care less.

I don't know. I'll wait and see what happens. I'm just hoping I can have that job near a huge city.

 

[fireballs619]

I can get real specific and down to the nitty gritty. I just don't see that you would be interested in it. Like saying I want to do programming with the language of python making scripts and such. You probably could care less.

I don't know. I'll wait and see what happens. I'm just hoping I can have that job near a huge city.

Wait, do people actualy use Python in the main stream world? I thought learning that language was pretty pointless, but I guess not!

 

[Hielor]

Wait, do people actualy use Python in the main stream world? I thought learning that language was pretty pointless, but I guess not!

I doubt you'd be able to get a job doing only Python. You'd probably be able to use Python in support of something else, and could find jobs where writing Python is a big part of what you do, but I don't think you'll find any jobs that are exclusively writing in Python.