My daughter has been accepted to grad school at New Mexico State. She still has three other applications out there, but this is her first choice, so she’s pretty excited. She’s making plans to move out there this August so any first person info would be a big help. I think she’ll be making a trip out there sometime in the meantime, to check things out, but it would be nice to have some starting point. Thanks.
Got my BSME there, still live in the area. What do you want to know?
What is she she going to school for?
I used to live down the road in El Paso, and used to go to southern New Mexico all the time. The weather’s usually pretty good, and there are some interesting things to see like White Sands or Old Mesilla. There is skiing a short drive away, and booze in the grocery store. And chile–red and green–what more could you want?! Where is your daughter moving from?
My parents are snowbirds there. It’s becoming a popular place to retire, and I can see why - in addition to the dry and warm winters, it’s not too big but there are still plenty of things to see and do. I think they would move there permanently if it weren’t so hot in the summer - an average high of 95 in June and July is a little much for them.
Dag got his BSME (I have no idea when); I got my MS in November. I might be able to give you a number to call for a place to live (great location, reasonable rent–I used to live there.) No guarantee, of course, that it’d be available.
Lessee, off the top of my head:
Retail is kinda lousy. There’s a number of stores that would require either a trip south to El Paso (about an hour, depending on where in town) or three hours north to Albuquerque (four if she ever wants to go to Santa Fe.) Albuquerque is really too long for a day trip (it’s probably 6-8 hours total on a very boring stretch of interstate). I used to go up there for weekends occasionally but then again I was also visiting my parents.
Las Cruces is the biggest city in southern NM, and it shows. It’s an hour to Alamogordo (much smaller), an hour to Deming (much smaller), an hour to TorC (much smaller), a couple hours to Ruidoso (skiing and gambling, also much smaller), etc. Lots of things to do outside most of the year.
The campus is on the extreme south end of town between I-25 and I-10 and parking is really lousy. I knew several people who parked in the neighborhoods across the street. I don’t remember what the cost of a parking permit is, as I managed to live close enough to walk to school every day. There is on-campus housing for grad students and it might be competitive (I know a decent amount of utilities are included in the rent.) There is a ton of rental property near campus, most of it run by the same management company. I can’t speak to the quality of the properties.
I’m sure there’s a lot more that could be said, but that’s all I can think for real generalities. I can probably answer more specific questions, especially about the school.
She will be working on a Master’s in Latin American Cultural Anthropology, alongside a certification in Museum Studies.
Actually, she joined the Dope sometime in the past when she had another question, so I’m going to turn this over to her. Keeps the third party stuff to a minimum.
Hi! I’m thirdwarning’s daughter and I really appreciate the response to the question my mom threw out there! As she said, I’ve been accepted into the Anthropology department at NMSU and will probably be attending there in August. It has recently occurred to me that this big, essentially cross-country move is a mere 6 months away and I am honestly terrified, despite my excitement! Any info about the area, the school, Southwest culture, etc. would be amazing! I grew up in Chicago suburbs and went to college in Iowa, so leaving the Midwest is a big deal! (Not to mention living somewhere that’s not my parent’s house or a dorm!)
Well, you asked for opinions, so although I’m sure I’ll be flamed for this…
I went to Las Cruces for the first time last year and I thought it was a dump.
I hated Dallas with a passion, but that s-hole looked good after a week in Las Cruces. If you like dirt, rocks, and the crappiest of American culture, Las Cruces will be your paradise. I think it’s safe to say that I just don’t “get” the southwest.
I suggest you try a few weeks there before you make it your home.
In comparison I think Chicago is one of the best cities I’ve ever lived in. Absolutely loved it.
Good luck.
I lived in Las Cruces off but mostly on for 14 years, until 2005. It’s a great place, and I’m quite sure I’ll return one day. My guess is you’ll find it slow and quiet in comparison to Chicago, (which to me is one of its charms), but don’t worry, there is plenty to do. I haven’t gone to NMSU since 1998 however, so I’ll leave the school related stuff to those more qualified*.
A few suggestions:
Mexican food: Try it all. It’s not like “Mexican food” you’ll find anywhere else, it’s really New Mexican Food. As a rule (but not always) the green chile is milder than the red. Don’t let that scare you away from the red, though, it’s fantastic. Two places I always stop when I’m in town are El Sombrero (on the corner of Amador and Espina), and Los Compas (just off Kansas Street, one block east of Solano).
Las Cruces has a pretty decent local music scene. Hurricane Alley, Tres Amigos (aka The Mission Inn bar) and El Patio (in Mesilla, the town next door) all feature local bands regularly. I’m sure the scene has changed some since I’ve left, but four bands I recommend are Captain Jookie, Letter 27, Delgado and Bofus.
Coas Bookstore is one of my favorite places on earth. Their main location is in The Downtown Mall, but I’ve heard they opened another store closer to campus. They have a HUGE selection of used books, and if they don’t have what you need they’ll find it (except, if I remember correctly, text books). They also have a great trade/credit system. The owners and staff are great, extremely helpful in that small town way. I go there every time I’m in town.
The weather is great most of the time. It does get very hot in the summer, but cliché as it sounds, it’s a dry heat, and really not that bad. Winters do get cold, but nothing compared to the Midwest. In the spring, however, the wind never stops. Hair ties and/or ball caps help a lot. And Visine. But staying indoors is best. If it should happen to rain and you have to drive be sure to leave early. Most the streets don’t have adequate drainage, some turn into lakes and others into rivers. It isn’t a problem often, but sometimes you’ll need to find alternate routes. And, of course, since the locals rarely deal with rain or snow, be sure to drive defensively.
If you’re going to hit the bar scene make sure to take ID. The liquor laws in NM are very strict, and therefore the bars are, too. On busy nights some of the bars card EVERYONE. Also, there are only 2 cab companies in town, so it can be a long wait on weekend nights. Designating a driver is best.
If you need to get a NM ID or Driver’s License, I strongly suggest the NM MVD Express. It’s located at 3961 E. Lohman Suite 20. You’ll pay $10 or $15 more, but it’ll save you a lot of time.
I’m sure I’ll think of more to add, but for now, I must sleep. If you have specific questions, fire away. Good Luck, and Go Aggies!
*Except for to say that The NMSU Pride Band really is the Most Dangerous Band in the Southwest.
Living in Las Cruces has most of the minor benefits of living in El Paso (low crime rate, relatively cheap cost of living, mild climate) and two really big benefits. Number 1: it’s NOT El Paso, so there’s less traffic and breathable air. Number 2: it’s also not Juarez, thank heaven, and the violence for which that armpit of humanity has become justly notorious rarely works its way over the U.S. border.
On the other hand, it is in New Mexico. Which means transmission-devouring roads, drivers out of Mad Max, and wildlife on the decidedly drab and prickly side.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, but I spent my first 3 semesters of college at NMSU (sometimes referred to as “Enema Zoo”). Sami41 hit on most of the highlights that I recall.
I grew up in northern New Mexico, and NMSU was a good place for me - close, but not too close, to home, somewhat different, but not too different. I enjoyed the school and the town. You tend to feel like you’re more a part of the community than at larger schools, probably because the school itself makes up such a big part of Las Cruces. It may have changed since I was there, but there were relatively few out-of-state students in the undergraduate classes, and with it being an ag school, the overall perspective tended to be fairly conservative. My guess is that it’s still pretty much that way. I can’t say much about the grad schools, but I suspect they are more diverse and more liberal, particularly in the humanities.
In general, it’s a very pleasant place - nice and laid back, generally warm and sunny. Take in the local culture - it’s a lot older than most people realize, and the food is great.
Good luck with picking a school - it can be pretty nerve-wracking, but also pretty exciting.
"Well, I spent last night in Las Cruces jail
Rain and hail, born to fail
Nobody come for to go my bail
Sun, don’t you rise no more
I shot one man on the county line
Took his dime and I blew his mind
Now I’m just sitting here, doing time
Sun, don’t you rise no more"
~ Two Gallants, Las Cruces Jail
That’s what I know, hope it helps!
Well, her father will be glad to hear that. He does worry about things like that, but he’s a father, what can you expect.
Coas bookstore is in my humble opinion the best thing about Las Cruces, so good call, Sami!
My husband grew up in Las Cruces and went to NMSU for his undergrad - his parents are still there and actually work for the university. So we go there about once a year over the holidays.
I’m honestly not wild about the place - I grew up in Los Angeles and live in San Diego, and Las Cruces is tiny in comparison. I’ve never been in the true heat of summer, but was there in May and it was starting to get warm. But it’s always dry, and often windy. Probably people above who lived there gave you a better feel, but from an outsider’s persepective, there is NEVER enough hand lotion.
I enjoy the food, so between eating some tamales or green chiles and hanging out at Coas, I’m happy. It’s the other hours of the day that I’m not wild about. But I’d guess if you’re there to study something you really love, that’s going to take up most of your time and you’ll make everything else work out for you. Good luck!
Spring is windy.
Summer is hot.
Autumn is windy.
Winter is pretty nice.
You’re from Chicago? You will be wearing shorts and a T-shirt, when the natives are wearing parkas. (Please don’t laugh at us. For us, it’s cold!)
Do you have a car? If not, you will want to live on or near campus. It’s not a pedestrian-friendly town. We have a few bicycle paths, but the town was built by and for people with automobiles.
Be prepared for some culture shock. It’s the second-largest city in NM, but by your standards, it’s a small town. The major entertainments are bars and churches. (There’s some other stuff, but you have to hunt for it.)
It’s a bit peculiar but the facts back it up. Hundreds of women have disappeared in Juarez over the past couple of decades, usually with no trace. Drug violence is spiraling out of control there, and the Mexican government is completely incapable of dealing with the situation. Yet El Paso consistently ranks among the safest cities of its size in the entire United States. Las Cruces, being an hour’s drive away and a much smaller city, has even less crime. About 10 years ago, an NMSU co-ed was abducted and murdered (as I recall, by a couple of other students). The search, the apprehension of the suspects, and their trials dominated the news for months on end, which in itself supports the contention that such happenings are very rare in the Cruces area.
Well, near Chicago, sort of, but really pretty far out in the 'burbs. We’re one stop short of the end of the commuter rail line. So she’s a bit used to the not much entertainment thing. Also, she’s spent the last three years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and that’s not much of a “city”, either. I’m sure it will take some adjusting, but she’s pretty good at that. Besides, there’s a good bookstore? She’ll be fine. 
Do I mis-remember, or did Las Cruces vote itself higher tax (sales?) to support the up-and-coming “space port”? Was that “space port” the group who blew it big time with “Scotty”'s ashes?
As it is next door to White Sands (US military’s missle test grounds), there is going to be some excess space experts around, but did the people actually decide that the city/county should PAY fora private (characterisation omitted) enterprise?
You’re right, it dominated everything for months. Her name was Carly Martinez and, if memory serves, her body wasn’t found for 5-6 weeks after she disappeared. But, within 5 or 6 days even I had been shown pictures of the guys who were eventually convicted of killing her.
And you’re also correct that violent crime is a relatively rare occurence in Cruces. I haven’t lived there in 4 years and knew by name who you were speaking of, it’s that rare. I can only think of 3 other crimes of the like in the years I was there.
Thanks for all of the great responses! The good and the bad are definitely appreciated. I’ve started looking at some apartments and such, but without actually being there, it’s hard to make those decisions. They all can look good on the internet. I should find out this week what kind of financial assistance I’ll be getting as well, which will influence most of my decisions.
As for the Juarez thing, I’ve done a bunch of research on the area, and the femicide in that city is horrendous! I’ll stop myself before launching into a rant about it, but it hurts my heart to see that kind of violence continue unstopped for so long.
I’m well aware of the fact that it will be culture shock, but I’m actually looking forward to that. I grew up in a very diverse area and absolutely loved it! And as an Anthropology/Sociology student, I find the interactions among different people fascinating as it is!