When many students think of the St. Paul campus at the University of Minnesota, they envision a secluded place, physically and socially isolated from the hustle and bustle of the Minneapolis campus.

A self-proclaimed âÄúcity girl,âÄù I could not wait to leave my small town for my freshman year on the beautiful campus in Minneapolis. I marveled at my proximity to downtown and could not imagine being at a calmer, more restful university. Last year, some of my friends had classes on the St. Paul campus and I pitied them for taking the long, crowded bus ride between campuses and spending their time in such a quiet place.

This year, though, I am taking two classes in St. Paul and have realized just how wrong I was. First, the ride between campuses takes only 15 minutes and with so many buses running, they are hardly ever crowded.

Second, the campus is absolutely beautiful, nestled between streets of lovely, old houses. Everyone walks a bit slower, unlike the Minneapolis campus, where students always seem to be in a rush. St. Paul is also not littered with traffic or ugly, noisy construction.

The St. Paul campus houses more than agriculture students âÄî a common misconception. It also holds the College of Design, College of Biological Scieneces and classes for many different majors. If you find yourself in St. Paul, go to the Student Center to study, hang out in the Gopher Spot Game Room or shop at the University Bookstore.

Also, be sure to check out the Dairy Food Products salesroom, where the Department of Food Science and Nutrition sells some of their homemade treats. With approximately 50 different flavors of ice cream, there is something for everyone.

Even if you donâÄôt have a class in St. Paul, take a trip over. It is a great escape from a faster-paced East Bank, and you are sure to find a quiet place to study or something fun to do. You might find that you enjoy it as much as I do. At the very least, youâÄôll get some great ice cream.