There are a lot of great things about the UMN (e.g...

There are a lot of great things about the UMN (e.g. large variety of departments and programs), but there are also some very mediocre aspects. My best advice is to do your homework. Look into the program you're interested in very closely. In the end, regardless of the quality of the institution, it's up to you to make it a learning experience for yourself....although it certainly makes a difference on your experience whether or not you have the institutional support.