Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

For those who get in and can cover the costs, YES!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:“ Not sure I would send my kid to a large OOS state school unless it was for a specific program the school was known for or a regional specialization - i.e. studying automotive engineering in Michigan, geology in Colorado, marine biology in Florida, etc. I grew up in Ohio and kids who didn’t go to the local state university often went to The OSU - but there were always a handful every year who went to Penn State. I never understood why they would pay OOS $$$.”

You grew up in Ohio. Their flagship is not on the same tier as Michigan. Neither is PSU or any other public B1G school currently. Academically Michigan undergrad is elite, despite what some naysayers will tell you here on DCUM. I can’t understand why anyone would pay OOS tuition for PSU if they were admitted to tOS either. That I can agree with.

Ugghh - a reminder of why the rest of the rest of the Big Ten hates Michigan. Northwestern ranks well above Michigan but somehow manages not to be arrogant about it.

Really? Not the Northwestern alums I've met.

Probably they are but Michigan grads / students are uniquely arrogant - like how do you get so high on being a clear #2 while showing no regard for other fine universities in the region like Wisconsin, Illinois etc.. The Skunks are an annoying bunch. You got to love the "Harvard of the Midwest".

+1 “Harvard of the Midwest” is one of the most obnoxious things I’ve heard alums say.

That’s BS. “Harvard is the Michigan of the east.” That’s what alums will say when they quote this guy:

“The saying comes from when John F. Kennedy (who went to Harvard) gave an address on the steps of the union while campaigning for President. (As an aside this is also where he stated his intentions to start the Peace Corps) He started the address with:

"I want to express my thanks to you, as a graduate of the Michigan of the East, Harvard University."”

And I'm sure none of that had anything to do with the fact that he was a politician. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

CU isn't Michigan-expensive but it ain't cheap and doesn't offer much merit aid. You have to pay a premium for that location. (No idea how it's being grouped with Alabama in this respect.)

Colorado has a nicer campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

CU isn't Michigan-expensive but it ain't cheap and doesn't offer much merit aid. You have to pay a premium for that location. (No idea how it's being grouped with Alabama in this respect.)

Colorado has a nicer campus.

I agree, CU campus nicer than UA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

CU isn't Michigan-expensive but it ain't cheap and doesn't offer much merit aid. You have to pay a premium for that location. (No idea how it's being grouped with Alabama in this respect.)

Colorado has a nicer campus.

I agree, CU campus nicer than UA.

I’ve heard Alabama is a beautiful campus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

CU isn't Michigan-expensive but it ain't cheap and doesn't offer much merit aid. You have to pay a premium for that location. (No idea how it's being grouped with Alabama in this respect.)

Colorado has a nicer campus.

I agree, CU campus nicer than UA.

. . . and also Michigan

[Anonymous]

Speaking of hype videos, if Darth Vader says U-M is the best university in the world, it must be true!

[Anonymous]

I actually think Michigan is the perfect school for someone who isn’t quite sure what appeals to them yet. You can be sporty, nerdy, Greek, into student government, or all or none of the above; you can change your major a dozen times and you will still find your people and end up in a highly ranked program. It’s a great place to have a ton of options and learn more about what you want and your next step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think Michigan is the perfect school for someone who isn’t quite sure what appeals to them yet. You can be sporty, nerdy, Greek, into student government, or all or none of the above; you can change your major a dozen times and you will still find your people and end up in a highly ranked program. It’s a great place to have a ton of options and learn more about what you want and your next step.

Just like every other B1G school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think Michigan is the perfect school for someone who isn’t quite sure what appeals to them yet. You can be sporty, nerdy, Greek, into student government, or all or none of the above; you can change your major a dozen times and you will still find your people and end up in a highly ranked program. It’s a great place to have a ton of options and learn more about what you want and your next step.

Just like every other B1G school.

Hardly. You missed the highly ranked program comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

Michigan has been popular for decades. You’ve got it backwards.

Only because the state of Michigan and the Rust Belt was booming automotive and engineering region. But now it's dead and stagnant with dreary weather. Air conditioning has made northern Rust Belt irrelevant. All the smart grads flee the Midwest for the south and coasts.

The popularity of U of M for students coming from OOS has never had much, if anything, to do with the fortunes of Michigan as a state. There's no requirement to get a job in the state after you graduate. As a student, you don't typically interact with much of the state outside of Ann Arbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would they be better off at Colorado?

Lifestyle, maybe. Winter is more fun in Colorado than Michigan, if you're into winter sports.

I thought this was about choosing a college, not a vacation destination

Well, if you have to live in a place for 4 years, it helps not to hate it. Michigan winters can be pretty brutal, so I could see it being an issue for someone coming from San Diego or Hawaii.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think Michigan is the perfect school for someone who isn’t quite sure what appeals to them yet. You can be sporty, nerdy, Greek, into student government, or all or none of the above; you can change your major a dozen times and you will still find your people and end up in a highly ranked program. It’s a great place to have a ton of options and learn more about what you want and your next step.

Just like every other B1G school.

Hardly. You missed the highly ranked program comment.

Naw, I gave it all the weight it deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would they be better off at Colorado?

Lifestyle, maybe. Winter is more fun in Colorado than Michigan, if you're into winter sports.

I thought this was about choosing a college, not a vacation destination

Well, if you have to live in a place for 4 years, it helps not to hate it. Michigan winters can be pretty brutal, so I could see it being an issue for someone coming from San Diego or Hawaii.

That is somewhat true but most (serious) college students spend a lot of time studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think Michigan is the perfect school for someone who isn’t quite sure what appeals to them yet. You can be sporty, nerdy, Greek, into student government, or all or none of the above; you can change your major a dozen times and you will still find your people and end up in a highly ranked program. It’s a great place to have a ton of options and learn more about what you want and your next step.

Just like every other B1G school.

Hardly. You missed the highly ranked program comment.

Naw, I gave it all the weight it deserved.

Jealousy is not a good look.