Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

DD (HS junior) is set on this school though she has never been. I know it’s a good school, but is it really all THAT?

It is expensive OOS. Can it really be all that different academically from other state schools? Is it hyped because of the sports?

When I ask her why she is so certain she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t know. I just am.”

We don’t have any family members that go there, so not sure where she is getting it from. She said she mentioned it to the guidance counselor, not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

It's a large state school with lots of smart kids and also lots from Michigan.

[Anonymous]

What does “ALL THAT” mean to you? Like, what could a random internet poster tell you that would change your mind that it’s not worth the cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (HS junior) is set on this school though she has never been. I know it’s a good school, but is it really all THAT?

It is expensive OOS. Can it really be all that different academically from other state schools? Is it hyped because of the sports?

When I ask her why she is so certain she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t know. I just am.”

We don’t have any family members that go there, so not sure where she is getting it from. She said she mentioned it to the guidance counselor, not the other way around.

Everything is relative. What are her other realistic options ?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely

The goal of college is to get a job when finished or head to a great grad school MICH does both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a large state school with lots of smart kids and also lots from Michigan.

Isn’t over half oos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (HS junior) is set on this school though she has never been. I know it’s a good school, but is it really all THAT?

It is expensive OOS. Can it really be all that different academically from other state schools? Is it hyped because of the sports?

When I ask her why she is so certain she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t know. I just am.”

We don’t have any family members that go there, so not sure where she is getting it from. She said she mentioned it to the guidance counselor, not the other way around.

I'd advise her to go back to the drawing board. You need more than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (HS junior) is set on this school though she has never been. I know it’s a good school, but is it really all THAT?

It is expensive OOS. Can it really be all that different academically from other state schools? Is it hyped because of the sports?

When I ask her why she is so certain she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t know. I just am.”

We don’t have any family members that go there, so not sure where she is getting it from. She said she mentioned it to the guidance counselor, not the other way around.

If your kid can’t articulate her decision making process in a logical fashion for a 200-300k investment, she’s not ready to go to Michigan.

Michigan is great if your kid is willing to work.

It is not worth it if she is going to be at or below the median. She will just be another state school grad along with hundreds of thousands that get pumped out every year except you spent a lot more money and she took on a lot more stress

[Anonymous]

Here is our experience....our kid grew up in DC. I went to a different state flagship so consider the value of that experience and opportunity. Our kid, even with Covid, managed to find friends from across classes and clubs; they didn't pursue the Greek System, though that is always an option for kids interested.

But it is the academic and professional opportunities that were eye opening. I don't know if my university has these things like Michigan does, but between grants to be able to take unpaid internships, grants for travel abroad, specific summer job opportunities through schools like Ross, Taubman and Ford, with financial subsidies, classes with travel abroad built into the curriculum and finally the alumni network, which, for our DC kid, afforded 3 summer jobs at 3 different places, it was an embarrassment of riches.

While our kid had to work for their grades and be aggressive in uneaarthing these opportunities, the fact is, they are there for the taking. I am also pretty sure that for kids in other schools within the University, there are simillar programs - simply amazing compare to my state flagship, which I loved.

Add to it the strong football, basketball and other sports, the political activity on campus and overall, it has made for a great experience.

There really aren't too many schools that offer that real school spirit along with the top academics...probably UCLA, Cal, Wisconsin, Texas, UNC, maybe U Florida that come close, though Cal is questionable on the school spirit stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is our experience....our kid grew up in DC. I went to a different state flagship so consider the value of that experience and opportunity. Our kid, even with Covid, managed to find friends from across classes and clubs; they didn't pursue the Greek System, though that is always an option for kids interested.

But it is the academic and professional opportunities that were eye opening. I don't know if my university has these things like Michigan does, but between grants to be able to take unpaid internships, grants for travel abroad, specific summer job opportunities through schools like Ross, Taubman and Ford, with financial subsidies, classes with travel abroad built into the curriculum and finally the alumni network, which, for our DC kid, afforded 3 summer jobs at 3 different places, it was an embarrassment of riches.

While our kid had to work for their grades and be aggressive in uneaarthing these opportunities, the fact is, they are there for the taking. I am also pretty sure that for kids in other schools within the University, there are simillar programs - simply amazing compare to my state flagship, which I loved.

Add to it the strong football, basketball and other sports, the political activity on campus and overall, it has made for a great experience.

There really aren't too many schools that offer that real school spirit along with the top academics...probably UCLA, Cal, Wisconsin, Texas, UNC, maybe U Florida that come close, though Cal is questionable on the school spirit stuff.

Pp here - right your kid is a go getter and probably has a strong gpa/putting in the work at Michigan to make it worthwhile.

There are 6000 kids roughly per class. The bottom 3000 in each class don’t really get anything out of Michigan that they couldn’t get if they went to a cheaper and/or more chill better lifestyle school.

So op has to ask her kid, is she going to make the most out of Michigan. Judging by how her kid responded to her, the answer is a clear no.

[Anonymous]

Is it a good place for someone who doesn’t care at all about sports? Will they feel like an outsider?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD (HS junior) is set on this school though she has never been. I know it’s a good school, but is it really all THAT?

It is expensive OOS. Can it really be all that different academically from other state schools? Is it hyped because of the sports?

When I ask her why she is so certain she shrugs her shoulders and says, “I don’t know. I just am.”

We don’t have any family members that go there, so not sure where she is getting it from. She said she mentioned it to the guidance counselor, not the other way around.

If your kid can’t articulate her decision making process in a logical fashion for a 200-300k investment, she’s not ready to go to Michigan.

Michigan is great if your kid is willing to work.

It is not worth it if she is going to be at or below the median. She will just be another state school grad along with hundreds of thousands that get pumped out every year except you spent a lot more money and she took on a lot more stress

If she can’t articulate why she wants to go to Michigan, she’s not going to be admitted. Michigan is not admitting some kid who can’t articulate her thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is our experience....our kid grew up in DC. I went to a different state flagship so consider the value of that experience and opportunity. Our kid, even with Covid, managed to find friends from across classes and clubs; they didn't pursue the Greek System, though that is always an option for kids interested.

But it is the academic and professional opportunities that were eye opening. I don't know if my university has these things like Michigan does, but between grants to be able to take unpaid internships, grants for travel abroad, specific summer job opportunities through schools like Ross, Taubman and Ford, with financial subsidies, classes with travel abroad built into the curriculum and finally the alumni network, which, for our DC kid, afforded 3 summer jobs at 3 different places, it was an embarrassment of riches.

While our kid had to work for their grades and be aggressive in uneaarthing these opportunities, the fact is, they are there for the taking. I am also pretty sure that for kids in other schools within the University, there are simillar programs - simply amazing compare to my state flagship, which I loved.

Add to it the strong football, basketball and other sports, the political activity on campus and overall, it has made for a great experience.

There really aren't too many schools that offer that real school spirit along with the top academics...probably UCLA, Cal, Wisconsin, Texas, UNC, maybe U Florida that come close, though Cal is questionable on the school spirit stuff.

Pp here - right your kid is a go getter and probably has a strong gpa/putting in the work at Michigan to make it worthwhile.

There are 6000 kids roughly per class. The bottom 3000 in each class don’t really get anything out of Michigan that they couldn’t get if they went to a cheaper and/or more chill better lifestyle school.

So op has to ask her kid, is she going to make the most out of Michigan. Judging by how her kid responded to her, the answer is a clear no.

This is an interesting perspective. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Also important to view U Michigan from a COA perspective. COA is about $30,000 per academic year for residents and over $70,000 per year for non-residents (hopefully my figures are close to accurate). Based on COA, Michigan residents are getting a great deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is our experience....our kid grew up in DC. I went to a different state flagship so consider the value of that experience and opportunity. Our kid, even with Covid, managed to find friends from across classes and clubs; they didn't pursue the Greek System, though that is always an option for kids interested.

But it is the academic and professional opportunities that were eye opening. I don't know if my university has these things like Michigan does, but between grants to be able to take unpaid internships, grants for travel abroad, specific summer job opportunities through schools like Ross, Taubman and Ford, with financial subsidies, classes with travel abroad built into the curriculum and finally the alumni network, which, for our DC kid, afforded 3 summer jobs at 3 different places, it was an embarrassment of riches.

While our kid had to work for their grades and be aggressive in uneaarthing these opportunities, the fact is, they are there for the taking. I am also pretty sure that for kids in other schools within the University, there are simillar programs - simply amazing compare to my state flagship, which I loved.

Add to it the strong football, basketball and other sports, the political activity on campus and overall, it has made for a great experience.

There really aren't too many schools that offer that real school spirit along with the top academics...probably UCLA, Cal, Wisconsin, Texas, UNC, maybe U Florida that come close, though Cal is questionable on the school spirit stuff.

Pp here - right your kid is a go getter and probably has a strong gpa/putting in the work at Michigan to make it worthwhile.

There are 6000 kids roughly per class. The bottom 3000 in each class don’t really get anything out of Michigan that they couldn’t get if they went to a cheaper and/or more chill better lifestyle school.

So op has to ask her kid, is she going to make the most out of Michigan. Judging by how her kid responded to her, the answer is a clear no.

Given how much harder it is to get in OOS, the bottom 3000 will likely all be in state so if OP's kid gets in they will not be among the bottom. It is a fantastic school with phenomenal opportunities and maybe the most spirited network from a strong academic school out there. The entire spring semester is during winter (which is grey/slushy) so that's worth knowing. Like it will just be beginning to not be yucky outside when the semester ends.