How did the University of Michigan become such an academic powerhouse?

[Anonymous]

After the UC system, the University of Michigan is the strongest public university in terms of research and graduate and professional programs. How did it become so prestigious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After the UC system, the University of Michigan is the strongest public university in terms of research and graduate and professional programs. How did it become so prestigious?

Troll.

[Anonymous]

The state had lumber, iron ore, good farmland & other valuable resources. Then many things combined to make Detroit an industrial powerhouse. Michiganders will tell you that Detroit was the wealthiest city in the country in the middle of the last century (see link below) and it attracted a wide range of talented people. The wealthy & the politically powerful strongly supported the university.


https://smehro.medium.com/detroit-was-once-the-richest-city-in-america-what-happened-and-why-509d564a190b

[Anonymous]

Even when things went wrong for the country, they went right for the state. During Prohibition, amazing amounts of alcoholic beverages came into Michigan from Canada. During WWII, Detroit converted its enormous automotive facilities & expertise into making tanks, military aircraft & other equipment.

The government needed stuff fast & fortunes were made by those meeting the demand. Know-how, & money smowballed, & many were happy to help the university thrive.

Also, when the top universities in the East were changing to holistic admissions policies to limit the number of Jews, many found their way to Ann Arbor.

[Anonymous]

$&$. Private equity $$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$&$. Private equity $$$

Tell us more…

[Anonymous]

Pp’s have been spot on

North East public schools could never attract their instate talent and dollars due to propensity of top privates

Other states are too young

You need to be outside the north east but east of Mississippi since university provenance really rests a lot on age

You need money from industry

So that leaves Ohio state and Wisconsin but Ohio and wisco never had a Detroit at it’s peak

Given these parameters and the stuff pp’s have posted, if you want to know what the UM of 2050/2100 will be, think of U of Washington

Seattle today is what Detroit was 75 years ago

[Anonymous]

“Also, when the top universities in the East were changing to holistic admissions policies to limit the number of Jews, many found their way to Ann Arbor.”

This cannot be overstated. So much of Michigan’s current wealth and endowment comes from OOS and instate donors who are disproportionately Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Indeed: https://ssw.umich.edu/stories/53037-judaic-studies

[Anonymous]

Nice propaganda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Also, when the top universities in the East were changing to holistic admissions policies to limit the number of Jews, many found their way to Ann Arbor.”

This cannot be overstated. So much of Michigan’s current wealth and endowment comes from OOS and instate donors who are disproportionately Jewish.

https://x.com/remroum/status/1711116586570949117?s=46&t=RXug2E3wPuDEf8vlgSC9SQ

Very true

Typical UM mom

[Anonymous]

Both UC and UMich were prohibited from using affirmative action admissions long before the SC decision. Many ORM students therefore applied to these schools.

[Anonymous]

UVA is better for undergrad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is better for undergrad

Congrats on your first football victory of the season. Very impressive.

[Anonymous]

As others noted, the proximity to the auto industry played a big role, particularly for the school of engineering. The BIG 3 funded lots of research (including economic research) at the school.