Question for Michigan residents - how do in-state people view the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes UMich is a very big deal in-state and is an aspiration for many (most?) smart, high-achieving in-staters.

+1

Most people from Michigan root for either UM or Mich State, but everyone knows UM is in general the better school. If you’re from SE Michigan, it’s a bit harder to get in because UM wants ‘geographic diversity.’ I grew up 30 minutes from Ann Arbor but only 2 people from my high school were accepted to UM.

The only people who root for Sparty are people who live right near there. Otherwise it's all UM.

Not true, PP. It’s pretty evenly split depending on whether you live on the east side of the state versus the west side. East Lansing is in the middle of the state but pulls Spartan fans from a much larger area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do some states support their flagship more than others?

Sometimes, a GOP governor or state house might effect cuts, as happened under Scott Walker and the University of Wisconsin. But generally, enlightened people understand that state universities provide an educated workforce for the state and are also economic engines and centers for innovation themselves.

[Anonymous]

Uva = u of m

[Anonymous]

Very big deal with the rah-rah sport fanatics. Great value. Terrific for engineering and computer science. Classic state college town. Cachet is blunted due to 32,000 undergrad enrollment count and top Michigan high schools send 50-100 kids each year to Ann Arbor. Many families with smart kids turn U-M down because it’s too big and impersonal—and too sports obsessed.

[Anonymous]

Overall I’d say UM is a better school and has more name recognition outside of the Midwest, but Michigan State has some nationally ranked programs that are better than the equivalent offered at UM (education and supply chain are two that come to mind).

The college experience is similar at both schools - huge student population, big sports schools.

I’ve known many people who went to both schools who went on to obtain graduate or professional degrees and are doing very well. I’ve also known students from both schools who are also doing fine and supporting their families but don’t have the type of high-powered careers that DCUM seems to prefer.

[Anonymous]

Within top 10% of class at the top public and private high schools — eg Bloomfield Hills, Ann Arbor, Northville, Novi, Troy, Detroit Country Day, Grosse Pointe, Saline, UD Jesuit, Detroit Catholic Central — makes you a shoo in for UM. Where as you need to be literal top 5 overall in class to MAYBE get into Notre Dame, Duke or an Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do some states support their flagship more than others?

Sometimes, a GOP governor or state house might effect cuts, as happened under Scott Walker and the University of Wisconsin. But generally, enlightened people understand that state universities provide an educated workforce for the state and are also economic engines and centers for innovation themselves.

U of M undergrad is 50% out-of-state and Michigan as a whole has experienced college educated brain drain for at least two decades so not sure they even care.

[Anonymous]

OP, yes it's a gem, and yes it's taken for granted by many in-state residents. Still that does not make it the most desired school for everyone. Signed, a Michigan State Grad who did get into UMichigan but chose Michigan State

[Anonymous]

If your kid goes to UM for college, safe bet they won’t be living in Michigan after college. Almost a certainty they’ll be working in Chicago if not Seattle, California, D.C. or New York.

UVA kids on average tend to stick around D.C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid goes to UM for college, safe bet they won’t be living in Michigan after college. Almost a certainty they’ll be working in Chicago if not Seattle, California, D.C. or New York.

UVA kids on average tend to stick around D.C.

Because unless you have something to do with making a car, DC has a zillion more opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Former UP-er here. I think the responses I'm seeing here don't match my experiences or those of my family/friends still in Michigan, either in the UP or down state. My/our perspective has always been to prefer State over Michigan, and when I'm home I see twice or triple as much green as blue. Granted that one school is larger but not so much larger that the color ratio is 2:1.

I also think you're missing a nuance in your question. For most people in Michigan the comparisons are usually made as a triad - Michigan State v Michigan v Michigan Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, yes it's a gem, and yes it's taken for granted by many in-state residents. Still that does not make it the most desired school for everyone. Signed, a Michigan State Grad who did get into UMichigan but chose Michigan State

Hey, same!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former UP-er here. I think the responses I'm seeing here don't match my experiences or those of my family/friends still in Michigan, either in the UP or down state. My/our perspective has always been to prefer State over Michigan, and when I'm home I see twice or triple as much green as blue. Granted that one school is larger but not so much larger that the color ratio is 2:1.

I also think you're missing a nuance in your question. For most people in Michigan the comparisons are usually made as a triad - Michigan State v Michigan v Michigan Tech.

UP-er?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes UMich is a very big deal in-state and is an aspiration for many (most?) smart, high-achieving in-staters.

+1

Most people from Michigan root for either UM or Mich State, but everyone knows UM is in general the better school. If you’re from SE Michigan, it’s a bit harder to get in because UM wants ‘geographic diversity.’ I grew up 30 minutes from Ann Arbor but only 2 people from my high school were accepted to UM.

U-M had 6,847 first-time freshmen in fall 2017, and enrolled 2,875 Michigan public school students from the Class of 2017.

Here's a list of the public schools sending the most students, the number they sent and the percentage of college-going students from that class who enrolled at U-M:

Oakland International Academy: 98, 31%;
Ann Arbor Pioneer High School: 87, 27%;
Northville High School: 78, 16%;
Troy High School: 65, 17%:
Novi High School: 62, 16%;
Ann Arbor Skyline High School: 62, 22%;
Ann Arbor Huron High School: 55, 22%;
Bloomfield Hills High School: 51, 16%;
Saline High School: 49, 14%;
Rochester Adams High School: 46, 13%;
Troy Athens High School: 44, 14%;
Grosse Pointe South High School: 43, 12%;
West Bloomfield High School: 37, 12%;
Birmingham Seaholm High School: 34, 12%;
Rochester Stoney Creek High School: 34, 11%;
Canton High School: 34, 8%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former UP-er here. I think the responses I'm seeing here don't match my experiences or those of my family/friends still in Michigan, either in the UP or down state. My/our perspective has always been to prefer State over Michigan, and when I'm home I see twice or triple as much green as blue. Granted that one school is larger but not so much larger that the color ratio is 2:1.

I also think you're missing a nuance in your question. For most people in Michigan the comparisons are usually made as a triad - Michigan State v Michigan v Michigan Tech.

UP-er?!?!

UP means someone from the upper peninsula of Michigan, where Michigan Tech is located. I’m from near Michigan State and my high school sent one or two at most to Michigan tech per year. It’s a good school but under the radar for many even in the state.