Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

Google says that UM grads average post-grad salary $10K+ than UW, so I can see that being an important data point for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Michigan is just plain more prestigious than Wisconsin where rankings matter most; namely Business and Law. Wisconsin is Michigan lite. In discipline after discipline, Michigan edges out Wisconsin in most cases. Furthermore, and this is extremely important, the Michigan student body graduates at a much higher rate at the four and six year levels. The quality of the students at Michigan is at a higher overall level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Michigan has been this way for decades. Other elite publics like Berkeley, UCLA, and UVA also charge top dollar. They do it because they can. When and if it starts to become a problem filling up a freshman class with elite students, is when Michigan will give more merit aid. Until that time, it isn’t likely going to change.

All true. And all the more impressive at Michigan because it takes so many more OOS students than the other publics that charge anywhere in its vicinity.

It’s even more impressive when you consider that its located in the part of the country that’s, “flyover, rust-belt, backwater, cold, gloomy, grey, depressing, and boring.” 🙄

There is nothing backward or boring about Ann Arbor, but the fact that you keep grinding on about the same flyover stuff makes me think that you are OCD or some other kind of personality disorder. It's a club you don't want to join - we got it. Perhaps start a upbeat thread rather than one where we all feel sorry for your family.

[Anonymous]

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

It is so big there is something for everyone! I graduated from M the year we won the Rose Bowl and the NCAA tournament. I watched a total of 2 basketball games (1 in person and 1 on the TV) and went in person to a handful of football games. It left everyone I know baffled but I got to tell you, it worked for me. I loved the school, loved the experience, loved the “best of” professors, the fact that my peers were interesting and fun and that every band and politician would come through Ann Arbor. I loved the energy, the place literally throbs, the political awareness and social activism of much of the student body. The Daily was (is?) a top rate student newspaper and its journalists go on to write for nationally known papers. Peers went to grad schools all over the map and there is a public school swagger that is filled with pride. Plus it is in the mid west. You won’t find blue blood elitism there and yet you will find the best of the mid west. I graduated with solid grades, not top 10 percent of my class, I got a phenomenal education, met lifelong friends and it was worth every single penny. I wish I could do it again. It was awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

And it appears folks are paying that and then some for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Ive seen the Wisconsin campus. While the setting on the lake is nice, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the campus layout or building composition. If I’m going OOS to a public school and paying a premium over an instate public, I’m going to Michigan over Wisconsin in most cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Ive seen the Wisconsin campus. While the setting on the lake is nice, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the campus layout or building composition. If I’m going OOS to a public school and paying a premium over an instate public, I’m going to Michigan over Wisconsin in most cases.

The only thing nice about the Wisconsin campus is the lake. The buildings are really unattractive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Michigan has been this way for decades. Other elite publics like Berkeley, UCLA, and UVA also charge top dollar. They do it because they can. When and if it starts to become a problem filling up a freshman class with elite students, is when Michigan will give more merit aid. Until that time, it isn’t likely going to change.

All true. And all the more impressive at Michigan because it takes so many more OOS students than the other publics that charge anywhere in its vicinity.

It’s even more impressive when you consider that its located in the part of the country that’s, “flyover, rust-belt, backwater, cold, gloomy, grey, depressing, and boring.” 🙄

There is nothing backward or boring about Ann Arbor, but the fact that you keep grinding on about the same flyover stuff makes me think that you are OCD or some other kind of personality disorder. It's a club you don't want to join - we got it. Perhaps start a upbeat thread rather than one where we all feel sorry for your family.

I agree. I made that remark sarcastically in response to the hater who posts here all the time. Notice the quotes, those were not my words.

[Anonymous]

So weird to see the state of Michigan, which of course is struggling, being brought into this, especially when Ann Arbor is a famously fun college town. Of course the grads leave for jobs, the whole point is that with the Michigan degree, you’ll have your pick of employers and locations. Just how grads of Yale, Duke, Brown, U. Chicago (etc) don’t attend those schools because they’re also banking on … a life in New Haven? The exceptional career paths in Rhode Island?
I mean, come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Michigan is just plain more prestigious than Wisconsin where rankings matter most; namely Business and Law. Wisconsin is Michigan lite. In discipline after discipline, Michigan edges out Wisconsin in most cases. Furthermore, and this is extremely important, the Michigan student body graduates at a much higher rate at the four and six year levels. The quality of the students at Michigan is at a higher overall level.

If you’re not going for business or law, I don’t see the difference. Unless you can pay for “prestige”, I guess. The law school seems great and is beautiful, though. It was the best part of the tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Ive seen the Wisconsin campus. While the setting on the lake is nice, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the campus layout or building composition. If I’m going OOS to a public school and paying a premium over an instate public, I’m going to Michigan over Wisconsin in most cases.

The only thing nice about the Wisconsin campus is the lake. The buildings are really unattractive.

See, I thought Michigan was just concrete everywhere. And the blocks around it were run down student housing and a few restaurants. Did we have a bad tour guide? Nothing was attractive except the law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Ive seen the Wisconsin campus. While the setting on the lake is nice, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the campus layout or building composition. If I’m going OOS to a public school and paying a premium over an instate public, I’m going to Michigan over Wisconsin in most cases.

The only thing nice about the Wisconsin campus is the lake. The buildings are really unattractive.

The Student Union and the buildings that line Bascom Hill are unattractive? Really? They were done by and built by the same architects and builders who did the same iconic buildings for many of the "prettiest" campuses in the east and midwest of the era.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're loaded and really want the "M" sweatshirt/bumper sticker, then sure Michigan is worth $16K/year more than Wisconsin or IU, $20K/year more than UMN, $23K/year more than Iowa, $25K/year more than Georgia, or $27K/year more than Florida. (Since Michigan gives less "merit" aid than any of those other flagships, I guess there should be an "at least" before each of the preceding dollar figures.) Pretty expensive hoodie, though...

Yeah have heard the same from multiple OOS applicants - Michigan is very stingy with the discounts. Many are charged full price. A good friend's son with stellar HS record received a much better deal from a similarly ranked/regarded private school (20s in US News). That surprised me. I had been hearing for years of students getting the types of discounts you mention above for other public flagships that rank not far behind Michigan. I wonder how long Michigan can continue to charge that much of a premium. It doesn't make sense to me unless there is some specific benefit that Michigan is providing you which won't be the case for large majority of applicants. Several of these schools also have a more fun reputation than Michigan.

Benefits:

-top rated in just about every department and Major offering
-second to none alumni network
- among the strongest "school spirit" institutions in the world

Is it worth 16k/year more? Ask the 100,000 kids who apply every year who seem to think so.

Honestly, compared to Wisconsin (the $16K/year delta you reference), Michigan ties or loses (but it's close) on "school spirit" and ties or wins (but it's close) on alumni network--so call those two a wash--and ekes out a barely-perceptible edge in department rankings (#9 in aggregate compared to #13.1; Berkeley checks in at #2.1, FWIW -- https://publicuniversityhonors.com/rankings-academic-departments-private-elites-vs-publics/ ). Are those four ranking rungs worth it? I guess that's the $64,000 question.

We just toured Wisconsin and we came away thinking Michigan (and UVA) were more impressive.

What was impressive about your Michigan tour? For us it was just the law school and the tour guide’s enthusiasm.

Michigan is just plain more prestigious than Wisconsin where rankings matter most; namely Business and Law. Wisconsin is Michigan lite. In discipline after discipline, Michigan edges out Wisconsin in most cases. Furthermore, and this is extremely important, the Michigan student body graduates at a much higher rate at the four and six year levels. The quality of the students at Michigan is at a higher overall level.

If you’re not going for business or law, I don’t see the difference. Unless you can pay for “prestige”, I guess. The law school seems great and is beautiful, though. It was the best part of the tour.

Engineering is very highly ranked and most hard sciences. It’s a feeder for medical school.