Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

You’ve obviously have never been to South Bend.

Not since the '90's. But, the area around Notre Dame seemed fine, for what college students are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

I have to disagree that all college towns containing large schools are pretty much the same. Some are definitely better than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

But they are Ivies. Michigan is not. I don't know why OP thinks there is any hype to Michigan at all. I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

You’ve obviously have never been to South Bend.

Not since the '90's. But, the area around Notre Dame seemed fine, for what college students are looking for.

That’s different than saying that all college towns are pretty much the same. In reality, they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

You’ve obviously have never been to South Bend.

ND is a solid T20 private school with shit ton of endowment.
It's a step up from those other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

But they are Ivies. Michigan is not. I don't know why OP thinks there is any hype to Michigan at all. I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

I wouldn’t pay a premium for UPenn either, unless it was Wharton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

You’ve obviously have never been to South Bend.

ND is a solid T20 private school with shit ton of endowment.
It's a step up from those other schools.

Top 20, top 25. What’s the difference? Speaking of sh*t, welcome to South Bend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

I have to disagree that all college towns containing large schools are pretty much the same. Some are definitely better than others.

Sure, but they're all generally on the same spectrum of student ghetto housing, combined with bars where you can drink for cheap, coffee shops, sandwich stores etc.

The relative quality of the college town isn't really make it or break it when it comes to picking a school. And a college town like Ann Arbor is a perfectly acceptable place to spend 4 years. I mean, I'm not overselling it as some Xanadu. But, it's hardly the post-apocalyptic hell-hole the anti-Michigan PP was describing it as upthread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

But they are Ivies. Michigan is not. I don't know why OP thinks there is any hype to Michigan at all. I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

Good for you. But some posters on this thread seem to be setting up a strawman of the school.

It's a large state school with a high level of academic rigor, with a strong NCAA football and basketball culture, set in one of the better college towns, in a cold, northern state. That may or may not appeal to you enough to pay OOS tuition. But, Michigan doesn't seem to have any problems filling its in-state or OOS slots with smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

But they are Ivies. Michigan is not. I don't know why OP thinks there is any hype to Michigan at all. I certainly wouldn't pay for it.

No hype? 28 pages and counting makes me think otherwise. But you do you.

[Anonymous]

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

So kids from Michigan are not “smart kids?” Typical clueless DMV snob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

So kids from Michigan are not “smart kids?” Typical clueless DMV snob.

Yeah, those dumb kids from such backwards places like Rochester Hills and Bloomfield Hills.

A lot of people in the DC area are really provincial and parochial.

[Anonymous]

Is there anything published that shows where Michigan in-state students come from within Michigan? Are they really mainly from the wealthy suburbs? In Texas, each individual school can send their top 6ish % GPA students to UT Austin, and that helps ensure that the Austin student body isn't all from the rich schools near the major cities. Your SAT score isn't considered if your GPA is in the top echelon. Is there something like that in Michigan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything published that shows where Michigan in-state students come from within Michigan? Are they really mainly from the wealthy suburbs? In Texas, each individual school can send their top 6ish % GPA students to UT Austin, and that helps ensure that the Austin student body isn't all from the rich schools near the major cities. Your SAT score isn't considered if your GPA is in the top echelon. Is there something like that in Michigan?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's just nothing unique at University of Michigan that is not available at a college in a state with better climate and lots of growth. It's a really overcrowded public university growing fast to cash in. It's located in a boring flyover country town in the middle of nowhere. It has the worst weather of any university in the top 50 (it will be in the 20s and 30s until April). And the state is crumbling and stagnant; smart residents can't flee fast enough. If University of Mississippi was suddenly in the top 30 college, would you all try to convince yourself it's great? That's basically Michigan right now. It's ranked highly because of it's legacy reputation and name rec (sports), not because it's a unique and special undergraduate setting.

You've posted this critique a number of times, and it really doesn't seem relevant to students picking U of M. OOS students don't have any real desire to live in Michigan anyway, and never really have (I attended U of M as an undergraduate in the '90's, when Michigan was doing well, but I none of my OOS friends ever intended to live there after graduation). So, the fact that Detroit is a dump is meaningless to them. And Ann Arbor is a perfectly nice college town that has everything college students are looking for during their 4 years there.

I mean, there are plenty of good or great schools in far worse places where students can't really venture off campus (I'm looking at you, Yale and U. Of Pennsylvania), that don't have any trouble attracting students.

You’re wasting your time trying to reason with this person. He/she/it will just continue to post the same statements ad naseum. Better to ignore and hopefully it will come to an end.

I'm kind of sympathetic to kids who, when given the choice of two otherwise equal schools, might pick the one that's located in a more pleasant climate. I could see picking UVa over U Of M in that regard. But, honestly, once you're talking about large schools located in a college town, the entertainment and social opportunities in Ann Arbor, Charlottesville, Gainesville, South Bend, Urbana-Champaign etc. are all pretty much the same.

I have to disagree that all college towns containing large schools are pretty much the same. Some are definitely better than others.

Sure, but they're all generally on the same spectrum of student ghetto housing, combined with bars where you can drink for cheap, coffee shops, sandwich stores etc.

The relative quality of the college town isn't really make it or break it when it comes to picking a school. And a college town like Ann Arbor is a perfectly acceptable place to spend 4 years. I mean, I'm not overselling it as some Xanadu. But, it's hardly the post-apocalyptic hell-hole the anti-Michigan PP was describing it as upthread.

It was miserable to both Sasha Obama and Madonna’s daughter who both transferred out. It’s cold, grey, boring and in the middle of nowhere. Unless you’re into sports and want to binge drink at football and hockey matches, you’re going to be really antsy to get out of there. Going to college in a region you can’t wait to move away from sounds pretty unappealing, to me. Especially when this debate is about non-resident students have the money to go basically anywhere they want.