Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not worth it for OOS.
Many better options.

Such as?

USC

This thread is about state schools. The OP is asking about Michigan versus other state schools that are less expensive. USC is neither.

If you can afford Michigan OOS, why would you only be applying to other state schools? Michigan OOS prospies apply to Vandy, Georgetown, Northwestern, Duke, Penn, Wisconsin, USC.

Alum here and this statement sums it up. Snowflakes need not apply. If you were a star in high school, you will be ordinary at Michigan. Thems the facts….and everyone is pretty much pre-professional.

I know quite a few kids who only applied to state schools because they want the lifestyle. My son goes there and he only applied to Wisconsin on that list. He’s a college football fanatic and is obsessed with stats.

[/b]OP, I’d say it’s a work hard, play hard school. It’s vey tough academically depending on major. [b]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public university tiers are a fake construct beyond a flagship is a flagship. Same experience, same partying, same rah-rah sports, same rich kids in frat and sorority life, same smart kids at the top, somewhat unmotivated kids at the bottom, same career and grad school outcomes. If schools like Indiana, Alabama and Clemson offer your family a boatload of merit money take it. Michigan is not worth a premium. Nobody is impressed by Michigan undergrad no matter how many times insecure Michigan alums and parents parrot otherwise for years on end on every message board.

Sorry your kid didn’t cut the mustard#Go Blue!!

[Anonymous]

My sister went to Michigan and I went to Wisconsin and people used to say to her, “wow, great school” and they’d say to me, “bet you have fun!”

It used to piss me off so much. Even though I think I did have more fun than she did 😂

Then she married someone who went to Penn State and he had to endure it (“Happy Valley! Bet you had fun!)

Anyway I assume not that much has changed but people do look at Michigan and other top publics differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Public university tiers are a fake construct beyond a flagship is a flagship. Same experience, same partying, same rah-rah sports, same rich kids in frat and sorority life, same smart kids at the top, somewhat unmotivated kids at the bottom, same career and grad school outcomes. If schools like Indiana, Alabama and Clemson offer your family a boatload of merit money take it. Michigan is not worth a premium. Nobody is impressed by Michigan undergrad no matter how many times insecure Michigan alums and parents parrot otherwise for years on end on every message board.

Sorry your kid didn’t cut the mustard#Go Blue!!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister went to Michigan and I went to Wisconsin and people used to say to her, “wow, great school” and they’d say to me, “bet you have fun!”

It used to piss me off so much. Even though I think I did have more fun than she did 😂

Then she married someone who went to Penn State and he had to endure it (“Happy Valley! Bet you had fun!)

Anyway I assume not that much has changed but people do look at Michigan and other top publics differently.

Absolutely!

[Anonymous]

Depends.

Like all good schools (and there are many) Michigan has undergraduate degree programs that range from top notch to average. None are below average/poor.

If your kid is heading into a profession where an advanced degree is required then don’t go for undergrad. Save the money and spend it on grad school — unless the cost of attending as an OOS student is no big deal to your family. In my view, spending $300K for an undergrad degree is nuts unless $300K is simply not a big deal. And, for many it is not a big deal. Good for them.

Ann Arbor is a nice sized City and reasonably safe. The Campus (save for the big freshman dorm area added later) is pretty and like many large schools - nicely integrated with the City. Is what the school experience supplies worth the extra $200K over say UofMaryland? No - of course not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends.

Like all good schools (and there are many) Michigan has undergraduate degree programs that range from top notch to average. None are below average/poor.

If your kid is heading into a profession where an advanced degree is required then don’t go for undergrad. Save the money and spend it on grad school — unless the cost of attending as an OOS student is no big deal to your family. In my view, spending $300K for an undergrad degree is nuts unless $300K is simply not a big deal. And, for many it is not a big deal. Good for them.

Ann Arbor is a nice sized City and reasonably safe. The Campus (save for the big freshman dorm area added later) is pretty and like many large schools - nicely integrated with the City. Is what the school experience supplies worth the extra $200K over say UofMaryland? No - of course not.

Michigan is not, “Like all good schools.” Your comment reads like there are many schools in Michigan’s league. There aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public university tiers are a fake construct beyond a flagship is a flagship. Same experience, same partying, same rah-rah sports, same rich kids in frat and sorority life, same smart kids at the top, somewhat unmotivated kids at the bottom, same career and grad school outcomes. If schools like Indiana, Alabama and Clemson offer your family a boatload of merit money take it. Michigan is not worth a premium. Nobody is impressed by Michigan undergrad no matter how many times insecure Michigan alums and parents parrot otherwise for years on end on every message board.

I think you are wrong. There are some publics - Cal-Berkeley, Michigan - a few others we can debate the list - that are viewed differently. It probably does not end up making much of a difference for many students but it can. Take one example - Michigan is probably in the top 5 schools in putting undergrads into Wall Street IB Analyst positions. Now is that (or other examples) important to you - maybe maybe not. But I don't think it's correct to say Michigan and Alabama are the same - nothing against Alabama.

[Anonymous]

My husband went there for grad school and Ann Arbor is a charming town. I grew up in a midwestern college town, so I am biased.

Not sure I would send my kid to a large OOS state school unless it was for a specific program the school was known for or a regional specialization - i.e. studying automotive engineering in Michigan, geology in Colorado, marine biology in Florida, etc. I grew up in Ohio and kids who didn’t go to the local state university often went to The OSU - but there were always a handful every year who went to Penn State. I never understood why they would pay OOS $$$.

That said, we’re transplants to the DMV and I have only been to College Park, MD a few times for work. It didn’t seem to have the same energy and vibe that you get in a place like State College, PA, Ann Arbor, MI, Columbus, OH, or Charlottesville, VA. From what I gather the issue in VA is that it’s way harder to get into UVA or Tech in state than it is for an in state kid in the Midwest or South to go to their flagship state school.

[Anonymous]

It’s a great school but I wouldn’t pay full price for it. If the tuition is easy for you to pay, you might feel differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister went to Michigan and I went to Wisconsin and people used to say to her, “wow, great school” and they’d say to me, “bet you have fun!”

It used to piss me off so much. Even though I think I did have more fun than she did 😂

Then she married someone who went to Penn State and he had to endure it (“Happy Valley! Bet you had fun!)

Anyway I assume not that much has changed but people do look at Michigan and other top publics differently.

+1

I am a UW alum as well but wholly acknowledge that Michigan is simply a better school, reputationally and by most departments. I loved UW and had a fantastic academic experience there, but Michigan is just top tier within just about every department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends.

Like all good schools (and there are many) Michigan has undergraduate degree programs that range from top notch to average. None are below average/poor.

If your kid is heading into a profession where an advanced degree is required then don’t go for undergrad. Save the money and spend it on grad school — unless the cost of attending as an OOS student is no big deal to your family. In my view, spending $300K for an undergrad degree is nuts unless $300K is simply not a big deal. And, for many it is not a big deal. Good for them.

Ann Arbor is a nice sized City and reasonably safe. The Campus (save for the big freshman dorm area added later) is pretty and like many large schools - nicely integrated with the City. Is what the school experience supplies worth the extra $200K over say UofMaryland? No - of course not.

Actually, while College Park is improving, it doesn't hold a candle to most of the Big10 peers, particularly Ann Arbor or Madison. That experience alone is worth something, though maybe not $200,000.

[Anonymous]

“ Not sure I would send my kid to a large OOS state school unless it was for a specific program the school was known for or a regional specialization - i.e. studying automotive engineering in Michigan, geology in Colorado, marine biology in Florida, etc. I grew up in Ohio and kids who didn’t go to the local state university often went to The OSU - but there were always a handful every year who went to Penn State. I never understood why they would pay OOS $$$.”

You grew up in Ohio. Their flagship is not on the same tier as Michigan. Neither is PSU or any other public B1G school currently. Academically Michigan undergrad is elite, despite what some naysayers will tell you here on DCUM. I can’t understand why anyone would pay OOS tuition for PSU if they were admitted to tOS either. That I can agree with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ Not sure I would send my kid to a large OOS state school unless it was for a specific program the school was known for or a regional specialization - i.e. studying automotive engineering in Michigan, geology in Colorado, marine biology in Florida, etc. I grew up in Ohio and kids who didn’t go to the local state university often went to The OSU - but there were always a handful every year who went to Penn State. I never understood why they would pay OOS $$$.”

You grew up in Ohio. Their flagship is not on the same tier as Michigan. Neither is PSU or any other public B1G school currently. Academically Michigan undergrad is elite, despite what some naysayers will tell you here on DCUM. I can’t understand why anyone would pay OOS tuition for PSU if they were admitted to tOS either. That I can agree with.

Ugghh - a reminder of why the rest of the rest of the Big Ten hates Michigan. Northwestern ranks well above Michigan but somehow manages not to be arrogant about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ Not sure I would send my kid to a large OOS state school unless it was for a specific program the school was known for or a regional specialization - i.e. studying automotive engineering in Michigan, geology in Colorado, marine biology in Florida, etc. I grew up in Ohio and kids who didn’t go to the local state university often went to The OSU - but there were always a handful every year who went to Penn State. I never understood why they would pay OOS $$$.”

You grew up in Ohio. Their flagship is not on the same tier as Michigan. Neither is PSU or any other public B1G school currently. Academically Michigan undergrad is elite, despite what some naysayers will tell you here on DCUM. I can’t understand why anyone would pay OOS tuition for PSU if they were admitted to tOS either. That I can agree with.

Ugghh - a reminder of why the rest of the rest of the Big Ten hates Michigan. Northwestern ranks well above Michigan but somehow manages not to be arrogant about it.

Really? Not the Northwestern alums I've met.