Does University of Michigan live up to the hype?

[Anonymous]

Why would they be better off at Colorado?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would they be better off at Colorado?

Lifestyle, maybe. Winter is more fun in Colorado than Michigan, if you're into winter sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Do you say the same of Berkeley?"

Of course not. Berkeley is Berkeley. Plus, it's in one of the most exciting and physically beautiful parts of the world, much less the country. You can hike Mt. Tam on the weekends at Cal. Eat food from all over the world at some of the best restaurants and holes in the wall in the country. It's the Bay Area. It's California. It's the Pacific Rim. You've got more culture and diversity and economic opportunities than you could imagine. No, it's not at all like the Midwest schools.

You clearly haven't been to the campus or area.

Bay Area native who wouldn't send a kid to Berkeley. UCLA maybe, but not Berkeley.

Poster probably never spent much time in Ann Arbor either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Right but considering the size of Michigan, such a fraction of a % really take advantage of the big blue pipeline into IB / MBB and FAANG (and with the last one Illinois would place as well)

So you prove what pp’s are saying.

Michigan is pointless for the majority of kids that attend there. It doesn’t provide anything different than a different public school with better weather and more chill lifestyle would provide

Out of 8k students per class, only 1k see a difference vecsuse only 1/8 have the drive plus grades.

The other 7k would be better off at cu-Boulder or Clemson/Alabama

Are you talking about instate or out-of-state students? Because, it would be a really tough sell to me as a parent in, say, Rochester Hills, Michigan, to pay for one of those schools you mentioned, rather than sending my kids to Ann Arbor.

This isn’t remotely true. Colorado and Alabama are subpar schools. Look at the admissions stats for both. They are way below Michigan. For all the hard science majors - especially engineering, Michigan is well above almost every State school in the country. Michigan has a great business school and places well. It is an established pipeline for medical and law school.

Colorado and Alabama and not even in the same galaxy as Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Probably they are but Michigan grads / students are uniquely arrogant - like how do you get so high on being a clear #2 while showing no regard for other fine universities in the region like Wisconsin, Illinois etc.. The Skunks are an annoying bunch. You got to love the "Harvard of the Midwest".

+1 “Harvard of the Midwest” is one of the most obnoxious things I’ve heard alums say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Right but considering the size of Michigan, such a fraction of a % really take advantage of the big blue pipeline into IB / MBB and FAANG (and with the last one Illinois would place as well)

So you prove what pp’s are saying.

Michigan is pointless for the majority of kids that attend there. It doesn’t provide anything different than a different public school with better weather and more chill lifestyle would provide

Out of 8k students per class, only 1k see a difference vecsuse only 1/8 have the drive plus grades.

The other 7k would be better off at cu-Boulder or Clemson/Alabama

Are you talking about instate or out-of-state students? Because, it would be a really tough sell to me as a parent in, say, Rochester Hills, Michigan, to pay for one of those schools you mentioned, rather than sending my kids to Ann Arbor.

Oos. People from Rochester hills aren’t posting here

Instate at Michigan or MSU if you don’t like Michigan culture is a no brainer

I have never understood oos for a flagship.

If you are a strong student, might as well as go private

If you are a bubble student, who can get in oos at a top public, you probably still won’t be enough of a gunner to fight the competiton to make use of being at a top public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would they be better off at Colorado?

More chill, prettier town, 300 days of sunshine a year, better looking student body

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Probably they are but Michigan grads / students are uniquely arrogant - like how do you get so high on being a clear #2 while showing no regard for other fine universities in the region like Wisconsin, Illinois etc.. The Skunks are an annoying bunch. You got to love the "Harvard of the Midwest".

+1 “Harvard of the Midwest” is one of the most obnoxious things I’ve heard alums say.

That’s BS. “Harvard is the Michigan of the east.” That’s what alums will say when they quote this guy:

“The saying comes from when John F. Kennedy (who went to Harvard) gave an address on the steps of the union while campaigning for President. (As an aside this is also where he stated his intentions to start the Peace Corps) He started the address with:

"I want to express my thanks to you, as a graduate of the Michigan of the East, Harvard University."”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Right but considering the size of Michigan, such a fraction of a % really take advantage of the big blue pipeline into IB / MBB and FAANG (and with the last one Illinois would place as well)

So you prove what pp’s are saying.

Michigan is pointless for the majority of kids that attend there. It doesn’t provide anything different than a different public school with better weather and more chill lifestyle would provide

Out of 8k students per class, only 1k see a difference vecsuse only 1/8 have the drive plus grades.

The other 7k would be better off at cu-Boulder or Clemson/Alabama

Are you talking about instate or out-of-state students? Because, it would be a really tough sell to me as a parent in, say, Rochester Hills, Michigan, to pay for one of those schools you mentioned, rather than sending my kids to Ann Arbor.

This isn’t remotely true. Colorado and Alabama are subpar schools. Look at the admissions stats for both. They are way below Michigan. For all the hard science majors - especially engineering, Michigan is well above almost every State school in the country. Michigan has a great business school and places well. It is an established pipeline for medical and law school.

Colorado and Alabama and not even in the same galaxy as Michigan.

Finally, someone has stated the obvious.

[Anonymous]

Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

Michigan has been popular for decades. You’ve got it backwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

Michigan has been popular for decades. You’ve got it backwards.

Only because the state of Michigan and the Rust Belt was booming automotive and engineering region. But now it's dead and stagnant with dreary weather. Air conditioning has made northern Rust Belt irrelevant. All the smart grads flee the Midwest for the south and coasts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you’re flush with money, merit at Colorado or Alabama makes more sense for a lot of majors. Especially if you’re going to grad school anyway. Engineering is hard everywhere and you’re going to get a job. Go somewhere beautiful and fun for practically free. Rankings are primarily driven by applications and I am not paying $280,000 because at some point Michigan became “cool”.

CU isn't Michigan-expensive but it ain't cheap and doesn't offer much merit aid. You have to pay a premium for that location. (No idea how it's being grouped with Alabama in this respect.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would they be better off at Colorado?

Lifestyle, maybe. Winter is more fun in Colorado than Michigan, if you're into winter sports.

I thought this was about choosing a college, not a vacation destination

[Anonymous]

Less difference between the two every year.