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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DH is from the state and while he went to UMich his siblings went to Michigan State. They have all been successful but the main difference is the siblings have stayed in the Midwest.[/quote]

Michigan MBA here.  Came from MoCo, remained after grad school.

Quality of life is probably better here than in DMV IF you have a stable job and you don't mind colder weather.  For a person who is very mainstream, American suburbia is the same everywhere.  If you live in Gaithersburg or Reston and never go to downtown DC,  you might as well live here.

With 50% out of state and a way more global mindset, the University of Michigan produces more alumni who will disperse.  But I know a bunch of international students who have gone to MSU and done quite well afterward.  It's the locals who like to stay home.

MSU is easier to get into than Michigan but offers merit and perks to honors students that are more generous than Michigan.  2024 had peak Michigan admission for our high school.  In 2025, MSU struck back and took most of the stars using big dollar scholarships. It definitely can be a fun place for mainstream kids.  And most MC and UMC people are what I consider mainstream.

I work with and am friends with many MSU grads.  These are people who are well-compensated professionals...engineers, MBAs, etc.  There really isn't any difference between Michigan and MSU-educated people in the workforce.

Regarding Midwest culture, I think a good parallel would be Penn State minus the Philly, Jersey, and Metro NYC kids.  But Midwest Nice is real.  People are much more circumspect.  It's not as okay to disagree with others or have a forceful display of intellect or disagreement.  The norms are different here vs. other places I've lived.

My biggest issue with MSU is the chip on the shoulder that MSU kids have vs. Michigan.  The sporting rivalry is obnoxious (although many people think such rivalries are really fun, I find that kind of banter eye-pokingly tedious).  And there's no question that Michigan is harder to get into.  So that creates ill will among in-state high school classmates...which hardens people's feelings about which school is snobby and which school is fun, etc.  I actually think out-of-staters might not feel that very deeply.

I definitely recommend that DMV people take a look if they are traveling to the area on college tours.  And I agree MSU fits in the competitive set with other large Midwest flagships.  Why not check it out?  They have a pretty well-organized honors college day where kids compete for scholarships onsite.[/quote]

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