Anonymous wrote:I’m confident it’s overrated. I’m not sure how the hype started, but it’s gotten a bit crazy. But, good for Michigan!

The “hype” has been going on at least 35 years; it was very popular at my highly ranked OOS public HS.

Anonymous wrote:I’m confident it’s overrated. I’m not sure how the hype started, but it’s gotten a bit crazy. But, good for Michigan!

Football championships.

It's actually sad to me how many people pick their college based on how they will feel on game day Saturdays. I have attended several football powerhouses.

Our society values athletic accomplishment more than academic accomplishment.

That's why the football coaches are often the highest-paid public employees in the state. Some are paid more than the leader of the university, the state governor, and the President of the U.S.

Anonymous wrote:what is the attraction for OOS to go to UMich and a far fewer seem drawn OOS to UVA?

Political biases, likely. Think about it. Also maybe different % OOS students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like a good but giant public school for private school prices. I get that people want different types of options but the popularity boggles my mind. I think almost every kid in my DC"s class is applying. Why?

So have your DC apply ED to Wake Forest. You are the same poster, right?

You're so wrong (I'm OP). DH and I both went to Mich, we were in-state, so it was a no-brainer even for DH who also got into a very prestigious private. It was an ok experience with all the big school pros and cons, as others have said. My DC is insisting on applying because he thinks the legacy will help him (no idea whether that's true), and I'm not keen. Even besides the current outrageous OOS tuition, my experience was nothing amazing.

It is a very large, state supported public school with a particular mission. Trying to make into something it is not is stupid.

Michigian, Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State, Iowa, Iowa State, etc. fill a very important public need.

I’m confident it’s overrated. I’m not sure how the hype started, but it’s gotten a bit crazy. But, good for Michigan!

what is the attraction for OOS to go to UMich and a far fewer seem drawn OOS to UVA?

Totally agree it’s over rated but I do also understand why it has appeal. Strong programs, sports etc.


I’ll say that OSU is making a big play for M type students. I’d love my DC to consider it but he’s looking to be recruited for sports and he’s not at that level.

Anonymous wrote:It seems like a good but giant public school for private school prices. I get that people want different types of options but the popularity boggles my mind. I think almost every kid in my DC"s class is applying. Why?

For in state Michigan, it's amazing.
For OOS, it's a very good school. But not at the price point we'd pay for it.

Anonymous wrote:It seems like a good but giant public school for private school prices. I get that people want different types of options but the popularity boggles my mind. I think almost every kid in my DC"s class is applying. Why?

So have your DC apply ED to Wake Forest. You are the same poster, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. You get the same education at Indiana. Or Minnesota. Or Illinois.

I don't know. In my field, Michigan is not just another Big 10. The professors in the departments there are excellent and doing the top notch work and graduating the top notch PhD's as well. Wisconsin is a close second. Both schools have these same professors teach and advice undergrads. If my kids were interested in that subject and wanted to go to a huge school (and all the plusses and minuses that come with that) with big sports - it's a great choice. They'd get a great education and could either take it into the real world or be poised to run if they later chose to get a PhD, JD, or MBA. Can't speak for other disciplines. That said - I'm not sure either of my kids is that keen on the big school with big sports profile.

What subject? Thanks!

I have a kid at UMich and it works for him because:

1) top 10 school in his two majors of interest
2) big sports was a big plus
3) cold weather a plus
4) more casual dress code a plus
5) no driving needed for students a plus

We will probably get at least 30 credits towards graduation and it may be more. That should save us a year. Hint: lots of Nova CC credits transfer.

I agree it’s not overwhelming evidence in favor of UMich. But for kid’s academic interests it’s been great.

No more or less than UVA, Berkeley, UCLA, UNC OOS. These are schools with great academic reputations and vibrant campus life. You can’t get this experience at most private schools, with a few exceptions (e.g., Northwestern, Duke, Vanderbilt)—and even then tuition is 15-20% lower at the publics.

I went to one of the big, prestigious state schools OOS. My older kid is at a SLAC; I now see the benefits of the small, private experience, even if it didn’t appeal to me, personally. My younger kid wants a big school and thinks Michigan/UVA/UCLA are really appealing; having had that experience, I get it and would be happy to send him to one of those.

I'm out on the west coast and people here like UMich also. It is a very strong university with an international reputation, lots of school spirit and located in a nice college town. The UCs are very closed off to OOS (i think most cap OOS to 20%) but because UMich has 50% OOS, it's more of a diverse student population. UMich is known for being strong in all of the STEM areas, so kids who might not be able to get into top engineering or CS programs at private schools would love to go to UMich. I am way OOS but will encourage my kids to apply to UMich for all of these reasons.

Anonymous wrote:Michigan started becoming an "it" school after The Big Chill came out.

And taking part in the Dharma Initiative caused it to take off even more.