Anonymous wrote:UMichigan may be a bit better known to the average Joe Schmo on the street because it has Division 1 sports whereas WashU is D3. But assuming you are not being recruited by the NFL, WashU is very well known academically which, at the end of the day, is why you mainly go to college. It beats me why anyone would anyone waste their time explaining to Mr. Schmo where they went to college.

Seriously? The average Joe Schmo on the street has absolutely no clue about Washington University or where it is located. What does NFL recruitment have to do with school spirit? Both schools are academically excellent, so that’s not a concern for the OP. It’s a matter of fit in the end.

UMichigan may be a bit better known to the average Joe Schmo on the street because it has Division 1 sports whereas WashU is D3. But assuming you are not being recruited by the NFL, WashU is very well known academically which, at the end of the day, is why you mainly go to college. It beats me why anyone would anyone waste their time explaining to Mr. Schmo where they went to college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At WashU, it’s very easy to switch or add majors or schools and graduate in 4 years

Unless you decide to go from premed to engineering after the completion of your sophomore year. Those are the types of major changes I’m talking about.

Not quite true. It obviously depends on classes you take but there is a lot of overlap classes between the 2 majors so entirely possible and welcomed

Anonymous wrote:NP, but as a former Chicagoan, I'm confused about the hate for WashU. It was always well-regarded when I lived in the Midwest - what happened?

I lived in the Midwest most of my life. Washington U was often overlooked.

Anonymous wrote:At WashU, it’s very easy to switch or add majors or schools and graduate in 4 years

Unless you decide to go from premed to engineering after the completion of your sophomore year. Those are the types of major changes I’m talking about.

“ I’ve never been to Ann Arbor, and I’m sure it’s fun. But the Wash. U. area has Blueberry Hill, all kinds of restaurants on Delmar, the Arch and Laclede’s Landing, the Soulard (a small, misplaced pocket of New Orleans), Forest Park, the Central West End (Greenwich Village west), a lot of big corporations without any great source of interns other than Wash. U., a history of being founded by abolitionists who were trying to keep Missouri in the union, an athletic center that houses tons of presidential debates, hiking a few miles away, a student-run radio station, etc.”

Michigan has a sports culture that Washington University will never have. That might not mean much to you, but to most teenagers, it’s a great source of entertainment and pride when your college does well. The entire city caters to the university. You can walk one mile in any direction from central campus and still somehow feel the impact of the school. An Ann Arbor is very safe for the most part. You can feel comfortable while attending school there and its surrounding area.

At WashU, it’s very easy to switch or add majors or schools and graduate in 4 years

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose Michigan.

No regrets whatsoever.

How easily can undergrads who do well there get the classes needed to graduate in four years?

To me, given the problems at the UC schools, this is the big concern I’d have about all state universities.

I’ve never heard of a problem with students at Michigan graduating in four years, unless they change majors. If they take longer, it’s because of something they did to prolong graduation.

It is not unusual to get into school A and B and not C - regardless of which is more selective than which and regardless of stats. Unless the acceptance rate is 100%, they can't and won't accept every applicant

Anonymous wrote:NP, but as a former Chicagoan, I'm confused about the hate for WashU. It was always well-regarded when I lived in the Midwest - what happened?

US News recalibrated its rankings. So, a lot of things that make Wash. U. great (example: small classes) got excluded from the rankings.

I think the rankings themselves are very reasonable. Of course Michigan and the University of Virginia are on par with Wash. U.

But then the haters come here and post over and over again about how dangerous St. Louis is, how terrible Missouri is, how boring the area around Wash. U. is, etc.

I assume it’s the same people who make the UChicago out to be a weak school with stupid students where everyone gets mugged.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wash U’s location is less than desirable and Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town. I think it comes down to fit for DC. If he needs more hand holding than Wash U.

St. Louis is a wonderful place to go to college.

Ann Arbor is a much better experience for most 18 year old freshmen.

I’ve never been to Ann Arbor, and I’m sure it’s fun. But the Wash. U. area has Blueberry Hill, all kinds of restaurants on Delmar, the Arch and Laclede’s Landing, the Soulard (a small, misplaced pocket of New Orleans), Forest Park, the Central West End (Greenwich Village west), a lot of big corporations without any great source of interns other than Wash. U., a history of being founded by abolitionists who were trying to keep Missouri in the union, an athletic center that houses tons of presidential debates, hiking a few miles away, a student-run radio station, etc.

Not to mention an extremely well-funded student union and student activities fund, the ability to book top bands and speakers, decent campus restaurant, and a mysterious network of steam tunnels. And one of the Animal House screenwriters went there.

Going to Wash. U. can be so much fun if a student makes any effort at all to have fun.

If Michigan is cheaper or has different classes a student wants, or a student wants tailgate parties, that’s a reason to prefer Michigan

Avoiding Wash. U. because it’s not fun is not a sensible strategy. That’s like avoiding Cal Tech because it’s not good at physics or avoiding Notre Dame because it’s not very Catholic.

NP, but as a former Chicagoan, I'm confused about the hate for WashU. It was always well-regarded when I lived in the Midwest - what happened?

Anonymous wrote:My kid chose Michigan.

No regrets whatsoever.

How easily can undergrads who do well there get the classes needed to graduate in four years?

To me, given the problems at the UC schools, this is the big concern I’d have about all state universities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weather & quality of education are about equal. This is a choice between ALWAYS having to explain where you went to college & NEVER having to explain where you went to college. Well, that and one is a lot of fun & has endless things to do, while other is like “Anybody wanna play Pictionary?”

Only in the Northeast, where there is a weird assumption that private always beats public, is this even a question.

Only on DCUM would you have such a ridiculous comment

You’re right. Average winter temp in St Louis is about 3 degrees warmer. Sorry.

NP. Nope. Actually STL is on average 9 degrees warmer than Ann Arbor in the winter. But the rest of your comment is also ridiculous. WashU is well known. You won’t be having to explain where you went to college. Also, of course private doesn’t always beat public but for some kids a smaller school (like washu, and most private schools) is better than a really large school like Michigan.

Ok, it was funny for a while, but now you’re just nutzo.

My kid chose Michigan.

No regrets whatsoever.