I know kids who have gotten to Michigan 00S did not get into UVA in state. So I think part of the draw to apply there is to hedge your bets. No one knows if their kid will actually get into UVA in state these days. It’s all a crapshoot - UVA, Michigan, UT Austin, UNC Chapel Hill, UCLA.

Disagree overrated. Where it has been rated, in the US and globally, before the rankings were more about need based aid the last 2 yrs, it was a top 5 public. It still is. That puts it a tier under ivy-plus. Which it is. IVY PLUS is about 13-14 schools. UMich is in the next 15 , along with UVA, UCB, and great privates such as Vanderbilt, WashU, Georgetown. Education and opportunity wise, that is where it rates so NO it is not overrated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not affiliated with Michigan, but there’s no question it’s the strongest Big Ten school overall. It’s easily in the top 3 in terms of public universities. It’s truly an excellent school.

You don't go to a school to overall attend all degree programs or participate in all research, etc.

The argument for Michigan often seems to boil down to "the ideal school looks like Michigan and Michigan looks more like that than any other school therefore it is better."

Name another school that is top 5-10 nationally in just about every major and program.

You mean, for graduate school? This is an undergrad conversation. Of course, lots of jobs in the rust belt these days after getting that BA! It ain’t exactly UT Austin…

Graduates of University of Michigan know how to find jobs where they want to live. Many OOSers go home. Midwesterners stay local or head to Chicago. Kids with unique career paths go where the jobs are. It's not hard to understand.

The Big 10 offers a lot for students, especially those coming from public high schools. Football is big. There are a lot of students who aren't all in and serious about their academics. Some top notch students.

Remember, Michigan's SAT scores are super low compared to selective private schools because it has a mandate to educate the public. So you get a school more like a good, typical high school, than an elite private/independent high school.

That common man theme is important as it is a state supported school. So much like Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa State, Minnesota, Michigan serves a need.

Anonymous wrote:Disagree. DC graduated from UM and had a great experience. The alumni network got her both a summer internship and her first job out of UM. The education was strong (DC was an econ major which is a top department there). DC was also in the honors program which was a plus. We were full pay and no regrets.

Kids from many other schools can say the same thing. But I’ll add in big co corporate America these days, no one is hiring because of alumni network stuff. Not sure if people understand how things have changed in the last decade. I hire and have run intern programs as has my dh, and hiring someone bc they went to your school, you know them, they’re from your frat, etc is pretty much not permitted.

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?

It’s a popular school is why everyone is applying. Kids like it for the culture, parents like it for the top notch, highly ranked academics.

Michigan has taken a different approach than some other states with their flagship state schools. States like UNC and Texas severely limit the number of OOS students. States like Va and Michigan accept a large OOS population and charge $$$ to fund the schools. BTW - note that UVA OOS COA is $89-$90K/year for engineering too.

If I was Maryland, I’d rather pay for UMich than UVA. Michigan’s engineering facilities are phenomenal and I have never seen anything like them on the others schools I have toured.

Also surprisingly Ann Arbor is not a cheap area. Having 2 kids in college and one at UMich, apartment rental prices are about $500/month more in Ann Arbor than in the location of my other students - a small city in the south.

While I don’t love Umich’s COA, it’s been a great school for DC. With AP credits, we’re hoping for graduation within 3 years to save $$.

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Anonymous wrote: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.

OSU is not nearly the same academically and Ann Arbor is a much better "college town" than Columbus, which by comparison, is huge.

Relax, Nellie. I didn’t say OSU was as ‘good’ as Michigan but you’re being ridiculous by making broad statements like that. Fact is kids can get a great education at both places, OSU has a very strong sports culture and alum network similar to Michigan (based on football, yes) and they are pushing into that popularity and courting lots of strong OOS kids for honors programs. Its a great choice.

OSU honors program would have been approx 30k a year for my OOS kid. Michigan 87k. Was an obvious choice for us, but dc chose a third option entirely.

Wouldn’t tOSU love to be able to get those higher $$$. The fact is, they can’t. Michigan can and does. That’s the power of the brand.

You are a sheep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not affiliated with Michigan, but there’s no question it’s the strongest Big Ten school overall. It’s easily in the top 3 in terms of public universities. It’s truly an excellent school.

You don't go to a school to overall attend all degree programs or participate in all research, etc.

The argument for Michigan often seems to boil down to "the ideal school looks like Michigan and Michigan looks more like that than any other school therefore it is better."

Name another school that is top 5-10 nationally in just about every major and program.

Harvard

And Michigan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not affiliated with Michigan, but there’s no question it’s the strongest Big Ten school overall. It’s easily in the top 3 in terms of public universities. It’s truly an excellent school.

You don't go to a school to overall attend all degree programs or participate in all research, etc.

The argument for Michigan often seems to boil down to "the ideal school looks like Michigan and Michigan looks more like that than any other school therefore it is better."

Name another school that is top 5-10 nationally in just about every major and program.

Harvard

Anonymous wrote: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.

Colleges have a dress code?

^^^No-for undergraduate departments too. Especially in STEM and engineering. Do some research. Also ranked decently high for undergraduate teaching for a large public university.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not affiliated with Michigan, but there’s no question it’s the strongest Big Ten school overall. It’s easily in the top 3 in terms of public universities. It’s truly an excellent school.

You don't go to a school to overall attend all degree programs or participate in all research, etc.

The argument for Michigan often seems to boil down to "the ideal school looks like Michigan and Michigan looks more like that than any other school therefore it is better."

Name another school that is top 5-10 nationally in just about every major and program.

You mean, for graduate school? This is an undergrad conversation. Of course, lots of jobs in the rust belt these days after getting that BA! It ain’t exactly UT Austin…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not affiliated with Michigan, but there’s no question it’s the strongest Big Ten school overall. It’s easily in the top 3 in terms of public universities. It’s truly an excellent school.

You don't go to a school to overall attend all degree programs or participate in all research, etc.

The argument for Michigan often seems to boil down to "the ideal school looks like Michigan and Michigan looks more like that than any other school therefore it is better."

Name another school that is top 5-10 nationally in just about every major and program.

Anonymous wrote:There's not much difference between any of the Big 10 schools, except Northwestern.

You'll get the same experience and same outcome at Illinois, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, etc. Go where you fit is the best (and cheapest!)

No, you really don't.

Anonymous wrote:Exactly, there's a reason why UVA oos is seen as much more prestigious than umich oos

Thanks for the laugh.