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I think these are the schools I'll be admitted to. Where should I go?

By Karnov on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 01:04 am: Edit

Michigan state or u of michigan

By Cru (Cru) on Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 09:13 pm: Edit

Wow...
Those are all great schools.
What do you want to major in?

By fede on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 08:19 pm: Edit

To Karnov, University of Michigan. (Have already been admitted so I'm pretty sure about that one!) Unfortunately, I have no idea what I will major in. Maybe science. I like to write. I think Michigan would be a lot of fun, but I'm a little worried about the huge classes.

By a on Monday, February 17, 2003 - 10:07 pm: Edit

If you have the money, you should go to grinell, hamilton, bryn mawr, or colby. Unless you're an engineering major, those liberal arts schools are surely the way to go.

By Marcie on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 12:11 am: Edit

I went to graduate school at Michigan and I highly recommend it, especially if you are not sure yet about your major. One great thing about Michigan is that it has a wide range of majors so you can figure it out after you get there. Michigan is strong in many sciences. They also have a strong English dept. with a writing competition called the Hopwood awards. It's a beautiful campus and great football! I'm kind of sorry I didn't go there for undergrad as well.

You may have some huge classes, but probably not so many once you get past introductory level classes. Most huge classes also have discussion sections led by graduate students, and Michigan's graduate schools are excellent, so you will have a high caliber of TA.

Michigan is big, but there are big opportunities there as well. By the way, I got my first professional job after graduate school due to the recommendation of another Michigan grad.

By fede on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 11:25 am: Edit

Thanks, Marcie. Where did you go undergrad? And what department were you in at Michigan?

By Marcie on Tuesday, February 18, 2003 - 10:06 pm: Edit

I went to Michigan State for undergrad (BA in English) and to grad school at Michigan in Library Science, which is now the School of Information, a very different dept. from when I attended. The campus is much the same though, still a great place. It is big enough that there are lots of interesting shops and restaurants and coffee houses, lots of concerts, many bookstores. Ann Arbor is a really interesting place to be as a student. The other schools you mention seem to all be much smaller, a rather different environment.

A couple years ago I met a young woman who now lives in NYC who was also a Michigan graduate. We were at a seminar at Harvard together. She said she loved Michigan BECAUSE it was big--there was always so much to do and so many different groups of people to befriend. She double majored in English and art history.

A family friend of ours went to Michigan a few years ago in chemical engineering and had a great time there. She helped a professor with some research as a paid job. She is now a very highly paid consultant.

Everywhere I have lived I meet other graduates of Michigan. I am really proud that I went there.

Do you live in Michigan or were you accepted to Michigan from out of state? I heard on NPR that they had 25,000 applicants and their freshman class will be 5,000.

By fede on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 05:17 pm: Edit

Thanks for all the info. There are definite benefits to the size, location, and Michigan pride. I'm a resident of Michigan (Ann Arbor, in fact). Playing into my decision on the negative side - is that itch to get outta town. I love Ann Arbor and I completely believe it's one of the best college towns on earth. But, you know, I live here so... If I go to Michigan, I'll be in Honors which supposedly brings the class sizes down somewhat. I'm going to Campus Days in a couple of weeks - and will have a chance to sit in on some classes. BTW, there's a lot of Michigan in my family -- Dad, Mom, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins -- everybody went to Michigan! Sort of an expectation that I'll go here eventually - if not undergrad, then grad school. (Sorry...not a State grad in the bunch. I'm sure you're right about the rate of applications - motto at my h.s. is that Michigan is nobody's safety school anymore.

By Marcie on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:42 pm: Edit

Oh, sorry to rattle on about Ann Arbor when you already live there. I also used to live in Ann Arbor before I moved to Seattle, and in fact I still do some work for U of M. I think Michigan Honors would be a great choice, but I could understand that you might want to get out of town for undergrad and come back for grad school.

My parents lived in Lansing when I went to MSU, and it wasn't too bad being in the same town. I went home every two weeks for Sun. dinner and my mom did my laundry!

That is interesting about U of M not being a safety school any more--even in-state. It was not nearly that competitive 20-30 years ago. I wanted my daughter to look at Michigan but she wouldn't hear of it since I went there. She wants to get out of Washington State!

I hear good things about Colby... but again if you might want science, maybe you should stick with Michigan.

By fede on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 02:34 pm: Edit

That's OK Marcie. I should have fessed up earlier - and others will appreciate your comments. I'm still seriously thinking about Michigan. Went to a Michigan-Michigan State hockey game the other night and it was so much fun -- the fans were hysterical (some cheers you wouldn't appreciate being from MSU). Michigan won that night at home, but lost in East Lansing the next day.

By COLBY@!!! on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 07:24 pm: Edit

COLBY COLBY COLBY COLBY~

By eerereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 04:58 pm: Edit

u of r

By fede on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 09:43 pm: Edit

Hey Colby and eeeeeeee, would you mind telling me why you think so?

Here are things I like about Colby - small LAC, small classes, pretty campus, good int'l focus, friendly students, 4-1-4 plan. Things I'm nervous about - Waterville, too much drinking and partying, too many rich white kids.

Here are things I like about Rochester - small University, good facilities, good science, take 5 program, merit money, nice & normal students. Things I'm nervous about - blandness, little name recognition.

So now you know what I'm thinking...why am I right/wrong and what did I miss?

By Gogirl (Gogirl) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 02:36 am: Edit

i am an international student from india;and i applied to michigan state and michigan,ann arbor.
my sat1 is 1470[740-m;730-v]
sat2:800/800-math2c
800/800-chemistry
760/800-writing
goodecs;decent essay;and excellent recos;
i got into michigan state;
but want to know how selective michigan,ann arbor is.
please post if you are aware of any financial awards for which international students can qualify in umich.,ann arbor.

By Marcie (Marcie) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 06:35 pm: Edit

Michigan is very selective. I heard on National Public Radio that Michigan will have 25,000 applicants this year for a freshman class of 5,000. Michigan State is not as rigorous as Michigan but it is a beautiful campus, lots of majors, good professors, nice dorms. You can get a decent education there. (I am a graduate of both schools.)
It is unlikely that you will get much financial aid from either school because they are both state schools. They are more committed to giving financial aid to students who qualify for need-based aid.

By Gogirl (Gogirl) on Saturday, March 01, 2003 - 09:07 am: Edit

thanks marcie.
i could go to one of them;but i wouldn't hurt to get some merit scholarship.

By Topcat (Topcat) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 05:43 pm: Edit

You don't say what your GPA is. At Michigan, this is much more important than test scores. Your test scores are definitely good enough. I doubt there's much money for international students - at Michigan or any other public university.

By Gogirl (Gogirl) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 05:59 am: Edit

we don't have a GPA system in india.
however,my class rank is 1/140
about 93.4% aggregate.

By Topcat (Topcat) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 11:15 am: Edit

Gogirl, I think that translates to about a 3.7 unweighted - and with your SAT scores, I'm sure you'll be accepted at Michigan.

By Wembleyfraggle7 (Wembleyfraggle7) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Rochester is quickly becoming one of the best research schools in the country. If you're going to be a science major, you can't get much better than the U of R unless you go Ivy or one of the better California schools.

By Autodidact (Autodidact) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:37 pm: Edit

I seem to remember something about U of R offering a fifth year for free, so that the student can take all of the classes they'd like to explore. If you're undecided this could be a boon. Is this the same as Take 5?
My daughter visited Grinnell-too many drugs for her liking, party atmosphere, quite liberal--and proud of it with all accompanying aspects. On the plus side, great LAC, mini-Yale club among the staff, which should help grad school admission. Her government teacher is an alum. excellent teacher, smaller classes.