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Does anyone know anything about the Residential College at the University of Michigan? Are the admissions requirements the same as the other schools within the University? (SAT scores, GPA, etc) Please post. Thanks!

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 07:47 pm: Edit

you have to be weird/über-liberal/communist/hippie

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 08:40 am: Edit

You definitely have to be a little retro and slightly original to enjoy life in East Quad. It is very similar to a LAC in most respects. Small classes, tight knit community and interdisciplinary system. I would compare it to Reed College...except it is in a much colder environment and you have the flexibility of a huge research university.

It is not for everybody. So do your homework before applying to it.

By Neatoburrito87 (Neatoburrito87) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 08:36 pm: Edit

That was very helpful. Thank you both!

Are the SAT and GPA requirements the same as they are for the LSA?

By Cruella (Cruella) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 05:03 pm: Edit

What a bunch of crap, Nirvanarageatm. I know several kids in the RC and none are hippie/communist/weird and I can not comment on how liberal they might or might not be. I do know that (horrors of horrors) a staunch Republican resides in those dorms. And, no it's not my kid, although I do not know which party he supports for sure cuz he likes to debate both sides.

I think your assessment is really unfair.

I had heard the same thing about kids in the RC and we worried about our son going to it, he was worried also. I'll tell you on move in day I did not see anyone that looked any different from anyone else on the campus.

So, unless you have totally first hand knowledge, don't make remarks such as you did.

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 07:04 pm: Edit

Admission requirements for RC are the same as LS&A. I think there's a box you check on the application if you're interested - and it's sort of a first-come, first-serve process. The RC admissions staff are very nice - and they will meet with you individually and give you a tour if you just call to arrange it (at least they did for us). RC kids have the reputation for being on the "alternative" end of the spectrum, but this is a generalization. There are also students in RC who join the program because they are interested in intensive language study, or want smaller classes, or want to go to class in their pajamas. In my experience, RC students are really interesting people - often activists - and by this I mean they are active in something beyond just their academic work - a club, environmental cause, political cause, theatre, artistic projects, etc.
When my son applied to Michigan we looked at RC. He decided against it because of the language requirement. In his case, because he studied Latin in h.s. and was anxious to be done with that, he would have had to start over with a new language commit at least 4 semesters to language study - and he wasn't willing to do it.

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 10:44 pm: Edit

EXCUSE ME CRUELLA but I do have first hand knowlege, as I live in East Quad. (I'm not in the RC) Anyways, I have met some normal people in the RC, but the vast majority of the people I met fit into the description posted above. For example, I was stretching outside of east quad before running, and I heard two people (rc no doubt) talking about a "wild acid party." (fits the hippie description). Also, we have had two fire drills this year, both at 4:20 am. Some of the people I have met are creative and interesting, but some cross that boarder and are blatantly irritating. Some of my friends have been subject to criticism by them because my friends were too "normal and mainstream." Also, while in east quad, I have been handed multiple pamphlets regarding socialism. I apologize for making a generaliztion, but the VAST MAJORITY of rc kids that i have met have fit the wierd description (body piercings, hair dyed wierd colors, etc) And again I will reiterrate that hippies cand fins solace there. One more thing HIPPIES SMELL. So cruella, there you go.

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 10:46 pm: Edit

by fire drills i mean alarms pulled

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

You make it sound like wierd-colored hair is a bad thing. Also, Sweden is a socialist country - and Canada has socialized medicine. Crazy!

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 04:14 am: Edit

I am socialist. Socialism is the way to go baby!!! hehe Seriously though, as A2A2 pointed out, most of Western Europe is socialist and they seem to be doing just fine. The EU as a block has the largest combined GDP on the plannet. That's 450 million people and a GDP of $14 Trillion. That many people doing so well cannot be wrong.

Although I am not a hippie, I think we'd be better off if we had more hippies around the world. I mean, those guys may be a bunch of flaky fruitcakes, but at least they are open minded and tolerant...and not violent.

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 07:08 pm: Edit

You guys don't know anything. It would be such a bad idea to switch from socialism to capitalism BECAUSE free market is the most appropriate economic system for this country. We have already proved because of the economic failures with reagan and bush that we can't live with long term structural deficits. We still can, however, have socially just policies, such as a NATIONALIZED healthcare option rather than single payer health care. Socialism leaves little room for fiscal responsibility. Also...hippies suck. They are out of date and they are unproductive and in case of the ones in the RC...extremely irritating. I was not a fan of 4:20 am fire drills. AGAIN...HIPPIES SMELL

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 07:16 pm: Edit

Sorry...I meant to say capitalism to socialism...also awesome job WOLVERINES ON SATURDAY DOMINATING MINNESOTA!!!!!! for any prospective students who decide to come here....MAKE SURE YOU GET FOOTBALL TICKETS>>>> THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING THE WOLVERINES AT THE BIG HOUSE, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL BE MISSING OUT ON ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADITIONS IN THIS COUNTRY

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Sorry...I meant to say capitalism to socialism...also awesome job WOLVERINES ON SATURDAY DOMINATING MINNESOTA!!!!!! for any prospective students who decide to come here....MAKE SURE YOU GET FOOTBALL TICKETS>>>> THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING THE WOLVERINES AT THE BIG HOUSE, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU WILL BE MISSING OUT ON ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADITIONS AT THIS UNIVERSITY

By A2a2 (A2a2) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

1. I'm not advocating socialism. Just making the point that socialism isn't exactly a fringe movement. 2. I know for a fact that there are alarm pulls in other buildings - this isn't exclusively an East Quad problem - not to mention that at least a third of the kids in East aren't part of the RC anyway. 3. As for body odor, unless you're sharing a room, I can't see that this would be a huge problem.

More tolerant people may not see any of your gripes as problems. It's not as if the University has a problem filling East Quad - so somebody wants to live there.

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 01:06 am: Edit

Nirvana, I recommend you go to Norway sometime. It is the World's most advanced society and economy and they got there with Socialism as their economic system. Socialism and Capitalism are not mutually exclusive mind you. You want to talk about "fiscal responsibilty"? Check out the budget some time! LOL Again, Western Europe is doing quite a bit better on that front.

As for your comment on hippies, I find it unbecoming of a Wolverine! Like I said, I am not one and I certainly have no love for them, but such broad generalizations are almost never accurate. I have known many hippies that are successful and productive members of society. I have dated a couple of hippies, and they smelled just fine! LOL In fact, I have never known a hippie with BO. That's a myth!

I will join you in celebrating our win over Minnesota. Now if we can find a way of winning at Purdue and at OSU, we'll be in great shape...assuming we take care of business against Illinois, Northwestern and MSU.

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 01:52 pm: Edit

Hey i'm not a fan of bush---his deficits will cause long term problems and I know how unsound our fiscal situation is...I wrote an 11 page paper last year on why the tax cuts are bad. I am a fan of howard dean and supported him throughout his campaign. He, Bill clinton, and Robert Rubin specifically said that we cannot let budget deficits accumulate, which is what happens in socialism.

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 05:00 pm: Edit

Nirvana, I am not sure where you got your information. Socialism and budget defecits do not go hand in hand. The US's budget deficit has historically been over 4%. Europe's has been under 3%.

By Nirvanarageatm (Nirvanarageatm) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 07:04 pm: Edit

we are capable of producing balanced budgets though provided we have a competent administration, whereas socialism just advocates SOCIAL justice, i.e. deficits can be disregarded...but enough about fiscal policy....creuella please respond so i can see how wrong you were, as it was you making the assumptions