<p>"The ADS is awarded purely on the basis of a (trivia) test administered at MSU to certain admitted freshman. The highest scorers get the full ride. So to a large extent, MSU disregards your complete high school record in favor of an appearance on MSU Jeopardy." - SBDad</p>
<p>Trivia contest? Really? ADS is nothing more than a trivia contest? Jeopardy? maybe they should do NYT Crosswords... So is the SAT a trivia contest, too, SBDad?... and so, now, there's this HUGE faction of kids who can't get into U-M settle for MSU's Honor's College. You know what, fact is, MSU's Honor's College is really no different from MSU, it's all just open admissions at MSU... U-M, meanwhile, is as hard to get into as Harvard or Yale… Stanford or MIT or Caltech, right? Isn’t MIT a match for U-M? Isn’t Georgia Tech U-M’s safety? Isn’t America U-M’s safety.</p>
<p>So much un-truths; so much nonsense, I'm opting out of this ridiculous thread. Just goes to show how many people, esp in Michigan, have their collective heads in the clouds (or up somewhere) when it comes to the University of Michigan's alleged infallibility. The Teflon University; … depending who you talk to, actually..</p>
<p>Quincy, notbody here compared Michigan admissions to MIT/Caltech or Stanford admissions. Michigan admits 45% of applicants. That's 30% higher than MIT/CIT or Stanford. Michigan's mid 50% ACT range is 27-31 (mean of 29). MIT/CIT and Stanford 's mid 50% ACT range is 31-34 (mean of 32.5). Comparing Michigan's admission standards to those of MIT/Caltech or Stanford would be like comparing a university with a 75% admission rate and a mid 50% ACT range of 23-28 (mean of 25.5) to Michigan. Last time I checked, MSU admits 75% of its applicants and the mid 50% ACT range for MSU students is 23-28. So comparing MSU admissions to Michigan admissions would in fact be like comparing Michigan admissions to MIT/Caltech or Stanford. Do you think that all Michigan honors students got into MIT/Caltech or Stanford? I don't think so...nor is it likely that all MSU honors students got into Michigan. I would agree that many do, just as many Michigan honors students got into MIT/Caltech and Stanford...but one cannot assume that 100% of the students in an honors program got into another university, particularly when admissions standards at the other university are significantly higher.</p>
<p>"and so, now, there's this HUGE faction of kids who can't get into U-M settle for MSU's Honor's College."</p>
<p>No, but there is some kind of faction. You claimed that if somebody was good enough for MSU honors, they were a guaranteed lock to get into Umich. This is clearly not the case.</p>
<p>Also, from MSU's website:</p>
<p>"Recipients of the Alumni Distinguished Scholarship awards were selected from more than 1,110 high school seniors who applied to MSU and took an intensive general knowledge exam. The University Distinguished Scholarship program also is based on academic record and accomplishments."</p>
<p>"Alumni Distinguished Scholarship
Awarded to the top 15 candidates based on intellectual performance and participation in the MSU Alumni Distinguished Scholarship competition."</p>
<p>Honestly, it sounds like they pick the smart kids and give them random trivia to cut it down to 15 (apparently there's an interview somewhere in there, too).</p>
<p>Most of us aren't delusional about some kind of "alleged infallibility" of U of M, but it seems like everyone knows when little brother needs to be knocked down a peg. Except for a few specialty areas, MSU is a step down from Umich.</p>
<p>EDIT: "Do you think that all Michigan honors students got into MIT/Caltech or Stanford?" <strong>cries</strong> why must you remind me?</p>
<p>Quincy, isn't the fact that you didn't spend 4 years of your life with a bunch of unattractive nerds with a horrible basketball program, obtaining a name on a degree that sends the message "I think i'm better than you" and makes some employers immediately discard your application enough to stop you from making false attacks upon Michigan?</p>