I was accepted to my “safety” school (UMich) and one of my last choices (WashU) over all the colleges I extensively researched and was -overly- enthusiastic about. I am not engineering or pre-med and am likely to go into Political Science, Econ, or Pre-law. I am a 18-year old, white, gay male. Money is not a concern for my family. I am still waiting to hear back from Michigan Honors College but I have already heard back -with acceptance- from the Residential (viz. “Liberal Arts” ) college. I am not sure about either university but I am leaning towards Michigan at this time. My only problem with Michigan is the size and the -possibly over exaggerated- big ten atmosphere and “party/frat” atmosphere. My problems with WashU are the superficial aspects of less recognition, less “culture” of the school and surrounding city, and the lower ranking in general undergraduate teaching and political science.
Current students of either university, others facing the same decision, and possible experts on the situation: what should I do here?
WUSTL. Plenty of recognition. High marks for dorm quality, food quality, happy students. I think as a gay male, you’d find the environment very accepting.
You were just accepted into two of the best universities in the nation. Many people would love to have those choices.
Also, just in case someone reads this thread and thinks UMich can be their safety school, reminder that it is a safety for no one. A school with a 26% acceptance rate is not a safety.
WashU is very well-respected, so you can throw the prestige factor out the window.
Have you visited both? Do you prefer smaller class sizes right away, or would you be okay with large classes for the first few semesters?
Can you elaborate on “less culture?” Not sure what the issue would be for culture at WashU, or how St. Louis is lacking in that respect. St. Louis has a huge metro with lots of museums and culture institutions and there’s a very large Wikipedia page about its history, I think you could find some culture.
I am not trying to downplay the esteem of either university, and I apologize if I came across as ungrateful. I am pleased with attending either but I am just very uninformed on WashU and I am hoping to learn more. I have visited both, and plan to visit both once again before enrollment deposit is due.
“Less Culture” was rude and ambiguous, to clarify: Ann Arbor is ranked as a “top place to live” and “top college town” across many polls and rankings. Whereas WashU is in a city and area that I see -perhaps superficially- ranked high in crime and unhappiness; not really a college town, but a large trade/manufacturing city hit hard by the transition of the U.S. economy to more information and service.
I live in the south and am not a elitist looking south/southwest in disdain. I do not have to be awash in boutique stores and coffee shops, but I would like a town that I can feel “warm” in.
As a long ago UM PoliSci/Econ grad, I’m saddened by your safety comment:) As someone who has spent a lot of time in both cities, Ann Arbor is light years better. SL is a stuggling city and the struggles are probably going to get worse before they get better. WU has a great campus though. And there is a lot to be said for small classes and the other benefits of a private school. As far as the party/frat atmosphere at UM, it’s there if you want it but very easy to avoid if you aren’t interested. It’s a big campus and 75% of the students are not greek.
AA is a wonderful town no matter if you are gay, straight, white, purple, pink, or polka dotted. There is something for everyone there and it’s an easy place to feel warm. Except in the winter…
Haha yes, I was very comfortable in Ann Arbor when I initially visited. “Safety” was an exaggeration, I only applied to schools that I loved based off of one visit and research. Michigan was not my “worst” and is not a bad school by any standard, it just happened to have the highest acceptance rate on my list. Thank you for your reply.
You don’t need to participate in frats parties at all at Michigan – there are thousands of people not in the Greek system, and tons who don’t party. You can find anything you want intellectually there, too. Ann Arbor is also a great college town. I’d pick Michigan.
Academically, you cannot go wrong. Michigan offers more depth and breadth, as well as interesting multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary options (such as PPE, Ford School of Public Affairs, Ross minor etc…), but WUSTL will likely have smaller classes in a popular major such as Econ or Political Science. Regardless, both are stellar.
By the way, as an OOS applicant, Michigan was not a safety. This year, Michigan received 45,000 OOS applications and admitted 8,000 of them. The mid GPA and SAT/ACT ranges were very high.
Purely on perceived prestige as a parent, WUSTL, I forget where it is ranked but in the USNWR top 20. Also the benefits of small classes etc. Does the portion of UM you were admitted to provide a college within a college experience?
If you were applying engineering or business I would say they were closer in perceived prestige.
I think you should visit again and spend a weekend and see where you feel comfortable. Also contact the GLTG on the campuses to get a sense of how they are doing.
“Purely on perceived prestige as a parent, WUSTL, I forget where it is ranked but in the USNWR top 20. Also the benefits of small classes etc.”
Where prestige is concerned, I am not sure either school has an absolute advantage. Within academic and corporate circles, I would say both are very prestigious. I can see how those who rely on the US News College ranking would find WUSTL more prestigious, but that is not how academe and companies determine prestige.
“Does the portion of UM you were admitted to provide a college within a college experience?”
emilyprime said that he got into the Residential College, which has a cool dorm and definitely offers a “college within a college” experience.
“If you were applying engineering or business I would say they were closer in perceived prestige.”
I do not think that is quite correct. In Engineering and Business, I would actually say that Michigan has the reputation edge. That would certainly be the case if you relied on the USNWR rankings.
For PoliSci…Wash U for sure ; then maybe work for someone in Congress, law, NGO, etc. and maybe consider grad school… If you were engineering, premed like you mentioned then Michigan might fit…
Agreed, WashU is known for strong premed advising, etc. and a fantastic medical school (not that presence of or strength of a college’s med school is necessarily an indicator for good pre-med)
Agreed…@PurpleTitan… Wash U has very good Med School do not know how many of their own they like to take… If someone wanted a great bioengineering program in addition to pre-med them may be still Michigan…
TStark, why WUSTL over Michigan for Political Science? Political Science happens to be one of Michigan’s strongest departments. Students have access to one of the most well connected faculties in the nation, and that often opens doors for internships in DC. Law School admissions from Michigan would at least match WUSTL, if not exceed it, thanks in part to Michigan’s own top rated law school that admits a very large number of Michigan alumni annually.
PurpleTitan, while WUSTL is indeed an excellent option for premed track students, Michigan is by no means a slouch in this department either. Like you, I would give the edge to WUSTL for premeds, but if other factors pointed a student to Michigan, it would be a fine choice too.
