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<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.raisingarizonakids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/guys-tubing-party-Arizona.jpg]ASU[/url”>http://www.raisingarizonakids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/guys-tubing-party-Arizona.jpg]ASU[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/02/michigan-students-in-snow-thumb-590x392-69072.jpg]Michigan[/url”>http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/02/michigan-students-in-snow-thumb-590x392-69072.jpg]Michigan[/url</a>]</p>
<p>/thread. :D</p>
<p>Thank you again ! I have everything to make my choice now. It’s hard to decide because the people in UM seem a lot better but the weather at ASU is incredible… I’ll try to choose one</p>
<p>Michigan is one of the world’s great universities. ASU would like to be, but isn’t. Ann Arbor is one of America’s best college towns. I have never, ever heard that said of Tempe. Michigan students are pretty much all straight A or A/A- students in HS. ASU students are on average B+ students in HS but range from A to B- or C+. </p>
<p>On the other side of the ledger, ASU has warmer weather. If that’s more important to you than the academics, then by all means you should choose ASU, because it’s obvious you’re not Michigan material.</p>
<p>Studies in the US are not really important for me. I’ve decided to go there to have a cultural experience. So it’s hard to decide…
I’m looking for a university with friendly, intelligent people where my views will be fully accepted.
It’s important for me to be in a place where I can live and work for one year without any problems about rude, unfriendly people.</p>
<p>So yeah, friendly intelligent people in and out of the campus, good athmosphere and tolerance are crucial points for me. I also care about the weather but not as much as the rest</p>
<p>Thank you for helping me and sorry for my poor english !</p>
<p>People will be friendly at both schools. ASU will have nice, warm weather from October to April, Michigan will have cold/snowy weather during that period. People at Michigan will be “smarter”/more well-rounded.
If studies don’t matter, I think indeed ASU is the better choice.</p>
<p>Ok thank you it’s really helpful ! But I’m still hesitating… Maybe ASU would be accepting me but what about Tempe and the Phoenix area ? Aren’t they too conservative ? I really don’t want people to judge me in a bad way because of my atheism, my views or anything else… </p>
<p>I think this is what will makes me choose beetween the both…</p>
<p>In the US, regardless of where you go, being an atheist will be considered strange/excentric/subversive (depending on the person “judging”). However, on a college campus, no one could care less whether you believe in a deity, several of them, or none. In addition, host families who volunteer to welcome International students are open minded and respect all cultures.
So, I don’t think you make make it a dealbreaker.</p>
<p>How people might consider me outside of the campus isn’t really important but I don’t want any bad comments. It’s important for me not to be in a conservative place. Knowing that, which place is more appropriate for me ? Thank you !</p>
<p>"In the US, regardless of where you go, being an atheist will be considered strange/excentric/subversive (depending on the person “judging”). "</p>
<p>Seriously? Unless you’re in some godforsaken Bible Belt place, no one cares. Being an atheist is a non issue for either school.</p>
<p>Most college campuses aren’t conservative. Ann Arbor (outside UMich) is definitely more liberal than Tempe, but it’s because Tempe is a city whereas Ann Arbor is a college town. As for the universities themselves, they’re so large there are conservative, liberal, radical and all nuances in-between, at each campus.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl: I really disagree. For an adult in the US - and not just in the Bible Belt- , lots of social/“integrating” activities take place around religious institutions, in a way unknown to many European countries. Being an atheist is absolutely not common among Americans - I think the latest survey indicated 84% affiliate with a faith and many among the 16% remaining may simply refuse to affiliate but still believe there is a god/gods.
However, your larger point is the same as mine, ie., on a college campus NO ONE will care and in daily life this will not come up. It’s not like people are asked what religion they are when they buy groceries 
. It’d be different if OP were coming to settle with his/her family and didn’t belong to any community but indeed for an exchange student visiting for a year, it should be a non-issue.</p>
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<p>According to who? I tend to disagree with many of the ranking lists which are based on subjective topics…</p>
<p>I can think of dozens, if not hundreds of towns in the US I’d rather go to college in than Ann Arbor Michigan.</p>
<p>I know there won’t be any problem in the campus. But what about out of the campus ? Is Phoenix a conservative town ? I think I’d feel more accepted in a town where the majority share my views. Thank you for your answers !</p>
<p>Phoenix/Tempe tends to be conservative. Mesa, right next to Tempe, has one of the largest LDS (Mormon) populations in the country. Because of this, there are plenty of conservative LDS students at ASU. Serious students, smart students, average and “dumb suntanners”…they are all there.It’s a big school, you can pretty much find your niche if you try. Just an aside-- ASU is in the top three producers of Fulbright scholars.</p>
<p>Tempe, along with Tuscon, is the most liberal part of Arizona.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification Tempe mom. Most large American university towns tend to attract a more liberal population. My D did part of her undergrad there. It seemed conservative to her—but she was comparing it to her own liberal point of view.</p>
<p>I think the bottom line here is that if you’re looking for a more balanced college experience (with a less competitive/cut-throat campus atmosphere), I think you will be happier going to ASU. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a truly academic experience, and prefer being surrounded by students who are as serious as a heart attack about their education, UMich might suit you better.</p>
<p>It really comes down to what you want out of your year of college here. You can, however, get a great education at either college if you put in the effort.</p>
<p>“If a list is ever created of the universities with the most insufferable alumni, Michigan will surely be ranked at the top.”</p>
<p>Right after Duke graduates of course.</p>
<p>“I can think of dozens, if not hundreds of towns in the US I’d rather go to college in than Ann Arbor Michigan.”</p>
<p>You live in the Mojave Desert…I’ll pass.</p>
<p>To the OP: You are not getting a degree from either of these schools, so it really doesn’t matter which one you attend. Go where you think you’ll be happy.</p>
<p>Thank your for all your answers. Now, to summarize, I have to choose between :</p>
<p>-A liberal college in a liberal city with nice, smart, competitive people and a cold weather</p>
<p>-A diverse college in a conservative city with nice, partying, relaxed people and a hot weather</p>
<p>It’s hard but you all gave me the keys to make my choice. Thank you very much !</p>
![http://www.raisingarizonakids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/guys-tubing-party-Arizona.jpg]ASU[/url](http://www.raisingarizonakids.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/guys-tubing-party-Arizona.jpg%5DASU%5B/url){kind=link}
![http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/02/michigan-students-in-snow-thumb-590x392-69072.jpg]Michigan[/url](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/02/michigan-students-in-snow-thumb-590x392-69072.jpg%5DMichigan%5B/url){kind=link}
