<p>What do you guys think? I have no idea. </p>
<p>These aren't my top choices but they're my middle schools and none of my top schools have replied yet. So, I am just trying to figure some stuff out and I need advice. I have only visited UMichigan out of all of these. Im from Arizona. And I want to major in public policy.</p>
<p>You’re going to have to give a bit more detail before anyone can give you meaningful advice.</p>
<p>That said, if you care about international prestige, Berkeley by about a million miles, then Michigan.</p>
<p>My choice a couple of years ago was between Michigan, Cornell, UVA and Carolina. It really kept me up at night for awhile. I wanted to study Healtcare Management and wanted to be somewhere with a strong school of public health. Both Michigan and Carolina have top 5 programs in that area (USNWR Grad School Rank). Of those two, I just got the sense that Carolina has a much more promising future, whereas many people in Michigan seemed downtrodden (not sure if it’s the weather, the economy or the bad streak in sports). Between the two, I think it is more likely that UNC would still be in the top 3 ten years from now. NC (particularly the Research Triangle) is one of the most desirable places in the country for young college grads. Conversely, I got the sense that a significant number of Michigan grads left the state as soon as they graduated. I loved Michigan’s campus, just as I did UNC’s, but couldn’t justify paying almost double (both OOS) to attend Michigan when there was almost no chance I might ultimately want to stay in the area afterward. Also, I looked at how the departments ranked in the Graduate School Rankings. Since Undergrad rankings are somewhat limited (for example, in another post I saw a blanket recommendation for UVA over UNC based solely on a 1 point difference in ACT scores between the two), the Grad Rankings give a better idea as to how well the academic departments are recognized nationally by students and peers; something important whether you’re undergrad or graduate. Someone wanting to study the health sciences, would see that Carolina is almost unparalleled. For example: School of Public Health #2, Pharmacy #2, Primary Care Medicine #2, Health Policy & Management #3, Nursing #4, Analytic Chemistry #1, Social Work #8, Clinical Psychology #6, Environmental Health #11, Health Librarianship #2 , Health Care Law #17. Although Michigan is also very highly ranked in many of these areas, very few other Universities come close to the strength and breadth in Health Sciences. (UVA is absent from the top 10 in practically all of these) That being said, all of them are excellent universities and I realize they may have relative strengths in other areas, I just wanted to share part of my decision-making process.</p>
<p>Hope it’s helpful.</p>
<p>The way one feels about the campus is important as well. Both UNC and berkeley are large universities due to their public reputation. UVa and UMich are also on the same par, but I don’t know much about their campus. You have to decide for yourself. If you are looking at the grad school rankings…then good for you…but a slight note to this evaluation is that undergrad track and grad program are two seperate things. Just because you are an undergrad in a uni that has a phenomenal grad school for your program does not solely gaurantee that you will receive the treatment of your life. Also, schools with great grad schools don’t necitate that they will admit a lot of students from their undergrad. For example, JHU has a great med school (practically every pred med knows that); however, their premed track and undergrad counseling can deter many from attending. This is not to say that JHU is not a great undergrad school, but it just goes to show what some people fear and experience. With most students aiming for med school at a school like JHU, competitiveness can get to many. However, JHU is awesome in its own right and I am just using it as an example since I have had a friend from virginia who did not attend the school on this basis. Therefore, when you do get your letters of acceptees, don’t directly jump to conclusions with the rankings portrayed…but rather the whole scheme of the institute when you actually go to visit it. Otherwise, success is in the eyes of the beholder and all decisions can only depend on your determination and overall willingness to attend an intended school like perhaps…UNC?</p>