My daughter is trying to decide between MI State and U of Michigan. She was very much all about Michigan when she was applying to the schools, but then when she was accepted there her opinion changed. She wants to major in physics, both schools have good programs for that. She is really into research, and I am going to guess there are opportunities for that at both schools. She was accepted into the Honor’s college at State but did not apply for honors at Michigan. I think she has become a little intimidated by the thought of going to Michigan. I think she believes it is going to be overly difficult, which really surprises me. She was given the regents scholarship at Michigan which means she is in the top 25% of accepted students from our state, so she’s got good stats. She has been a student in a selective math and science program for the last 4 years and has done very well. I think she is tired of the competitiveness of her current school situation.
I want her to choose a school that she feels comfortable at, but if she gives up the opportunity to go to Michigan will that be a big mistake? It would be a bit cheaper for her to attend State, they offered her more scholarship money. She attended the ADS scholarship weekend at State and really liked her experience. She would be a part of Lyman Briggs if she goes there. If she chooses Michigan I think she would apply to be in the women in science residential program. She has been to visit the Michigan campus a couple of times, including Campus Days last month but she didn’t come home excited about anything there. Is she foolish to pick a less selective school? Should we just let her pick and not interfere in her choice? Her dad has been supporting the State choice, but I feel like he is inadvertently helping steer her away from a more stellar school. Any opinions would be appreciated! Both schools are in state for us.
She’s going to get a great education at either school. The prestige of UM will mean nothing if she’s not happy enough and comfortable enough to take advantage of the opportunities there.
Has your daughter actually told you that she feels intimidated about going to school at UM? Or given any other explanations for her apparent lack of interest?
Do you have any specific reason(s) that you feel that UM is a better school for your daughter, with all concept of prestige placed aside?
If you can answer yes to the last question, have you discussed this with your daughter? What does she say? If you can’t say yes, then maybe you’ve already found the answer to your original query. A prestigious school is prestigious for a reason, but it doesn’t mean that it is the best in every single aspect or subject for a particular student.
One of the hardest things in my life I am going to have to do in the next couple weeks is let my DS make his college decision without giving him my personal opinion, unless he asks for it. However, I am going to make sure that he re-evaluates all the schools he’s accepted to thoroughly, even to the point of playing “devil’s advocate” when he talks about specific aspects. “Fit” is one of those aspects, but sometimes hard to discuss because it’s not always tangible. If it comes down to my son saying “I just like it here better than the others” and it has all the “hard” criteria he wants/needs, then so be it, regardless of prestige.
@mommdc I think the Michigan scholarship ($2500) is just freshman year, the one from State (which is $5,000) is for being in the Honor’s program. I think it is renewable every year and she would not have a problem with her GPA keeping up with any requirements. She was offered the Professorial Assistantship scholarship from State also, which is $3200 and I think for two years. Money isn’t really the deciding factor, it isn’t that much of a difference in price between them and she will have debt with both options. I think both schools have physics in her area of interest (particle). The school she went to for STEM is one that really prepares the kids for college, she has done numerous research projects, presentations, etc. She is well prepared to take on a tough school. She isn’t really a big sharer of her feelings. I know she would do well at either school, I just don’t want her to miss a great opportunity because she is being a silly teenager, if you know what I mean. I know you guys do 8-| . She was all set to room with one particular friend at State but now she (the friend) is undecided on where she will go (or where her parents are going to let her go) so nothing is that clear anymore.
@Choski94 I never realized that Michigan was considered more prestigious than State until last year. Being a MI resident I thought it was just personal preference with all the rivalry between the two. I had no idea Michigan was more selective and considered a public ivy. So yes, I do think it is a better school but not because I have much personal knowledge of it.
I would give MSU the edge for physics as it is one of the top ranked programs in the country. Lyman Briggs is a plus. I prefer MSUs cohesive campus to UofMs sprawl and multiple campuses…and I come from a multi-generational UofM family. My siblings and I often joke that MSU feels like what UofM used to! I prefer the lesser frat and sorority focus of MSU. Frankly either will get her where she wants so she should pick the one that fits her best.
I have degrees from both. I went to MSU for undergrad (RCAH) and am in my 7th year of grad studies at U of M (two different grad programs). I was accepted to both MSU & UM for undergrad and chose MSU.
I have nothing but fond things to say about my time there. Even if I could, I wouldn’t trade my MSU undergrad for the world and I’d make the same decisions 100 more times… and it’s gotten even more selective and prestigious since I started there in 09.
Disclaimer: I was (and am) in the humanities & social sciences (not STEM). From my perspective, there really is no difference in the intelligence or performance of the two student bodies (here is where I brace for through and through Michigan people to yell at me… per usual). Few people really have the experience teaching and working with undergrads at both Us that I do.
With an MSU education, I got into every single grad program I applied to. I just earned a fellowship for the summer using skills and knowledge I primarily learned at MSU, not my phd program.
IMO, she should go where she’s comfortable. She shouldn’t be intimidated by U of M though. I’m happy to talk more via PM.
@romanigypsyeyes Do you mind telling me your opinion on how MSU works with undecided (but definitely humanities) students? My D applied to both Michigan and MSU, deferred Michigan, accepted MSU. Her brother (STEM field) attends Michigan and they have been nothing but wonderful to work with - with financial aid and getting him research opportunities. D has no idea what she wants to do other than not doing something STEM related. She loves both campuses but my major concern is opportunities for undecided major students.
@scraphappy, I’m not sure what you mean. Undecided students do roughly the same things as majored students- core classes in the first few years and a few that will likely fulfill some sort of requirement in the field of intended major.
I don’t think there’d be a real difference between the two schools for undecideds.
Has she looked into Lyman Briggs if she wants to do STEM but isn’t sure what?
@3js3ks… Remember she is going to college not you. The honors program at MSU is excellent in every way. I really like the laid back feel of MSU. My son got into the honors with all the assistantships etc for out of state. He wanted the academic culture at Michigan. He wanted to be with kids that had 3.8 GPA etc. His high school was this same group of kids. Saying that, he doesn’t find Michigan competitive at all. The MSU honors program are these higher end achieving kids. It’s nothing to sneeze at.
She has to feel comfortable and happy with her decision or she won’t do well. Parents have to stop listening to their own friends and not experience peer pressure and start listening to their kids feeling. She already told you without telling you where she wants to go. She went to the campus day at Michigan and was not excited about anything there. That’s enough to tell me she won’t be happy there. Sorry to be so bold but student depression and suicide rates are real. Let her go where she will thrive.
@romanigypsyeyes she definitely is not STEM. I apologize for being unclear. I am asking if, as large as MSU is, she will have as good of an experience as she would have if accepted at Michigan. I’m hoping that she will figure out what she wants to do while there, in her first two years. Now that I type this out, I feel stupid. She will have to figure things out wherever she winds up.
@scraphappy my apologies. I didn’t realize you weren’t the OP.
Yes, she will. If she is humanities, I highly recommend RCAH. http://rcah.msu.edu/ It’s flexible but rigorous and small enough to make MSU feel intimate.
RCAH is the best decision I ever made. Not only did it open doors beyond my wildest dreams (interned in state senate, studied abroad in the Costa Rican rain forest, introduce me to what would ultimately be my phd path, etc etc) but the friendships I formed there were incredible and sustained. I’m married to a fellow RCAH alum, our SIL is one, and they’re still some of my closest friends and professional contacts.
My son is currently at MSU in the Lyman Briggs program. It has been the best experience with the advisors and professors amazing! Although my son is not in the honors programs he has been allowed to take two classes honors. My son has already had many opportunities in his field prevet. We let our son choose from many college acceptances. Good Luck to your daughter wherever she ends up.
I’m not sure why this got moved to the UM forum but this is my one caveat about UM.
I want to say that I do not have much knowledge about either school and think both are great. You won’t go wrong with either school.
But my niece went to UM as an undecided student in LSA. She had a few majors she would have like to major in but was not accepted to. There are majors you have to apply to get into and they are very competitive.
I personally when my kids were applying, wanted a school where you a) could get into your major of choice and b)transfer between majors once they were there. 2 things I would definitely look into.
Also if in the honors program at MSU, would she have preferential scheduling? Getting into the classes you need, helps getting through in 4 years which was a requirement for us.
Let her decide which school to go to as there is no financial concern either way. My daughter also picked a slightly less prestigious school to attend 4 years ago. She got additional scholarships from sophomore year on.
I was in the same position to choose from the exact two scenarios last year. A year out and having chosen U of M, here is my take:
If you are planning on going on to graduate school, both of these schools are equal. You need a strong GPA to get in where you apply, so if your D is concerned about the rigor of the coursework at UofM, heed her warning. Her ability to obtain a strong GPA need be a consideration for graduate school applications and only she will know where she feels she fits.
If you are planning on stopping with a Bachelor or unsure about graduate school at this point, the undergraduate research opportunities, internship connections, and overall strength of the alumni program in job placement upon graduation can’t be matched - UofM takes this one.
Michigan and MSU are not peer institutions. If 3ks3js’ daughter chooses MSU, she will receive a good education, but she will not have the same opportunities that she would have at Michigan, both as a student, or when she graduates.
If her goal is to receive a good education and to work regionally after college, MSU will serve her well. But if her goal is to go on to graduate school (especially PhD programs, MBA programs or Law School), or to work nationally/internationally (especially with popular companies), Michigan will open more doors.
