<p>I live in Texas, and I know that UT Austin is a good school, and it DOES make sense for me to go there (financially). But I know that I just won't do well in that environment. I don't like it there, at all, and I've been to Michigan & I just love it sooo much more. I also know that UMich is a lot more prestigious than UT, and most of its programs rank significantly higher than those of UT.</p>
<p>My parents seem to think of UMich as just another state public university. It's obviously not an Ivy League, but it's still up there in the top of the nation -definitely more than UT. What are some ways I can convince them besides showing them some arbitrary statistics/rankings online?</p>
<p>If you want to go into a program that Michigan truly excels at (Business, Engineering) then I would argue that UM’s prestige is well worth it. If you want to major in sociology, political science, spanish, etc. I would argue that the extra 100k is absolutely not worth it as UM won’t make too much of a difference. What do you want to do?</p>
<p>There’s something to say about going out of state and living in a whole new environment. I came here not knowing anyone and I wouldn’t have had it any other way if I had another chance. It’s great to meet a ton of new people and go out of your comfort zone.</p>
<p>Faiintx: How will you pay for it? Please don’t be naive and say that you will get scholarships. Doesn’t work that way. Mostly loans.</p>
<p>Okay so don’t go to UT but go somewhere that you can afford because UM is expensive. Most kids think nothing of how much $60k actually equals. Then they wonder why they can’t repay their loans.</p>
<p>^ Most of the time, that will do the trick. </p>
<p>If you get into the University of Michigan, you can also attempt to pull some strings. Say that UTAustin wants you and tell them what you would be charged if you were to go there. If UMich wants you, they may consider partially or entirely matching UT’s tuition rate.</p>
<p>Michigan is obviously awesome. As an institution, few universities can match it. But Texas definitely comes close. I am not sure I could justify recommending Michigan over Texas if the cost of attending the latter is $100k lower than the cost of attending the former.</p>
<p>OP, what makes you love Michigan so much more than Texas? They both have highly rated business and engineering programs in addition to incredible athletic spirit.</p>
<p>
This is simply false. You are highly underestimating your in-state flagship. Almost all of its departments are in the top 30 and all top consulting firms (MBB), investment banks, and technology firms (Microsoft, Google, Cisco) recruit there.</p>
<p>I will have to agree with Alexandre on this one. Also, Texas has a much better economy than Michigan so there’s that.</p>
<p>Sorry, that “dog don’t hunt” on Planet UMich, btw.</p>
<p>Faiintx, while I know this is not what you want to hear, you are not entitled to spend an extra $100,000 of your parents’ money – unless they WANT you to – by virtue of where you’ll "be happy. "</p>
<p>For example, this comment is pure crap, and suggests you’re either manipulative or not really ready for an away school:
</p>
<p>If I were your parent and you said that to me, I would reply that were that true you would not do well at the UMich environment either, so maybe you’d like to work for a few years instead and save to go to whatever school you choose unaided ;)</p>
<p>Now, if your parents have said “but you CAN go to Cornell, or Northwestern” etc., well, THEN you could – and should – make a case for UMich being of comparable quality.</p>
<p>In that case, look up all of Alexandre’s posts that show UMich’s departmental strength, and prepare a coherent argument that demonstrates some kind of return-on-investment (which I think might only be ENG or Ross, for example).</p>
<p>But if their argument is in-state/out-of-state, well, I’m afraid you just can’t argue that your earning power would be vastly improved to offset the differential in cost. Your job is to do well wherever you end up, and be grateful that you have parents who will financially assist you – because they don’t HAVE to.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. But yeah, as someone mentioned before, if I got accepted into UPenn or Caltech or Stanford or Berkeley even, or any Ivy League, they would send me there without a doubt. I mean, I would probably pick an Ivy league university if I got in (which I highly doubt), but it’s frustrating that they don’t recognize UM. They don’t even think too highly of UT.</p>
<p>That’s the point aunt bea, according to the OP, the parents are able to afford sending her OOS, but are only willing to do so to schools they like. Aparently, Michigan is not one of those schools.</p>
<p>Honestly, they are both nearly on the same level. If it’s a matter of personal preference and expanding your experiences by going farther from home, let them know the facts: UMich is considered a Public Ivy, and one of the best public universities in America. It’s recognized world-wide. Make sure you would be okay with Michigan winters, though! It might be quite a shock. You can’t go wrong with either school. Also do you see yourself living in Texas/the South after college? Or the Northeast? Reputation varies geographically</p>
<p>Tell them that fit is important for a good outcome. Tell them you wouldn’t enjoy it at UT, that you need a new experience, then bring up that, while not an Ivy, UMich is probably the best college you can attend. You can try throwing data at them like rankings and crap. </p>
<p>I don’t understand the argument that Texas has a better economy. Where is the rule you have to stay in state after graduating? The UMich degree is highly respected across the country.</p>
<p>D’s decision came down to Plan 2 at UT or LSA Honors at UM (henceforth my screen name here). We were OOS both schools but UM was still about $8K/year more expensive than UT. For $32K (four years) she was going to have to convince me that UM was worth that difference (let alone the $100K that you would be paying), but that became a moot point when she got a 4-year $10K/year scholarship to UM. She went back and forth and finally decided on UM and has not regretted it for one moment. That being said, she hasn’t been overly impressed with LSA Honors and thinks that Plan 2 would have been a better Honors program. If money is really no object, go where you think it would be the best fit (and the People’s Republic of Austin notwithstanding, D was worried about the over-all conservatism in Texas). But if money is an object (and it usually is), it’s hard to justify the $100K extra.</p>