<p>I'm doing a summer program at a research university and I have noticed that many professors and professionals in many areas of study say that the University of Michigan is among the very best in graduate education and that it is one of few universities that "is good in everything."</p>
<p>Does this in anyway correlate to the strength of the University of Michigan's undergraduate education?</p>
<p>When people think "Michigan" they think graduate school education. Do Michigan undergraduates have access to some of the best minds in their respective fields of study?</p>
<p>Absolutely. When I was at Michigan, I took classes with stars in their respective departments. Professors such as Sidney Fine (History), Brian Coppola (Chemistry), Hal Varian (Economics), John Holland (Electrical Engineering and Psychology), Raymond Tanter and Kenneth Lieberthal (Political Science) etc… all taught undergraduate classes. </p>
<p>I have noticed that only students who attend universities with weak graduate programs or LACs, out of ignorant conviction or sheer insecurity, propegate the notion that universities with top graduate programs are not focused on undergraduate education or that somehow, there is a concrete wall separating undergraduate programs from graduate programs.</p>
<p>The fact is, undergrads and graduate students at Michigan have access to the exact same resources, faculties and facilities.</p>
<p>“The fact is, undergrads and graduate students at Michigan have access to the exact same resources, faculties and facilities.”</p>
<p>Well, that’s not completely true, as grad students usually get separate facilities in their respective departments, smaller classes, and more intimate relationships with professors. But I do agree with the rest of your post; if you’re willing to actually put in the effort (i.e. go to office hours) you can tap into the minds of some of the best professors in the country, and if you go into upper class honors in LSA you get a more or less graduate school experience by having one professor as a dedicated adviser and smaller classes than your non-honors peers. People at LACs like to brag about their smaller classes, but the only real difference is that Michigan’s professors aren’t forced by the college to interact with students; rather, it’s your responsibility to foster those relationships outside of the classroom. And I guess the answer to your question is, yes, those relationships are certainly there if you put forth the effort.</p>
<p>“The fact is, undergrads and graduate students at Michigan have access to the exact same resources, faculties and facilities.”</p>
<p>Although this is minor, I want to make a correction to this statement. </p>
<p>Michigan has some services that are not available or free for undergraduate students. For example, the University Library implemented a document delivery beta service that is free for faculty and graduate students. Undergraduate students, who need to use this service, must pay a fee per request. Doctoral students obviously receive the most perks.</p>
<p>“Well, that’s not completely true, as grad students usually get separate facilities in their respective departments, smaller classes, and more intimate relationships with professors.”</p>
<p>This is definitely true. As a graduate student, I am on a first-name basis with most of my professors and supervisors. My class sizes have been 10-50 people in their own facilities. Next year, none of my classes will have more than 25 students. Most professors prefer graduate students for leadership roles in large research projects. I have also sat on several committee meetings with faculty and staff.</p>
<p>Overall, I agree that Michigan provides the same resources for everyone. Michigan wants to provide the best undergraduate education. Meanwhile, the graduate programs are decentralized and autonomous units with their own governance structures, admissions standards, specialized curriculum, and career services.</p>
<p>With that said, It bothers me why Michigan is not an elite institution in the minds of many students. We have some of the best departments in the world with world class faculty. I guess the only complaint is the large class sizes. Although I have experienced that the students that perform well are the ones that network with their professors. Many professors are approachable, but its up to the student to seek them out. </p>
<p>Michigan is a peer institution to some Ivy League institutions. A girl that I met at Cornell complains of the large class sizes. Why is that even an argument? I think that Michigan doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Some people think that Michigan is an underrated institution.</p>
<p>No, he’s right. In my opinion, the top portion of UM is considered elite and could easily be found at the highest-ranked undergraduate institutions around the country; however, the bottom portion is definitely lacking. I think you’ll find few that will argue with that claim. Most will argue over other things (such as the magnitude of each portion).</p>
<p>I understand that the bottom 25% is “less elite”, but I bet I can find a handful of the same people at berkeley, UCLA, UVA etc, and possibly cornell.</p>
<p>Are we talking about Michigan or about the student body? I don’t see how a student body can be “elite”. I can see how a university or even a person can be referred to as “elite”, but not a student body. Nobody of note will ever approach a person by association. A university has the benefit of a track record and so does a person. That is not the case with a student body. One will not assume that a person if brilliant based on which university they attended. That will not happen in any advanced setting.</p>
<p>Whatever, that’s fine… I don’t really like arguing about pointless stuff like that anyways.</p>
<p>To answer the original question, I would say yes. I work side-by-side with grad students/post-docs in my lab. I have taken graduate-level courses. Professors are willing to hear out my research ideas. I can get lab space if I want to do an individual project.</p>
<p>The resources are only absent for those who are lazy and for those who expect everything to come to them. You have to exert effort to get the resources, but they are definitely there.</p>