<p>My D is applying primarily to private schools of 10,000 enrollment give or take a couple thousand. She's visited Michigan (during the summer) and liked it well enough, but we're out-of-state and her concern is that she'd feel adrift in a gigantic, unfamiliar campus setting. She'd be a music major which is good and bad - good for the smaller support group, but isolated on the North Campus. What do you think about a girl from small-town Georgia plunked down in the midst of UMich? Would it likely be overwhelming or do students tend to find a way to reduce its apparent size?</p>
<p>Even though Michigan is a large school, it's not impersonal. There are many ways to make it seem smaller by joining clubs, etc., and everyone that I've met there is very friendly and approachable. Your daughter will be able to find her niche there. All she has to do is make the initiative to approach people as well as her professors.</p>
<p>I was part of a learning community (UIR: UROP in Residence) and it really helped get you a solid footing with a small (~130) group of friends who you live with everyday. I highly recommend joining one of the Michigan living communities (MLCs).</p>
<p>The school might feel big for a couple of weeks. Students are there for 4 years. It just means there is more to explore.</p>
<p>Michigan is huge, but it is not impersonal...at least not in terms of living. But one cannot the type of person who comes from an entitlement culture. If one expects everything to be done for them, if they feel it is a right to be pampered and looked out for, then I would say Michigan is not the place for you. But if a student is a self-starter and willing to accept a certain degree of autonomy, then Michigan is a great place. </p>
<p>A word of caution, Midwesterners, although very polite and welcoming, are not quite as warm and fuzzy as Southerners. Most East Coasters and West Coasters who go to Michigan often remark that the attitude of Midwesterns is more pleasant then that of people back home...but Southerners often feel that Midwesterns are not quite as welcoming and pleasant as people down south.</p>
<p>The University of Michigan is huge but not impersonal. I am a student from Texas and have found that the professors do make a effort to be available to the students. I have had professors invite classes to their houses and out to dinner. That should also show you that most of the classes are not huge because the university does have a discussion section (10-30 students) that is apart of the lecture section (50-300 students, size depends time and subject). English and foreign language classes are by far the smallest classes with almost all of them limited to 25 students.</p>
<p>People are also very friendly because it is a new experience for everyone. I have one tip and that is to get involved with an organization you will make many friends that way and shrink the campus down alittle.</p>
<p>I remember that when I visited Michigan, it was definitely huge. I can't really say if it is impersonal or not, as I never went there. Some of my friends who did say they loved their time there and made a lot of very close friends. Others, hated it and felt out of place and actually transferred out. I guess it really depends on you and how social you are.</p>
<p>On a side note, Michigan is cold. And if you are from Georgia, it is really cold. I remember I visited sometime in mid-March and overheard some students saying that it was a really nice day outside and really warm. The temperature was 60 degrees F. I hate to think what a really cold day is.</p>
<p>I agree with Alexandre that people in the South tend to be more friendly than people in the Midwest. However, that being said, the people in the Midwest are nice as well - much more in my opinion than the Northeast.</p>
<p>VirginiaAlum, I think it is important to clarify a few things. I do not think the degree to a which a person a sociable will determine how happy one will be at Michigan...socially speaking. I think it has to do with expectations and preferences. I have known social butterflies and social reclusses who have loved Michigan equally...and I have known such extremes that did not like Michigan quite as much. I have never met anybody who "hated" Michigan. Even those I know who transfered usually did so for two reasons:</p>
<p>1) They felt another school was a better fit.
2) More likely, they got into a top 3 or 4 university, like MIT, Stanford, Yale and Harvard. </p>
<p>As for the weather, I also think it depends on expectations. I grew up in the UAE, which is much hotter than Georgia. In the UAE, the heat index climbs to over 120 degrees with over 60% humidity almost daily from late May until late September! August and September, the humidity usually hovers around 90%! The coldest weather you get in the UAE hovers around 45 degrees...and that's in the desert, very early in winter mornings. I had only had two cold winters ever prior to going to Michigan...one in England and one in DC, both of which are mild compared to Michigan winters. Even then, I had no problem with Michigan winters because I was told ahead of time that Michigan is very cold. And yes, 60 degrees in March is "nice" by Michigan standards! LOL</p>
<p>Nice post Alexandre. I should clarify what I mean by "really depends on you and how social you are." I mean that the experience one has at Michigan, as any school, will be dependant on what that person does. Harvard / Princeton are not necessarily better for someone because they are ranked #1. Michigan just may fit them better. Consequently, Michigan is not for everyone and Michigan State maybe a better fit for them. What I meant was that Michigan as any school is as impersonal or personal as you make it.</p>
<p>Michigan is definitely an excellent school, however I do know people who actually hated it - transferring to my school, Virginia, Georgetown, and NYU. They told me they hated the weather, the people (maybe they met the wrong people), and the lack of personal attention they received. This is their opinion and I have no way to say if it is justified or not, but I thought I would let the reader know what I heard.</p>
<p>Lastly, my personal opinion is that I hate cold weather. Michigan and Cornell are way too cold for me. Stanford, the UCs, etc. provide great academics with great weather. But again, that's just my personal opinion :)</p>
<p>I do not doubt some people actually hate their experience at Michigan. Every university will be hated by some of its students, usually for irrational and highly personal reasons. That's what hate is about I suppose...irrational and personal. Obviously, someone who likes NYU or Georgetown will probably not like Michigan! LOL But seriously, it will boil down to fit and expectations. I have actually known several students who picked Michigan over Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale and Stanford. In all, I would say hundreds of students do so annually, probably for reasons of fit...and partially for financial reasons.</p>
<p>And if you hate the cold, UVA should have been a bit of a struggle for you. It is obviously nowhere nearly as cold as Michigan, but it still has fairly cold December-February months.</p>
<p>Like you said, it all depends on you. Michigan may be better for someone than Harvard, as Michigan State may be better for someone than Michigan. There are smart and successful students at every school as there are not so bright and lazy ones as well.</p>
<p>Yeah, when I was at UVa, it did get cold - but not as cold as Michigan or Cornell I would imagine. Out of the choices I had, Virginia was one of the warmest with the best price (Duke was a little too expensive). I was rejected from Stanford, my top choice. Even as a reject, I would argue Stanford is by far the best school in the nation and probably the world (and by a huge margin) - fusing world class academics with world class sports with great weather. Plus it is good at almost everything you can think of.</p>
<p>I agree with you on that one. In my book, Stanford is #1. It is a very well rounded university. Great weather, beautiful campus, amazing academics, prestigious, gifted students, etc... Athletically, Stanford is obviously very strong, but not in the same way as Michigan. Michigan athletics bring the student body together and adds to school spirit. At Stanford, athletics are not as popular. </p>
<p>I however find Stanford a little too formulaic and not sufficiently natural and the campus way too sterile. </p>
<p>If I had a choice of any university in the nation, Stanford would indeed be my first choice.</p>
<p>I hear "large and impersonal" a lot from students who elected not to attend Michigan (or not to apply in the first place). I don't hear it from people who come here. I think it's a perception that some outsiders have, and is also a convenient excuse when you're trying to narrow down your college choices (or justify a tough decision). But I'm not sure it reflects reality.</p>
<p>To illustrate how out-of-whack that perception may be, I've heard people say they chose MSU over Michigan because Michigan was "too big and impersonal." MSU has 50% more undergrads than Michigan has! I suppose it's possible that MSU does "personal" much better than Michigan does, but I think students who make those claims are just buying into a false perception without even thinking it over. I believe "big and impersonal" is just a handy insult to hang on Michigan.</p>
<p>Hoedown, I have noticed on this forum a concerted effort on the part of many posters to denigrate state Universities, including Michigan. From saying that Michigan is stingy with aid to saying that Michigan is not attentive to undergraduates. Of course, those aren't true accusations. For the most part, students who say so are merely regurgitating whatever their parents or acquaintances have told them.</p>
<p>I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one, Alexandre. I don't think the poster had any intention of denigrating Michigan or any other state University. Picking a college is an important decision and it is good to find out if a perception is a reality.</p>
<p>Virginiaalum, I am not pointing a finger at any one poster. I am not sure what poster you are referring to. I was referring to the hords of people who lable universities without having a clue what they are talking about. I agree that personal fit is crucial. But those posters, students and parents I am talking speak from conviction and hearsay rather than from experience and true knowledge.</p>
<p>I thought you were referring to gadad's post.</p>
<p>Not at all. I actually respect GADAD a great deal. He knows what he is talking about and wants to find out as much as possible so that he may advise his daughter best.</p>