Please forgive my ignorance, but we are ready to put a deposit down to secure housing at U of M (I think?). I thought from reading some posts at CC that a housing deposit did not mean you have actually enrolled, and that people put the deposits down at several schools sometimes while waiting for their kid to make a final decision. When I look at U of M’s timeline it does not mention a “housing deposit,” but an enrollment deposit. If we pay the $300 there does that mean she is now enrolling there for sure? She is still on the fence but I wanted her to be able to apply for the residential college (WISE) and you cannot unless you pay the $300. She is already assigned to Lyman Briggs and Honor’s College at Michigan State if she chooses that school (without any deposit). I am just trying to figure out how this all works! I realize that the different schools have different ways of doing this, of course. If we pay the $300 are we clicking on the YES button? Not sure she is 100% but I don’t want her to miss any important deadlines while she is still considering her choice.
She has until May 1 to make her deposit, which is $300. Freshman are guaranteed housing at Michigan. Earlier commitment to U of M may mean better choices for housing, but unless your d is in a living community (honors, etc.), it is random with many freshman living on north campus. If she’s applying to WISE you may want to pay the non refundable fee - but this fee will not guarantee acceptance to WISE. She can change her mind after paying the deposit, but you will not be able to get that money back.
It’s an enrollment deposit. It means she is committing to enroll at Michigan. No such thing as a “housing deposit.” As long as the enrollment deposit is sent by the deadline, housing is random (unless she’s in specialized housing that requires an application).
You cannot deposit at more than one college, although if she gets off a WL elsewhere after May 1, she can commit to the WL college and lose the deposit sent to Michigan.
Also note that the Residential College is an entirely different thing from WISE. You can google residential college at Michigan to see what that is.
Son accepted admittance to Ross was wondering which housing might be best for him. Thanks
Congrats on the acceptance!!! Go to Campus Day. The choice between Lyman Briggs and UofM will be crystal clear. Getting accepted to UofM is more selective statistically than getting accepted to MSU Honors College. When you choose Michigan, you make your deposit. From there, you will be prompted through the housing process over the summer as well as orientation registration (where you build your fall schedule). Check out all residential colleges and start getting those apps in…they can be very competitive. Getting into Michigan is the easy part by comparison.
“The choice between Lyman Briggs and UofM will be crystal clear. Getting accepted to UofM is more selective statistically than getting accepted to MSU Honors College.”
@Positivetea I’m not sure where you’re getting your information from, but that is simply a false statement.
Below is copied directly from MSU’s HC website:
"Typically students in our first year class have a combination of the following:
Cumulative grade point averages that place students in the top 5% of students in their graduating class (GPA and strength of schedule is used where rank is not available)
A high number of rigorous courses including AP, IB, or dual enrollment appropriate given what the school offers
An average 32 ACT composite
An average 1410 SAT (ERW + M)
Leadership activities
Research interests
Community service involvement"
@pwraskin99 First year Ross students only have one business class per semester so it really doesn’t matter where they live…not to mention the majority of freshmen will be assigned to North Campus anyway. If they are not in residential colleges, honors program etc, the chance of being in Central is very slim.
No disrespect intended. There is a unique vibe to Lyman Briggs that differs from UofM. Campus day will allow a student to differentiate. I sat with many students last year making the exact same decision - myself included. It is about fit, not qualification which was the intent of my comment.
The statistically selective difference is the process by which each is offered admission. The pool from which MSU honors is chosen is statistically smaller than the pool of UofM applicants with same/similar credentials earning admissions without honors.
This thread is about housing/enrollment and not missing opportunities. I hope the OP explores RC’s at UofM at Campus Day before making a final decision - regardless of final choice. Both are great schools but fit is important.
Thank you. Very exciting time for us and our son. We’re all very excited.
@Positivetea She has gone to Campus Day (and been to the campus with her school). She has done the ADS weekend at State (and gone back to see a physics speaker recently). She prefers State. We went to Ann Arbor today to look around a little. Not a good day to convince a kid with the ugly weather. She did get to tour Mo Jo or whatever they call that one housing building where WISE participants live when she was there for Campus Days (also a rainy ugly day). That would be her goal. But it isn’t guaranteed for her like the Honor’s College and Lyman Briggs. I want her to pick Michigan for Mom reasons: it is closer to our house by half an hour, it is cheaper (she was just offered a nice scholarship), and it may offer her more opportunities in the future than State. Or maybe not. Tough decision. She was ready to move to Lansing till the scholarship opportunity materialized this last week.
@Positivetea No disrespect or offense taken. I just wanted clarify the situation. There’s no question UM’s selectivity has gone through the roof in recent years; in part because of it’s participation in the Common App, but in part because it’s a great school that’s cheaper than most comparable privates. (because of the Common App, I read somewhere that UM received a whooping 70K apps for roughly 6K seats, while UCLA received 120K apps for a similar number of seats; crazy) Even with that increase, MSU Honors College stats are at least comparable to even slightly better than UM’s overall numbers. Still that’s quite amazing such a large school as UM is that competitive (as compared with roughly 2.500-3,000 in MSU’s HC program.
And yes, Lyman Briggs is a unique MSU residential college (dorm rooms, classrooms, labs, performance spaces, faculty offices under one roof) geared to the sciences, along with James Madison (law/public policy) and RCAH – the Residential College for the Arts and Humanities (similar to UM’s Residential College). Often people mistaken MSU’s residential colleges for honor’s colleges, which is the case for similar programs in other public universities, such as the Univ. of Maryland, even though students can cross register as Honors College members while being in one of MSU’s residential colleges. Even so, MSU’s 3 residential colleges are known to be academically rigorous, esp James Madison and Lyman Briggs. RCAH is too, in that it focuses on writing and, I believe, requires some kind of capstone thesis and/or senior project…
… @romanigypsyeyes could speak more to the latter as a proud RCAH alumna.
… @3js3ks, good luck to your D whichever of the big name ‘Michigans’ she chooses; sure she will do well either way.
I’ve given my comparison of U of M & MSU on another of the OP’s threads. Yes, I am an extremely proud MSU/RCAH alum and have also enjoyed my time here at U of M as a grad student (masters and PhD- different programs).
I have no desire to start/further a U of M vs MSU “debate” so I’ll just say that I’m happy to discuss both schools (for the purposes of attending one or the other) via PM if anyone desires.
@3js3ks
Great to hear she know where she belongs… Fit is the most important part. There really is a different vibe between Lyman Briggs and UofM. Glad she recognizes it. Let her lead…Wishing you much success. Go Green! Go Blue!
The $300 deposit is for enrollment rather than housing. It will be deposited into your student account and will be used to pay whatever charge in your account later on. By submitting the deposit by yesterday, you will be included in the first batch of invitation to orientation registration on 4/15. Housing application has a deadline after the May 1, so don’t worry about it. LSA honors application deadline is 4/9, which can be applied even before the deposit.
Thanks @billcsho she isn’t applying to honors, I just hope her hesitancy doesn’t wreck her chances for getting into WISE. She is hoping to get a tour of the physics department next week so she is waiting on that to see what she thinks. So we have not paid any money to Michigan at this point. Does that mean she’s going to be last in line for everything now?
Not really. Just would not be included in the first batch of email invitation to orientation.
@billcsho @brantly Is there any benefit to having your enrollment deposit done sooner vs. say 4/30? Meaning does it help with a better housing selection or class registration?? I am reading the above that the housing is random meaning no advantage on deposit timing, but just clarifying. Thank you!
The earlier you pay, the earlier you will receive the invitation to orientation registration and housing application. Neither one has a deadline sooner than May1 anyway. If one pay the deposit by April 1, one will be included in the first batch of invitation scheduled on April 15. Deposit paid after 4/15 should expect the email in a week or so. Only if you want to register for the earliest orientation may be more critical to pay early. Early orientation may mean less disruption to other summer plan, better performance in placement exam, and more options for class schedules.