I was wondering what some of you guys who go/went to Michigan did to make the school feel a bit smaller. I chose Michigan over Kalamazoo and George Washington University because I found Kalamazoo too small and GWU too expensive and far. However, I’m starting to wonder if I’m going to regret my decision.
I applied to LSA Honors, but have not heard back, and I’m not really expecting good news. I’m not sure about the whole sorority thing, but I’m guessing I will not rush. I don’t want to feel like “one of the masses,” I want to truly find my place at UM. Should I be worrying about this as much as I am?
I am going to be a freshman next year and I am signed up to join the Residential College. I am coming from a really small high school, and I feel like the RC will give the large university a smaller feel. The class sizes usually cap off at like 20 kids I think, and you’ll be living with the same group of kids, so it should feel smaller…
I wouldn’t worry too much. You have 27,000+ potential friends to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find a group you like. I highly recommend getting involved in student organizations. As someone living in East Quad, I can say that the RC kids are an interesting bunch.
@uofmPlease, I’m assuming that @Miw20 is referring to the stupid stereotype that all Residential College students are potheads and/or weird hipsters. 8-|
I’m a student in the Residential College and I love it. If I weren’t a student in the RC, I wouldn’t like Michigan nearly as much as I do. Definitely look into it if you’re into the arts and/or languages. There are also a number of Michigan Learning Communities to which you can apply, but I don’t know much about those.
Also, if you don’t get into the Honors Program, don’t fret. The honors program is basically useless. If you don’t get in as a freshman, you can reapply through your major as a junior if you want to pursue an Honors degree and write a thesis. Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter if you’re a part of the program or not.
@jen101 i’ve looked at the RC a little bit, but it seems heavily focused on the arts…none of which I am good at. Are you able to choose language as your focus rather than art? I am very involved in learning Mandarin as a second language, but definitely don’t consider myself an artist/musician/performer/etc.
On the whole, most people in the RC are interested in some art or another. I’m into creative writing, but I have friends who are into acting, writing plays, painting, playing the violin, etc., but there’s no rule that you have to be artsy to join. You do have to take one creative class as part of the program, but that can be an intro class so you’re not expected to be good at it or anything! Also, if you wanted to continue taking Mandarin, you’d have to take it through LSA because the RC doesn’t offer it, but as long as you took it for I think two years (or passed out of it through a placement test) then you would fulfill that requirement.
There are many other living learning communities at Michigan though. If the RC’s not for you, I’m sure there’s another that could fit your interests better.
@jllinde I’ve heard that there are a lot who go into the RC just for being able to live in East Quad and for the language courses… I felt the same way you with the arts thing until I saw the list of courses you can take to fulfill the requirements-- all of which seemed to be completely doable. I’m not trying to persuade you any way, but trying to give my advice… Good luck!
