<p>So I'm a committed freshman to U-M for the fall 2014 semester and I have to fill out my housing application by May 7. Unfortunately, Michigan doesn't have an admitted student's Facebook page or anything like that where I can communicate with other committed students, so I have no idea where they will be living or where freshman typically live. A statistic on the housing website said that 70% of all freshman live on the North campus, but I've seen other topics on that claim that statistic is grossly overestimating. So, in general, where do most freshman live or which campus would recommend for a freshman to live on who wants to pay a moderately decent price and also interact with and meet fellow freshman?</p>
<p>Also, I was reading up of the MCLs (Michigan Learning Communities) on campus and they sound cool but I'm not sure if they're for me or if I feel like writing an essay to apply for one. Can anybody give me more information about MCL? Do a lot of students opt to participate them? What are the perks? Are they worth giving up the "freshman dorming experience"?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>I am confused what you mean by freshman dorm experience?</p>
<p>MLC programs are in dorms, and there are plenty of freshman. 
</p>
<p>They can be a good thing- but they do require an extra commitment of time, class work and study. ( some have multiple essays and questions to answer to apply- so maybe your hesitation to write an essay is a message? 
)</p>
<p>There are lot of ways to make the school feel smaller, and the MLC programs provide that, but they are not the only option.</p>
<p>If you have an interest in a specific one- all of them have representatives that are happy to explain the atmosphere, commitments, and how it all flows together. </p>
<p>My daughter has several friends in the artistic leaning program of LHS, and they love it, but these are highly creative and involved dancers/writers who found a home there. </p>
<p>So consider your interests, and see if the community descriptions/requirements are something you find amenable. </p>
<p>Also- Michigan does have a FB group for the class of 2018. ( search University of Michigan, class of 2018)</p>
<p>My daughter participates in it, with hundreds of other new admits. You can look on FB for it, and request to be admitted. </p>
<p>The only place you may get into as freshmen that may give your less freshmen dorm experience would be the Northwood apartment communities. Other than that, you will be living in a dorm and have plenty of interactions mostly with other freshmen. </p>
<p>Two of my children were in MLCs. One in HSSP and one in MRC. They both enjoyed their experiences at Lloyd Hall and Mosher-Jordan dorms. They had typical freshmen dorm lifestyles and the MLC created a nice group of friends, although their closest friends were developed through the Greek and business fraternity/sorority system, since they knew those kids over a longer period of time. One thing that is not often stressed about MLCs is that it provides you with a terrific opportunity to do research and to get to develop a relationship with a professor over a long period of time. Why should you care? Those professors, and that research (which led to two separate publications of two different papers and poster session at a conference), will be invaluable when you need a reference on your resume. In my daughter’s case, she used the research and reference for medical school applications. My son has continued to do research with his professor after getting into the Ross business school, and is doing a special program with Ross in Washington D.C. next week, because it is directly related to his research. You and most freshman focus on the fact that it gets you into a great dorm (which it does), but you should be aware of the lasting influence of these MLCs.</p>
<p>One of my biggest regrets was not doing a MLC to avoid North campus and Northwood.
There’s really no disadvantage at all. You’re still welcome to join any of the other clubs on campus if you like</p>
<p>Don’t forget that you have different commitment or requirement for each MLC. You should look up the details of the program before applying. It is not simply a tool to avoid housing in North Campus.</p>
<p>I would definitely apply to a couple to try and avoid north campus at all costs. If you’re interested in health do HSSP, if you like writing/dancing/art/etc. then LLoyd Hall Scholars, if you’re interested in research then MRC, if you’re a woman and interested in science/engineering then do WISE. And if none of those really interest you, do MCSP. It’s a community service learning community in East Quad that fosters a pretty close community.</p>
<p>That being said, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t do one. I actually applied for two and got rejected from both (oops) and ended up in a new dorm on central campus and made amazing friends in my hall. Some people aren’t so lucky, though, and end up getting put on north. So I would apply to them just to try and avoid this, a couple of essays are worth not being put on north. Its also a good way to make friends right away.</p>