Frustrated with Michigan, OOS only for wealthy.

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>I applied to Michigan because I had many friends who went their, and they all loved it. I loved the Ross School of Business, the large alumni network, the recognition of the name at almost anywhere in the Globe, and just about everything about the University. I went to a very good private school in New England on financial aid, and because of that the school sent me tons of mail. I decided to apply to the school, got in and felt as if my dreams were coming true. </p>

<p>I flew out to the school, visited the big house, and fell in love with Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the nightlife. I knew this was the school for me. I later then received a lot more mail from the school, as they expressed their interest in me. My mailbox was filled with Michigan email for all of April, and I had personalized emails sent to me through minority recruiters, alumni etc. On top of that I had three phone calls made to my house by the University.</p>

<p>Then I received my financial aid package and was devastated. I would of had to pay $40,000 a year to go to the school. I later learned that Michigan is really just for the wealthy out of state students, and to be honest, I sort of already knew that, but the amount of attention they gave me made me believe other wise. I fell in love with the school, worked hard, was accepted but could not go. I did received amazing financial aid at other schools of Michigan's caliber, and no not merit based scholarships, purely need based aid. The fact that other schools were able to give me need based aid and Michigan couldn't breaks my heart. To top it all off, during the summer, the school called my college counselor and asked where I ended up enrolling, as they were surprised I didn't send in my deposit to them. </p>

<p>I ended up at Boston College's Carroll School of Management as a Finance major, at a school that will really help with a great career afterwards, so I'm not saying I have it rough or got screwed. I just don't want any other out of state student to have to go through what I went though, as all of March and April were emotional roller coasters for me.</p>

<p>I still love Michigan, love their Basketball team and Football team, but am just heart broking that it didn't work out. I really don't want any other student to have to feel the emotions and sadness that I went through, so please keep that in mind for when you apply to schools. If you're the type of out of state student that will need more than half of your costs covered in grants and scholarships, I wouldn't even waste my time applying to Michigan. Oh how I love Michigan and wished it all worked out!</p>

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<p>I’m really sorry to hear that, Trojaneagle. You sound very highly qualified and I’m sure you’ll be a success at all your future endeavors. I think you were wise not to go into a crushing amount of debt just to go to a particular school. Best wishes to you!</p>

<p>(The only way that we can afford UM is because we’re in state and my son did the first two years at a community college.)</p>

3

<p>I can completely understand your frustration… my S is OOS and has been accepted to UMich. We are not eligible for need based aid, but STILL find the OOS tuition potentially too much to make sense for our family. </p>

<p>Glad to hear things have worked out well for you…</p>

4

<p>It does, it plain sucks. You’d think with one of the fastest grueling endowments they could actually give some aid to OOS students, and those who truly fall in love with the school.</p>

<p>Congrats on BC though! That’s an excellent school, you’ll have a great time!</p>

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<p>Michigan does give huge discounts; to instate residents. Simply have your family move to Michigan at least a year or so before you apply to U-M, and you can get reduced tuition! It’s not that complicated. :-)</p>

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<p>I don’t think moving to another state can be just done “simply”, rjkofnovi. From the point of view of a student perhaps, but not for adults who have jobs, homes, other kids in school, family, friends, etc. </p>

<p>Trojaneagle, sorry it didn’t work for you but BC is a great school as well. Just curious, were you able to get a better financial aid package there? My DS is applying to both schools next year and something for us to keep in mind as well.</p>

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<p>“I don’t think moving to another state can be just done “simply”, rjkofnovi. From the point of view of a student perhaps, but not for adults who have jobs, homes, other kids in school, family, friends, etc.”</p>

<p>Of course it’s not easy ognopgod. However, one must remember that Michigan is a state supported school that is funded, although not nearly well enough anymore, by the taxpayers of the state. What is the upside for the state if students take their talents and leave immediately following graduation? That is what happens with the vast majority of out of state students, and increasingly with instate students as well. Someone has to pay to maintain the excellence of the school, so unfortunately OOS matriculants get stuck. Supposedly the next major capital campaign will address more scholarships for all students so Michigan will be more affordable to attend.</p>

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<p>@ ognopgod I was able to receive amazing aid from Boston College, and actually from most schools that I got into as well. I just felt that if I would be able to get aid from other prestigious schools, than I would for Michigan as well, but it wasn’t the case. BC will definitely make your experience affordable.</p>

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<p>The data I have for U Michigan is that 29% of students receibed an average of $6k each for merit aid.</p>

<p>The financial package that we received was pretty close to that.</p>

<p>The data are out there so one can go into the situation open eyed.</p>

<p>Compare to Penn State and The Ohio State University, which are each a lot more affordable for OOS.</p>

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<p>Sorry to hear that, but lets not forget that education is a business $$$</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, yours is a common problem.</p>

<p>Michigan has plenty of applicants.</p>

<p>No doubt an out of state student is attractive to them precisely because that person pays a much higher tuition.</p>

<p>Since they are a state university, they really don’t have funds to give much financial aid, especially to non-residents.</p>

<p>Your situation in reality is not particularly unique.</p>

<p>Literally hundreds of thousands of kids will have to make the decision whether to attend their state’s flagship university, or pay much higher tuition at a private college, or an OOS state university, that they would prefer to attend.</p>

<p>Boston College is a great school.</p>

<p>Stress the positive.</p>

<p>Last year, we were faced with the issue of either going to our state flagship, University of Florida, for free, or going to UCLA, which obviously has a better name, but for $50,000 a year. Instead, my son selected a third school, also very expensive, that we really can’t afford.</p>

<p>But you will have a second chance someday. There is always graduate school, or you might also consider transferring.</p>

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<p>UM has plenty of funds. But they dont give Finaid because there is such a high demand that will pay full price, and a strong enough applicant pool that they dont have to give much merid aid. Same is generally true for other top schools, public or private, in my experience. Like a lot of things, the highest quality costs more.</p>

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<p>This is not entirely correct, but yeah, sorry you went thru that. I’ve met some OOS who are not wealthy though. Some go on scholarship, others just sacrifice an awful lot and take out loans. Like they go without heat or live in a van, and they don’t fly back on holidays. Of course I’m not saying you should have done that, I sure wouldn’t. UM should not have kept trying to lure you in, but it’s not like you told them or they could find out your financial situation. Probably most of us were never ‘recruited’ in this way. I think in the near future, after the fundraiser, this will change. The only consolation is you could possibly attend as a grad student.</p>

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<p>I’m most likely going to be in the same position this year which is really unfortunate. I do however understand the reason that Michigan cannot meet all need, especially that of OOS students. Overall though its just a bad situation as I would love to attend</p>

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<p>Well, yes, supply and demand certainly has some bearing, even though it is a public institution…it is a self-sustaining public institution ;)</p>

<p>SO, I’m going to give this some context, because while I understand it is frustrating, and true, it is also PAR FOR THE COURSE at a top national public and worth elaboration.</p>

<p>For example, Cal/Berkley – OOS COA $55,000 (that’s $35,000 tuition – slightly lower than Michigan, but $15,000 to live in residence – about 50% more expensive than Mich) For OOS, Michigan is $52,000.</p>

<p>According to its online stats, at Cal, out of 2,152 (about 2/3rd of those who applied) applicants determined to have financial need, need was fully met for 363 (16.9%) of them, and the average award was 82%.
Average award in value was $21,780 (this reflects, I suspect, the Cal Grants, which as a state, Michigan does not have. They’re worth at least 8 - 10 k.)</p>

<p>At Michigan, 3,020 (about 3/4 of those who applied) students were determined to HAVE financial need last year; 2,718 of them had their need fully met, and the overall average award was 90%.
Average Award in value was $10,660</p>

<p>So, both schools are among the very tippy top PUBLICS in the nation. Both schools have an approximately similar COA - though one has higher tuition by about 5k and the other has higher residential cost by about 5k.</p>

<p>One gives full “need” aid to a mere 363 students (but more of it, eg. the 20+k) and one gives full “need” to 2,718 students (Mich).</p>

<p>The bottom line is that a flagship Out-of-State, top national PUBLIC school is not ever a financial safety, and is always a financial reach, for applicants – whatever the income bracket.</p>

<p>Both of these schools, however, are approximately $10,000 a year less expensive in terms of COA than PEER private schools. </p>

<p>So for people who would be “full pay” at the privates, Michigan is comparatively a bargain. For students who receive merit awards and some need-based aid, Michigan can be comparable to offers from privates (based on the actual COA). And once in a blue moon, there will be an OOS student with extreme need who is given nearly full-need funding (we’ve seen it happen right here on this thread … I recall a young lady from NJ who discussed that very phenom about four years ago!).</p>

<p>So that gives you an idea of how your application strategy should play out:

  1. if you’re a tippy top student, and OOS, and full-pay, Michigan is NOT an academic safety but might be financially competitive. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you are a tippy top student, OOS, and middle income without $200k sitting around, there’s a good chance you’ll do better in the end financially at a private or an in-state flagship – but Michigan is still worth a shot as long as you realize you’re playing a lottery.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re a tippy top student, OOS and very low income with some kind of compelling hook, you stand a slightly better chance at having your need met. Meeting need OOS is kind a form of preferential packaging at UMich, and in some cases, even some of the merit is NEED INFORMED. Still a lottery, though…but slightly better chance at decent packaging.</p></li>
<li><p>If you are a tippy top IN-STATE student who is full pay or high need, YOU’RE CRAZY TO GO ANYWHERE OTHER THAN MICHIGAN because it will be the best value or the best package you can get pretty much.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>If you are middle-income, you <em>might</em> fare better at a top, generous private or a lower-ranked university that is “hungry” for top students.</p>

<p>Hope that helps future visitors think about how to come up with a list of FINANCIAL safeties – although YMMV and you won’t know until you try/apply!</p>

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<p>“Compare to Penn State and The Ohio State University, which are each a lot more affordable for OOS.”</p>

<p>Shouldn’t they be? Who is going to pay over 50 grand a year to go to either school for undegrad?</p>

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<p>I think there is some culpability for Michigan in this story, at least as the OP depicted it. Maybe this is a case of being too big to evaluate and respond correctly, but the scenario suggests that Michigan in its pursuit of the student should have known there was a financial issue. The OP references minority or special program recruiting, where some financial difficulty would either be assumed or even part of the mission of the recruiting service (serving low income talented applicants). The extra phone calls to lure and then the after the fact call to guidance suggest that the admissions department was out of touch.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I agree with granipc…even if you can find a way to swing the cost the question arises if that is a good decision. I’m not sure I find the argument that Michigan is sort of a bargain compared to a similarly strong “full-pay” private compelling. Will have to think about that one. Even tougher if the comparison is a very strong private with 12-15K (or more) in merit vs. OOS full-pay at Michigan. A kid still may like Michigan the best, and even if Michigan is slightly better, is the extra 50-60K you might be paying worth it?</p>

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<p>I think you made a good decision. Boston College is on par with Umichigan and it probably made the most sense if finances were a concern.</p>

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<p>CSOM is a great program and it sounds like it was a smart decision for you.</p>

<p>I would say one of Michigan’s biggest fault is their lack of financial aid to OOS applicants. No school is perfect. Michigan is no exception.</p>