Is a near full-ride to Michigan OOS worth passing over Stanford and Yale?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>I've been batting this around for a while and have still not decided. I like Michigan a lot. I LOOOVE Stanford. I like Yale too and think it would be a good fit for me. Before this year money wasn't so much of an issue, but when the economy tanked, well, I'm sure many of you are going through the same story. </p>

<p>I really like Michigan because it seems like it has a great campus culture, amazing sports, great reputation in the midwest, strong academics (though likely marginally less than the other two schools), as well as it being so large that by volume I'll meet a good amount of extraordinary people, but also be exposed to more "normal" people as well.</p>

<p>However, I worry that the intellectual climate will be significantly lacking compared to the other schools, I hate HATE HATE the cold, 65% of the kids are from in-state, and it's quite large, which has some obvious drawbacks</p>

<p>I've loved Stanford ever since I first learned about it. I think it would provide the best overall academic experience. I love that it has one of the best academic reputation and attracts the top profs. I like that it places a strong emphasis on diversity of all kinds, and the single most important non-academic factor in choosing a school to me is the people. I like that it has a strong sports program in basketball and it's getting there in football (though michigan's is FAR better). I love the weather :). And I like that the atmosphere seems to stand counter to the old-money elitism of some new england schools. However, Stanford will give me hardly any aid, and I worry that the bubble may not have much going on and I wonder about the school pride compared to Michigan. </p>

<p>Yale is Yale. Traditions, Academics, Ivy League, People, all of it is tops. But no aid, is cold, and is not Stanford. </p>

<p>Most other people, as well as my initial logic, tells me to save 160k and go to Michigan! I'm planning on going to Law school soon after undergrad, so it would make sense to save that money and use it to virtually pay for law school afterwards. Heartwise, I know if I had my choice I would choose Stanford. But do I really even know what I want? I know I'll have a great time and get a good education whichever place I choose. </p>

<p>But something doesn't add up to me. If an undergraduate degree from HYPS isn't worth significantly more than one from a top public school, and 50% of students at these schools are paying full-boat who could likely get a full-ride from one of those top publics, are they all losing money, better off going to a cheaper school? It made me think about whether this was one of those decisions that give people who come from wealthier backgrounds and advantage simply because of their thought process. Additionally, with increasing globalization (how trite) a degree from Stanford or Yale WOULD have a very significant advantage in employability abroad where their names are far more highly recognized and the culture is more status-centric. </p>

<p>I wonder if this is my opportunity to grab? It would only be the first year, possibly two, that my family would have trouble paying for. I would just need loans to hold me over until the stock market comes back up. If I were to make a decision on this last year, when money wasn't as much of an issue, I would have chosen Stanford hands down. Does that mean I would have made a bad decision back then? </p>

<p>And how much is the intangible value of being exposed to the people and environment of a Stanford or a Yale, where, depending on how much you engage it, you will be cultivated and learn habits that make people very successful? Do I want to be more in the middle of the pack academically, or at the head? </p>

<hr>

<p>So, leaving that debate that I probably should have kept in my head, is 160k in merit scholarships to Michigan (along with Ross pre-admit), worth passing up my dream school, Stanford, or the Ivy tradition of Yale? </p>

<p>And why? If you could address any of the things I mentioned above, that would be great!</p>

<p>Thanks! Any input is welcome.</p>

2

<p>From your post, it seems like you are favoring Stanford and Michigan. You seem so much more excited about the prospect of attending those schools over Yale. So, Stanford or Michigan? Stanford is obviously more prestigious and will probably offer you the best academic experience of the three schools, but not by much. Ross is one the best B-Schools in the country (higher ranked than Stanford I think). Also, if you plan on attending law school, I'm not sure the difference between Stanford and Michigan academics will matter much. Either way, you would not be downgrading significantly by going to Michigan over Stanford. If I was in your position (free ride to Michigan) and liked both schools equally, I would go to Michgian. However, you seem to really love Stanford. So, is money the most important factor? Or will you regret not attending Stanford? You have to answer those two questions. By the way, I think your overall college experience would be better at Michigan. I'm biased though. :)</p>

3

<p>Wow! Great thought. Like you said, they are all top schools but basically no much difference(although that might be debatable). I can't really make a decision for you but whatever your choice, always consider the future.
Hopefully if the economic crisis stops soon and Stanford is really your dream school, then go for it.
Forgot to ask, what class are you in now?</p>

4

<p>Are you into stanford yet?</p>

5

<p>Yes I am in all 3 schools (Yale with a likely letter in case you wonder how)</p>

6

<p>pick umich. you don't want loans when you graduate. it's an unnecessary burden and anyway you'll be able to get into any top law school from umich easily. try the honors program if you want to have a stronger academic experience. 160k can buy a 3-4 years of law school lol.</p>

7

<p>IVY league schools tend to give nearly full rides to almost anyone thats accepted. Check these statistics for stanford.</p>

<p>Full-time freshman enrollment: 1,648
Number who applied for need-based aid: 1,017
Number who were judged to have need: 758
Number who were offered aid: 750
Number who had full need met: 600 </p>

<p>Average percent of need met: 100%
Average financial aid package: $32,413
Average need-based loan: $1,939
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $28,829 (THIS IS ALMOST ALL OF IT)
Average non-need based aid: $3,177
Average indebtedness at graduation: $16,728</p>

8

<p>^
that is need-based.
and not everyone is needy.</p>

9

<p>Go to Michigan Tyler09. Save your money (about 200K?) for grad school. You can brag to everyone you got a free ride at one of the top schools in the country. Michigan can be as intellectual as anyplace else. You just need to find your niche. I have a close friend who went to Stanford ug and grad school at Michigan. He loved both places. He was a native southern Californian and has lived in the Ann Arbor area for his chosen occupation for over 20 years. I do have to state however your comments have a slight air of arrogance to them. Even though Michigan "folk" make up 60% of the student body I'm sure you'll find hundreds who are your intellectual peers. Some might even be smarter than you are. ;-)</p>

10

<p>Since when did less than half qualify as "almost anyone"? </p>

<p>Also, this is for students that eventually enrolled. I'd imagine that people being offered significant financial packages are far more likely to attend than those that don't, so the percentage of /emph{accepted} people being offered "near full rides" would be even less.</p>

11

<p>if your not needy then you probably have enough cash to go. to get an efc of 30,000 or above, the family needs to be pretty wealthy.</p>

<p>3/4 of students that applied for aid got it. plus, stanford's yield is 71% for acceptees that enroll</p>

12

<p>I would go with University of Michigan- Ann Arbor</p>

13

<p>I'd go to Stanford. My sister went, so I've been there many times (the most badass/awesome/epic campus I've visited). She attends UMich (though it's for gradschool, she knows quite a bit about the undergrad program), and she'll be the first to tell you to choose Stanford over Michigan. </p>

<p>I understand that the cost is a huge factor, but I think a more important factor is how many doors each university will open up for you. UM will provide you with a very strong education, but Stanford is Stanford. UM is very good, but Stanford is truly elite.</p>

<p>Besides, Cali is warmer, the campus is better, sports might not be as good (but that shouldn't be a deciding factor), though you can still cheer yourself into a coma if you're really into your home sports teams (think about all the Knicks fans). Also, I'm sure you'll receive some sort of aid package. Stanford is very good about providing finaid, even to those families not necessarily "in need." IMO, choosing Stanford could be the best decision you'll ever make. You will not regret it.</p>

14

<p>..........Except for that 160K you'll be paying off for the next 20 years or more. Who knows what is going to happen with the stock market? Look, it's not like you're getting a scholarship to some unknown non prestigious school. Everyone realizes what is going in with the economy currently. No one is going to hold it against you that you took a full scholarship for undergraduate work at an excellent university. As a matter of fact it will just be a testament to your good judgement. Times are tough, save your money for graduate school. If you are as smart as I think you are, you'll be able to go anywhere later on. I know Stanford was your dream school, but unless they can offer you a substantial financial scholarship, it isn't worth it with the current uncertainty of the present. Remember it's UNDERGRADUATE school and unless you can afford it I'd save my Stanford acceptance letter and go to Michigan. I wish things were better. I have no doubt if you got admitted last year you'd be Stanford bound. Unfortunately things sometimes don't work out like we planned, so make the most out of a great opportunity.</p>

15

<p>My thought is that you'll never know what's going to happen in your future. You might change a major, decide not to attned a graduate school. So I suggest you attending stanford with what you have right now; if you do want to attend a law school, then you'll find a way. There's always a way to solving problems: if you are a very competitive candidiate for whatever law school you'll want to go, the school will be offering you scholarships or grants; plus, ivy-leauge and top private schools willingly provide students with financial assistance for every family because unless your efc is like $60000, you pay certain percentage of the tuition (I'm not even bsing. Go look it up). I just don't think looking ahead too much in the future is very idealistic right now.</p>

16

<p>As much as I love Michigan, I'm gonna have to tell you to go to Stanford or Yale if you are purely basing this off academic interests. S and Y are once in a lifetime opportunities. However, if you want to base your college decision off which school you like the most and have a passion for, that is a different matter. If you visited all three, I believe you would find the full ride OOS to Michigan extremely difficult to pass up because of the overall balance between social, academic and campus life.</p>

17

<p>As I stated earlier if you are smart enough to get into these three schools, you are certainly going to be smart enough to get into law school or just about any graduate program you would care to go to. This is 2009, not last year or any other previous year. You better think about expenses and how you're going to pay huge sums of money off. Take the scholarship to Michigan and enjoy your four years.</p>

18

<p>I would suggest you visit UMich (again, perhaps) soon--when it's nasty cold--and walk around campus, ride the bus a bit, check out the town and imagine yourself there at school. Go home and think about it for a few days. If you just can't imagine being happy there, go to Stanford. Otherwise, go with the free ride and save your money for grad school.</p>

19

<p>i'd probably go to stanford for the weather. no way to yale- cold, very 'good-old-boy' and i dont think theres a ton of substance there, but i have to say that i dont have much evidence for that...</p>

<p>as to michigan vs stanford, neither way can you lose but it sounds to me like you'd be resentful of your classmates at michigan, and also, if there's one thing worth debt, it's your education.
i think the substance at the two schools is probably equal. at stanford, it'll likely be preppy and full of spoiled rich kids. but, if you can roll like that, you will come out with a stanford diploma</p>

<p>...what you should really do is go to berkeley=]: san fransisco, prestige, but not the good-old-boy, spoiled, and not-thirsty student body like at Stanford</p>

<p>face it, whichever you choose, it will be a great choice.</p>

20

<p>I agree with Shala, especially on the debt being worth the education issue. As rjk said, if you can get into Stanford and Yale, then you definitely have what it takes to land in a good law school. You definitely ought to visit UM in the winter to see if you can bear it. If you're the kind of person who puts a lot of weight into the climate/environment, you ought to experience the worst Michigan has to offer before you make your decision.</p>