<p>Try telling that to an immigrant parent of a prospective student who thinks that an Ivy League education is the best type of education this country has to offer.</p>
<p>“Some high school students think they must attend the best (i.e. HYPSM, Ivy League) to be very successful in life when that is not true at all.”</p>
<p>The funny part about this is that most people at HYPSM (at least the ones I have met) don’t think this at all, or at least if they do they don’t show it. Sure, I have met some elitists but they are not the norm and they still acknowledge that there are other good schools and smart people at those schools. However, I have a disproportionate representation from one of those schools, but nevertheless it has held true for people that I know who go to the other schools.</p>
<p>Entertainer, some of these immigrants parents are either misguided or misinformed because they go by what they see and hear in the media. It’s easy to believe that the only American colleges that matter are the Ivy League. The United States has more than eight universities, and there are many Ivy-caliber alternatives (public AND private) that can provide a similar or better educational experience.</p>
<p>Yea they are misguided, but at the same time their expectations get the best of them. My parents still compare me to other students that are in Ivy League schools and they still don’t know that I’m getting a similar, outstanding education at Michigan.</p>
<p>The majority of immigrants in most developped nations (England, France, German, the US etc…) escaped economic hardship in their own country in order to provide a better life to their children. As such, there are two sweeping generalizations that one can make that will apply to most cases:</p>
<p>1) They have little understanding of the educational offerings or inner workings of their host nation</p>
<p>2) They will be very demanding of their children</p>
<p>I know that doesn’t help the children as their parents’ beliefs are very deeply rooted, but their opinion is obviously not an accurate representation of reality. </p>
<p>Firehose, like you, I have noticed that students at most elite universities are, as you say, down-to-earth and respectful of others. That is obviously the case at HYPSM, but also at schools such as Brown, Cal, Caltech, Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Northwestern and Penn. Unfortunately, my experience has shown me that at least a couple of elite universities, the students tend to be unjustifiably elitist. Of course, my experience is limited to just a few dozen cases, but in most of those cases, I have seen an unfortunate, unjustified and deeply rooted sense of entitlement and elitism.</p>
<p>^^^Notice no mention of Duke in the above statement.</p>
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<p>Hi I’m wondering if someone can summarize UM’s strengths and weaknesses. Thanks!</p>
<p>^ Strengths? Well, did you happen to catch the ice dancing competition on the Olympics last night?..<em>can’t believe I’m admitting I watched ice dancing</em>…LOL.</p>
<p>Yeah, Meryl Davis is a hottie…and damn talented.</p>
<p>So…I know this might be a bit too late, but figured i’d post anyway. </p>
<p>I got into umich two years ago, but regrettably did not end up going there due to some problems…If someone is in the same position as me, GO TO UMICH! I used to live in ann arbor (so I know a bit about umich) and loved it. I really wish I’d gone there for my undergrad. </p>
<p>So, OP, no I don’t think UMICH has any weakness other than parking</p>
<p>The weather is pretty horrific.
A2 is suffocating
And the current football team is butt of ESPN jokes (toped only by ND).</p>
<p>Liu, your three points aren’t exactly what this thread is about. The weather in SE Michigan is no worse than the weather in Illinois, Upstate NY, New England etc… In fact, some parts of the US have worse weather than Michigan. Places such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota etc… Michigan winters are certainly not pleasant, but they aren’t exactly horrific either. </p>
<p>I am not sure I know what you mean when you say that Ann Arbor is suffocating. Ann Arbor is considered one of the coolest and most awesome college towns in the US. However, for people who need a very large urban environment, such as NYC or Chicago, I can see how Ann Arbor would feel a little small. But honestly, saying that Ann Arbor is a weakness of the university makes no sense. </p>
<p>As for the current status of the football program, I agree that it is infuriating, but I think the program will be back on track in 2-3 years. 5 mediocre seasons in over 40 years is not too bad.</p>
<p>biggest weakness as of now is the wolverines’ defense</p>
<p>Finally…I real weakness!</p>
<p>Is it possible for a complete non-drinker/non-usar of drugs/non-smoker to survive and have a healthy social life in UMich?</p>
<p>Although Michigan has a great social/party scene, it is not quite a “party school”. Many Michigan students are social dringers or, as it is in my case, abstain altogether. Those students have every bit as much fun as drinkers. The University and the town of Ann Arbor offer much in way of cultural, social and artistic events and clubs that ensures that everybody can find their niche.</p>
<p>I am INTERNATIONAL and applied EA. I Hope I get into Michigan!!</p>
<p>I’ve just read 40 page over two days this thread greatly helped me understand Michigan’s strength and weaknesses.</p>
<p>when I get a chance I’ll read the 40 pgs here. In the meantime, I am naive about UM, but I do know that it is a state U of 25k UGs and about what 10-15 grad students and it is a premier research institution. So, is a possible weakness the class sizes, the student - teacher ratio, in short the teaching? -the usual suspects for large schools?</p>
<p>I hear that UM is weak with financial aid for out of state students. Can you comment on that, Alexandre?</p>