We all know the differences between a big state school like Michigan and smaller private schools. Can anyone speak to Michigan in particular, and tell me if they are any different from other large state universities and if there is good support with advisors and professors for undergraduates? I hear mixed things about the large class sizes in a school this size and the lack of support, but Michigan really has everything my daughter wants, minus the 8:1 student /teacher ratio of the smaller private school she is considering also. They are of course very different and there are pros and cons of each, but will she have a good support system in place in Michigan or is it going to be more of that big school “fend and advocate for yourself or you’ll fall through the cracks” type scenario? Do students get the classes they need when they need them or are they often full and you don’t get in to the class of your choice. She would be a Liberal Arts major. Thanks for any guidance here as this seems to be the biggest concern.
In college students need to advocate for themselves. My sons at Michigan and my daughters is at a small private LAC so I am familiar with both types of schools. She actually transfered from another small LAC.
No one is going to run after your daughter if she doesn’t seek /ask for help. Both schools have learning resource centers, help with science and math through peer to peer, professor hours, teaching assistants etc. Both types of schools will bend over backwards to help your daughter but neither will chase her down the hall either. If she asks for help she will receive it at both types of schools. At Michigan they would normally have more hours avaliable, more resources in general. The smaller schools can help but most likely hours would be limited. Professors love talking to students. It’s sorta their job.
Both schools it’s possible to get the classes you need or not. I don’t know anyone at either who couldn’t get into a certain class,I am sure it happened. Usually just fill out a form to ask for the class. My son had to do this once and he got the class.
You can make a large school very small also. Both kids have very personal relationships with professors /mentors /alumni. College is what you make of it.
I would go with fit /feel and not myths you might be hearing about.
My daughter does love her dialouge driven smaller classes. But also some of my sons classes have 20 people in them. She is in liberal arts and he is in engineering, so two different worlds.
There’s the Sweetland Writing Center for help with essays, the LSA Opportunity Hub for internships, math and science labs for tutoring, Newnan Advising Center with advisors for most majors, minors, etc. LSA has got you covered.
Student to teacher ratio is 15:1. For a big public, that’s not that large.
Thank you @Knowsstuff and @sushiritto! Both comments very helpful. I want to let her choose for herself and not try to sway her since I’m not the one going! We will head to the admitted students day at both and she can compare. Thanks again for responding!
@pacnwfromne. Are you able to share the other schools she is considering and what her major is? Also… You don’t have to.
Good Luck to your daughter.
One thing I forgot to add is that my UMich freshman hasn’t had much of an issue getting classes this year. The one class that was full, was a restricted class, which is a class that is/was specifically designated for another school outside of LSA. Other than that, scheduling appears to be just about getting the best time slots, not really about whether you get a particular class. Our experience was UMich just opens up another section when registration is full.
FYI, if your D loves 8:30-10:00 AM classes (or early evenings), then you can pretty much guarantee you will never have a problem. :))
If your D does decide to attend UMich, then immediately signup for the earliest orientation slot. Early slots typically get the best pickings, although they do reserve slots in classes for later registrations.
@sushiritto she for sure would NOT like those early slots! And it won’t help that she will be coming from the West Coast - so the jet lag does not work in favor of early mornings! I have found myself worrying that the first few days after coming back after breaks will prove challenging for anything before 11:00 AM! But she would just have to manage that, like all the other west coast kids!
And thanks for the tip about early registrations dates. I actually did hear that from someone else so it must be a common theme. We will plan a visit for admitted students day in April.