<p>I'm looking for a college that is strong in academics, specifically physics and math, but has a lot else to offer. Definitely want a fun campus, interesting/diverse people. I could go for a decent amount of parties, people who take academics pretty seriously but aren't afraid to let lose after hours. I can definitely be a slacker myself. I want a fairly attractive campus, or at least don't want myself saying how ugly the people are or where are all the hot girls. I could go for an interesting surrounding area, preferably a nice city with lots to do. I want opportunities around campus to pursue science and math topics. Involved teachers and classes that aren't too big but don't have to be really small. Friendly/nice people on campus. Applying to top colleges in my field has me a little worried about nerdy/techy campuses, I definitely don't want this and want a campus where there are a lot of people who are pursuing different interests. Also a fairly equal number of boys and girls. Good sports teams would be nice. </p>
<p>Anyways thats probably my ideal college scene. How does UMich match up with that? What are things one should worry about or definitely look for if you ever went to visit. What are things that only a person that goes there would really know. Common misconceptions.</p>
<p>Any help would be appreciated since I am trying to cut down on my college applications, and please try to keep the bias to a minimum and don't be vague.</p>
<p>All I can say about the girls, is that it's "selective", LOL. Not too many "babes" in Ann Arbor unlike in cities like Miami, NYC, LA, etc, you know, the "big cities".</p>
<p>Michigan's math and physics departments are among the top in the country. For entry level physics courses, you will have large lectures and then smaller discussions. For math, you will have classes of about 20 with a grad student instructor (GSI) for calc 1 and 2, then a class of about 100 with a professor (in all of these you can test out) then much smaller classes (with the professor). The women are not bad; there are a fair amount of attractive females in Ann Arbor. Of course it is nothing like Indiana University, UMiami, or UTexas, but you wil find hot women here. The sports teams are amazing. We have one of the greatest athletic programs in the country. Our football team will be national title contenders next year and our basketball team is rebuilding. The party scene is good, though not outrageous. The campus is amazing. Go Blue!</p>
<p>I'd say Michigan is a pretty good match for what you're looking for, ares153. The only thing I'd note was when you said "at least don't want myself saying how ugly the people are or where are all the hot girls", the latter has been complained about from time to time, but really everyone: there's over 12,000 undergraduate girls on campus, and you'll definitely find attractive ones if you look.</p>
<p>I heard it's exactly 1:1 (girl:guy ratio). Theoretically, there should be someone for everyone right? lol</p>
<p>Ares, I would say Michigan more than meets most of your requirements.</p>
<p>Do you ever feel like your lost in the crowd since it's such a big school?</p>
<p>Not really. In my 4 years at Michigan, I never got lost in the crowd. Obviously, it takes a little longer to adjust at a school like Michigan or Cornell than it does at a school like Grinnell or Bowdoin. But at the end of the day, you will make your university your own.</p>
<p>Alex when were you studying at Michigan?</p>
<p>I was a student at the University from September 1992 through April 1996. And I also lived in Ann Arbor from Mayb 2001 until June 2002.</p>
<p>whoa you were there for the fab 5????? That is awesome. I hope we become a basketball powerhouse like we were in the 70s, late 80s, and early 90s.</p>
<p>Watching Michigan basketball the past 5 years, we aren't close to any powerhouse anytime soon.</p>
<p>We couldn't even make the NIT last season, and lost in the first round of the Big Ten tournament to Northwestern - a school known for poor athletics.</p>
<p>Yes I'm fully aware-I went to all the games. IF however we can stay healthy and suspension free this year, we could be an NCAA tournament team. Last year had we played like we did at the beginning of the season (12-5, 3-0 in the Big Ten), we would have ended up being the 4th best team in the conference behind Illinois, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. We were beating Illinois until about 5 minutes left, so I think we do have what it takes, we just need to recruit more effectively, but I think this season the team will have adjusted to Tommy Amaker's system. The Big Ten will be a very strong conference this year, however, with Illinois led by Dee Brown, MSU with Ager, Brown, and Davis, Indiana with Vaden and White, and unfortnately ohio state (and will be RIDICULOUS the year after with the best recruiting class since the fab 5), but I think we can give any of these teams a run</p>
<p>Don't look at all into that great start. Here's who we beat...</p>
<p>Binghamton
Sacramento State
High Point
South Florida
Delaware State
NC Ashville
Fairfield
Northwestern
Penn State</p>
<p>Right there are 9 easy victories for any school. </p>
<p>There was a stretch in Big 10 play that we didn't win a game in a month an 5 days. 11 straight losses to Big 10 opponents. Then we get bailed out by playing Penn State, otherwise we'd be looking at a season which we lost our last 15 games. Losing 14 of the last 15 is poor.</p>
<p>I hate Amaker's system. Our offense is a joke. Our point guards sit outside, practically at the half court line, and go sideways for about 20 seconds, then when the shot clock runs down, we rush our shots, and miss. The game against Illinois was flat out luck, for some reason, our shots were going in. Illinois woke up though.</p>
<p>No way I see us giving State, Illinois, OSU, Wisconsin, a run. I don't see a great year unless serious changes happen to this team. Dion Harris is the only player on this team, Horton needs to get back to the player he was as a freshman. Courtney Sims needs to reach his potential, and Lester Abrams needs to stay healthy. A lot of "if's"</p>
<p>Ares, my criteria for a university were nearly identical to yours. I applied to the top tech schools and whatnot (MIT, Harvard, Stanford, etc.). I had the same reservations as you, but after choosing Michigan, I am confident that no school satisfies those criteria better than U of MIchigan. I myself am a math major, and know that there is plenty of mathematical talent and the top math track has some of the most challenging classes in the nation. The physics program is also top 20 for sure. Don't listen about having a GSI and all that stuff, from what it sounds like, you'll probably be in honors and you won't have to worry about that, just the best professors in the university for people like you and me. As far as the ladies go, women slightly outnumber men, and plenty of them are attractive. When people say there aren't as many "hot" girls as at schools like MSU or Indiana, those are the types of girls you wouldn't end up dating anyways because they didn't have the intellectual fortitude to get into a school like Michigan. When it comes down to it, Michigan has the hottest smart girls in the country, so you should have no reservations about coming to the university.</p>