<p>I do love Michigan very much. However, if we wish to be honest with ourselves, the real Harvard of the west is undoubtedly Stanford. =p</p>
<p>^^^It wasn’t in the 1920’s -1930’s when this phrase was coined. As I stated earlier, nobody claims Michigan is the Harvard of the West anymore. That is used only by those interlopers to our boards who like to stir things up.</p>
<p>My staff gave me a maize and blue tee-shirt (bought from Moe’s) before going off to HBS in the late 80s that says “Harvard, the Michigan of the East”. This is not an obscure quote. My section mates got a big kick out of it.</p>
<p>Stanford is NOT the Harvard of the West. It is the Michigan of the West!</p>
<p>Man, if I ever got into Harvard for grad school I’d buy like 10 pairs of those “Harvard: Michigan of the East” shirts and wear them everyday lol</p>
<p>After looking into the Residential College program, Michigan seems so much more appealing. To have a LAC-style education within a larger, prestigious university sounds absolutely wonderful. Are there any drawbacks to the RC? Social life, etc.? And if I didn’t indicate interest on my UM application is it too late to get in?</p>
<p>Cougar, drawbacks would be rigorous RC requirements such as the RC core (which would be expected at any smaller liberal arts school), and RC kids do tend to be more along the artsy, humanities side of things. Of course, these are only drawbacks for some, and for others they are giant positives. Outside of that, as far as what I’ve seen with friends in residential lodging, it really is more of a community than many other programs, with people meeting lots of peers from both genders, and really sharing a whole lot of common interests in addition to individual quirkiness. </p>
<p>RC social life will not be similar to say, greek social life, but I think that generally is just because of the difference in types of students involved in each of these. RC kids would be more likely to stay in and watch cult classic movies than go out and get hammered four nights a week, so if that’s a culture you think you would enjoy, then I would definitely recommend trying it out.</p>
<p>Cougar, I’m glad we could direct you to a better aspect of fit. I have found in the past the rc dept is quite accommodating. Send them an email or phone them to discuss availability right now and I’m sure you’ll be golden. Do try to sit in to get a feel - I have a hunch you’ll enjoy it. But don’t take my word for it – go see 
Best wishes in you decision, whatever it may be!</p>
<p>How did you answer the “why Michigan” essay?
What academic area are you interested in and what extras does Michigan offer in that area? Do your other school choices offer anything better?<br>
For example - my d is interested in Public Policy and Community Service and could come up with a bunch of things offered at Michigan in those areas - extras that aren’t at smaller schools. The “why Michigan” essay practically wrote itself.</p>
<p>I loved my time at Michigan and even though I wasn’t overly driven and purposeful like the students today seem to be, I ended up as president of a student organization and part of an amazing community of talented leaders.</p>
<p>With East Quad closing for renovation next school year, the RC will be moving temporarily to West Quad which has an entirely different feel than EQ. I assume the RC will move back “home” when the renovations are complete, but a huge part of the RC experience is the “coziness” of EQ. I’m sure these renovations are for the best, but they sadden me as I don’t want to imagine the old quad changed in any way from the 1970s. I’ve already seen online what they’ve done to the Half-Ass, and it almost made me cry. Memories just shouldn’t be messed with. Back to my porch rocker now…</p>
<p>^Just want to say your handle is the name of my favorite all time childhood book. I am so sad you’re gathering dust in the nursery ;)</p>
<p>^No one plays with me anymore. :(</p>
<p>Forget about love. Go with the money. In-state for Michigan, take it. Colleges are way overpriced and graduates struggle to get jobs. The college experience is way overrated anyway.</p>
<p>Now as for loving Michigan: It’s a big place with all kinds of people and programs. Mich. does more for it’s undergrads than most big schools. Ann Arbor is a wonderful city, one of the best in the world. There is so much arts and culture and music, so many speakers and intellectuals. You’ll never take it all in.</p>
<p>The research orientation has its good and bad. The obsession with rankings is stupid. It does attract some brilliant professors though. There’s all kinds of academic pretentiousness but that’s a problem all over academia.</p>
<p>I love the campus. There are so many gorgeous buildings.</p>
<p>I met many interesting people there who turned me onto all kinds of ideas. The students generally are going places in life and that rubs off on you.</p>
<p>The RC is a great way to get a more intimate experience. Mich. offers more interdisciplinary studies than most schools. The RC has more of a hands on focus than most schools.</p>
<p>If you are in-state, go and enjoy it. It’s one of the best college experiences going. Save your pennies. Consider yourself very lucky that you can go there for in-state prices.</p>