I’m looking for help deciding between going to college at Michigan state or University of Michigan. I was accepted to both schools, and I’m going to be studying mechanical engineering. Michigan is obviously the more prestigious school, but I was also accepted to Michigan states honors program which I’ve heard is good too. The question is would I be better off being one of the top students at Michigan state or an average to possibley below average engineering student at Michigan. I hope to go to grad school to get my MBA so idk if a low Michigan gpa would hurt my chances of getting into a good program. (Average Michigan engineering gpa is 2.9)
I’m also not sure which school would be better for me socially. Academics are important to me, so I would like to be around people who are studious and enjoy having intelligent conversations. On the flip side, I like go out and drink and have fun on the weekends. I know that can be found at Michigan, but I’ve heard that the general student body at UofM is competitive and arrogant. Michigan state seems more friendly and a little more fun.
If anyone has experience or information about engineering at either school, or social life at either I would be grateful for the help:)
Saying that the “general student body” at UM is competitive and arrogant is ignorant and uninformed.
^^^ obviously a stereotype, it was something a friend of mine who goes to Michigan told me. Would love to hear from other people who attended Michigan that it’s not true
So you’re going to pick MSU over Umich because their Average Michigan engineering gpa is 2.9. Makes sense.
The OP seems to hold a number of ill-founded assumptions. I suggest he talk to some real mechanical engineering students to find out what the academic experience is like. Hint: people are not standing around having intelligent conversations. They are doing homework sets and writing up labs. The time commitment is 30 to 40 hours per week outside of class. And yes, that means a lot of studying on weekends. I’m not sure if the OP is going to find a mechanical engineering program to be a good fit.
As for getting an MBA, that is the grad program where undergrad GPA is perhaps the least considered. Any top program expects you to have a couple of years work experience before entering the program. What you did in the workforce is the thing they care most about. Indirectly undergrad GPA may affect the job that you get out of college, but the kids with a B average are not unemployed. Especially if they have had internships and taken part in student run activities.
Did you visit both schools? Which felt to be the best fit for you? I am a MSU grad, loved loved it there, I went to undergrad and grad school there (not in engineering). My D is a senior in HS, visited and applied to both. Bottom line. Both are really great schools that will provide a great education. My D just didn’t like the feel/cultural at UofM….she did not like the city feel, the mix of the University around the city versus a very clearly defined campus at MSU. She took a summer math class at U of M, and at the end, she just didn’t feel like it was the right choice for her. Actually she didn’t pick MSU either, lol. My point is this, it is such a personal choice. There will be thousands of grads who will clearly say one versus the other is better. I have colleagues that I work with who are U of M grads, and honestly the only difference……giving each other shit over Big Ten sports……GO GREEN!
edit: the OP asked which school to pick of these two. My advice is to choose the one he’d want if he was not a MechE major.