<p>I have been excepted to Michigan State's Honors College, and the University of Michigan. I know Michigan is considered the more prestigious school, but when visiting both campuses, I found MSU's more relaxed and friendly. </p>
<p>Would it be foolish to choose MSU over UM? Are the opportunities/education in Ann Arbor really that much better than those in East Lansing? </p>
<p>Perhaps I got the wrong feeling from the students at UM, but they seemed to embrace the "leaders and best" attitude a bit too much, which was a turn off.</p>
<p>In another thread, you expressed a desire to major in ecology/evolutionary biology. Michigan State has arguably the best zoology program in the country, and its organismal biology offerings are extremely strong. MSU over Michigan is a perfectly sensible choice, particularly if you liked MSU better. </p>
<p>Were you offered a spot in Lyman Briggs? It’s a great opportunity.</p>
<p>Michigan is noticeably stronger in many other programs, but a motivated student at MSU will do fine.</p>
<p>“Perhaps I got the wrong feeling from the students at UM, but they seemed to embrace the “leaders and best” attitude a bit too much, which was a turn off.”</p>
<p>Spartan slappies have said that for years. 
If you feel more comfortable at State in a program that is considered very strong, it would not be foolish to go to MSU at all. Best of luck to you wherever you decide to matriculate.</p>
<p>There are very few graduate programs and corporate entities that value style (prestige) over substance. Graduate programs in the life sciences are not among them, nor are companies in the natural/life science industries. In most instances, people choose prestige for personal reasons, not because it will improve their future prospects. As warblersrule perfectly points out, notivated students do great at MSU. As such, if you preferred MSU, there is absolutely no reason you should not attend it over Michigan.</p>
<p>When faced with a similar choice back in my day, my gut told me to go with Michigan. I preferred the school, the campus, the town, the traditions, the vibe, and in the fields I was most interested in, Michigan definitely had the edge academically (though it turns out that, like many students, I ended up in fields quite different from those I imagined going in, but in some ways, serendipitously, Michigan had even a bigger edge in the field where I ended up). I’ve never for a moment regretted that choice. But I also know a number of people who made the opposite choice, and they also say they’ve never regretted it. MSU’s Honors College provides some great opportunities, and there’s no upper limit to where you can go from there. Go with your gut.</p>
<p>Just noticed I spelt accepted as excepted…wow. But yes, I have been admitted into Lyman Briggs, so I would live there as a member of the Honor’s College if I chose to go.</p>