<p>Hi everyone! So, I have recently gotten accepted into both MSU and Umich, but I am having a really hard time deciding where I want to go. MSU seems like a much more laid-back school, but Umich seems so much more prestigious and academic based. It almost seems wasteful to go to MSU when I have gotten into Umich, but I don't know which would be better for my possibly future major. I am currently very interested in optometry, and I have no clue which school would be a better option for it. MSU's pre-optometry program seems a bit complicated, but I'm not sure how Umich's would be. Everyone I ask for an opinion is very bias and bases their opinions on the sports instead of the academia and the overall environment. If you could help me decide, please do! </p>
<p>I would not base your decision between the schools on the pre-optometry program. First, that is not technically a major. You can be women’s studies major and be pre-optometry, pre-med or pre-anything. Second, when it comes to professional schools, most do not care where you went to undergrad. They care about your GPA and your test scores for that particular field (i.e. OAT, LSAT, MCAT). If you want to go to a top optometry school or law school then it may be a factor however. Third, as far as I know, neither UM or MSU have an optometry school. I believe the only one in the state is at Ferris. Therefore, you should be more concerned about the requirements of the optometry school that you would like to go to, and less concerned with the pre-optometry program at these 2 schools.</p>
<p>The other thing you have to consider is that in 2 years you may not want to be an optometrist, in which case UM may give you a significant advantage. Unlike a biology degree (or whatever you would choose on your pre-opto path) there is a big difference between an engineering degree or business degree from UM when compared to MSU. Especially if you plan on leaving the state.</p>
<p>As far as the environment, both are large public schools. Both are Big 10 schools with great athletic events. They are both big party schools in similarly sized urban areas. I would definitely visit AA and EL. I loved AA and do not think that EL comes close to competing. Yet, a lot of people hate the 26 square miles surrounded by reality.</p>
<p>Lastly, I think you should ask yourself if you can handle 2nd place so to speak. Your high school friends that end up at UM will look down on you as an MSU student. Right or wrong, UM students and alumni will presume they are smarter than you because you wear green. I would ask yourself if you can handle this, knowing that you could have gone to UM.</p>
<p>In an effort to be biased (hey I tried) I will not tell you where to go. But hopefully I have given you some things to think about!</p>
<p>Lastly, I think you should ask yourself if you can handle 2nd place so to speak. Your high school friends that end up at UM will look down on you as an MSU student.</p>
<p>Uh…I literally do not know a single adult who “looks down” on others for going to a less prestigious college than they did. Or, if they do, they keep it under wraps because that’s very stupid. I personally don’t think that 1) this is a general statement you should make, or 2) that you should even care or allow this to influence your decision.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I agree with everything UMichMD said. You can likely go to an optometry school from either university, and likely have a great time at both places.</p>
<p>Michigan State’s pre-optometry curriculum seems to be based on the pre-requisites for admission to Ferris State’s school of optometry (which are probably similar to every other optometry school’s). I looked up Michigan’s recommended courses, and they are exactly the same.</p>
<p>I’ve been out of college for nearly 6 years - so a fairly recent grad, but not too recent. All of my friends are college educated, and their alma maters range from Harvard and Brown to their regional state campus. I honestly cannot ever remember having a conversation with someone in which they stated that they regretted going to their lower-ranked school and wished they had gone to a higher ranked one that they got into. Most people, in general, enjoy their college experience and come to love their alma mater no matter where it stands on the U.S. News list. Moreover, even if people don’t feel overly ecstatic about where they went, I would say most adults don’t harbor lifelong regret about where they chose to go to college. They just move on with life and do what they need to do to get to where they want to go. If you choose Michigan State because you love the atmosphere there, I’m fairly certain that you will enjoy the experience. Moreover, 10 years from now I highly doubt you’ll be thinking “OMG, I regret not going to Michigan SO MUCH.” It’s just not that serious.</p>
<p>Both are great public universities; both will likely have challenging classes and smart classmates; both have great athletic experiences and both will have a niche for you somewhere because they are large with lots of organizations. I really think you can’t go wrong here.</p>
<p>juillet, I am wondering if you have been to both campuses… Michigan has some real advantages over Michigan State. Nicer campus (and less spread out, easier the navigate). Great college town atmosphere in Ann Arbor. A more intellectual student body – you will meet more really bright peers and be more challenged in the classroom at Michigan. Forget sports – I mean, if you are a big fan you can have a great time at either – Michigan is a higher ranked university and a more coveted admission nationwide for a reason. You are incredibly lucky to have it as an in-state option, and really ought to take advantage of it.</p>
<p>U of M no question–far more prestigious and recognized as such all over the country. I lived in Michigan until age 20 and in California since then. Unless MSU has some specific program, forget it. Yes, it’s known as more laid back and more a party school, but you’ll regret that later. Yes, people consider U of M people smarter and absolutely some adults look down at people (they don’t necessarily say it to the person) who go to MSU (or any equivalent situation). IN the MSU/UofM situation, I saw it first hand over and over and over. My husband went to MSU for undergrad because his sister did (and his parents were of the school that kids should make their own decisions). Despite excellent grades he still could not get into U of M Law School or any other top of the tier law school because of being from MSU. While he got into an above average (much above average) law school, and has a very good lawyering career, it still is nothing compared to the fancy law firms and earning power he would have had had he went to UofM for undergrad and a better law school (and he was summa cum laude at his law school–Wayne State–and also for his Master’s in Law at the Univ of San Diego (private school).</p>
<p>I have a new criterion by which to suggest a decision. Learned it just today: MSU averages over 200 inches of snow each year, and recently has reached as much as 300 inches. </p>
<p>I think jkeil911 must be joking… Averages are 50-60 inches and these two places are not all that far apart (and there is no lake effect, things like that) so no way no how 200 inches…</p>
<p>Yeah, it rains a lot in the Lansing & Ann Arbor area. They get snow, but a Michigan winter day in that area is more likely to be raining than snowing. And they are only about 60 miles apart, so weather shouldn’t play into it that much. Although my nephew who goes to MSU says the buses around campus are always too full to ride, so he walks most places and it can be really far, especially when it is a cold day.</p>
<p>From your target schools, inquire (from their optometry admissions) about the details of applicants from each of the UG school. (# applied, # offered admission & # matriculated). From the optometry department, ask how well the current students from each UG program are prepared to meet the challenges of optometry curriculum. Ask if you can speak with current students (~ 2 each) in their Optometry program from each of the UG school to validate the information. </p>
<p>It is better to do your own research in addition to opinions on CC.</p>
<p>juillet,
You must not know many adults who are UM grads. If you don’t believe me then go read the urban dictionary entries for Michigan State University. Or better yet, just visit this website:
uofmrejects.com</p>
<p>I am not saying that this should influence the OPs decision or that they should care what other people think of them because of where they want to school. But the reality is that many people do care about what other people think, so IMO it was worth mentioning. Especially since the OP was concerned that going to MSU would be “wasteful”. However, you are correct in that it was a generalization. Not all people who go to UM think this way of MSU students, but there are a lot who do.</p>
<p>I have no affiliation to either MSU or UM so … go to the one that you feel comfortable with.</p>
<p>Any comments that there is a “big” difference in an undergraduate engineering degree from these two schools should be disregarded immediately. That is complete nonsense.</p>
<p>More intellectuals at one school over the other? Again … nonsense. There are over 30,000 students at each of these schools. Think about that number. You will barely encounter fewer than 5% (1,500) of those students. You will find an abundance of any type of student you want at either of these schools.</p>
<p>Long term success will come from what you do once you get there. What you do will be influenced mostly by how you feel about the environment you are in, not someone else’s vague idea of prestige.</p>
<p>Sorry gstudent99, and I get your point that a lot of it is what you do wherever you are, but name and prestige play a huge role on the resume, on the graduate school you may want to go to, and just overall. Certainly not in all fields, not with all people. However, UofM’s stature, history, and prestige overwhelm MSU’s. Right or wrong, that’s how it is and has been in my entire lifetime of 50 years.</p>
<p>Most people here seem to be pushing hard for U of M. I guess I’ll give some of the reasons why I chose Michigan State. </p>
<p>I’m a freshman right now and honestly a huge reason that turned me away from U of M was that most (if not all) of their grading is competitive. Meaning MSU grades using a set scale that rarely changes, with the exception of a curve. At U of M, you’re grade is based off how other people did. So if everyone get upper 90’s on the exam, and you got an 85, the scale could be shifted and your grade would much much lower than an actual 85%.
I’ve heard horror stories of people telling classmates the wrong way to do homework simply to better their own scores. </p>
<p>Now maybe this is all completely true, again I don’t go to U of M however it is definitely something to consider. </p>
<p>When chosing a college, I didn’t put much emphasis on academis or sports.Obviously they’re both good schools so it’s not as is MSU will give you a ‘bad education’. The main thing I looked at was price and conveinence. </p>
<p>For some reason I have a feeling that you’re not concerned with the financial aspects of college so this probably means nothing to you. MSU’s tuition is slightly cheaper and also close enough to where I live that I can commute to school everyday instead of living in the dorms. </p>
<p>To the people that are saying that MSU is just a party school, yes there are a lot of parties, drugs and alcohol. But, as an Engineering student I’ve noticed that most of the partying goes on between the easier majors. It’s easy to party if you want to, and also find a group of friends that doesn’t get wasted on Wednesday nights.</p>
<p>Yes, it sounds stereotypical, but all of the people that I know that left to go to U of M act like everyone who didn’t chose to go there are lesser human beings. Even reading the comments you can tell that the grads think they’re somehow superior and vastly more intelligent. To sum it up; a huge percentage are just plain stuck up. Of course U of M is a better school academically, but there’s no way in hell I could deal with some of the pricks that go there. I have honestly yet to meet someone unfriendly or rude in my time at MSU. If you’re concerned with the social life at these schools, consider following some of the twitter pages run by students. MSUPartyStores for example, I’m fairly sure U of M has a UofMBooty page. It gives a little idea of the overall vibe at the school which could help you make your decision. </p>
<p>juillet, You must not know many adults who are UM grads.</p>
<p>Actually, I do. I live in NYC and I always joke that I feel like half my friends are Michigan alums and the other half are Penn State alums.</p>
<p>My point was not whether Michigan was a better school than Michigan State (it is). Nor was it to tell the OP which one to choose. My point was simply this:</p>
<p>*Both are great public universities; both will likely have challenging classes and smart classmates; both have great athletic experiences and both will have a niche for you somewhere because they are large with lots of organizations. I really think you can’t go wrong here. *</p>
<p>I kind of agree that MSU is a laid-back place. I got a friend in MSU and she told me she became less motivated in that place. Besides, Umich is academically strong and prestigious,so go to Ann arbor</p>
<p>D was accepted to U Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, SMU, Tulane and Indiana and is choosing MSU Honors College. Not as cut-throat and more friendly. She will go to grad school elsewhere.</p>
<p>Also, this survey done by an international HR Consulting firm and published in the NYT actually has MSU ranked slightly higher than U of M. Very close though. Go where you feel most comfortable.</p>