My D has been accepted to both of these schools, and waiting on two more. I have seen threads for this comparison before, but a school’s reputation changes all the time. She wants to major in political science - at least for the moment, and I believe Michigan State has the “better” program, but not sure by how much to make a difference. She is a really laid back person and sort of goes with the flow. We come from a fairly affluent area in CA, and she wants to get away from that scene all together. I know that CU has the reputation of having a lot of trust fund money, but I wonder how true that really is - can she get away from that scene easily? CU seems nice socially as there are people that come from all over the place and of course the beauty is tremendous. On the other hand, Michigan State has the feel of being more laid back, but since almost everyone is from Michigan, I wonder how hard it would be to fit in? She’s not a big party person, but not isolated either - sort of in the middle. And she wants a lot of school spirit, and although Michigan State far outweighs the sport factor, we feel CU has some spirit as well. She wants to go Greek as well Two really different schools and having a hard time!
I think that you’re referring to the feeling that many affluent families with children who aren’t “ivy-types” will send their kids to Boulder to enjoy the winter sports. lol If so, that’s probably true, but your DD would likely find people she likes there if she were to attend.
CU Boulder is quite expensive OOS…about $50k per year. Is that ok?
The MSU issue of most students being instate would be a concern if many kids head home for long weekends or “dead weekends”. I know that at my kids’ undergrad, before it became 50% OOS, there was an issue that many kids went home when “nothing special” was going on during a particular weekend.
Does MSU have fall break and spring break? If so, will she come home for those breaks and Thanksgiving and Winter Break?
I don’t know how much MSU is for OOS…is it about $45k?
Your DD applied to some pricey schools. Are they all affordable?
At MSU kids generally stay on weekends as it is not a commuter school. Most go home during breaks. I doubt that your daughter would have much difficulty fitting in as there is a lot to do in E Lansing. The school is pretty sports crazy (over the top crazy) and also has lots of participant sports. Skiiing is a few hours drive away, but not like Boulder, and lift passes are cheaper for students.
Thank you. So in your opinions, do you think being one of just less than 10% OSS (much of that being international) would not be a problem at MSU? I am just worried about cliques continuing on from high school, but maybe the school is just too big for that? My daughter is a big sports nut, so I think on the dead weekends there should be something to do. In general, is MSU a fairly laid back school? She “says” she wants snow but I don’t think she knows what’s coming. I am from Michigan and I know what’s coming, but that doesn’t seem to detract her.
Anyone have any thoughts on the “type” of people at Boulder? I know it’s not too diverse. But is it just a lot of money because of OSS students? She is used to that in our neighborhood although not directly with us, and prefers to avoid that if possible. Boulder big enough for that as well?
As far as the cost - yes both are expensive. We will make it work. It’s better than 6 years in a CA school since ours are so impacted.
Thanks.
Have your D applied to UCs?
@3mamagirls Midwestern kids are extremely nice, “Midwest Nice” as they say. She should have a great time there. The sports in the Big Ten are really fantastic. I wouldnt say Big Ten schools are laid back, as they are rather kinetic, bouncy and boisterous.They certainly are not snobby, though, quite the opposite.
To be honest she might like University of Vermont even more, and only half the kids are from Vermont and the laid-back city of Burlington is like College Disney Land. They do offer merit awards to OOS and Vermont’s best mountains are close.
Thank you. I am sure she does not want to apply to anymore schools right now - but can have her take a look at Vermont because on the face of it - I like the # of students there.
I do think the “Midwest Nice” is a factor too! I was just worried about cliques because everyone is already from Michigan!
My D has not applied to any UC’s. She applied to Cal Poly - but won’t know for a couple of months, and it’s not really a good fit for her anyways - I just made her apply to one CA school in case I started freaking out about the money issue.
Any Boulder opinions?
Culturally, CU Boulder is a lot more left wing that MSU. MSU is mixed politically - it is still a university but Michigan kids are mostly middle of the road. Your D will not feel excluded at MSU just because so few Californians move to Michigan (well, until recently) and kids won’t have many preconceptions. In Colorado , Californians have overrun the state and attitudes may be a bit different.
MSU students tend to stay at school on weekends. There is lots to do and endless sports. Greek life too. OOS will not be a problem for making friends. Instate students are making friends too.
My ratings system says both schools are equal. I personally agree with that. You certainly can’t go wrong with either of them, though.
@TooOld4School School - that’s a good thought about preconceptions related to Californians, although I think it’s adults/parents and not as much the students who have a negative feeling toward Californians, but I could be wrong. My older D attends Univ of Oregon, which is overrun with CA students. I sat on a plane once to visit my daughter, and the person next to me told me that Oregonians hate people from CA and we are ruining the schools. The students don’t feel that way as much according to my D, but the parents still do. I felt almost guilty, but my husband was born and raised in OR and went to college there and his family lives there. I personally have a connection with MI. But those isolated incidents don’t negate the facts that CA students are leaving the state in droves because our school system is a mess. We are as upset as the next person with our poor system.
So now I am back to which school would feel more comfortable as far as cliques are concerned, and I feel that many think that MSU would not be that cliquey even though 90% are from MI. It would definitely be a different experience than CA - much more so than Boulder, but we want to make sure that different = good! And knowing that MSU students don’t go home a lot over the weekends really helps a lot, since she was steering away from commuter schools.
My daughter doesn’t ski - so that’s not a driving factor to CU. She would start though - but it’s so much more than that to think about. It is beautiful there though, and there are a lot of other activities to do!
Did you check out CSU in Ft Collins? It’s become the in-state choice for many CO kids. More laid-back vibe, great college town, excellent programs. I won’t send my daughter to CU and I live in-state. Boulder is beautiful but there is definitely a “type” of kid that goes there…affluent, 99% white, big into parties/Greek life. CSU has similar qualities but seems to attract more middle-class families. Michigan State is HUGE though. Does she want a school that big?
@anelmi no - we didn’t check out Ft. Collins, but I think a good friend will be going there next year. It wasn’t on her radar screen, and she is done with applications. But I get it with the “type” that goes there, but wonder if that type is 30% or 40% or what % of the actual student body?
This thread I asked is interesting, because it leans very much toward Michigan State, while a similar thread a few years ago was all Pro-Boulder. Lots of opinions, and maybe a time factor has changed the outlook between these two schools?
The economy in Michigan is doing better than it is was a few years ago, so it is probably is just the random result of whatever posters decided to respond that day. Academically, the schools are similar, but I would pick CU. Even if you don’t ski, the the hiking, biking, rafting, etc. are awesome. On the other hand, Lansing is a dump.
I think your daughter will find a relatively diverse mix of students at CU Boulder (socio-economically). We live in Colorado, and many very middle-class local kids attend CU Boulder. It’s a large school with sports, school-spirit, clubs, etc., and is located in a great college town near the mountains. Not everybody skis, but people tend to be physically active (riding bikes, hiking, generally outdoorsy). I grew up in Boulder but live in a nearby city now … traffic is awful in Boulder, so I avoid it, but it is a very student friendly place. I think your daughter would easily fit in with the Boulder lifestyle and people coming from California.
My friend’s son is majoring in Political Science at CU Boulder and absolutely loves it.
California has the best state university system in the country, so I don’t understand why a Californian would seriously consider either of these out-of-state public universities. But between Boulder and Michigan State, I’d pick Boulder hands-down, if only because it has one of the best college towns and surrounding natural environments in the country.
FWIW, US News ranks Michigan State’s PS department 32nd and Boulder’s 45th.
Michigan State’s OOS rates are a few thousand dollars/year cheaper. Neither difference would make make inclined to choose Lansing over Boulder for one of my kids. As for the Greek scene, sports, etc., they are both huge schools where almost anyone should be able to find compatible people and activities.
CU has a huge subgroup of well-to-do Californians who come to Boulder either for the skiing or because they couldn’t get into a popular UC campus. And lots of OOS-ers from other areas of the country. And yes, lots of partiers. And stoners (recreational mj is legal in CO.)
As a Coloradan, I’ve met more than a few local kids who avoided Boulder for just that reason: too white, too preppy, too Greek, too well-to-do and not intellectual enough. But I’ve also met the other extreme – serious scholars, artsy-fartsy hippies and low-key non-party types – all of whom had a good experience at Boulder.
It’s a big school, after all. Big enough for anyone to find “their people” if they give it a solid chance.
Thanks.
@tk21769 - the top UC CA schools are only for the elite students - they don’t serve the general student population. So to get a top 5 UC, 3.9 and above, with exceptions of course. To get into a state school - CSU - so impacted that we are looking at 6 years to graduate. And the people who live near the CSU schools get first priority - that is - a person who lives in San Diego would get higher priority to SDSU than a person from San Francisco if they both had the same stats. This is why so many CA students have to go out of state.
Also, the PS department stats you pulled up are for grad school and not undergrad.
I think both CU and Michigan State are good schools - not the top but certainly respectable. Not everyone can go to a top school, which is where CC is a little bit skewed, but I still love it. We are still waiting to hear from two more state flagship schools as well. She wants big, so there are only so many schools out there that are huge.
@katliamom - glad to know all types can fit in. She is middle of the road everything.
@3mamagirls, she should be fine at Boulder - and Michigan State. One thing to consider, especially for a Californian: weather. Both have cold winters, but Colorado has way, way more sun. And the summers in Boulder aren’t as oppressive (no humidity or bugs) as they are in Michigan.