Michigan State vs. University of Michigan

Student Lounge College Life
21

<p>Then it sounds to me like Michigan State is the right choice for you. If you wouldn’t be happy here you probably wouldn’t do as well here as at MSU, and a high GPA from MSU is better than a crappy one here. I tried to convince myself to go to MSU instead because it’s somewhat cheaper, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Plus I know for a fact that their disabilities office is GOD AWFUL for my particular disorder, there is a pending law suit on the matter. Michigan, in my opinion, handles learning disabilities much better. But if you’re not disabled it sounds like you’d be fine there. XD</p>

<p>On the dorm note, I am in a double that is 14x19-- and it’s a corner so it has two windows, and it used to be a triple so there are three closets for just my roommate and I. Some of the dorms are pretty closet-like (I hear Markley is really small?), but there are some really nice ones too. I haven’t seen any dorms yet in West/South/East Quad that are worth complaining about. But the dorms aren’t a big deal as long as you can sleep-- and if you aren’t into the city feel you may not appreciate hearing the bus drive by your room every 14 minutes. I really wouldn’t let dorms sway your decision unless there is something particularly atrocious about either one.</p>

22

<p>Yes everything about MSU is so much more appealing but Michigan is just so much better than state when it comes to their rankings. I wish State was right up there with their academics. It’s just that i don’t want to make the choice of going to a fun school right now and have awesome 3 years but then regret it for the rest of my life because a degree from Michigan might be able to take me to better places. Also my parents will probably have more pride bragging about me attending Michigan to all their friends and relatives.</p>

23

<p>Forget about your parents pride, that does not matter in the end. They will be proud of you either way and if they wouldn’t be that’s on account of their own shortcomings, not yours. I know people who have graduated from State and done well, it is still a respected school. I also know people who have graduated from Michigan who still don’t have jobs. While Michigan may be ahead in the rankings, I don’t think the difference is SO broad that rank alone would make a huge difference in most fields. I think you could accomplish a lot and put together quite a resume by graduation at State if you work hard, and if you are happy there it will be so much easier to do that. State offers many opportunities to its students that could put you ahead. I truly think if you work hard enough at State you could still beat out a lot of Michigan students.</p>

<p>I LOVE it at Michigan. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is where I am MEANT to be, this is the best place I could have possibly put myself. I hope you don’t find you have to miss out on that feeling just over the difference between UM and MSU.</p>

24

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s not going to matter where you go, because if that’s your attitude, your degree will be worth toilet paper whether it’s from Harvard or Panhandle State…</p>

25

<p>oh yeah, can anyone say…Ann Arbor?</p>

26

<p>

</p>

<p>There is a great deal of misinformation in these lines. Could you please justify these statements, or retract them?</p>

27

<p>To follow up my last post:</p>

<ul>
<li>I’m not familiar with MSU’s undergrad research options, but U of M’s are extensive. The UROP program ([Undergraduate</a> Research Opportunity Program | The University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.umich.edu/~urop]Undergraduate”>http://www.umich.edu/~urop)) is accessible to all undergrads. There are more than 700 projects as part of the program, and thousands of undergraduate students participate in the program every year. It is one of the most extensive undergraduate research programs in the country. </li>
</ul>

<p>Of course, there are also extensive research opportunities beyond the UROP program. Each major has sets of independent research classes that allow students to work with professors of their choice. Thousands more students take advantage. I have worked with one of the top profs in my field for the past year.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>U of M’s courses are essentially exclusively taught by full professors. Less than 2% of the courses here are taught by TAs. I am a senior here. I have never taken a course taught by a TA. Neither has anyone else I know of. </p></li>
<li><p>U of M has a residential college, also for arts and humanities. You can find out more information about it here: [The</a> RC - University of Michigan Residential College](<a href=“Residential College | U-M LSA”>http://www.rc.lsa.umich.edu/)</p></li>
<li><p>U of M has among the most extensive list of student clubs and activities of any schools in the country. Here’s a list: [Clubs</a>, Sports, & Greek Life | University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.umich.edu/clubs.php]Clubs”>http://www.umich.edu/clubs.php)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>There are about 250 activities listed there. These are all affiliated with the college itself. There are about another 100-200 unofficial clubs on campus. I find it hard to believe that MSU has far more than 350-450 clubs and activities, but if this is the case it would be nice to have some evidence. I wasn’t able to find a page with MSU activities - could you link me to one?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This is unfortunately a stereotype. Stereotypes of typical MSU students as drunk, unmotivated slobs abound. Both stereotypes are flawed, so it would be nice if you could retract this as well.</p>

28

<p>

</p>

<p>Engineering isn’t a single major. It consists of multiple majors, and U of M is excellent in each discipline. Having 7 or 8 excellent engineering programs is in some overall sense better than having a single superior political science program. However, I don’t agree with your statement that MSU far out-ranks U of M. Could you link to those rankings where it does? From the first page of google searches, I saw:</p>

<p>In [Top</a> Programs in Political Science](<a href=“http://www.postmaterial.org/collegerankings/politicalsci.php]Top”>http://www.postmaterial.org/collegerankings/politicalsci.php), U of M has the #3 poli sci program. MSU is at #27.</p>

<p>In [Top</a> Colleges for Political Science Majors In 2009 - The Best PoliSci Departments, Schools & Programs](<a href=“GoDaddy Corporate Domains - Protected”>GoDaddy Corporate Domains - Protected), where the top 15 schools are discussed, U of M is at #4. MSU is not ranked. MSU is not among the top 15.</p>

29

<p>

</p>

<p>Like I noted in the post before this one, this is not true.</p>

30

<p>MSU has over 500 registered student organizations: [Department</a> of Student Life | Michigan State University](<a href=“http://www.studentlife.msu.edu/current_students/rso/orgs.htm]Department”>http://www.studentlife.msu.edu/current_students/rso/orgs.htm)</p>

31

<p>
[quoteIt’s not going to matter where you go, because if that’s your attitude, your degree will be worth toilet paper whether it’s from Harvard or Panhandle State…
[/quote]
</p>

<p>It’s not about my attitude, i’ve been told by many people that many employers single out all the applicants with degrees from top schools and take them into consideration first. So when i’m looking for a job, i’ll get better recognition by employers by having a degree from michigan as oppose to state, cause they might not even look at my resume after seeing i graduated from state. Especially when they can rather have people from Michigan, uPenn, Purdue etc.</p>

32

<p>FORCIER! Freaken stud he is!</p>

33

<p>Tetrahedr0n, here’s my response to your inquiries. You did bring up a pretty good point though…while many MSU students aren’t drunken unmotivated slobs, many UofM students aren’t necessarily elitist jerks either. To be honest, I like both schools and would definitely consider UofM for grad school. However I can’t help but defend the awesome programs my school offers…</p>

<p>MSU has more undergraduate research opportunities than UMich by far.</p>

<p>~I wouldn’t necessarily say this. But UofM as a university does tend to focus more on its far superior graduate program, while MSU does have more resources focused on undergraduate students. MSU has an online directory database designed specifically for undergrad research opportunities, paid and unpaid. There are freshmen seminars for research projects. Through the honors college you can take also take undergrad research courses for credit. We also have professorial assistantships for students that are awarded to incoming freshmen with specific gpas/test scores among other opportunities. </p>

<p>MSU has undergrad classes that are actually taught by professors, most at UMich are taught by TAs.</p>

<p>~I also don’t know how to back this statement up…don’t know enough about either school’s teachers. But both schools, due to their large size may encounter the “problem” of TAs. The couple of TAs I’ve encountered at MSu are actually great though. </p>

<p>MSU has one of the best study abroad programs in the country.</p>

<p>~This is an undisputed fact. We have the largest study abroad program in the US, with 200+ programs, 60+ countries and from every continent including Antarctica. </p>

<p>MSU has residential colleges (like the one I’m in for arts & humanities) which simply cannot compare to anything that UMich has. </p>

<p>~This single residential college at UofM IS NOTHING like the Residential colleges at MSU. NOTHING. The one at UofM seems to be more of a language immersion program more than anything. At MSU, there are 3 residential colleges - 1 for arts/humanities, 1 for public/international affairs (politics), and 1 for natural science (covering engineering, math, and all pre-med disciplines). All freshmen take specific classes that pertain to the residential college, live in the same building, have classes in the building of residence, have professors offices in the dorm they live in, no teacher’s aides ever, a “student senate” of sorts that helps run the residential college and sets up countless events for residential college members, and the courses offered are significantly more challenging than the average courseload. (I could go on and on). </p>

<p>MSU has far more clubs and organizations than UMich. </p>

<p>~as Octopi said, we have 500+ organizations that are registered and countless more that are unregistered. That’s a lot more than 200+. </p>

<p>In Top Programs in Political Science, U of M has the #3 poli sci program. MSU is at #27.</p>

<p>In Top Colleges for Political Science Majors In 2009 - The Best PoliSci Departments, Schools & Programs, where the top 15 schools are discussed, U of M is at #4. MSU is not
ranked. MSU is not among the top 15. </p>

<p>~The MSU political science department is one thing. The residential college for public/international affairs (james madison college) is completely different. The program is unranked (although the US news rankings mentioned MSU as one of the top universities for its living-learning communities). but it is guaranteed one of the best programs you can possibly get into with its countless networking and undergrad research opportunities. James madison college has 4 majors within - international relations, comparative cultures/politics, social relations/policy and political theory/constitutional democracy. UofM doesn’t even offer international relations as a major, only as a concentration so it really depends on where your interests lie.</p>

34

<p>UM has a top 5 b-school and a top 10 engineering program. Also, in general, UM has better sports teams. And, as another poster mentioned, we have Tate Freaking Forcier.</p>

35

<p>

</p>

<p>What? Maybe historically, but not lately.</p>

36

<p>If you plan on leaving the state of Michigan than U of M is exceptionally stronger than MSU. It’s programs are FAR better ranked and Michigan is able to attract similar professors as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago and the like. Your peers will be significantly more academically inclined and successful, and also more diverse. Compared to outside the midwest, both Michigan and MSU students are very laid back. And Ann Arbor as a college town has much more to offer than East Lansing. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, Michigan is a national/international institution, and MSU is a standard state school, no better or worse than the X State University of anywhere else.</p>

37

<p>Really diontechristmas? MSU only has a better basketball team. And we still have a top 15-20 basketball team. MSU is nowhere close in hockey and baseball. And UM is better in football too.</p>

38

<p>“It’s programs are FAR better ranked and Michigan is able to attract similar professors as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago and the like. Your peers will be significantly more academically inclined and successful, and also more diverse.”</p>

<p>Michigan State has fantastic professors. Right now one of my best friends is working for a professor who is visiting from Yale university. Why would anyone who teaches at Yale University want to come to MSU? Well we must not be that terrible. Look at any of the professors’ Curriculum vitaes and all of them graduated from awesome schools (All of the ivy league schools and University of Michigan included). My science teacher said it best - he teaches 1 semester at Oxford University, and 1 semester at Michigan State university each year - Michigan State University students are just as capable and just as intelligent as Oxford University students. No lie. </p>

<p>And as for the claim that MSU is not a “national/international” institution," what standard state university would have a cooperative collaboration of students through a study abroad program between Cornell University, 2 Mexican universities and MSU? We must be a pretty nice school to ever consult with those high-and-mighty ivy league Cornell students right? I can come up with more examples if you’d like. </p>

<p>As I’ve said before you UofM fans can argue all you want that your school is far superior to mine in every way, shape or form. But that is simply not true. I’m not just a bitter MSU student who didn’t get into UofM and is trying to make up for it by displaying my “inferiority complex.” I am a student who willingly chose to go to MSU/its honors college despite the “party school” reputation and am 1000x better off for it. More than anything I’d argue that it is not the school that defines where you will be going in life. It is what you do at the school that matters. Finally, when it comes to school recognition yes, UofM does have significantly more clout outside of Michigan. However, how important is school recognition really? Most people don’t even end up with jobs even remotely related to their school majors. What about grad. school? Grad. school is becoming increasingly important nowadays, and your undergrad schooling is only one step of the way. And while school recognition may help getting you your 1st big job out of college, that is the ONLY time that it will be important. After, it is your job experience that matters far above the rest.</p>

39

<p>Thanks for all the help everyone and special thanks to fla-lena
I think the right school for me is MSU and that’s where i need to be. I will go on campus visit to both schools just one more time to ensure the right school for myself. If i do decide to go for law school which i most likely will, then Michigan will probably be my first choice when it comes to public schools.</p>

40

<p>

</p>

<p>No you dont.</p>