<p>^^^ Even worse, think about Miami University in Ohio.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard anyone refer to it as “UM” unless that’s shortened from “U of M” which I do hear people say. Where I grew up (about halfway between Detroit & Ann Arbor) it was "U of M’ so that’s what I generally say in the state and among people who are from Michigan. </p>
<p>When I’m talking to national people, I say I’m a Michigan student. I don’t think anyone’s confused it with MSU, but if they have that’s fine with me 
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<p>One of my daughter’s HS friends who was going to Michigan with her had always called it U of M but discovered she had been hearing it wrong when she wrote it “UFM” - we all got a laugh out of that after we figured it out! </p>
<p>Too funny ShanghaiMom. But yes, UofM if in Michigan or Michigan if not in Michigan.</p>
<p>I’m a senior at umich and originally from flint, MI. When I was in high school I always called it U of M. And after I actually started school here, I began referring to it as umich. </p>