<p>Which would be better? This is purely hypothetical as I was not offered admission to the honors program. I was off by 5% class rank wise, and this is only because I go to an extremely competitive and smart school. I could make it during my freshman year. </p>
<p>Also, I would be intended pre-med.</p>
<p>Oh, and I forgot to say that MSU is cheaper by about 7000.</p>
<p>Well I am a Michigan resident who will be attending the University of Iowa this fall. I have done extensive research into both schools. MSU has a great honors program, and many of the students at my school will be attending MSU next year, some offered honors as well. Michigan State University would be a better choice.
I’m not really concern about your personal preference as both schools are similar socially with a large proportion of students from the state of Michigan.</p>
<p>My goodness coolbreeze, you just CANNOT recommend UMich. MSU the clear choice over Michigan? For someone on the pre-med track? Yikes! As I’m sure the OP knows, med schools look at numbers. If you can cut it at UMich, our med school placement is better. However, MSU is easier so better grades would be not as much of a challenge.</p>
<p>If the student is going to have to borrow $7k per year to attend UMich as a pre-med student, then he’s better off going to MSU. </p>
<p>Kirtip…</p>
<p>How would either school get paid for? If your parents are paying full for either school, can you ask if they’ll help with med school if you go with the less expensive option?</p>
<p>If you’re having to take out loans to go to UMich, then don’t go there. You’ll need to save your borrowing power for med school.</p>
<p>Hattrick-</p>
<p>“MSU is easier so better grades would be not as much of a challenge.”
How do you know this? Have you attended both schools? taken the same classes at both and can compare professors and their grading systems?</p>
<p>I am always amazed how students know it all, especially, when it is about rival schools!</p>
<p>I am even more amazed that an 18 year old who has lived in the state of Michigan his whole life has never ventured the 70 or so miles from Lansing to Ann Arbor to check out another university.</p>
<p>crazed-</p>
<p>First of all, UMich and MSU are athletic rivals. To say they are academic rivals would be a great complement to the Spartan nation. </p>
<p>Secondly, it is no secret that Michigan is better than State. This fact often hurts feelings but is generally acknowledged. To tell me I need to sit in a Bio 100 class at both universities before I can adequately compare the two is silly. How do I know Harvard is better than the University of Nebraska? Have I sat in on classes at both universities? No, but one is Harvard and the other is Nebraska. Same situation here. Is this fueled by a silly athletic rivalry? Nah, just years and years and years of academic excellence. </p>
<p>If you have any more questions about higher education, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Hattrick-</p>
<p>“MSU is easier so better grades would be not as much of a challenge”
What are you basing this on?
How do you know Bio 100 is easier at MSU than UM? How do you knoe about the challenges or either at each school?</p>
<p>UM’s ranking is higher than MSU but that does not mean MSU has easier grading system or that you will learn less, etc…</p>
<p>Yes, rival schools in sports. But also rival schools to anyone living in Michigan.</p>
<p>To think that MSU is subpar is nonsense.</p>
<p>UM v VaTech? Did you know who is setting up the new engineering dept at UM? A staff member and her grad students from VT (of which my friends son is one.)</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone is disputing that UM is a great school. It is. But to think other schools are not up to standard is ridiculous. You can get a great education at many, many schools and I know numerous successful individuals, most who did not graduate from the top 10 ranked schools. The two most successful (salary-wise) individuals I know (friends) do not have college degrees (and one is from and lives in Michgan).</p>
<p>People on this forum get very sensitive when two schools are compared. I am very well aware of the quality education that MSU provides. My father and both of my brothers attended (until one brother transferred out as soon as he could address the envelopes). I don’t understand what world we are in where all institutions are created equal and all classes are just as hard. Can I quantify the differences? I suppose I can’t. But Michigan is regarded as the better (and yes, harder) institution. So I guess I feel like this is a fair conclusion to jump to. As for VaTech, not quite sure the relevance. This is not a matter of which institution will make someone more successful because I fully believe that the college one attends is about as valuable as the suit you wear to the interview, when everything gets boiled down. But in terms of difficulty and quality, they don’t call us the “leaders and best” simply because it fits well into the fight song.</p>
<p>Hattrick</p>
<p>Again- can you explain this:</p>
<p>“MSU is easier so better grades would be not as much of a challenge”</p>
<p>FYI- A few years back, the New York Times ran an article on Harvard where the students commented/complained that it did not matter how they did on tests/classes as all the teachers gave A’s (Guess it would look poorly if a Harvard grad had a GPA that was not top notch and employers/grad schools may frown on it. They’d all rather have the 4.0 students.) Interesting, as you’d think it would be harder to get an a at Harvard than at MSU or UM!!</p>
<p>What is your affiliation/relationship with MSU? The only evidence I have that MSU is easier is anecdotal (and I know what that means on this site). But in the state of Michigan, MSU is understood to be easier. If you’re looking for stats, we both know none exist. </p>
<p>As far as relevant information to the OP, UMich has better med school placement. This is a fact. If you can do well at UMich, you will be rewarded.</p>
<p>As a resident, UM is the way to go (unless someone has strong feelings for MSU). </p>
<p>For OOS, MSU rewards great stats and will give OOS the IS tuition and many great perks and competition for more money. UM as far as I know offers no merit scholarships to OOS. </p>
<p>Anyone can do well at both and succeed in chosen career. Certainly, UM is very highly regarded, but MSU is a fantastic school with great academics, research, sports… Michigan residents are very fortunate to have these two schools (as well as larger, lesser known state U’s.)</p>
<p>Good luck to all, no matter which school they are at.</p>
<p>MSU honors for pre-med is better than UM.</p>
<p>
I agree, curious on OP’s decision; wouldn’t be surprise if it was either or.</p>
<p>
Really? The College of Engineering is setting up a new engineering department? What kind of engineering is that?</p>
<p>“To tell me I need to sit in a Bio 100 class at both universities before I can adequately compare the two is silly.”</p>
<p>Actually, the BS111 class I am currently taking at MSU is insanely difficult. It might be the section I’m in but the professor is a Princeton phd and boy, does he like to challenge us. Our exam averages are around 52%. I looked at some BIO 172 exams from U of M (one of my very good friends goes there and he let me compare), and I honestly would say, from first hand experience, his exams were easier. Again, it may be the section I’m in, but your claim is a bit arrogant. This is coming from a guy that is most likely transferring to U of M for their superior engineering program, so I am not some biased fan boy. </p>
<p>Oh, and by the way, I’m in honors calculus II right now at MSU, and again, I compared the exams from here to some Math 156 exams at U of M and ours are just as difficult. I don’t know about the homework but from what I can see from exams, honors MSU can be just as cognitively stimulating. Thought I’d just butt in.</p>
<p>Kaijuman-
That is exactly the point. You know from experience where the other poster just thinks UM is so superior in every way but can not back up his statements.</p>
<p>Engineering- My friends son is doing is Masters Program at VT. He’s a Penn State grad. The masters program involves research (not sure if he is a TA.) He’s finishing his thesis/project and he and others were asked by their adviser in the engineering dept to go with her to UM this past fall, where she was hired to start a new engin. program. Unsure of which type of engineering he was in…</p>
<p>
Oh, so U-M is not starting a new engineering department after all. Looks like this lady from Virginia Tech is a new-hire professor and she is inviting her current thesis students to follow her to U-M to finish their thesises … pretty standard procedures.</p>
<p>Maybe she is involved with this?:</p>
<p>[GM</a>, University of Michigan announce new Automotive Research Institute — Autoblog Green](<a href=“Autoblog Sitemap”>Autoblog Sitemap)</p>