Of those three fascinating schools, which do you think is the best?
describe academically, social life, professors, campus beauty, schedule, rules, etc…
…personally I am doing premed…?
<p>Notre Dame is very conservative and religious. Although it is an active social life and tons of school spirit, the school tends to "watch over" the students a little too much IMO, with dorm curfews, no boys allowed in girl's dorms, etc. The religion of the school is also kind of in-your-face, with huge murals and statues of Jesus everywhere.</p>
<p>Michigan is the largest of the schools you listed, which means more opportunities but also less personal attention. Which do you value more? Answering this question will help you decide if you want a large school (Michigan, with 20,000+ undergrads) or a smaller one (Vanderbilt, with 6,000 undergrads). ND is inbetween with around 10,000. Michigan probably offers the most traditional undergrad experience, with a relaxed administration, a lovely college town, sports events every weekend, a huge alumni network.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is my personal favorite, but is also my first choice school. :) The campus is a national arboretum, and the school is well-known for its lively social life and it's work hard play hard attitude. Frats and sororities are big--if you aren't interested (at least in partying at them), you might not be interested in Vandy. </p>
<p>That's my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Notre Dame is in the middle of nowhere, Michigan is too big, Vandy has hot girls .</p>
<p>when you said hot girls, that really touched me in a way. Well why does a christian school like ND get a lot of respect and love. If it targets this homogenous religious quota, how does it rank so high?</p>
<p>ND has a gorgeous campus- great buildings, facilities. The faculty is, for the most part, wonderful and their food is top-notch. Guys can go into the girl dorms and girls into the guys. I believe that after curfew (which is quite late- look it up on their website), the opposite sex can still be in the dorm lounge area. Religion is not as pervasive as people say. I know quite a few non-Christians, both students and staff, who are very happy at ND. Go visit and discover ND yourself!</p>
<p>My vote goes towards Michigan. Excellent academics (most well-rounded of any university), excellent social life and great athletics. The best undergrad experience of the three.</p>
<p>I've visited all three of them - ND was far and away the best. Like most people, I had the wrong impression of ND before I visited. I thought it was going to be an ultra-conservative, ultra-religious place, and I only decided to visit because it was on the way from Michigan to Illinois. If you are interested, you really need to visit when school is in session to get a feel for it.</p>
<p>My S will be starting his 2nd year at ND. He didn't even apply to UofM even tho it would have meant in-state tuition. On a visit to the ND campus, the atmosphere made the difference for him. The students don't want to go home; can't wait to get back. My S & his friends have been counting the days till they go back - countdown started a week or so after he got home. And it doesn't really matter that it's "in the middle of nowhere." No one wants to leave anyway! There's plenty to do on campus. I haven't seen much of South Bend other than the campus; we stayed in Mishawaka just a couple miles from the school. I was surprised at how much that area has grown. It's not like ND is in the middle of miles & miles of cornfields! And Chicago is a fairly short trip if you need a big-city fix.</p>
<p>If I had to pick, I'd go to Michigan. Others are too conservative. But to each his own.</p>
<p>If you have enough guts to apply to those schools. I think you should consider Washington U of St. Louis. It not only has one of the best med programs but it's a spectacular school - with a goregous campus.</p>
<p>But if you're considering which one to pick out of those three. I'd say Michigan. If you read the Wallstreet Journal's rankings for colleges that get the most into elite Med schools - Michigan hits higher than the other two.</p>
<p>Certainly to each his own. I live within a 2 hour drive of both U of M and Notre Dame. Both are excellent schools and you could go far with either. Winter weather is about the same - bundle up! If I remember correctly, something like 80% of ND med school applicants get into their first choice school. I don't know the numbers for U of M. ND is NOT overly conservative, NOT overly religious - don't discount it on those reasons - visit and see for yourself. You could see both schools on 1 trip.</p>