<p>I have been hearing on from other boards/threads that since Michigan is a research university, professors tend to care a lot more about research and publications than teaching. One of the things I look for most out of a college is the quality of the professors and how much they care for the educational needs of a student. Is it true that professors at Michigan keep research as a higher priority? I've been hearing how excellent Michigan faculty is even compared to many selective schools (Hopkins and Northwestern for example). For anyone who has attended Michigan or is currently attending, please help me iron out this misconception. Thanks.</p>
<p>yeah, i think a lot of umich professors think research is more important, just from what i've heard from my friends who go there. a lot of them are good teachers though, and there are some relatively small classes. Michigan faculty are really impressive too at research.</p>
<p>Michigan professors are definitely big on research. But no more or no less than professors at other major research universities. I would not worry too much about it. I took 45 classes at Michigan. All of them were taught by professors and most of my professors liked teaching, knew me on a first name basis and genuinely cared about their students. But at major research universities like Johns Hopkins, Chicago, Michigan, Harvard etc..., it is important for the student to take initiative. You cannot just sit on your behind and expect professors to make a move. Professors are very busy.</p>
<p>I think UM is far better for grad students than undergrads.</p>
<p>Alice, that is true...but the same can be said of MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Penn, Cornell, Columbia etc. The only exception among research universities are Rice, Dartmouth, Brown and maybe Princeton (depending on departments).</p>
<p>Alexandre is correct that at most major research universities most professors care more about research than teaching. (Of the 19 colleges listed in CC Top Universities, I have taught at 4 of them, been tenured at one of them, and guest lectured or given faculty workshops at 14 of them, in addition to 5 of the 8 Ivies; so I've seen a lot of good faculties up close. Research matters a lot to faculty members.) </p>
<p>As Alexandre notes, I think it's a little better at Princeton, Dartmouth, and Brown because they traditionally had smaller grad schools.</p>
<p>But if you want a pretty strong faculty devoted mostly to teaching, then you should consider the smaller colleges (Wesleyan, Grinnell, Carleton, etc.).</p>
<p>Research is critical to a faculty member for getting tenure and being in touch with her or her field. Very critical at a place like Michigan. That's a fact of life. It doesn't necessarily mean that faculty give undergraduates the shaft. Some do, of course. But there are some great faculty at Michigan who are dedicated to teaching.</p>
<p>It's a possible tradeoff you have to weigh when you choose a large prestigious university. Lots of research means lots of research and lots of resources. That's great. But it can also mean that some faculty aren't very oriented towards undergraduate education. Like Merry Xmas noted, if someone felt that a sole emphasis on undergraduate education is critical, then they'd want to look towards smaller liberal arts colleges, and some focused comprehensive universities. There is a tradeoff there, too, because they may not be as well known, may not have the same resources, won't draw the same sorts of cultural events, speakers, etc. as a research university. </p>
<p>You can't have it all, but most students find what they need wherever they go, and make it work.</p>
<p>There's lots of good research opportunities there/tons of great profs, but there are also waayy too many undergraduates...for everyone to feel like they're getting decent amounts of attn paid to them all the time...ugrads are important but it's hard to tell.</p>
<p>That is something I actually enjoyed about Michigan. I did not feel like a high school student. The professors were always there for me when I needed them, but I really had to learn self-reliance and initiative-taking.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys. You really cleared up my misconceptions. :)</p>