<p>Now that it is getting close to decision time, I really have to start considering my options. Regardless of what other schools I get into, Michigan is one of my top choices, but I have a few concerns about the school.
-Is it really that big? I mean I know that it is big, one of the biggest schools in the country, but does it feel that big. Will I feel very insignificant at the school?
-Do they even really have academic advising? With as many students that attend Michigan is it even possible to get any personal attention? Will I just be considered a number at Michigan?
-Can I get into the business school without making it preferred-admit? (I didn't get rejected from preferred admission yet but I am not incredibly optimistic).
-Is it that cold at Michigan? I really don't like cold weather, but I am from New Jersey so I am used to it. Can anyone tell me if it is that much colder than New Jersey and if the winter is that much longer?</p>
<p>Please no hostile responses, I actually really like Michigan, I just have a lot of concerns about every school I applied to. Any responses are much appreciated, thanks in advance.</p>
<p>1) Although Michigan is huge, it actually feels much smaller than it is. I attribute this to several factors. First of all, the campus layout is highly efficient. Secondly, Michigan is so wealthy, it can afford a huge faculty, which generally means relatively small classes. Of course, like all major research universities, you are going to have some classes with 300+ students. But in general, especially once you hit Sophomore year, most of your classes will have fewer than 50 students.</p>
<p>2) Academic advising at Michigan isn't good. I am sorry to say this is one area where Michigan can really improve. That is not to say that academic advising at Michigan is horrible, but it just isn't where it should be. That is not unusual at top research universities mind you. Most top research schools, Harvard included, are not known for academic advising.</p>
<p>3) You can definitely transfer into Ross once at Michigan. It is recommended that you maintain a high (over 3.5) GPA and take the pre-requisite classes. But if you do so, you have a decent shot.</p>
<p>4) Michigan is colder than New Jersey, but we aren't talking night and day differences. I'd say Michigan is about 5 degrees colder on average.</p>
<p>Now that I got waitlisted from one of the two schools I had previously ranked above Michigan, Michigan is starting to become more of a possibility. So does anyone else have any advice on going to Michigan? Also does anyone have any advice on the best place to dorm?</p>
<p>For dorms, it's really a matter of what you're looking for in college. Studious, nerdier types enjoy South Quad because of the honors scene. Artsy kids love East Quad and people of all types fit into MoJo. Avoid Markley and Alice Lloyd because of the preponderance of loud drunk Long Island girls running through the halls four nights a week. Markley is also a disease-infested hole.</p>
<p>Anyway, LS&A advising is pretty bad here. Concentration advising is quite good though. Use the advisors within your major once you declare. There really is a lack of help for undergrads here. Michigan sorely needs to work on that area. You don't feel like a number once you hit junior-level classes in most majors.</p>
<p>
[quote]
First of all, the campus layout is highly efficient.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What you call efficient, I call... scattered. They're not all in one place, but it's not THAT bad.</p>
<p>UM's a good school, though. I can't give you really great answers to your first three questions, since I don't go to UM (although I'm considering it.) Michigan weather is... michigan weather. "If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes." Winter isn't so bad, get yourself a warm coat, and you'll be fine. We get about two or three significant snows, but usually it's okay. This january was actually really warm. Like, 50 degrees out warm. Which was weird.</p>
<p>Ann Arbor's great, too. Everyone who comes out of state says they love it.</p>
<ol>
<li>it really feels like a big school, its a town of college students. </li>
<li><p>Advising is non-existent, nobody really takes what the advisers say seriously, for one, they don't know anything and two, they don't really care about you. The career center is equally bad, offers nothing outside of their website.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm from New York, its definitely colder than New York here. There aren't many buildings around, so the wind is a lot stronger.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Be prepared to go through some mental struggles if u come here, but overall, it makes you stronger.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Michigan isn't one of the biggest schools in the country--I get so surprised when I see people real that factoid off. I know that's the perception out there, but there are a lot of schools bigger than Michigan. </p></li>
<li><p>Advising has never been Michigan's strong suit. You have to make some efforts here. Here's one tip: be incredibly kind and decent to every secretary and administrative assistant you meet. Michigan is a really decentralized place, which means even people fairly low down on the totem pole have a lot of leeway. These people can make life easier for you--so turn on the charm and treat them with respect. Also, if you don't like the answer you get, try someone else. (this is not just in regard to advising and getting into courses--it fits for many things).</p></li>
<li><p>It's anybody's bet. Ross is a really popular, sought-after option, so competition is always tough.</p></li>
<li><p>It's cold, which sucks, but we all deal with it. I don't think you're not going to be shocked if you come from NJ, however. We're not THAT different climatologically.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>hoedown, you're absolutely correct in saying that there are a number of universities that are much bigger than Michigan but the kids here are drawing comparisons between Michigan and other schools they are also considering, such as the Ivies, MIT and other private research universities. If that assumption is correct, Michigan is much, much larger. It honestly doesn't feel that large until you walk into the academic advising offices, however! ;-)</p>
<p>I really liked hoedown's advice to prospectives about advising... because it's true. It sucks to have to grovel to secretaries and people who are much dumber than you, quite frankly, to get the attention and help that you need. If you do establish and maintain some connections within advising, they can be really helpful in terms of waitlists, recommendation letters and talking to professors on your behalf. I agree with Nyao however, don't take their advice. </p>
<p>Otherwise, the weather sucks. New England winters are just as cold and bitter but we have it rough in that our winter lasts longer. </p>
<p>A number of my friends were accepted to Ross. I read personal statements for them and know at least 9 people who were accepted and there were definite trends. Maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 but remember that mediocre grades in pre-requisites will really hurt even if you have a high GPA. You must make A's in at least two pre-requisites to be really competitive. Most people will make their A's in Econ 101 and 102 and take their hit in accounting. If you make an A in accounting 271, that is a HUGE trump card in admissions as long as your GPA is within the 3.4-3.7 range. I have friends who made A's in accounting 271 but were dinged because of otherwise mediocre grades (3.0-3.3). Make sure you have at least a B in accounting, though. Anything below that will hurt badly.</p>
<p>Structure your curriculum wisely. People arrive with the misconception that they should take very easy classes and just work on their pre-requisites. This strategy leaves a lot of people waitlisted. A large percentage of successful applicants also showed high grades in Econ 401 (Intermediate micro) on their transcripts. If you've had AP Micro and Macro and are thinking about starting with 401, it's a really bad idea in that virtually everyone who arrived with AP econ credit said that Michigan intro econ was a completely different ballgame. High grades in classes such as Calc II-IV and Introduction to Stats and Probability (Stats 350) are also good as they show that you have a strong analytical foundation. I have friends who were doing LS&A degrees in computer science or who were pre-med, so they had taken organic chemistry, p-chem, physiology and the like. Applicants who have demonstrated proficiency in science and math are accepted in very large percentages because the B-school knows that they'll tear up the curriculum. If you're interested in humanities and social science classes to supplement your app, psychology and foreign languages such as Spanish or Japanese are really great.</p>
<p>I like having my advice seconded, but this bummed me out:</p>
<p>
[quote]
It sucks to have to grovel to secretaries and people who are much dumber than you, quite frankly, to get the attention and help that you need.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ouch. I think it sounds elitist and, frankly, it goes against the spirit of the advice I offered. Holding the attitude that they're "much dumber than you" and that asking them for their expertise and assistance is "groveling," is not very respectful. I suspect that kind of "I can't believe I have to rely on this lesser being for advice" attitude is going to reveal the insincerity of your good manners.</p>
<p>The department secretary may not be a nuclear physicist, but it's not a fair bet that they're "much dumber" than all the students. Furthermore, some of the stuff they know, such as how to cut through paperwork, red tape, and professorial schedules, is utterly invaluable. In grad school I had my butt saved more than once by an admin with savvy instincts.</p>
<p>I didn't mean to turn this into a lecture, but the comment was really disappointing. My advice meant I think students would be wise to recognize these people for the valuable helpers they can be.</p>
<p>Edit: I should form some coherent thoughts about hoedown's response.</p>
<p>Okay, the reason why I appeared so condescending is because these people are dumb in that they cannot do their job well. Their duty is to help people navigate through college and when they make assumptions about one's abilities, have no idea about how graduate school admissions work, tell people they're "dead wood" or "not good enough to hack it," or are discouraging and closed to a person's valid concerns, I can't feel any respect for them but I can be respectful. That's what I was telling those people to do. Stupidity is not measured by lack of advanced degrees and intelligence conversely cannot be measured by the number of them. I'd have been an incredibly shallow and misguided person to think so. I do feel that stupidity can be gauged by competence and insight to a certain extent and these people are obstinately lacking in both. That's why I used the word "stupid." My own grandparents weren't even college-educated and I consider them some of the most astute and intelligent people I know. Stupid is as stupid does.</p>
<p>I see where you're coming from. When you encounter people who are bad at their jobs and give poor advice, I can imagine it is pretty frustrating to have to continue to rely on them, defer to them, and have to ask them for advice and assistance. </p>
<p>My advice (and my viewpoint) was coming from a perspective of thinking about support staff at Michigan a lot more broadly--counselors in financial aid; secretaries in departments; staffers in student services offices, etc. I think many students are unaware how far sincerity, friendliness, and respect shown towards these souls can go towards smoothing one's path when getting through the administrivia of Michigan. </p>
<p>I thought you were lumping all these folk into the "dumber than you" category. I'm glad to know you were not.</p>