Sorry if this hits a nerve.

<p>Right now im trying to decide between IU and Mich. I'm going to major in history. An underlying concern that has been brought to my attention by my guidence counselor is the "intellectuality" of the students at both universities. I myself love to have a good time, party, etc. Clearly this is possible at nearly every school nevermind IU and Mich . My concern comes down to the type of student. 90% of Mich's student body comes from the top 10% of their highschool class, while at IU a relatively small 25%. I'm worried that at IU I'll find too many kids who don't want to go to class, act very immature, or are simply stupid. Now, not that these kinds of students don't exsist at Mich, but I tend to believe there may be more at IU given the prior statistic. Can someone clear this up. *Objectively and honestly as possible.
Thanks</p>

<p>Let us begin by asking are you top 10%? Are you having a Groucho Marx
moment?</p>

<p>I am in the top 10%</p>

<p>recap - My D applied to 15 schools (she was going for a highly competitive major with a 85% chance of rejection). Other than the Naval Academy or BYU there was hardly a school I researched where "someone" didn't label the school a "party" school. There are going to be 18 yr olds at every school when finally sprung from the watchful eyes of their parents and surrounded by kegs of beer that are going to party. There are also going to be kids that worked their butts off to get high GPA, ACT and take gruesome AP classes and tests and aren't going to blow it by getting kicked out of college. </p>

<p>I would suspect UMich and IU have both types. And that each type will gravitate to one another according to the proverbial "birds of a feather". Stepping back to a larger picture we are not talking Junior college here. We are talking about UNIVERSITIES - costing for many over $36,000 year. The likelihood of pursuing a party lifestyle with suffering grades for very long doesn't seem likely - either the parents or the university I would imagine will see to that as the grades roll in. </p>

<p>I also think with 25,000 applicants and the competitiveness of this year's pool you may be underestimating the general populace next year. I met a graduate of IU while at a trip to Bloomington who couldn't get into one of the graduate programs because he just missed the necessary 3.7 or 3.8 GPA.</p>

<p>My 2 cents...</p>

<p>If you are an Indiana resident, then it is not worth the extra $20,000 per year to attend Michigan. IU is well respected in humanities and fine arts. You will get an outstanding education in history at IU.</p>

<p>Mich will be ~45 and IU will be ~30-35</p>

<p>I visited last week and I was not impressed. I asked the students if they had jobs lined up (they're graduating in 1 month) and 7 of 10 didn't. I saw plenty kids walking in pajamas and robes to the student union.
I saw plenty "good student type" as well. The college town is big but filled with bars.
being from the South, I was turned off by how many white people were in the campus, it lacks diversity. I like diversity a lot, different cultures represented. I think UMich will offer you more of that.
Sorry about my frank opinion, but it is my 2 cents</p>

<p>i visited last year and got a similar feeling. i wasnt at mich long enough to gauge the student body.</p>

<p>Some people will not agree with my statement, but oh well. Either way,....you'd be crazy not to go to UMich instead of IU. Yes, I know, IU is a good school.....but UMich is on another level. Many IU people will try and deny this, but its true. And yeah UMich is expensive, but its also alot better than IU. (<--i tryed to say that last part as nice as possible while also trying to say the facts)</p>

<p>While IU is the only school I considered because I knew I wanted an instate public school, I don't feel at any sort of academic disadvantage here, and I was also in the top 10% of my class. I've met plenty of intelligent students, especially through the Honors College. If you take at least one honors class per semester, you'll definitely meet a lot of like-minded, goal-driven people.</p>

<p>Again, you'll meet plenty of like-minded goal-driven people if you choose to live in an Honors community in the dorm</p>

<p>recap - I gave you advice on another thread you started about IU v UMich regarding your possibility of eventually studying law. If you are serious about studying law you should go back and reread what I wrote and consider it. Otherwise if you just think you 'might' study law it's not as important. </p>

<p>I note you have posted repeatedly this same question. I'm assuming you have visited both campuses and one fits more than another. One you can afford more than another. Don't take advice from strange posters at this point just make up your mind and go with your heart (or your pocketbook). Would you really go to one college or another based on a popularity poll of how many posted UMich or how many posted IU? Because that is what it is coming down to at this point - other people's opnion. You keep getting the same answers over and over. Were you really in your top 10%? </p>

<p>Multitasker was on here posting his angst at not getting the FA he wanted and stating he wasn't going to IU - is this who you want to take advice from? jayjohnson appears to be associated with the Univ of Arizona - has he even been to UMich or IU? Is this who you want to take advice from?</p>

<p>Actually Momof a Princess, I was willing to give IU a chance as OOS, also, I didn't receive any significant FA, you are right in that too, and I was able to get that from other good schools that I'm going anyway. But my desire to attend IU decreased significantly as I toured and ask all the questions I needed to make a conclusion about my choices. I still think that IU does not have enough diversity for me to feel comfortable.</p>

<p>valid point Multitasker for OP to consider. Good luck to you whereever you go</p>

<p>Thank you, Momofaprincess, and good luck to your child too.</p>

<p>momofaprincess, obviously people come on here to get other people's opinions, so why did you act like it was a bad thing to take advice from someone on here? Everybody has a different opinion about certain topics. You mentioned how I was associated with the university of arizona. Yes, that is where I will be going next year, but I chose that over IU. I have visited IU multiple times as well as UMich once. I live close to IU and know plenty of people that go there. Dont act like someone shouldnt take advice from someone else if you have no info about the poster.</p>

<p>I'm just ridiculously indecisive!</p>

<p>recap: is not that you are indecisive, is that you want to be happy in the next 4 years, and schools have to fit you like a shoe. Is there any chance you could visit them again and see that for yourself, and ask questions to students, anything you are curious about. For me, I asked about internships, FA, and diversity, I am a white guy who believes the world's population has the right to have every color, culture represented.
Sports to a certain extent. Academics a must.
IU was not for me. I'm going to GW, got a great scholarship that makes IU look expensive.
Good luck to all of you.</p>

<p>Congrats man. I'm waiting on my financial aid package from GW, but unless they throw me anywhere from 15-20k I'm going to end up at Michigan. Good luck</p>

<p>Thanks, man. If you look at the GW posts, average scholarship was in that ballpark. Good luck and I hope you get that money.</p>