<p>I'm currently a sophomore here, and I'm wondering if the Michigan name is really worth it.
Is it that much better than U of I or UW-Madison for undergrad?
Michigan lacks the major program I am interested in, but UW doesn't. That is also my home state, so it would be a lot cheaper. I'm torn over whether or not I should try to transfer. I've looked into the create your own major program here, but even if mine were to get approved, I would lack the resources that come with having a department.
In a world where grad school is almost necessary, is the school someone went to for undergrad all that important?</p>
<p>Name recognition - quite a bit better (considered a better school) than U of I. Slightly better than UW-Madison, but probably not enough for most people to pay the OOS tuition, especially if their major is not offered. If your major is not offered at U of M and you want to go to grad school, I would suggest you transfer to Madison.</p>
<p>What are you trying to major in?</p>
<p>Wisconsin is your best choice for sure. Good luck to you there!</p>
<p>No, go to UW.</p>
<p>Agreed, UW-Madison > UMich in this case.</p>
<p>UW for sure. Undergrad doesn’t matter all that much if you plan on going to grad school.</p>
<p>Uw no doubt</p>
<p>I think it depends on your major. UIUC not too shabby in engineering, computer science, accounting, psychology. Don’t see where UMich or UWisch gives you a leg up in any of these areas. If UWisch is your in state option and they have the program you want it’s worth considering transferring.</p>
<p>I can’t believe you made the decision to attend from out-of-state with money being an important consideration. I can think of few reasons that justify the absurdly high tuition costs that come with having out-of-state status. There is no undergraduate education that is worth in excess of $100,000.</p>
<p>It only makes sense for those people whose net worth is approaching infinity. They are the type of people for which price is literally a non-signal, and who think in increments of ten thousand rather than ten.</p>
<p>I’m trying to major in Wildlife Ecology. UW has a program that is supposedly great. Michigan has environment and biology departments, but lacks classes in wildlife/conservation management/techniques. Michigan only has a few conservation classes and no management ones.
As much as I love Michigan, I’m not sure I can justify continuing to go here.</p>
<p>Would UW be the better option if I don’t want to go to grad school?</p>
<p>If UW has the major you want to study and is in state for you, I don’t see any reason why you want to go oos. Unless you are guaranteed a lot of aid from the oos school that you may need to think about it. UIUC over all perhaps is weaker than UMich, but the engineering is actually very strong. The USNews ranks it actually higher than UMich. In any case, do look up the mid-west student exchange program if you end up going out of state. It can provide some aid to offset the cost difference as long as you study within the mid-west.</p>
<p>Michigan has “ecology and evolutionary biology.” Your desired major is extremely specific. I don’t know how much a slightly more general degree would hurt you.</p>
<p>I’m not sure exactly what you’re looking for, but I’d try contacting a professor listed here: [Conservation</a> Biology | School of Natural Resources and Environment | University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.snre.umich.edu/degree_programs/conservation_biology/overview]Conservation”>http://www.snre.umich.edu/degree_programs/conservation_biology/overview) and explain your situation to them and see if they can be of guidance. </p>
<p>With that said, I still don’t think the Michigan degree is worth an extra 100k or so if money is an issue. How big of a financial difference is there between UW and Michigan?</p>
<p>UW is about $5,700 per semester, Michigan is about $21,000. So, the financial difference is huge.
As for the ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) major, it has some problems. Namely the fact that it requires Orgo 2 and lab, and physics 2 and lab. Neither of these classes are necessary, nor really beneficial at all, for me. Plus, Michigan does not have any courses in wildlife management, which would prevent me from getting practical experience in the field. It isn’t just a “slighty more general degree.”</p>