To Transfer, Or Not To Transfer?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am a current Freshman in the LSA Honors Program at the University of Michigan considering transferring to Michigan State University. I am a Michigan resident, and I would start at MSU in the Fall 2009 Semester.</p>

<p>My reasons for this are many and varied, but the main ones are the following:</p>

<li><p>My primary goal is to gain entrance into Medical School in 3.5-4 years, however I would like to major in Political Science. At MSU I would be in both the Honors College and James Madison College, a world-renowned institution arguably better than Michigan’s political science program.</p></li>
<li><p>Michigan State has a cheaper tuition than Michigan; in hard economic times, this really does matter.</p></li>
<li><p>The Michigan State atmosphere is much friendlier and less arrogant than that here at Michigan.</p></li>
<li><p>At Michigan State I would stay in an apartment with three of my good high school friends. I am the only person in my high school to go to Michigan in the last three years, a situation most people do not find themselves in.</p></li>
<li><p>My college decision last spring came down to the wire between Michigan and Michigan State. I largely chose Michigan based on its name and “prestige” alone, reasons I now realize are not truly logical or practical.</p></li>
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<p>For all you experts out there, my questions are the following (please keep in mind that I have been in Ann Arbor for four months, and therefore I have had adequate time to form rational opinions):
Would transferring to Michigan State University be a wise move, given my situation and reasoning? As far as earning entrance to Medical School, would a U. of M. degree really carry that much more weight than an MSU degree? Personally, I assume that performance matters over anything else. And, for those of you in the Honors College and/or James Madison College, how do you like it?</p>

<p>Please offer me your upper-echelon advice.</p>

2

<ol>
<li>As far as medical school goes, a UM degree probably wouldn't carry significantly more weight (but doing well at an academically challenging school always looks good).</li>
<li>Tuition isn't significantly cheaper</li>
<li>I've visited UM, and I noticed this too (MSU has a great social scene)</li>
<li>Staying in an apartment with people from high school isn't always a good idea (you might not know them as well as you think you do, and you won't necessarily go out to meet new people as often)</li>
<li>Why aren't they logical or practical?</li>
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<p>The honors college here is just something to put on your resume..the HC tries to organize social functions and occasional academic activities, but I've been to them, and they're pretty lame. I'm not in James Madison, but I knew a few people who were, and they all loved it (very close community, interesting classes, passionate people).</p>

<p>Hope this information helps (I'm a current MSU student). Let me know if you have any other questions.</p>