<p>@applejack, I have heard Traverse City is beautiful… actually, I really thought AA was a pretty little town. I love all the old houses (not much of that in our hometown) and tree lined streets. And if I went to school at UMich I feel certain I would join the Squirrel Feeding Club, as I kind of love those big fat furry guys…</p>
<p>Granipc, no doubt the weather <em>can suck</em> here (eg. right now there’s still snow, which is idiotic considering it’s “spring”) but interestingly enough I’ve talked to quite a number of folks who move south once they retire, for example, and actually find that they MISS the changing seasons here.</p>
<p>Eg. if you like snowshoeing, skiing, or other wintersport, nothing beats fresh snow on a sunny day. But when that snow melts and everything starts to bud - well, the transition is a thousand times sweeter if you’ve been suffering through the snow! It’s kind of awe inspiring and exalting. Likewise, there is nothing quite like the fall colors in the north (and I don’t just mean Michigan). Yes, they’re followed by some drab, chill days of winter, but what a lovely “hurrah” those last warm autumn color days are.</p>
<p>It’s interesting to me the different reactions/responses to weather that people have. I still think I might personally prefer something west-coastish myself…eg. north-of-bay area. But a dear friend of mine spent 2 years on an MFA in Vancouver and she was near suicidal over the protracted grey wet weather – and prior to that stint, she’d been covering a community in the FAR north of Labrador, with only a smattering of warmish days and many COLD LONG nights! So we’d both thought the move would be outstanding. For her, not so much ;)</p>
<p>I will admit though, there are some people (more on this board than irl) that make Michigan seem like a really unfriendly and unwelcoming school. It’s unfortunate. Luckily, this was not my experience when actually visiting. I never regret my decision to attend Michigan this fall until I lurk on here. Then I talk to students and my fears are wiped away :)</p>
<p>we visited this weekend, I agree or at least understand how granipc came to those 10 observations. Here’s what I’d add:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Growing up spent a lot of time in the south but live in the northeast. There is a cultural difference at play here, we didn’t find the kids unfriendly.</p></li>
<li><p>We had an oos tour guide, talented kid, in the scholars program, fluent in french, offered scholarships at other schools. Here, paraphrased, is his reply why he choose u mich: “I looked at other schools but came to realize that the kids here loved it. I realized these four years will shape the rest of my life. There’s a tradition here and for the rest of my life I’m going to be known as Michigan man. Everyday, I get out of bed and wear at least one or two things that declares my pride at being here. Look around you, it’s hard to find someone not wearing blue and maize.”</p></li>
</ul>
<p>there was more, he wasn’t selling us, he was talking from the heart. Buy it or not, that was his answer on why to spend more money if oos.</p>
<p>Quietdesperation, I’m glad that you had a nice visit to Ann Arbor. I only wish that you could have waited one more month. Alright, two more months. I promise it’s not always this cold and dreary!</p>
<p>What your tour guide said about everyone wearing something UM related really resonated with me. Just the other day I was shopping near Ann Arbor and it seemed to me that every third person was wearing a UofM shirt and/or had a sticker on his car. Local businesses fly the UM flag.</p>
<p>It occured to me that if my son had been rejected that we’d have to move! There would be too many painful reminders <em>everywhere</em> we went.</p>
<p>So are our squirrels really that big??</p>
<p>Yes, the squirrels are like small dogs or large cats. If you go on Facebook, you will find a U of M Squirrel Club page…with photos. :)</p>
<p>Look, I’ve got to be honest. I haven’t said anything because I don’t want to seem insulting or anything…</p>
<p>But the truth of it all is that southern squirrels are just scrawny! My children and I have actually commented on the sad state of squirrels when we drive south to Florida. “Why are the squirrels so skinny down here??”, we’d say. “Wouldn’t you think that the food supply would be better in a warmer climate?”.</p>
<p>So you see, it’s not that Michigan squirrels are unusually big. They’re the normal size. It’s those poor southern squirrels who need some bulking up!</p>
<p>Whoo - this conversation has turned remarkably controversial! Ha ha.</p>
<p>:D 
; d</p>
<p>yes, the squirrels were cartoonishly big. you could lash 10 of them to sled and win the iditarod.</p>
<p>Lol, Village- that cracked me up.</p>
<p>since we’re so far afield, best meal by far was tmaz taqueria.</p>
<p>HA! I do think in my original post I referred to our sad little southern squirrels as “anemic”, so NO offense taken. Have you seen our deer? They are about the size of your squirrels. 
I grew up in Tennessee where if you hit a deer with your car you could end up in ICU… Here? You wouldn’t even notice it bounced off your tire…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes!!! Totally opened my daughters’ eyes to what a lovingly hand-crafted authentic Mexican taco tastes like, and reminded me of some very special times in Mexico in my own younger days. Pilar’s Tamales across town (W Liberty past Stadium Blvd) also gets rave reviews on Yelp and it looks like a really sweet place, but we were there on a Monday and it was closed.</p>
<p>The grant award was so small the OOP with expenses and travel for an OOS student is $51K. A year. Seriously?</p>
<p>Picture of a typical University of Michigan squirrel and the founder of the squirrel club:</p>
<p>[The</a> Squirrel Club?University of Michigan, Ann Arbor » T-shirts](<a href=“http://www.michigansquirrels.com/t-shirts/]The”>http://www.michigansquirrels.com/t-shirts/)</p>
<p>Dadinator… HYSTERICAL! Love it…</p>
<p>NOW I know why UM squirrels are so fat! There’s a club that hand feeds them! Out in my town the squirrels are normal size because they have to forage for their own food. I’m surprised they haven’t followed the peanut scented trail to better living on campus.</p>
<p>Last July we had several days of temps in the 100s (yeah, I know, you Texans call that Spring). My main squirrel friend was draped over a tree branch, panting heavily. I thought, “Omg, he is going to die right in front of my children.”</p>
<p>“Mommy! Mr. Squirrel isn’t panting anymore. AAH! Why did he just fall out of the tree??”</p>
<p>So I filled a little Tupperware bowl with water and ice and I went out and placed it in the nook of the tree. Then I questioned my sanity for watering the squirrels. But I think he appreciated it.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize we are so lucky to work and live in Michigan until I came to this board. Now I told myself at least my kids will go to UM for cheap so shut up and bear the cold weather. Still I envy my college friends who live in silicon valley who have the best of all, good CA schools for their kids, unbelievable weather and loads of money from jobs and housing. </p>
<p>The older one, DD, made into UM nursing school with some scholarship. The younger one is a freshman in HS. DH is talking about Ivy for him. But the more time I spend here, the more I think he should go to UM. He will be majoring in Business, Ross is hard to pass with such a discount. Several kids of my friends are choosing UPenn Wharton, UChicago over Ross. I wonder if they are worth it.</p>
<p>If you browse other boards on here, you’ll find that many in CA do NOT enjoy the system that they have. I can’t comment on it as I don’t live there but the UC system is under enormous strain (according to posters). </p>
<p>Yes, we are incredibly lucky here in Michigan. We have two schools that are ranked above many other state flagships. Unfortunately, we also have some of the highest tuition and zilch in state aid :(</p>