<p>I understand the logic of getting engineering degree vs bio. However, 2 warnings.<br>
First, GPA needs to be high for Med. School and it is not easy to accomplish with engineering major while doing all kind of EC’s for Med. School application. Also, junior year - MCAT prep. in addition to all other responsibilities. It takes several hours / day for at least 6+ weeks, but some feel that they need to streach it for several months because of many other commitments. Senior year - Med. Schools interviews, lots of schedule adjustments, including exams, supervisors at internships/job. Some of these people are more understanding than others, some Med. School adcoms are also more flexible than others. All along, you got to keep up your GPA and obtain decent MCAT score.
Second, there is a possiblity of Engineering not being the right choice. Do not assume that if one is a top caliber student and awesome at math, he/she will like engineering. I have burned on it, after couple degrees and 11 years of job experience, I still did not like it and decided to make myself happy and switch to CS. Very happy writing software (and 3 more degrees later). I know many engineers, they are people who are really into technology/gadgets (including my H.). If you are not fascinated by all of these (like me, I do not even have my cell phone with me, it stays in my car), you might not be happy doing engineering despite your great love for math (again, math was the reason why I originally went to engineering).
This is specifically from my experience. I am also familiar with Case (more than U o M or MSU) and Med. School applicatrion process. I cannot say that I am biased towards Case though. I just do not see spending money on UG when one has a choice of having it free…unless family has unlimited resources.</p>
<p>Does he want a large school or smaller? If he wants a smaller school then Case is the obvious choice. Does he want a big city campus? If so Case is the obvious choice. If he wants a larger school in smaller cities then he needs to choose between the two Michigan schools. </p>
<p>All three are good choices and will take a graduate from school to the workplace, or graduate school. IMO academic differences are pretty small and the student needs to focus on what kind of life he wants to lead while in college. PLUS-money matters.</p>
<p>I’m a Michigan grad - engineering and MBA - and am thrilled that my d is attending next year BUT given your son’s opportunities at MSU I would seriously consider him going there. I’ve had several friends choose that option - honors engineering at MSU over Umich - and even one with a kid who is pre-med. They all think very highly of the education their kids are receiving and they are all doing very well in the program. I have one friend who’s d graduated last May and went on to a Masters program - she had several good options but picked MI Tech and ended up not liking the environment, quit at Christmas and got a great job within a month of looking. Her older brother also graduated from MSU Honors Engineering and is pursuing a PhD at Cambridge.</p>
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<p>Well, that’s a new one. Why is the location “worst”? East Lansing is a great town and Lansing is a wonderful resource.</p>
<p>He does prefer a larger school (not sure why) and when we visited Case he didn’t like ir. Of the three he prefers U of M followed by MSU then Case.</p>
<p>"Well, that’s a new one. Why is the location “worst”? East Lansing is a great town and Lansing is a wonderful resource. "
-Again, it is very personal. While location might not be important for you, it was very important for my D. D. did not consider MSU any more after visiting, she said because she did not like location. I never have been there, I cannot tell you why.<br>
I strongly believe that everybody should go to UG that they like the best. Asking opinion of different people might be a waste of time as different people have their own preferences and criteria for choosing.</p>
<p>Miami you are absolutely right. Sometimes it is nice to hear others opinions as well. I know that I have read many things on not only this thread but so many more that have at least made me slow down and think in a different way.</p>
<p>Not long before a decision has to be made. I’m kind of looking forward to May 2nd already…kind of…:)</p>
<p>It sounds like Case is more or less out of the running. This leaves UM and MSU. I actually prefer MSU’s campus to UM’s, but it is definitely a personal thing. Of course, location is not really the most important thing in this case - it’s not like the locations are all that different (neither is rural, remote, urban, etc). So the focus is on the academics.</p>
<p>Supposedly, 80% of those who think they want to be doctors never actually end up being doctors (or so I keep hearing - no stats to back it up). It seems that considering whether or not the GPA would be high enough for med school as a deciding factor might not be the best way to make a decision, then. Of course, if he is in the 20%, it might be.</p>
<p>I know kids at both schools, since we are in MI. UM is really great for the motivated students and for the kids who don’t mind a more “impersonal” atmosphere. My D’s friends were in awe of how easily she could obtain advising at her school - UM makes it tough - although I do believe it is easier for those in the engineering school, since it is sort of a smaller school within the university. D’s friends were bio majors. They are all in med school now. One of her friends was an engineering major, and he got a job right out of school. Two of D’s top-notch student friends went to MSU with scholarships, research, etc. They did extremely well - one is in vet school, the other got a great job right out of school. S has some friends at both UM and MSU. The UM ones are doing well, but some have changed majors because the sciences are TOUGH. His MSU friends are interesting … one was a great student in high school, got a great scholarship, is doing research, etc. The other was not a great student in high school. He went to CC for a year & transferred to MSU. He is kicking it in the sciences, and he has a great lab job. I honestly do not know any MSU engineering students/grads, though.</p>
<p>It is your son’s decision, ultimately. If he is a self-motivated student, though, I think I would lean toward UM.</p>
<p>Thanks kelsmom. I guess that is my main concern. I don’t find him a very motivated student but he assures me he is bored in HS and doesn’t feel the need to study. We have discussed that this cannot be his modus operandi in college, ANY college and he assured me he knows this. Perhaps I am more worried then necessary but I am worried. </p>
<p>Yikes!</p>
<p>MichMom, college academics is definitely an adjustment but if your son has found the subjects he is interested in that makes a huge difference as well. I’ve found that many of my classmates who did relatively lousy grades-wise in high school (or were relatively apathetic) have done way better in college for that reason. </p>
<p>romani - primarily with the PA how you get chosen is professors who are in need of a PA look through your qualifications/interests (which you list down at one point and submit it to the honors college…been a while so I don’t remember exactly) and then they pick you based off what they are looking for/match you with your interests. It really depends on what major you are in, because liberal arts majors tend to get placed in really random subjects (As an international relations major, I got placed with an international relations/political economy professor who needed help editing and getting his books published so I just helped him with that). You don’t really have the option persay of choosing an exact research subject, but you can switch professors after the first year if you would like to. You are also under no obligation to do a PA in your major - you could choose a completely different subject to do a PA in. </p>
<p>If you are a sciences/engineering/computers major you tend to get placed in a lot more specialized fields, and might have the option of carving your own niche at one point, but I just went along with what projects my prof came up with. Since the PA is for freshmen/sophomores they tend to be a lot more aimless in terms of their interests so this is probably a good thing in many ways, allowing students to figure out what they like or dislike while still being involved in scholarly work. Some students end up presenting their own work at the undergraduate research forum that initially stemmed from their PA.</p>
<p>Just checking in because, well, today is the day…Oy Vey!</p>
<p>We thought it was all decided and U of M was going to get the nod. We went back up to Lansing for an Engineering orientation and tour. While the facilities don’t seem to compare to U of M (insofar as the grand spaces for the solar car, cement canoe, etc) the program itself is so much more flexible at MSU. Even with the program flexibility DS was still leaning to Michigan.</p>
<p>He had made contact with a professor doing Parkinson’s research at MSU and she invited him to speak with her while were up there. He went to speak with here and she invited him into her lab for the incoming year. This is truly exciting for him as his grandmother has Parkinson’s and it is his dream to make a difference in the discovery of a cure. The Prof is doing some groundbreaking research in the field. It is this chance, and I think only this chance of doing research, that has him leaning toward MSU. </p>
<p>So back to the indecision. Wow this is stressful. I guess if we as his parents were more decisive it might be helpful to him but I don’t honestly know where he will feel better/do well. He needs to be happy and see himself fitting in whereever he chooses. </p>
<p>Why is this so difficult for us?</p>
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<p>Because teens - and life - can be so difficult! Hugs to you and your family. Actually, your son can’t make a bad choice: both U of M and MSU are great schools, and it sounds like he can achieve his goals at either one.</p>
<p>“Why is this so difficult for us?”</p>
<p>Beats me. It might take him YEARS at UofM to get the opportunity he has been offered from day one at MSU.</p>
<p>Mich, it really seems like MSU is where he should go. And no, I’m not just saying this because I’m biased- I have advised many on the U of M and MSU forums to go to U of M if that’s where it seems they’ll fit in best. </p>
<p>I was in that position not too long ago. I know how hard it is. For me, I knew my heart was set on MSU because that’s where I felt I had the best opportunities but social pressures kept pushing me back to U of M because it was more “prestigious” and blah blah blah. </p>
<p>He has an unbelievable opportunity at MSU to do what he really, really wants to do. He has absolutely no idea if there’s anything comparable at U of M for him. It really seems like a no-brainer.</p>
<p>What a great opportunity he will have if he decides to go to MSU~there is much to be said for the personal connections he will have (especially compared to the impersonal experience many have at UM). </p>
<p>If he hates MSU (doubtful), he can always transfer to UM. He may have to make up some classes, but it can be done.</p>
<p>Whoa - his grandMother has Parkinsons?! To be honest, I only know men who have it. FIL has it - SIL has issues that are related to the Parkinson’s gene, but they are not in that family of diseases (hers are eye-related).</p>
<p>Thanks all!</p>
<p>kelsmom she was diagnosed several years ago. The disease has stripped her of so much of her vitality.</p>
<p>It’s difficult because we live in a state where your blood either runs blue…or green. We are so very fortunate to have two fabulous Big 10 schools in one state. Personally, given this opportunity if it was my son I’d be tilting toward State (and our family blood is all blue through and through for several generations)…not that my opinion is going to sway your son! The most difficult thing for these kids who have opportunities at both colleges is getting over the crazy biases and then not looking back. But Kelsmom is correct, if he goes to State he can transfer. If he goes to UofM he can transfer. There is really no wrong decision. They are both huge schools. They both have great sports spirit. They both have Greek if one chooses. They both are fun college towns. I’d give the nod toward dorm conditions and variety to State, but after that it’s really about the academics and which program gives the best perks, warm fuzzies and opportunities.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is hard at all to get a research position as an undergrad at U. of Michigan, or any other decent school for that matter. I wouldn’t base a decision based on the guarantee of a research position for this reason.</p>