<p>okay, so i am absolutely stuck on this one.  i keep going in circles between these two great schools for aerospace engineering.  Michigan is ranked 3rd. UT is ranked 8th.  Michigan is a more prestigious school overall too.  Money is not really an issue since i got 80,000 dollars from michigan, bringing all expenses in the range of UT's anyway, although i will end up getting 22,000 from UT.  UT still has a great program and has a lot to offer. </p>
<p>Which school should i choose?? I thought michigan was a much better school, but maybe it's not worth going that far from home.  Plus, UT is in Austin, a great city for social life.  I want to be at a school with spark, and i know UT has that.  Although im not gonna be in a frat, i do want to go to parties on weekends, meet cute girls, chill with cool people.  In no means am i wanting to go to college purely for academics, yet it is still important that i come out with a strong degree and have good job opportunities.  How is the social life in ann arbor for non-greek people?</p>
<p>I have to make a decision QUICK, since i need to tell michigan if i want this scholarship.  I guess i feel more comfortable being here in texas, not having to deal with the hassle of going so far away.  I also don't want to go to a college where there's too much competition amongst one another. Is Michigan worth it?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>Austin is bigger than Ann Arbor and has more to do. There is no doubt about that. This said, Ann Arbor is a great college town and has a great atmosphere with a lot of activity and energy. I would not worry too much about having fun and hanging out with “cool” people at Michigan. The school has 26,000 undergrads. As such, you can be sure to find a lot of cool guys and cute women to hang out with.</p>
<p>Still, Michigan would cost you roughly $120,000 over 4 years, whereas Texas would cost you $80,000 over years. That’s a $40,000 difference, which is certainly not insignificant. If your folks are well off and can cover the cost difference without too much burden, I would recommend Michigan. On the other hand, if $40,000 would place undue hardship on your family, I would recommend Texas.</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>Alex,
You missed the $80,000 grant the OP is getting from Michigan.</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>I actually included the $80k grant from Michigan and the $22k grant from Texas in my calculations. Of course, I am assuming rockn886 is a resident of Texas. If he isn’t, it would change my calculations significantly in favor of Michigan.</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>do u think that companies such as Boeing, Lockheed martin, and other aerospace firms will be that much more impressed by a degree from Michigan? The competition at Michigan for jobs might be a bit harder than at UT.  Then again i have no proof to back this up. I can always go to UT and then go to Michigan for my masters.  that would be a lot cheaper in the long run.  I just don’t know if it’s worth it to travel that far and make some sacrifices for a completely new experience.  I guess UT is the safer bet, but i might be missing out if i don’t go to Michigan… hence my awfully hard decision.</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>Just go to Texas.  If you’re concerned about being so far away from home,  you probably won’t be happy in Ann Arbor.  It seems a lot of you guys get homesick.  We keep losing recruits from Texas in football.</p>
             
            
              
              
              
            
           
          
            
            
              <p>ya i think i came to my decision tonight.  i’ll stay in texas and go to UT.  I’ll have more money in the end to spend on graduate school, and i can try and go to Michigan then.  A major at UT and a masters at Michigan does sound pretty good to me.  Thanks for the help.</p>