<p>Also, I agree with Ticklemepink, regarding the different sense of community that exists at small LACs . Many of these schools require you to live on campus all four years. This develops a strong sense of community which often doesnt appear to exist at large state schools. Think of it this way – its the difference between working in a city and driving home everyday vs living in the city where you work. Once you are home you dont care as much about where you work. Your care more about where you live.</p>
<p>ticklemepink, I will also add my two cents here:</p>
<p>Some people are able to thrive in a large setting like Michigan. Yes, the university is huge. It took me some time to get accustomed to the campus size because I went to a smaller private university (~8000 undergrads). However, at the graduate level, small class sizes do exist at Michigan. I’ve been admitted to two master’s programs with their own buildings, and the average class sizes are capped at 25. Both schools want their students to excel academically and take advantage of internships. The offices offer extensive advising. It reminds me of my college experience. The advantages of Michigan is its ability to offer variety of flexible specializations that are ranked among the best in the country. So, in a way, it is possible to find a small community who shares your interests at Michigan. It would take more effort, but I am confident that I would have a great time here.</p>
<p>Note: The whole upper Midwest in general (including upstate New York) is cold. In fact, I wouldn’t even want to live in cities like Buffalo and Rochester because their blizzards are actually worse than southeast Michigan. These past two years have been an anomaly because the region generally never receives so much snow.</p>
<p>I will respond to this post again because this semester is almost over:</p>
<p>U-M is a huge university, but you must create your own experience here. No one is going to constantly praise you over the shoulder. This place has a vast wealth of resources. I have also made the initiative to network with students OUTSIDE my department(s). I have established relationships with students in the schools of Business, Education, Public Health, and Public Policy. Guess what? Some of us share similar interests, and football is rarely the topic of conversation. It is not terribly difficult; you have to make the effort. </p>
<p>Amazingly, I have also been able to recognize my peers in the streets and shuttles. We wave “hello” to each other. The campus has gradually become smaller to me. Recently, I attended an guest lecture event, and had lunch with the presenter (U-M alum) afterwards. She was so impressed with my background that she invited me to her conference next year. The topic of football never came up. </p>
<p>Ticklemepink, I understand you are not in a professional master’s program, Therefore you may have had more difficulty finding people who share your academic interests. When I complete my studies here, I will probably be one of the few people who have allegiance to both my undergraduate and graduate schools. Both schools offer similar but different strengths that has helped me develop into a better person.</p>