Hello, I am having a lot of trouble choosing between these two colleges. I have been accepted to both colleges.
At U of M I would be majoring in neuroscience doing premed. I would have much more opportunities for research. Ann Arbor has one of the best medical schools. I live in Ann Arbor and love the campus.
At Reed I would probably major in biology. I’m not completely decided if I want to go to grad school or medical school. But, I understand Reed has a high matriculation rate into grad school. I have spent some time in Portland doing research and might continue that project.
Tuition is a big factor, U of M will probably be cheaper with instate. However, Reed apparently meets a lot of need.
These are two very different colleges in terms of size and student body. Can anyone help me make a decision with some insight on the colleges?
“Tuition is a big factor, U of M will probably be cheaper with instate. However, Reed apparently meets a lot of need.”
Please be more detailed… you should have financial aid packages, right?
What will be the cost of attendance for each (tuition/fees/room/board minus scholarships/grants, not including loans)? How much loans will you need to take out for each?
Comparing the schools… these two could not be more different. There is no one right answer… some students will thrive at Michigan, others will feel lost… some students will flourish at Reed, others will feel claustrophobic.
No one on here can tell YOU what is best for YOU.
As far as the education is concerned… both will give you an outstanding education in biology. Reed is especially strong in STEM fields. At Reed, your classes will be significantly smaller, and you will have meaningful interactions with professors. You also will get better, more personal advising. However, course selection will be far more limited, there will be research opportunities, but you will not necessarily have a very broad range of projects… Reed is SMALL, so everyone will know everyone. On the other hand, Michigan is a very large research powerhouse… easily one the top 3 public flagships in the country, incredibly well respected and well known. They have a very large and loyal alumni base. There will be a much broader selection of classes, of research opportunities, of outside activities. But the price you pay is that at least for the first 2-3 years, especially in a super popular major like biology, your classes will be very large lectures… your professors will not know you… exams will be multiple choice in the large intro classes, papers will be graded by graduate students… you will have far less personalized advising… you will have to be independent and ambitious to get professor’s attention and to get those research opportunities because there will be no hand-holding.
As I said… only YOU can determine which environment will be best for YOU.
If you go to U of M, would you live at home? What is the net total cost of each school with scholarships factored into the equation?