University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Is the stereotype of students at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor accurate?

Emily

Yes, and there is little place in between. It is hard to fit in if you are not apart of one of these stereotypes. Michigan is almost worse than high school.

Tate

Some are. There are people who are very high achieving and let it get to their head. The other two, not so much. There are definetly opportunities to get involved in religious groups on campus that are supportive and awesome

Olivia

In the Greek community, Michigan can seem VERY jewish and pretty stuck up. It also feels like a lot of the students are West Bloomfield alums. And, yes, it's wayyy hippie.

Morgan

Depending on the scene one hangs out with, it can seem as if the whole population is Jewish and in a Fraternity/sorority

Erika

For one group of girls it is, but there are many different groups at Michigan

Jeff

Yeah, the population of students probably isn't the most attractive. The social life, however, is underrated. We have several great bars very close to campus, the fraternity/sorority system is extremely strong and well-governed, and there is typically an abundance of house parties on any given night, meaning there is always fun stuff to do. Furthermore, nobody on campus (other than the bars) charges for beer or cups at a party, which means you can basically walk into a random house party where you know literally no one, grab a free beer, and meet new people. Add to this a fairly lenient police force (at least compared to other campuses I've visited) and you have a pretty good drinking scene. Don't expect to be drinking too much during the week (although Tuesday is a pretty big bar night) because we do have a lot of homework to do. We do also have a great track record of finding jobs when school is over. The business school especially is known for placing graduates in extremely prestigious jobs. The football is also amazing. Rich Rodriguez should be enough to woo any football fan to come watch games at the Big House.

Devin

Football Saturdays are the highlight of Fall semester. Between the tailgating and the intense school spirit, football games are a true spectacle. However, many students are converted into avid football fans rather than coming here for that reason. Football season is an added bonus but not everyone's reason for coming here. Many students who are out of state did want to go to an Ivy League school. The students who go here are highly academically qualified, and those who did not have Michigan labeled as their first choice cannot imagine attending any other school. U of M quickly becomes home.

Amy

Well, let me say this: the football team will not win every game you go to ;-)Even if the future holds an undefeated year soon, never will you experience four in a row. But the excitement that comes with being in that setting is unlike anything else I've ever witnessed. For die-hard football fans, Michigan is legendary for many reasons. The academics at the University really are as great as they are touted to be, in my opinion. I've felt intellectually stimulated in about 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my classes, which I think is an excellent number. Ann Arbor is undeniably liberal, but sometimes differences between cliques on campus, the faculty, and the "townies" are pronounced. One of the manifestations of these divides are that the city isn't nearly as gay-friendly as some would claim. If you stray away from the designated "gay areas" like Necto or Aut Bar, you definitely run the risk of verbal or even physical assault at night time. I've seen it numerous times. Other clashes between liberal and conservative tendacies tend to crop up particularly around election times. Finally, the "snobby" Michigan man or woman is not a myth- but don't these people exist everywhere you go? This is an expensive school to attend, even though it is public, so naturally a lot of the people here are wealthy. This does not mean they're all snots, nor even the majority. You just need to find friends you can relate to; with thousands of people to choose from it really isn't hard at all. However, for those concerned with the vast numbers, afraid to be lost in the crowd: there are programs and communities for people like you! I was in the Residential College and found it to be a wonderfully small group of like-minded individuals. Most of my best friends today came from the RC. Other programs like this, such as Alice Lloyd, WISE, and of course Greek Life exist. Don't worry- somebody else like you is here.

Stella

They are somewhat accurate. Overall, I would say that yes, to some degree, each of those stereotypes is rooted in some truth.

Kelly

Yes and no. I don't think it is so much arrogance as it is confidence - people aren't jerks, they're just confident in themselves. Michigan is a great school. There is so much pride in coming here (great academics, amazing people, an all around fantastic environment) and people aren't afraid to show that off, especially when it comes to football!. But it's one of the things that makes Michigan great. It wouldn't be the same without that pride, and I love this school for being that way. If you want to call it arrogance, then so be it.