University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

On multiple occasions I have said to friends that if I had the opportunity to go anywhere in the world, it would still be Michigan. It is, and I can say this having heard of friends' experiences at other universities, the most comprehensive college experience that you can find. That is to say that nowhere else can you wake up, go to a party, sit in a stadium with 113,000+ people wearing the same colors, get some great food on your walk home, then go for a walk in our nature preserve, go to the high-class restaurants on Main Street, and then finish it all off by going to an opera of professional caliber at one of the best auditoriums in the world (Hill Auditorium). I have never once been bored here because there is just so much to do, so many things to try. People will try to knock Michigan for its size, but I think that any big school can be made to feel small if you just find the right niche for yourself. Our president, Mary Sue Coleman, likes to say that (paraphrasing) you can make a big school feel small but you cannot make a small school feel big. After four years here I agree completely. I never once felt overwhelmed by the size of my 500-person lecture because after that class I had a 20 person discussion. You find your own balance very quickly so it feels comfortable. The best part about Michigan: the pride. I truly bleed maize and blue. The feeling you get walking around campus and just saying "go blue" to someone is amazing. It is just one more thing that makes that big student body feel more like a small family. And that pride isn't only about athletics. You don't need to be a sports fan to feel passionately about Michigan, because there is so much to be passionate about. The academics, the art scene, the night life, everything here is done with passion. So when you say "Go Blue," it isn't just for the football team, its for you too!

I think this school has the best combination of good academics with a good social aspect. (Football) Saturday mornings are my favorite night of the week! There is so much school spirit, and it's especially visible during football season. I'll never forget my first Michigan football game. Everyone in the Big House was wearing maize - it was overwhelming! Because I had a graduating class of over 700, I wanted to go to a large university. I love the fact that I'm always able to meet new people, and I'll never know everyone that goes here. I'm from Grand Blanc, Michigan (near Flint), so when I tell people that I go to Michigan, they assume I mean U of M Flint. When I clarify, they seem impressed that I go to Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is definitely a college town, but at the same time the city is mixed in with the college campus. I love this about Michigan! The Main Street downtown area, where there are nice restaurants and good clothing stores, is within walking distance. I live in a sorority house this year, and this is where I spend most of my time. Most of the girls in my sorority spend the majority of their time at the library, but I do work in our study room here so I don't have to leave. Usually if I'm not here, I'm in the diag for class (the diag is where 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of classes are held). If I ever had to go anywhere else, it would probably be the gym, but we have a gym in our basement so I don't need to leave for that either. Unfortunately, there is a lot of crime on campus. There was a serial rapist a couple months ago, and there are random assaults and other crimes. I would say either the crime or the work load are the most frequent complaint from students.

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Review removed at author request.

Review removed at author request.

1. The best thing about Umich is its endless resources available to student; it also has the largest alum network in the nation. 2.The campus is very large and spread out; I would develop an underground walkway system connecting the university so that students don't have to walk across campus in negative degrees Fahrenheit temperature. 3. The school is extremely large but it is not "too large." 4. People are generally impressed when I tell them I attend Umich; it is often regarded as the "Harvard" of public schools. 5. I spend most of my time on campus in the classroom. 6. Ann Arbor is definitely a college town. The whole layout and structure of the city is built around the university. 7. The administration tries to connect with the student body, though I'm not sure how successful they are. Security alerts are promptly disseminated and students' needs are properly addressed. 8. Last year, the university's first openly gay student body president, Chris Armstrong, was continually harassed by a Michigan government official who displayed stalker tendencies. 9. There is in incredible amount of school spirit, mainly due to the heavily promoted Michigan football games. 10. Nothing strikes me as "unusual" about this school. 11. I remember during finals week, there were students from the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) giving out mini care packages at the library. 12. The most frequent complaint I hear is about the short 2-week winter break.

The coolest thing about Michigan is the school pride, by far. There is just an energy surrounding this campus and its fun to be a part of. This extends from football Saturdays to off campus presentation of the University. You will always remember your first time (and last time) piled into the big house with 112,000+ other Michigan fans. I know I do. Best things about Michigan: the passion and diversity of the student body. One thing I'd change: the dominance fraternity life has on the social sphere. Michigan is just right, with a lot of opportunities and guidance finding your niche. People are impressed when I tell them I go to Michigan, and they also want to talk about the football team- sports are HUGE here. I spend most of my time either in class, in the library, and at restaurants and coffee shops. Ann Arbor is incredibly unique because it isn't really a college town. While there are so many students on campus and fun aspects to enjoy, it really is immersed well with other parts of the town. The school's administration does an excellent job with fundraising but sometimes I feel as if they could do a better job supporting student initiatives. The most frequent complaints on campus involve recreational facilities, which are currently being renovated, and decreasing minority enrollment rates.

Overall, I have an incredibly high opinion of Michigan. The best thing about it is that there is so much to do for all different kinds of people and their interests. I think that although the school is large, when you participate in organizations and groups, it makes it so much smaller and you are easily able to find your niche. When I tell people that I go to Michigan, they usually are very impressed and say something like that's an excellent school but aren't you freezing. If I could change anything about the school, it would definitely be the weather. Ann Arbor is definitely a college town and a bustling one at that. There is so much for students to do and the community around is aware of that and caters to students. At Michigan there's about as much school pride as you'd find anywhere if not more, anyone that is a Wolverine is proud of it and wants to show it.

I absolutely LOVE the University of Michigan! Football Saturdays are definitely a highlight of the Michigan experience. Picture walking around campus with loud music blaring all around you and spirited students decked out in maize and blue. I'll always remember rushing the field in the Big House this year after we beat Ohio State (on my 21st birthday!). Aside from the football and the fun, UofM has a reputation for being a school full of smart students; they call us the leaders and the best for a reason. If you're looking to work and play hard, UofM is the school for you!