University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Reviews

"Not a lot of intelligent people here. There is a lot of attitude and pompousness though. Many people insist they are right about everything but either are sheltered or just jumping on the latest trend. It's been almost 20 years since I graduated and I think, the entire time I was there, I never said to myself, "Wow, this person really is brilliant and knows their stuff." Many people in the real world, outside of the Michigan ecosystem, don't like the school or its graduates either. I've heard a lot of complaints that I could personally validate myself. I can tell some of these people are working high up in the auto companies and steering them towards a huge disaster. It's a shame, I wish I'd transferred or never gone here to begin with.Read Less"

"This is more of a review on living in Ann Arbor (AA) and attending the University of Michigan (UofM). This review will be biased towards one side more than the other. I am currently a graduate student in engineering and have attended UofM for two years now, but have only been able to live in AA for one year. The pros of living in AA are that if you like the cold, like me, it's pretty much constantly cold from October through early April. This comes with a caveat as it is pretty much always dreary outside since I have been here during these times. There are plenty of things to do in AA, and downtown AA during the summer is gorgeous. Michigan in general is beautiful, and AA captures that by being unique in its layout and non cookie cutter outline. I will also say that most of the professors that I have had have been some of the best that I have had in my numerous courses and are knowledgeable in their area. Most have emphasized understanding the topic instead of just knowing it to get a good grade which I have found is a key trait to have/look for in a professor. I will also say that since UofM is such a large university that it allows for a large and vast network of connections that one can utilize as well as allows for numerous amenities to be available to the students. That's where I personally believe the positives end. The cons of AA and UofM long and often overlooked, I know because I did when I arrived here. I personally am not a huge fan of public transportation, unless its in the from of subways or trolly cars. AA has neither of those and uses busses pretty much for everything. UofM does the same thing, busses are used to shipped students to and from the North, Medical and Central campus locations as well as other satellite locations around those campuses, this is because there is pretty much no parking available to students on Central campus unless you want to back $2.00 and hour for metered parking. By no parking I mean there is no parking available for students who have purchased a UofM parking pass, so you have to either park on sub street and walk, pay the $2.00 per hour parking or find a place to park in the overly crowded student parking locations to take the bus too and from wherever you parked at. Then there is the case of the numerous rec locations that UofM has, all of which there is no parking near them unless you want to pay $2.00 an hour for metered parking. This is all assuming that you have a vehicle and drive to these locations, which I prefer. If you have a vehicle and are deciding to move to Michigan from out of state you should do some of the following: A). Have a brand new vehicle with a warranty, B). Buy a warranty for your vehicle or C). Become a mechanic or knowledge enough to fix your vehicle. I say this for two reasons 1 being that Michigan is in the rust belt and you car will hate you after only one winter for all the rust it will get. 2) The roads in Michigan are one of, if not the worst maintained/repaired road system in all of the United States. With all honesty 80-85% of the time when I am driving I am driving on roads littered with potholes (and this is after finding the routes that have the nicest roads). Some of the potholes that you will encounter will be large enough and deep enough that they will quite literally snap some of your suspension components, shake things out of place on your vehicle or even break entire rusty components on your vehicle if you are driving fast enough. Unfortunately some of the larger potholes that will do this to your vehicle just happen to be on the highways/interstate. Another aspect that must be kept in mind is the cost of living, which is 10% higher than the national average in AA. Meaning for every $1.10 you spend in AA the average American spent $1.00. This is especially evident in rent prices. I have friends who live in Lawrence, KS who live in a 3 bedroom 2 bath house with a two car detached garage and a giant backyard who pay 300 less than I do for a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment which is priced about average compared to other styled apartments in AA. The food is more expensive, the gas is more expensive than most. Almost everything is more expensive than most of the midwest except for alcohol. Lastly for the cons is the price of tuition for out of state residents. The out of state tuition is over three times higher than instate tuition (for reference my alma mater (Kansas State University) is two times higher but still half the price of UofM's out of state tuition). There is also no viable way for an out of state student to obtain instate tuition as well. The only way I would recommend someone attend UofM if they are not native to Michigan is to start signing up for as many scholarships as one can or talk to professors to get in with them as early as one can. Finally, people here are nice, but not down to earth. What I mean by this I mean most people here are nice because the know its the correct thing to do/act but are not genuinely nice people in the AA/Ypsilanti area compared to most of the midwest. In conclusion, UofM looks like the perfect location on paper or at a glance but as you look closer at it you it looks less and less appetizing. For those alcoholics its like this "When you go out and drinking and see someone who looks like a solid 8-10, but when you wake up next to them the next morning they're actually a solid 4-5." Make sense? If you had made it this far you may tell that I am from a less densely populated area than AA/Ypsilanti/Detroit area and that's why I don't enjoy some of the things I listed above. If you grew up in Michigan, and or have money to spare, and or already have secured funding for tuition/housing/food/gas then Michigan may be right for you, otherwise if you are from out of state and don't have at least two of the three from above then DO NOT attend the University of Michigan. People will say UofM is a topnotch school, and it is, but do not let the rankings fool you like they have numerous other individuals. I have been on numerous campus visits at all of the top 10 engineering schools in America and I would say nearly 90% of the students that I have talked to have been from universities that I have never heard of and aren't even on the top 50 engineering programs. This just goes to say that UofM does have numerous possibilities, which if one utilized all of them can make for a brilliant individual, but it's more about what you as an individual do that will distinguish yourself than what you school ranking is. As stated prior, you can obtain the same quality, if not higher, level of understanding from other universities at a cheaper price, the main thing you get from UofM are the name, network and the possibilities. Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.Read Less"

"I basically had to teach myself the material- 2-3 hours of classroom instruction a week for each class was insufficient to teach me. So, most of my time was spent alone staring at a computer screen, which led to feelings of alienation and loneliness. There was a big sense of competitiveness rather than collaboration, often driven by the fact that grades were based on a 'curve,' so instead of helping each other with the material, students benefited off their peers performing worse than them. Even in classes specific to my major, class sizes were large (50-100 students) and I'm sure my professors didn't know who I was. I also got the feeling that a lot of the professors cared more about their research than engaging in quality teaching to their students, and a lot of classes consisted of rapidly going through numerous wordy slides with the assumption that students would go back and learn the material later on their computers on their own. U of M is also a party school, so if you're into that, maybe it's good for you, but that was never my scene. I also had the expectation that with a bachelor's degree I would be able to get a job doing something I liked in my field of Kinesiology, but it turns out that grad school is the only option moving forward, and most people in my major had intentions of going on to Physical Therapy school. However, my experience at U of M turned me off to school so much that I definitely can't imagine stomaching 3 more years of graduate school. As a comparison, I liked my high school a lot and felt like most of my teachers actually cared about me, and I had close relationships with friends, but in college I felt as though my professors saw me as more of a nuisance getting in the way of their 'real' work and most people I met were just very competitive or uptight or self-righteous. I should have dropped out, because it really got me nowhere except into a headspace of depression, but I was fed the lie over & over again by everyone around me (not just those at school- family, anything I read online, etc) that if I just stuck it out and graduated, the world would be my oyster.Read Less"

"Going to this University has shaped the way I currently view the world. Every student here is highly capable and while at times it was stressful to look around and compare myself to my successful peers, it was in turn what motivated me to do the same. While the school is largely liberal, the University prides itself in creating open-discussion dialogue. The safe space was not always felt by all students, and this is where I really saw the passion in students-- people were encouraged to fight for equalities and injustices. No matter your opinion, there is a group of activists who are already driving this change. It is truly a special place where I was constantly pushed to extend myself further, go out of my comfort zone, and educate myself on the world. Asking questions was always encouraged by professors, and I felt these 4 years of challenges have now allowed me to continue seeking the best in myself as I extend myself into graduate school and beyond.Read Less"

"The University of Michigan is known as the "Harvard of the West" and for good reason. It is an incredibly competitive school with excellent faculty and fast-paced classes. What I appreciated about Michigan in particular was the work-life balance that thrives there. Yes, everyone works really hard to achieve good grades in class but there is also a level of relaxation and rest. Ann Arbor may not be a huge city with a ton of stuff to do all the time, but it is a nice, safe, wholesome town. It was voted best city to live in in a couple of polls as well. I also love the sheer amount of opportunities the school provides to students in whatever interests you have. Whether you are interested in human rights or K-pop dance there is a student organization for everything. Internship and research opportunities are plentiful as well. Michigan is a place where everything is available to you, you just have to take the initiative and get what you want.Read Less"

"University of Michigan alumni will collectively agree that Ann Arbor, Michigan is the greatest place in the world and that the University of Michigan is the greatest University in the universe. In addition to being a BIG 10 school, U of M contributes unequivocally in the areas of academia, school spirit, diversity, and overall culture. U of M offers studies in such a vast variety of subjects (including rocket science) and furthermore subcategories within those subjects. For example, within the vague field of Psychology, they are offer concentrations in various fields. Within my chosen sub-field, I also delved further into a SUB-concentration of Autism studies, where I was able to utilize said degree following my graduation in Case Management for the developmentally disabled population. The alumni organization is phenomenal and offers services well after graduation, including alumni social events or the alumni mentorship program. Even through LinkedIn, being a U of M alumni holds great significance and connections. The University prides itself of great diversity, which can be found not only in course offerings but the student body itself. The amount of student clubs and activities is endless and can include traditional hobbies (from Stomp to Ultimate Frisbee to a nationally-award-winning A Capella program), to the most unique activities, including Squirrel-watching. While politics and culture infiltrate the classroom and student body, the university encourages its students to engage in cordial and professional difference in opinion and meaningful discussion.U of M offers opportunities for every type of person, personality, or goal (academically, professionally, personally, socially, etc.). Though I may be biased, I truly believe that attending University of Michigan is the best choice a student can make. Forever GO BLUE!Read Less"

"I really liked the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) program. The program is still newer and is very small which was actually very nice in terms of being able to get to know the students and professors in the program. I learned about it my freshman year and immediately knew that it was the major for me."

"The University of Michigan lives up to its reputation! It's a wonderful opportunity to get an education from such a prestigious school. The professors are very knowledgeable of the subjects they teach because they are tenured and work in their fields. Many of the professors are also very popular in their fields from making notable contributions. The U pushes its students for greatness, and allows the resources to do so. The school has also made some revisions for students of lower income: tuition is free for in-state students whose EFC is $65000 or under.* Without the burden of financial instability, students can put all of their stress towards exams! A major point of going to college in general is having a degree that's in high demand and that will have a high turn-around for job opportunities. My department, Linguistics, was very small. There weren't many opportunities for me there, especially outside of academia. This is also how the real world is. Nonetheless, Linguistics has a lot of cross-disciplinary professions - so I have hope, especially since the Alumni network is so vast.Read Less"

"The University of Michigan is an exceptional school. From amazing academics to a contagious school spirit, the school helped me grow both as a person and professional. Every student is motivated to do their best. As a student in the College of Engineering studying Environmental Engineering, the campus and the city of Ann Arbor became my classroom. My program explored local environmental issues and incorporated them into the curriculum making my education relevant and important. Although a large school, the College of Engineering administration truly cares about every student, and there are multiple resources available to help with anything anyone may need. If you want to attend a school with a perfect balance of social and academic life, then the University of Michigan is the college for you. Go Blue!Read Less"

"The University of Michigan School of Public Health (U-M SPH) recently created an Undergraduate Program. I will be a part of the first undergraduate graduating class at the U-M SPH in May 2019. Overall, I am satisfied with the education I have received because I was able to bring the content I learned in the classroom to life in my extracurricular activities and service work outside the classroom. That said, the School of Public Health's curriculum is not particularly difficult, so my involvement outside the classroom was imperative to my undergraduate success. The curriculum in the program takes an integrative approach. Where other schools may have a specific biostatistics class or a specific community health class, the U-M SPH curriculum attempts to combine all of these concepts in each required course rather than separating the individual concepts. I think this is a good approach since public health is very interdisciplinary; however, organizing the curriculum in such a way can make the classes feel repetitive in nature. The elective classes, however, are really awesome courses where I feel like I have learned the most on specific public health topics. That said, the program is continuously seeking student feedback through course evaluations and group and individual meetings with the directors of the program. I do truly feel supported in this way at the U-M SPH. Additionally, since the U-M SPH undergraduate education program is new, there are a lot of opportunities to shape the program, provide feedback, and start new initiatives. There are also plenty of opportunities to get involved in research at the school and U-M SPH resources such as financial aid scholarships for internships and study abroad are expanding each consecutive year the program exists.Read Less"

"The University of Michigan is an excellent if you are clear on what you want to study. The University has excellent colleges in business, engineering and education. You are able to take class in other colleges within the university. However, you must be self sufficient and self directed. The counseling staff will help guide you but you must set and reach your goals on your own."

"My time at the University of Michigan was filled with wonderful experiences. Here, the microbiology program allows students to gain a diverse plethora of knowledge in and outside of the classroom. Coming from a small high school, the University of Michigan helped me to expand my world view and showed me a variety of possibilities through which I can impact the world."

"I was initially dually enrolled but chose to only complete my Creative Writing degree through the Residential College. I loved the Residential College because of its small class sizes, and having the opportunity to work one-on-one with renowned writers. The University of Michigan is huge, so this is a great option for a more personable experience. The intensive language component of the RC is difficult however, so be prepared to work hard. The University as a whole has numerous resources: advising, services for students with disabilities, opportunities for research projects and extracurriculars. Make connections while you are there, take risks and get involved. Make the most out of it! My path through undergraduate education was not linear, but I will say that my biggest take-away post-graduation is to be financially smart about your education. I loved attending the University of Michigan and I love Ann Arbor. It is especially nice and quiet in the summer if you stick around. If you are unsure about your major, a smart option is to get your prerequisites filled at a community college (just make sure they are applicable/transfer). You can even take some online courses at WCC while attending the University. I am going to be attending a graduate program at The University of Michigan this year, and wish someone would have coached eighteen year-old me on the reality of student debt. Higher education is a large investment in both time and money, so be thoughtful about your decision.Read Less"

"The Univesity of Michigan-Ann Arbor is an institution of higher learning that is very easy to get lost in. The student body during my time on campus as an undergraduate student was incredibly large (~25,000 students) and so it is important to join clubs and campus organizations in order to find your "tribe." The faculty was an incredible resource and I love to hang out at the student union. I just hope they've improved the dining options! If you're fortunate enough to be accepted, it's a great value. Foot ball games are a must, as are the numerous social events and brown bags to get to know your professors, which you should want to do if you ever want to get into grad/professional school!Read Less"

"While the University of Michigan is a very large campus, evolving each year that I go back to visit, it is teeming with opportunities and safe spaces where a student can find a "home" and a sense of belonging. Since I attended the University many years ago, buildings have been renovated, programs have been revised, and the campus has been updated in general. It sits in the heart of the city and serves as its beat. Counselors are available for academic and social-emotional support, financial aid officers assist with money matters, and generally the professors are available for office hours, if only students would take advantage and attend. I have to say, as someone who loves to read, the updated library is fabulous!Read Less"

"My degree didn't directly prepare me to work in the Psychology field because it is a field in which a graduate degree is required, which is what I am working toward now. However, I took classes that gave me real life experiences through volunteering and internships that helped to make my learning more concrete and applicable to the real world. It's a massive school with a crazy amount of resources, but it's on you to find and take advantage of them."

"University of Michigan is a great school that allows you to grow and learn in a challenging environment. There are so many options of classes and programs to be a part of. Anyone can find a community to be a part of here. And there are an endless amount of classes to choose from."

"While I value my entire experience at the University of Michigan, it was the time I spent in the Ford School of Public Policy that set me on a trajectory to become a leader in public service. The schools flexible yet focused model of having each student create their own focus area fosters a culture of academic diversity that is unparalleled. In terms of faculty, the Ford School has world-class practitioners that happen to be amazing at teaching. The use of current day policy issues and case studies from around the globe give every lecture and section an element of novelty and relevance. The Ford Schools undergraduate and graduate cohorts are the perfect size, about 50 and 30 students respectively, and there's a good amount of interaction between the cohorts, but this is one area in which the school can strengthen. From the computer lab and study rooms, to the elegant yet modern lecture halls, I always felt distinguished and privileged strolling through the facilities -- this place is beautiful. Of all the things I loved about Ford, it was the Writing Center that I cherished the most. In order to be effective in the world of policy, writing is one of the most essential tools. The Ford School recognizes this, and provides professional writers to assist Ford students with their essays, memos, and talking points. Thanks to this resource, writing has become one of my greatest skills, a skill that many policy practitioners, including myself use every single day.Read Less"

"Before I get into this article, Id like to start with a little disclaimer: I am in no way intending to insult the University of Michigan as an institution or any of the faculty and staff associated with it. Im extremely thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the university and am grateful to the people that vouched for me. Im also not suggesting that formal education is useless, as it certainly has its place in certain professions (e.g., medical professionals, lawyers, and engineers). Ultimately, Im writing this article to shed some light on the dynamics of higher education within my field of interest and to potentially help those that might be contemplating career or continuing education decisions in this area. In my experience from the first semester, Ive been left with nothing but great things to say about my classmates, counselors, professors, and lab coordinators. The resources at Michigan are impeccable and the network of people that youre exposed to as a student is also top notch. So if I have all these wonderful things to say, then why would I have withdrawn half-way through? There is a multitude of reasons that Im going dive into pretty thoroughly that justify this decision. First, is the design of the movement science masters. The beauty of the program is in its openness and autonomy that it provides students to specialize or diversify within the sub-divisions of kinesiology (e.g., biomechanics and rehabilitation, exercise physiology, and motor control etc.). It accomplishes this by mandating that students only take two required courses, upper-level statistics and research methods. While the rest of the coursework must be dedicated to at least 9 credits worth of movement science studies. The only problem is that there is a lack of faculty to provide enough classes that actually merit a truly graduate level education within these sub-fields. The university does have tremendous faculty doing excellent research, which is a huge plus from the outside looking in, but it does no good if they dont have the time or support to teach graduate level material. They circumvent this problem by allowing masters students to take a variety of undergraduate elective courses that really arent designed to create a student that is a master of science. For someone who is pursuing higher education to gain a skill(s) that will enable career independence and be desirable in the marketplace, this is not beneficial. Its easy to listen to the allure of your ego whispering in your ear about how distinguished youll be with two extra letters behind your name and a recognizable brand to solidify your credibility, but thats simply delusion if the skills and experience arent there to back it up when the rubber hits the road. Second, is the cost of higher education and saturation of degrees in the marketplace. As a masters student, youre in a weird place when it comes to funding. Youre not at the Ph.D. level, in that you wont receive tuition assistance and a stipend for living. While your other alternatives from the government are also limited. So, for most people that means taking out unsubsidized loans that accrue interest while you pursue your degree, which would be okay if you had a guaranteed vocation following graduation (e.g., academia, research, medicine, allied health, etc.). However, this is most likely not the case, as the aim of the program is to create graduates [that] are well-prepared to pursue doctoral research studies, professional health care programs including medicine and rehabilitation, health and wellness, as well as positions in the private and public sector. These circumstances create a time crunch where you're ultimately on the clock to try to cram as many credits in each semester to complete your degree as fast as possible. Im sure most of you know that cramming the night before an exam is not the way to achieve excellence in a subject and its no different here. So not only are students stuck with the limited course selection within Kinesiology, but its in a condensed time frame that doesn't allow for the advertised flexibility unless you take the two years $50,000 route. For the financially-conscious student, it also doesn't leave enough time to gain rapport with a lab to conduct any meaningful research (a critical component of graduate-level scientific studies), which could mitigate the negative educational impact of the limited course offerings. For any of the younger kids out there, let me emphasize how critical it is to manage your debt while in school. As a younger guy, I didn't really grasp the importance of this and Im guessing that a lot of other people failed to as well, given that there is $1.275 trillion of student loan debt in the U.S. as of September 2017 with 40% of that coming from graduate and professional degrees. Just based on personal anecdote, the market is saturated with college kids with degrees from big-brand and even smaller name universities while working fairly remedial jobs. In my opinion, this is evidence that it makes no sense to spend more than you have to on tuition. Go to a community college for as long as you can and get the information that you need to pursue your career and don't pay a penny more. In todays market, what really matters is who you know and what you've done and its never been easier to network and showcase your skills. Third, in the field of strength and conditioning, its all about time on the saddle. If your desire is to coach general population clients, athletes, or strength sports competitors then the best way to learn is through observing the top in the field, applying their knowledge, and actively participating. Ive heard countless leaders tell stories that follow this framework. For example, Ive heard T. F. discussing his decision to forgo an MBA in exchange for experimenting with financial investing with a business mentor by utilizing what would have been his MBA tuition (if you're unfamiliar with Tim check out his blog https://tim.blog/). Another example is a pioneer in the strength community, Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell, constantly on the front lines learning and applying his knowledge in training which has resulted in hundreds of world record power lifters (https://www.westside-barbell.com/). Both of these guys have been extremely successful in their given fields by simply taking initiative and gaining first-hand experience. Often times, the information you receive in the academic setting is behind the times or occurs in a vacuum, making it less valuable in a real-world setting. Im not diminishing the importance of having a solid scientific foundation in topics like physics, chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology because they will certainly boost the comprehension of any personal trainer or strength coach, but I believe that for these professions they can be acquired in a much more cost-effective fashion through self-education. Lastly, there are so many inexpensive, more effective educational alternatives in the free market. In these modern times, you can learn nearly anything online either through websites like Coursera.org, Skillshare.com, or Lynda.com. Other alternatives include podcasts, you tube, audiobooks, and webinars. If its not online, then you can probably order a book on the subject from Amazon quicker than you can blink your eyes. Lastly, if that's not enough then there are plenty of credible professionals running weekend seminars or certifications that are a fraction of college tuition. Another great educational alternative is interning. The hands-on experience allows for observational learning, immediate application of knowledge, and direct feedback from a mentor. This learning model is much faster than what typically happens in school. If any younger kids have read this far, check out discoverpraxis.com for internships with start-up companies that utilize this apprenticeship model. In conclusion, there are a lot of options available that are less expensive, more efficient, and provide a level of differentiation in a diluted market.Read Less"

"The University of Michigan has given me an amazing education and I have made so many life long friends here. It is the best balance of work and fun and I couldn't have asked for a better school to prepare me for the workplace. It also helps that it is prestigious and I love how many alums I see all over the world repping their go blue gear. There are so many different organizations to get involved in to really help you shape your college experience. AMAZING I LOVE IT"