University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

I think that the most important thing to do when deciding on what college to attend is to visit the schools you are interested in. I read a lot of brochures and college books when I was applying to college, and while this information was interesting and informative, statistics and other people's opinions can only get you so far. You really need to visit the town or city where the University is located to get an accurate feel for the kind of students, learning environment, and social scene that the school has to offer. I only visited a hanful of the schools that I applied to and it really made my decision much more difficult.

It's really up to the student to make college into what she/he wants it to be. If you want it to be one big party, it will. If you want it to be solely academic, it will. It's up to you to find the balance and the people who bring out your best.

To parents I recommend allowing their student to chose a school that is right for them. We only go to college as an undergraduate once and it is more important for a student to go to the school that is right for them than to accomadate their parents desires. Parents must be willing to accept this and support their student throughout the process. To students I recommend doing research and making sure the school choosen is the right one. It may be easier to go to the school you grew up cheering for in football or basketball or the school most of your high school friends are going to, but neither of these reasons guarentee that you will enjoy it or be happy there. Go to the school that is the best match for you. While there, leave your safetly zone and try new things. Most schools have a wide-variety of student organizations and even though some may not have been things you did in high school, it is important to try new things. Make friends early and get to know as many people as possible because you never know who you'll be friends with after four years.

Two words: Get Involved! No matter where you go, you will be much more satisfied with your college experience if you are involved in both social and academic activities. One suggestion is a live-in program for first year students. I tried a live-in research program and absolutely loved it. It gave me an immediate network of friends and the opportunity to learn about and participate in research. Having this tight community comming into college was the best decision I made. The sooner you join a group, the easier your transition will be - I promise! As for choosing the right college, you should of course be concerned with university's and the program's academic ratings and job placement statistics. Also consider available activities, the campus culture (artsy, sports fans...), and the weather - you'd be suprised what winter can do to the unsuspecting! Finally, the best way to be sure about that difficult decision is to get the facts - visit the campus and talk to students and professors. Also, talking to people on the busses and in the halls will give you the candid conversations that will tell you the most.

I would tell parents/students to start looking into schools early. I think that I am lucky having a school as great as the University of Michigan so close to home. Make sure that you are comfortable with the atmosphere that the school provides. To make the most of the college experience, make sure that you do some enjoyable things. Go to the gym and play basketball, go to sporting events, meet people. You can do well academically and still have some fun.

Many parents tend to place so much emphasis on just the academics of a college. However, students cannot fully enjoy the college life if they are stuck in an ill-fit environment. Some students may prefer to attend large colleges where they may be exposed to a more diverse college culture. Others may prefer smaller college settings where there may be greater focus on the individual students from the faculty and more accessibility to certain aspects of academics. In terms of academics, searching for a school that has a strong and reknown department in the area the students wishes to study is important. Although certain colleges may be presitigious, they may not have a suitable department for the things that the student wishes to study. Finally, the decision to attend a specific college can not be a decision made solely by the student. Although many people may emphasize that the student will choose the college best for them, they fail to realize that the student also has no idea of how college life in that certain college will be like. This decision to attend a college must be one made by the students and their families.

College becomes your home, it is not just a place where you take classes and earn your degree. Your school friends become your best friends. Your campus becomes your community. The extracurricular activies offered along with the party scene becomes your social life. Make sure you feel completely comfortable where you end up going; visit the campus, spend time talking to students, ask plenty of questions.

My advice for parents is to find a college that has a great reputation and can offer the financial aid the family needs. My advice for students is to visit a friend at the college, if at all possible, and go out to some social events. Tours of the college are pretty much pointless because it offers a look at the buildings and programs but does not offer any look into the actual lives of the students.

I would first consider a few schools that are very different. Large, small, urban, rural, warm climate, etc to try to figure out what setting you think you want your education to be in. Once you've established that, try to find a good mix of schools that match that setting. Don't be afraid to aim too high in where you apply (for one or two schools, of course not all of them!) and once you get in a school, start researching different majors and try to find out what each will lead to after graduation. It's never too early to think about this and a lot of college advisors don't stress professional development. Make sure you choose a degree that you like, and something that will be valuable professionally. Good luck!

The University of Michigan was not my first choice school, but I am thoroughly enjoying my experience. I would say that parents and students should be very open minded both when choosing a school and when attending their chosen school for the first time. I go to school far away from where I grew up and where my parents live. They were not happy with this, but we can all agree that it has been a good thing and really given me the opportunity to experience things for myself and grow. I am part of one of the living-learning communities here and it has improved my experience so much, so i would suggest checking those kinds of things out.