University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Don't stress over choosing a college. Make your decision based upon the factors that are most important to you and your family. Some students rely heavily on the financial aspect; others just want to go where the weather is warm. No matter where you end up, your experience will have the potential to be a great one because college is only what you make of it. If you're bitter about where you're headed, then your sentiment is likely to exacerbate. Remember to keep an open mind and always smile. Do that, and you're bound to go far. My final piece of advice is the most important lesson I learned my freshman year, one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life: if you don't like the way something turns out, DO something about it. Do not ever allow yourself to become defeated when a situation seems bleak. There is always something you can do about it.

When looking at schools, people should make sure to pick the school that works best for their personality and not just that has the "best" program according to surveys. If a student is happy in their learning environment, then they are much more likely to do well and to remember more of the things they have learned. As well, and possibly more importantly, when interviewing for jobs or grad schools it is a common for someone to ask about your college experience. If a person is really focused on choosing what college they are going to by how much it will help them to get the job they want, then this is deffinately somthing that they should consider.

Pick a college for a major that interests you. At least have some idea what you want to do when you go into school. The social life will naturally follow.

I highly recommend that freshman live in dorms to make new friends that will last, and to get a traditional first college experience. I also recommend that students be as serious as possible about academics and their future after school, regardless of what school they decide to attend. As to choosing the right college, I recommend finding a school that will ensure the student a stable future. Also, the tuition should be managable, because (and I would know), if money is an issue, then there will be anxiety about having enough money for things such as food, social activities, extra-curricular activities, or even class itself.

Finding the right college is really up to the student. Too many people will try to influence your decision. My only advice that I can give you is to go with your gut decision. The only advice I can give to parents is to not try and find the right college for your student. My parents really wanted me to go to a small local college (Hope College). I am looking to go to medical school after my undergraduate studies, and while they are great for this, I really am a social person, and they are a very small school. At the last minute, I made the decision to tell my parents that I wanted to go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. My parents were not very happy about the choice, but reluctantly they let me go, figuring I'd be transferring after one semester. I love the University, and it was the best choice of my life. So, the best advice I can give to you, is to let your child choose where they want to school, because it is as big of a choise as what they will major in once they reach college.

for an instrument or voice, take a lesson at every school you visit.

Come to U of M! It's the absolute best place in the whole world. :)

Have a good idea of what you want to do for a living, and look for schools that specialize and/or have majors in that area. If you aren't quite sure what you want to be, find a large university with many options, because chaces are you'll find something you'll like there.

Don't do extra work to try to attend the most prestigious university possible. Work and study as hard for standardized tests as you want to work for the next four years. It isn't so much about the prestige, but about the school that is the right fit for you. I am so glad that I did not attend an ivy league university, because Michigan is the place for me.

Do your research on all the colleges considered. Encourage kids to get out of their rooms and meet people. Find a college that is diverse and one that caters to the needs of students from all types of backgrounds. Have fun but do your work.