University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Above all, it needs to feel right. Do your best to ignore extraneous factors like location and cost. Focus on where so can see yourself LIVING for four years. It's kind of ambiguous but once you feel it you'll understand.

Visit the campus during a school day and during a weekend. There are two very different atmospheres, one during the week, when students are facing classes, exams, papers, and other stresses, and one during the weekend when students are free to loosen up. Talk with students you encounter and visit classes and museums. Remember that whichever school you pick will, in all likelihood, be your home (or your child's home) for the next four years. You need to be comfortable with the environment, knowing that it will provide what you need academically as well as socially. While I was told that football was not a fair reason to pick a college, I'm glad I ignored this. There were many colleges out there that could meet my requirements academically. By factoring in things like football, I have found a college that challenges me in the classroom and yet allows me to truly enjoy the time I spend here. College is more than just books and tests; it is an entire experience, one that requires the student to feel at home on a Monday morning, on the way to class, and on a Saturday night.

College provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for students. The decision, while it need not be permanent, should not be taken too lightly. Visit the campus, speak with other students and explore as much as possible. A university like michigan is diverse and provides a variety of options to its students. I would also suggest that your time on campus be mazimized, recognizing that real life after college will never be the same. Sometimes education is wasted on the young. Take advantage of every opportunity, open every door....

I open the door to my house and am greeted by my couch. ?Yo man! Whatchu been up to?? ?Nothin? much? just watched this documentary about a modern Chinese musical.? ?Word? Yo, check-it, they got a Fresh Prince marathon on tonight, grab a seat!? asked the couch. ?Nah man, I?m not really in college to watch TV,? I answered. ?OK OK. You wanna play some PS3 though? We?re only 37{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} done in GTA 4.? ?Actually I?m about to head to the study abroad fair. I?m thinking about spending a semester in Beijing.? ?Dang man, you sure you don?t want to just spend your college career melting into my warm embrace? Everyone?s doing it!? The couch?s plea was tempting, but I resisted. In my college life, the most important thing has been to get off the couch and experience new things. Universities have endless opportunities waiting to be discovered, yet so many of my friends end up in front of the TV night after night. My advice to students about making the most of their college experience is this: take advantage of all the activities on campus and get off of the couch.

Students should list their main criteria - location, size, etc. This criteria will narrow down your choices. I think the two most important things about any college are whether or not they have the academic programs you are looking for - research, departments, majors, faculty, etc. I also think the social life is extremely important because if you aren't satisfied with your social life it is hard to enjoy yourself and do well in school. Look at sporting events, greek life, housing, etc. In terms of making the most of school, it is critical to be independent and forward. Contact professors and organizations - see if they need help with research or volunteering. College should not just be about textbooks and classes - it is a time to narrow down interests and apply them to the rest of the world. Since you are given the privledge of to educate yourself and become a leader in the world - always think about how you can uses your privledge to somehow advance/better the world. Hopefully having this mindset will help make the most out of your classes, and meet similar people who are passionate and committed to using their education in a positive way.

Take your time in deciding where to go. Make sure you do lots of research, which includes meeting current students and faculty and visiting the campus. Get a feel for what the normal day is like for a student in your major. Keep in mind the little things like how far away from home you'll be (traveling during holidays being an issue), if any other kids from your school are going, and what you want most out of your experience. Take it easy the first semester and try to find classes that will keep you interested, but not too stressed. Get involved in one or two clubs that will introduce you to people like you. Don't overexert yourself, but don't stand on the sidelines while the rest of your peers excel. Most of all, have fun. You are going to school for your own reasons and to change your own life, so don't let others' opinions get in your way. Do what you want to do and be prepared for what comes next. Enjoy the ride.

Choosing a college is not easy. It is a big decision that impacts your future and to transfer is not ideal. Before selecting a college, it is important to find what you want out of your college experience. I think that I had an easier time than many students when deciding to go to the University of Michigan. As a resident of the state of Michigan, I knew that I didn't want to leave the the state for two reason: first, I wanted to be far enough away from home that I was away from home but still close enough that I could go home if I needed to (Ann Arbor is about 100 miles from my home) and second, because I'm putting myself through college, I didn't want to pay out-of-state tuition. U of M is phenomenal academicially and has many other activities. I liked the campus and the environment. Three of my older siblings graduated from U of M and had great experiences. In the end, U of M was my only choice. My advice: find a college that offers everything you want and be confident and happy with your choice.

Finding the right school needs to to fit the personality of the student. The student should attend a school where they will feel comfortable and feel welcome. Parents can push the student to attend their own school of choice but in the long run, only the student knows what can make them happy. I believe that a student who is trying to pick a school should make a list of what is important to them and tour MANY schools and see which highlights most of the items on the list. Once they have chosen a college, getting involved is the most important thing they can do. Whether its sports, study groups, school plays, or dorm councils, getting involved and contributing to your school will build school spirit, introduce you to friends, lets you experience different cultures, as well as lets you know what is going on at your school. Students choose schools by their reputations and students who get invlove with school activities help build those reputations. They can take with them valuable life situations which can help them in the work place. So the key to a great college experience; the right fit for the student and involment.

College is all about what you make of it. I attend the University of Michigan, which is an extremely large school. At first, it can be unwelcoming and lonely, and the sheer amount of people can be overwhelming. However, my school also has an indescribably large number of student groups available, from the squirrel-lovers club to the pre-business club to the club I'm in, Alpha Phi Omega national co-ed service fraternity. My first two years were rough, and I was lonely and depressed. Finally, this year I joined APO and everything has changed. I made myself a small community within a large University, and my experience here has gotten all the better for it. I'm helping others and my community through service, and I'm making new friends and learning new things at the same time. If you're proactive and take steps like this, you can make any college experience memorable no matter where you go.

Choose where you want to go and what you want to study - DO NOT let anyone else put thoughts in your head to lead you in the direction opposite of your heart's desire. Ask as many questions as possible on campus tours and of advisors as they as your best source of information. Finally step outside your box and do things you never considered doing before. You are grown up and on your own for probably the first time so make the most of it and don't hold back!