The Pros and Cons of UMich

What is the University of Michigan’s reputation?

“legendary football program” “the Big House” “incredible alumni network” “lots of school spirit” “freezing cold winters” “great social scene” “competitive atmosphere” “Top 5 business program” “Top 5 engineering program” “Ann Arbor is the perfect college town” “prominent Greek scene” “amazing deal for in-state students”

The University of Michigan (aka “UMich” or “Michigan”) is one of the best public universities in America. It is frequently ranked as the 3rd best public university (behind only UCLA and UC Berkeley), and in the Top 25 best universities overall. It is extremely large, with over 31,000 undergraduates, and it is located in the mid-sized city of Ann Arbor, MI, which is about an hour west of Detroit, and is often considered “the perfect college town” because it’s safe, walkable, and offers plenty to see and do, from cultural events to festivals to shops and restaurants.

Competitive Spirit.

If the University of Michigan had a smaller, sister school in the Ivy League, it would probably be the University of Pennsylvania, because the two universities have much in common. They both have elite undergraduate business schools, they both have top engineering programs, they’re both known for being extremely social, and they both have intensely competitive atmospheres.

Just like at Penn, the culture at UMich is hyper-competitive. It can be extremely difficult to get into the fraternity or sorority you want, just as it can be maddeningly difficult to get into the professional clubs you want, like the popular co-ed “business frats.” In addition, many courses are graded on a curve, which means only a fixed percentage of students can earn an A: that puts you in direct competition with your classmates. So while UMich is undeniably a fun and stimulating place to attend college, be prepared to fight tooth and nail for everything.

The Pros of UMich…

#1: In-state Perks — If you’re an in-state resident, UMich is a no-brainer. The in-state acceptance rate is 40% compared with only 18% for out-of-state students. In addition, annual tuition for Michigan residents is only $20,000, compared with $65,000 for everyone else. So if you’re from Michigan, it’s hard to justify going anywhere else unless you land a big scholarship.

#2: Social Life — Michigan is a classic work hard-play hard school, where students balance rigorous academics with a lively social scene. Most weeknights, and every weekend, you can find students out socializing, partying, and enjoying themselves. This is a school that celebrates enjoying the “complete” college experience.

#3: Ann Arbor — The city of Ann Arbor surrounds campus and is considered one of the best college towns in America. It’s not a huge city, but there’s plenty to do all year-round, and just as important, it’s all easily walkable from campus. Not only is the city walkable, there are bike paths everywhere. It truly adds to the overall student experience.

#4: School Spirit/Alumni Network — Michigan has tons of school spirit, and everyone rallies together for the Fall football games, which are played in the Big House, which is the largest stadium in America. Students love their school, and alumni are strongly invested in its success, so they will bend over backwards to help you in your career.

#5: Ross School of Business — Michigan’s undergraduate business program is ranked Top 5 in the nation, and combined with a legendary alumni network, makes it a top prospect for anyone who wants to pursue business. (It’s acceptance rate is 9%.)

#6: Engineering — Michigan’s undergraduate engineering program is also one of the best in the nation, frequently ranking in the Top 10, which notably places it ahead of all the Ivy League.

#7: LSA Honors Program— The liberal arts college at Michigan (LSA: College of Literature, Science, and the Arts) invites a select number of incoming freshmen to join the prestigious LSA Honors Program which provides a small Ivy League-type experience within a larger public university and offers small classes, a collaborative learning environment, professor mentorship, special housing, etc.

The Cons of UMich…

#1: Competitive Atmosphere — As a rigorous institution with very little hand-holding, students learn that they have to fend for themselves to compete for grades, the best clubs, and other limited resources. This is quite different from smaller, private institutions (like Rice, Brown, or the “Little Ivies”) which foster a much more supportive and collaborative environment.

#2: North Campus — Part of Michigan’s campus is located 15 minutes north of the main campus by shuttle bus. If you happen to end up in one of the dorms on North Campus, or you take engineering or CS courses, you will likely have to commute between the two campuses, which can be time-consuming and annoying. (Plus it’s cold waiting for a bus in the winter.)

#3: Weather — Due to its location near Lake Erie, UMich experiences very cold winters with lots of wind and snow, and when you factor in wind chill, the temperature often drops below 0. This is not a place for the faint of heart, and you can expect to spend lots of the winter months indoors.

#4: Diversity — While other top universities (like the Ivy League) have about 30-35% white students, the percentage of white students at UMich is closer to 50%. For a public university, however, UMich does have pretty good geographical diversity, and nearly 40% of students are from out-of-state.

#5: Hierarchical Greek System — There’s a very strong Greek presence on campus, though only 20% of students actually belong to a Greek organization. But some students complain that the Greek house you belong to determines your social status on campus.

If you like UMich, you might also like…

If you’re looking for other big public universities that combine world-class academics with a fun and lively social scene, a big sports culture, and a strong alumni network, you might also consider UCLA (#15), UNC Chapel Hill (#27), University of Florida (#30), UT Austin (#30), UWisconsin-Madison (#39), Ohio State (#41), and University of Georgia (#46).

How to get into UMich…

#1: Be a Michigan Resident — It cannot be overstated how much the university favors in-state residents. As an out-of-state applicant, you have much smaller odds of being admitted (18% for OOS vs. 40% for in-state), and it’s even lower for the Ross School of Business (9%).

#2: Apply EA - When you apply Early Action (EA), you may get a slight admissions boost (25% EA vs. 18% Regular Decision). And there’s no real downside to applying early because it’s non-binding. Also, because it’s a public institution, private universities like Harvard, Stanford, Brown, and Notre Dame, etc. will allow you to apply ED or REA (Restrictive Early Action) to their schools and still let you apply EA to Michigan.

#3: Beat the Average Scores - If you look up the average stats of admitted freshmen to UMich, you will see SAT scores of 1470 and ACT scores of 33. But keep in mind that the university is going to be more selective with out-of-state applicants, so you should plan to submit scores well above these institutional averages if you hope to stand out in the application process and “take the place” of an in-state student.