I had never been to Ann Arbor before this past weekend. I did not apply to the University of Michigan and, surprisingly, I never made the trip to visit friends or check out the art fair. Admission is becoming increasingly selective, a coveted prize for competitive students who want a larger public institution with many attributes of a private university. I had to see for myself why so many college-bound students from northeast Ohio are willing to break ranks as a buckeye and don maize and blue at this Big 10.
After a quick lunch at Zingerman's, I waited in the Huetwell Visitors Center with about 50 students and their families for the official tour to begin. Most were juniors just beginning their college search while some introduced themselves as hopeful seniors awaiting (what are now imminent) admission decisions.
My tour guide was Holly, a charismatic, captivating junior from New Jersey majoring in public health who flawlessly made life at UM seem easy and ideal.
Our first stop was the courtyard of West Quad, a large co-ed dorm. It was quiet, but the soggy Lucky Charms littering the stairs and sidewalks—left over from St. Patty’s Day—evidenced that this area certainly comes to life. While there are some all female residence halls, most freshman live in doubles in co-ed dorms. Check this out for all your housing questions and concerns.
We continued to Michigan Union. Fun fact: JFK gave a late night campaign speech on its steps in October 1960. Michigan Union is impressive, not just in architecture but in all of its amenities. It’s a good thing Michigan has one dining plan for freshmen—which includes unlimited daily swipes—because the options are seemingly endless. Students can download a mobile ordering app or follow @umich.tendies on Instagram to track the availability of chicken tenders across campus.
Let’s talk libraries, arguably one of the most important attributes of the school you choose. I believe in finding a favorite spot, and you should, too. The library is where you’ll likely spend the most amount of time in school except for your room. The UM law library is open to undergraduates during certain hours and provides extremely quiet study spaces. It is architecturally stunning and likely gives undergrads an air of studious confidence.
We entered Shapiro Undergraduate Library, nicknamed the UGLI, both because it lacks ambiance and it’s a nice way to shorten UnderGraduate LIbrary. It offers collaborative spaces and some study carrels that Holly said can be hard to find come midterms and finals. She studies at Hatcher Graduate Library, the largest library on campus, where you can reserve study carrels or find space among the stacks.
Which brings me to the next important topic: classes! Michigan balances large classes (think 250+ seat lectures) with discussion sections capped at 25 students. I specifically asked Holly about student temperaments and whether stimulating intellectual civil debate and dialogue are alive and well at UM. Holly said her professors have been pro at moderating heated classroom discussions, playing devil’s advocate, and challenging students to think in new ways. Check-plus-plus in that department!
Upon wrapping up at The Diag, I wanted to get a feel for the surrounding off-campus area. State Street was a two minute walk and had all the bubble tea, coffee shops, ice cream, and noodle bars a student (and me) would want. A Walgreens is on the corner and CVS is on the same block. Boutiques, gift stores, and restaurants abound, all within 6 blocks. The off-campus housing around Hill Street looked clean and convenient to campus as well as The Big House.
Along with the general geography and feeling students are looking for when they tour schools, I left with encouraging information for all potential applicants. Michigan does not require its students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year—their fourth semester. Instead, Michigan embraces a philosophy of student curiosity, encouraging freshmen and sophomores to satisfy general education requirements through an array of courses that pique their interests. If you want to apply to Michigan as undecided, do so with confidence that your willingness to explore—to stick a toe in before jumping off—aligns with UM’s academic plan for you. To me, this is Michigan’s commitment to your future success, to attaining a degree in something around which you sincerely want to build your life.
Michigan checks many boxes for students who want the quintessential college experience. Less rural than IU and Penn State but not nearly as urban as OSU, UM falls nicely in the middle with a well-developed college town built up around an esteemed university. I did not get the eye candy of a well-groomed campus, and students weren’t tossing a football on a picturesque quad. I spent my 75-minute tour in consistent rain while furiously typing phone notes with cold fingertips. Still I left enlightened, still Michigan sold itself without the frills, without the sun. This unofficial Buckeye sees why many Ohio students choose to Go Blue.
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