The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Date: Jan 23 2005
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
It didn’t take a second thoughts to part with the Maze & Blue. I have quickly de-"Wolverine(ized)" myself and transferred to Michigan State University this semester. I’m not promoting Michigan State, although my experience even in the first few weeks here thus far has been amazing; what I have written is in regards to my very negative experience at Michigan.

Let me back a few points:

1)The campus is split into two sections, making it very hard to get from one place to another in an allotted time span. While a bus pass is included in the tuition, the bus service is terrible. The dorms are scattered in the most random of spots, most off on the edges of campus, they feel like jail cells most of the time. While they are safe, you feel locked in a box. The campus ascetics are mediocre at best. A campus such as Michigan State University has an Ivy League feel, while UM is simply a random collection of buildings.

2)The people that go to school here are snooty, they believe they are God’s gift to the world. The Northface coats, designer clothes, and BMWs do nothing for the campus popultion. While there are some very interesting and nice people that go to school here, you probably don’t want to tell them anymore information about yourself if you are Christian, a Conservative, voted for President Bush, or grew up in a small time. If so, you will be labeled closed minded, and you WILL have a hard time making friends, or having a rational discussion.

3)Along the lines as above, the professors here are extremely arrogant and condescending. While I have had a few very nice approachable profs, the majority will give you bad grades on your papers if you dare support a conservative, or even moderate agenda. An girl in my socio class, who decided to speak up of the left leaning subject matter of a supposed non-political class was called out by the professor and then laughed out by the class.

4)Don’t expect the UM to treat you as a person, you are treated as a number. My advisors (I had multiple, because I was thrown around while changing majors), usually had no idea what they were talking about, and just repeated from the Major Handbook.

To sum it up, if you don’t embrace the left-wing agenda, or if you want some one-on-one attention, you are in for a rough time. Some people adapt but have a very mixed feelings after graduating.