The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Date: Apr 16 2007
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm going to start with the two negatives in my book. The first is that it is a huge school and a lot of times it seems that you are just a number in the system. Once you find your niche within your major or whatever, it becomes a lot smaller (get to know your advisor - go in a couple of times a year). This happened even though people constantly tell me what an amazing student I am. But, it took me a long time to feel like I was not just a number. Second, GSI/TAs are abundant. Basically every course I've taken has had a GSI/TA teacher and/or grader. As a result, I've taken classes where the professor only shows up to lecture and leaves the administrative stuff to the GSI, which is not good because the professor does not really care about the class at all. Also, if you get a bad GSI or one that does not care, a course can just become hellish. On the whole, the GSIs aren't bad, but I've had enough bad ones to have a somewhat sour taste in my mouth. But, I've only had 1 GSI that I despised and the rest were at least adequate.

As far a positives, though, they are abundant. In general, professors are pretty accessible and very friendly, helpful and knowledgable. If nothing else, most GSIs are good about being there to help, even if they are bad. The campus is very nice. Football is AMAZING! Go to those games even if you don't like football; it is a unique experience. There are tons of programs and clubs to get invovled with. Furthermore, there has not been a class yet where I haven't learned anything or found a different way to look things, and I've had my fair share of classes that I hated. So be mindful of those two drawbacks. If either of those are a big issue to you, go to a small school.