The University of Michigan - Dearborn

Date: Dec 01 2009
Major: Computer Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Now… before some of you think I'm going on an ego trip by saying "super brilliant", it was the best way I could express how determined I am to start making computers.

Am I really a genius? I don't know. I just know that I've got more than enough cognitive ability to handle what they've been teaching me so far, whatever that means.

I do not think this school gives a good education, to anyone. the classes offered in this school seem to foster mediocrity and laziness, and the introductory classes are insultingly easy (no sane person over the age of 10 should need to take some of the classes required for engineering degrees).

In my experience I have found a startlingly large group of extremely condescending and even insulting teachers who seemed to consider themselves far above dealing with individual students' questions and concerns. There have been a few good teachers, don't get me wrong, but the majority of them are very difficult to talk to or work with.

Some of them seem to want to group all the students into a mass of bafoons who don't have the faintest clue what they are talking about, and I think that's a dreadful philosophy, we as students deserve their respect, we've been through a lot (it's not all high school musical).

The arts and humanities department especially seems to be plagued with this kind of teacher. It seems like the most basic classes attract the most kindergarten-like teachers, but I suppose that makes sense.

The degree programs I've been involved in (2) are of very slow pace due to a significant amount of filler in the form of "major specific" composition and business classes, even though my major is Computer Engineering. It is pretty safe to predict that you will be taking at least one non-major class per semester for your entire college career.

Another important note is the scheduling here. Our scheduling is atrocious, next semster I can only take two classes because all of the classes I would have been able to take run at the exact same time.

NOTE: Once you transfer in to UM-Dearborn, you will not be able to guest student anywhere else. You have to sign a contract at orientation which makes all transfer credits null and void if taken while currently enrolled at UMD.

I tried to do this to fill up my schedule, but it didn't work, obviously.

Yet another note, the parking here is terrible, if you get here an hour early (i.e., by 8:30 AM) you will get a great parking spot, otherwise you will have to walk rather far.

I must also warn incoming freshman, especially those speaking work in the University, that Affirmative Action is still a very powerful force in this school. Be very careful about what you say, if you think you are friends enough with somebody to ask about their home country (many come from very interesting places), be EXTREMELY careful. Faculty members have punished students severely for being racially insensitve in the past, and have been known to have a very active imagination in their charges.