University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

I have only been a college student for at least a semester, at Pasadena City College, and I have learned that being productive is one of the key elements for one to be succesful in life - not just in college but life in general. My very own experience as a college student has opened my eyes to this fact. This was because of me underestimating the freedom that comes to being a college student. I began to not value my time as to what I used to do in high school, because of the thought I can do my work during my class intervals; that is because I used to have a non-hectic schedule in college compared to what I have in high school. I was proven wrong when I realized that my work loads are starting to pile up. Now, I look at this experience as a lesson that I will never forget even after graduating, because it has taught me a lot pertaining to time management. If not with being a college student, I will not have the ability to understand that I have to do my priorities first, and then do the least important things after.

Google the words college student and you will see pictures of students in their teens smiling with their arms around one another. Google the words working mom and you will see pictures of smiling moms in business suits with happy children. Everyone is so happy on Google. Here lies my biggest life lesson as an almost thirty working-mom-college-student. You might not always smile. Earning a degree is the second biggest accomplishment only to be outshined by my two wonderful, sometimes noisy, especially when I want to study, children. It has been a long and tough ride being a mother and attending school. Trying to find the balance between studying and spending quality time with them is one of the hardest feats. I have learned that in spite of the temptation to cry hysterically and withdraw from school I am giving my two beautiful girls a better life. That in itself is worth every second of every moment of frustration and sleepless nights. All those smiling pictures leaves me to wonder, are they really college students and working moms or just paid models? Or possibly, are they gritting their teeth so hard it looks like they are smiling?

My college experience has opened my eyes to different cultures, opportunities, and ways of life. I have learned a lot about who I am and who I want to be. I came to college as a freshman majoring in pharmaceutical studies. Through my experiences at college, I have changed my major to history and museum studies. I plan to work in a museum environment upon graduation. Since I arrived at college, I have discovered who I really am; not just who others expect me to be. This experience has been life changing.

Someone once said to me, "Value that opportunity to study in school, where the whole range of human knowledge is before you. When you are out of school, you probably won't get that chance again." College has forced me to consider who I am and who I want to be. I study hard in my classes and try to learn as much as I can, because I need those skills for my future career. More than just that, I need those skills so that someday I can do my part to make the world a better place. Another effect of college is perhaps best expressed by my dad. I went home for the first time during Christmas break. After my return to campus in January, my dad said in an email, "You are ... more mature. This is what we observed from you while you were home." Being in college, I am no longer under the wings of my parents or the familiarity of my hometown. Being on my own, I have to make my own choices and think for myself. I am still trying to distill the different ideas I encounter and create who I want to be.

It's difficult to choose what I've gotten out of my college experience so far. In fact, I've sat here for the last 30 minutes staring blankly at the screen trying to figure out one specific thing, but I rather think that would be impossible. What I do know is that the opportunities I've had to travel the United States and the world, meet countless people, interact one on one with professionals who are at the top of their respective fields, would never have happened if I didn't attend college. I have learned to embrace each chance that comes my way to learn/experience something new, as well as to take matters into my own hands and shape my own future!

I have learned so much about the real world while going to the university of Michigan. i have learned alot about politics, and getting along with people. I've learned about diversity and the different struggles that people have to go through. And every football saturday i learned a lot about unity through good times and through bad.

With one semester of college I have learned a lot about what it takes to be an adult. When you leave high school and enter college it is similar to living in the real world. Your education is no longer free; you have to find a source of income, whether it be scholarships or a job, to get an education. Along with having to make sure that you have clean clothes, well fed and complete your homework. The most important concept I have gotten out of college is what it means to be on my own. This type of experience is good because later when I graduate with a degree there really will not be anyone to hold my hand. I will have to use skills that I have learned through college and life experiences to make sure bills are paid and food is on the table. In other words learning this type of responsibility has opened my eyes to the "real" world.

Really college has been a great step from high school. The benefits are that instead of attending classes from 7:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. the classes are chosen by the student and are not usually held every single day. However, at this point in time students usually have reached the age of legal adulthood, and so students are expected to take on the responsibilities of being an adult. Therefore the workload increases and it has become harder which means the expectations have risen. I realized that I got away with procrastination in high school, but in college that will come back to haunt me for I have gotten to the point of almost not being able to turn in a important assignment. I do realize, though, that in college students must be able to take a personal responsibility in their education. We all attend college to pursue what we love to do, and in order to maintain a job from our majors we must be able to use the lessons we learn as new adults in college in order to survive in the "real world".

Starting college has become my biggest accomplishment! I grew up in foster care, and my real family has no education past high school if that, statistcally i was forseen to be noone and do a lot of... well nothing with my life. Attending college has been most valuable to me because i proved to myself that i can do anything i set my mind to and i kicked those stats in the face!

At the University of Michigan, I have not just gained skills in the Information Sciences or computer programming, or garnered lasting relationships with both faculty and fellow students, but have grown personally. With my many leadership positions as President of the Informatics Student Organization, various research projects in fields such as meteorology, sociology and technology I have grown as a leader, more confident when presenting myself and more confident when leading others. I have also grown to appreciate my own personal heritage when I was given the opportunity to study abroad for a semester at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. That trip also allowed me to travel to the nearby countries of Egypt and Jordan, and learn about and appreciate their history, culture and peoples. One of the greatest things I have gotten out of my college experience was a newfound passion for entrepreneurship. I recently took a class in “Smartphone Programming” and led a team in developing an iPhone app for verbally impaired individuals, called “Spubble”. It has been downloaded over 75 times in two weeks, in countries across the globe. As a result of this experience, my team and I plan to start our own company.

It goes without saying that I have gained a great deal of knowledge while at college; that is, technically, what college is for after all. What I have really learned at school, though, is who I am and what kind of world we have. Through discussions and group projects, I learn how I respond to others and how to interact with people who have different experiences and lifestyles. It is eye opening to see how other people live and to consider the alternatives to my background. I am incredibly interested in learning about other people, sometimes more so than learning about classes. While college is supposed to be about learning facts, it also teaches us about how to be responsible citizens in the world and how to interact with people who are different from us. It is this knowledge that will stick with us 50 years from now, not the specifics of the Battle of Waterloo. Those who do not attend college miss out on this valuable life experience. It is truly the only time in life when you can figure out how you fit into the world in a safe, open environment. I would not miss it for anything.

College has been more about figuring out who I am and what I want out of my life than it has been about academics. Not to downplay my studying, that was a huge part of my activities, however Michigan did allow me to explore different aspects of my passions and interests. I came in with a career in mind, that I am not questioning. This University put me through Hell in many ways, but really did allow me to blossom in many other ways. I am a stronger and more passionate person because of this college, to be sure and I truly believe that I will be dedicated to Human Rights and Health for my entire career. I believe that Michigan has given me the tools to be motivated to change this world and the alumni network to put it into action. This is a very rare gift.

I have learned to be open to other ways of life. As a result I have become a better student as I have learned alternative ways to learn and interact with fellow classmates. College is not just about academics, it is a testing site for the real world. If we cannot embrace our differences, we will not be able to fully function in our multicultural society. Michigan has taught me how to relate to people on a deeper level and new ways of gaining intelligence. It has truly been an invaluable experience that I would trade for the world.

From my college experience I have been able to open up to different ideas. Before I arrived to the university I was against taking any type of social science or humanities course because I am the type of person that likes definite answers, not one that can be said and then disregard the next moment. However, once I arrived here I was able to appreciate these courses. They help us understand what happens in the world from a non-science perspective. These courses have been shown me that we all need from one another to succeed. I find this a very valuable experience because I am learning things that I would have not considered if I were in another situation. The college makes students take such courses so they can expand their ideas in different ways and that is what I am doing. I am learning to thing analytically in a different way that does not require me to use a calculator or a formula in order to yield a correct answer.

I have gained a lot of knowledge during my first semenster. I have been able to determine my engineering program is one in which I will continue to become a sucessful engineer. I have learned that colleage is a new way of life. You have to be determined to study and put forth great effort to become successful. The Univeristy of Michigan has allowed me to, through, their great engineering classes, to even enjoy the career path I look forward to completing. I know it will help me become, one day, a successful engineer can help change the way we live.

I have only been in college for one semester so far, but I can safely say that I have gotten an incredible amount out of it. Take the first week of school for example. I was coming in knowing nobody except the few friends from my high school - so was the case for most of the incoming class. I made more friends from more parts of the country, and even the world, that week alone than I think I have the previous 18 years of my life. It was incredible. In the process of attaining a large groups of friends, I joined a fraternity - something I thought I would never do. I was, and still am, having a blast meeting so many new and brilliant people. Friends are not why I came to the University of Michigan however. I came because of the reputation of academic competitiveness and excellence the university has so strongly upheld. I came to learn. And learn I have. I was accepted into the very difficult College of Engineering and am taking a heavy course load. I have learned so much in such a small amount of time, I can hardly believe it. I love college!

College is one of the biggest transitions a person must adjust to in life. Moving away from home and jumping into a world where everyone is so unique can be extremely overwhelming and frightening. Before entering college, I knew that there was one thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life: medicine. Unfortunately, I grew up with a disability that caused me to spend countless hours in various hospitals as a child. Instead of using my disability as a set back in life, I have embraced it and devoted my life to helping others in the way that my doctors, my heros, have inspired me to do. The University of Michigan has allowed me to carry on my dream with no regrets. Not only does this University offer help outside of the classroom, but there are advisors for anything and everything. Along with taking the classes I need to become a successful surgeon, I have also learned to collaborate my ideas with the ideas of people completely different from myself, and through this, my knowledge of humanity has expanded in ways that will allow me to value education for the rest of my life. Go Blue!

I have learned in my college experience that endurance is needed in order to obtain any type of degree. So far college is an honor that I should be blessed to even receive tuition from my family without the worries of working on the side. College is my job right now, and I have strived to keep up my grades. I can’t live in this economy without higher education, and college has been able to make it possible to find a promising and stable career in the future. Like many teachers and respectable adults in the past have always said that the main point of college is to get a better job, but that is not the only reason. College brings out the best in me, and it allows me to attempt more than what I am used to. I believe that with college under my belt I can succeed at anything I do in life, so that is the reason why college is so valuable to attend.

I am currently a PSEO (post secondary education option) student at Anoka Ramsey Community College. So far I have taken English and Psychology classes and am a part-time student. I love school and going to the college is really helpful to help myself get ahead in my schooling. I enjoy the independent study and independance that comes with it. I plan on becoming a sonography generalist or become an RN (registered nurse) in minnesota and become certified to work with children and join the SANE (sexual nurse examiner) program. I realize how expensive schooling is and am well aware that it will be more than worth the price in the future! I can't wait to graduate and be one large step closer to my goals!

First and foremost, I know I received an excellent education. Attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor exposed me to an environment that strongly resembled the "real world". Going to college was the best thing that ever happened and I experienced life in a way that some people never have and never will. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals that are goal-oriented, driven, imaginative and diligent in acquiring their degree lit a fire in me that I never knew existed until college. Being able to be "on my own" and make decisions for myself gave me a control over my life that pushed me to do the best that I possibly could.

College has been valuable for me to attend because I had forgotten that I had an intelligent, determined facet to my personality. I have been a wife and mother for so long, that is the role that I had fallen into and forgotten who "Katie" is. It has been extremely fulfilling to feel like I am learning new things again, and speak to people on an adult level, instead of talking in baby-talk all day long. Also, this being my second try at college, I had an uphill battle from the beginning because I started out this time around on academic probation. I cannot describe the sense of accomplishment I already have from bringing my cumulative gpa up from a 1.7 to a 3.0 in two quarters. I finally feel as if I am able to re-learn exactly who I am outside of the roles I play in life and I can't wait to see what other sides of my personality exist that I wasn't previously aware of. It's like meeting someone new for the first time.

I have gotten a sense of accomplishment knowing that in my first two months of college, I have been able to adapt to the rigorus study schedule that I was warned about when I applied to UMich and do well on my first round of projects and midterms. I was able to do this, while moving halfway across the country, making new friends, attending football games, and participating in all kinds of activities that weren't available in the small New Hampshire community that I grew up in. In addition the the valuable degree that I hope to earn, I am sure that I will remember these exeriences and maintain these friendships for my entire lifetime.

I have realized just how open the world can be to change, to alternate ways of living, and to unique perspectives on life. Homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transexuals live intermingled and I have seen nothing but helpful attitudes toward each other. This atmosphere inspires me and hopefully signals hope for the millions of oppressed minorities around the world. If college students can accept each other and be happy, why can't the rest of the world?

So far in my college experiance i have learned that no matter if other people are coming to school or not I need to go. I have also learned that I don't need to procrastinate, I just need to spread my work out. I need to make a schedual for my time so I don't waist time. The last think I have learned is to be responsible. If I forget to do something or do it wrong because I didn't read the instructions I need to own up to my mistakes not blame it on others. I just have to take responsibility for my actions. These are a few things that I have learned while I have been at college so far.

The college is a new step in my life, before I started I was really nervious because I thought this will be hard for me and more for my english is not very well, but my first weeks, when I come to the college I feel easy and that was for me a motivation to continue to try and give the best to can to pass all my classes, also to improve my english skills. On the other side when I was in high school I din't not receive all the help to improve my writing, but in college I receive this help, also enter to college change my life in the way that I'm more motivated to be in clubs, and participate. My goals for the future are: improve my english skill, graduate of college and then transfer to a university to have my career, help my family and my community. Thank you for your time!!. sincerely, Adriana Orozco

I learned United States is very diverse and how to survive in the USA as an foreign student. Even though the town that i went to college was so small, l found different lifestyle from my hometown.

College offered me the time to be able to read, think and write. So rarely as an adult do we actually get the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics from distinguished professors.

During my time in college, I developed who I am as a person. I met people from entirely different backgrounds and upbringings to my own. It expanded my ideas of our society and the global society that we're living in. Through class, I discovered what it really meant to think critically and question authority and what I was told. I left college being a smarter, wiser, more open, and much more enlightened person than I entered; having an appreciation for our differences while also embracing our similarities.

I have not yet attended college but I am looking forward too attending in the fall of 2011. At present I am a starting senior this year.

My college experience has been, ever since freshmen year, revolving around people. I have been affected by the people I meet. University of Michigan is known to have an excellent alumni network and I strongly believe my life at Michigan has been defined by the network I have created in the school. Through all these people, I was able to learn the different perspectives each person has and it has been quite life-changing. Coming from a conservative Christian family, I was not really exposed to how drug users, gays, and even cross-dressers lived their life. What has been valuable for me is that I was able to a ride range of people and be able to interact with them. I see this as me being exposed to reality and somewhat prepares me after I graduate college. I have become more understanding and open-minded and this, of course, helps me to be able to make more friends and network. This experience is something I cherish and I believe this value would not have come to me if I had not decided to attend University of Michigan.

I went to the University of Michigan with hopes of learning more about science in preparation for a career in medicine. My first two years in college gave me lots of opportunities to do so. Not only did I learn more about science through my involvement in research but learned more about my community and society and the great need for compassionate public servants such as doctors and public health practitioners. It is a safe haven for people who want to make a difference in the lives of others as they make a difference in their own. It is a great community to be in, academically or culturally. Indeed, the University of Michigan sets its students up for success and instills in them the importance of service and creates in them a passion for their chosen field and for people.

I have been in college for less than a year. StilI I can say I have gotten many things from my short college experience. Thanks to my college experience I have the strength and capacity of working hard for achieving my short term goals. I have learned to effectively manage my time, and get everything done. I get to do my homework, and chores in time, and get chance to relax and have a healthy student live. I have also learned the importance of eating healthy, which helps a lot performance not only as student but also as a human being. I have learned the importance of taking care of myself, doing exercise and looking for ways of managing stress. The knowledge I have earned in top of all this great life lessons will stay with me forever and would help me become not only a successful person but also a healthy and happy one.

College has broken me out of my protective shell of comfort and has made me fearless to explore aspects of myself previously suppressed by the status quo. For most of my life I did things because they “felt right” or because it was what my parents wanted, but never considered what I truly wanted for myself. Living away from home forced me to become independent and consequently, to become conscious of every action and decision I made. More often than not, I found that I could find no sound reasoning as to why I believed or did things other than because that was the way I was taught. By releasing the safety lines that tethered me to a fixed path, I have discovered what real passion feels like -- I no longer blindly follow a preset destination, but rather blaze bravely into an exciting and unknown journey.

I have gained more confidence in myself, which has made me progress with my studies.

I've developed into a more mature person.

Outside of the traditional gain in academic knowledge and the completion of a degree in Spanish and mathematics, I value most the experiences I have had interacting with various types of personalities and in different types of situations. Working in groups allowed me to learn about the importance of constant and clear communication. It also gave me the practice of confronting people in a matter of fact manner, as to accomlish the task at hand in the most effective way without negative conflict. Attending office hours and asking questions in class, forced me to humble myself and turn towards others for help. Yet at the same time, it helped give me the drive to discover the answers and the reasons behind them. Working with faculty and interacting with staff other than my own professors opened my eyes to university life outside the student population. And lastly, attending a school with people of all different backgrounds (race, age, religion, etc...), allowed me to realize that people can have intelligent conversations and learn from one another when the true desire is there, without derogatory undertones.

I am in my first year of college and I am going for my medical Administrative Assistant

My college experience so far has been a quite a wild ride. There have been times for fun, times for work, and occasionally a mixture of the two if you enjoy the subject. I've made a number of friends that I didn't know before I attended college, and I'm extremely grateful to have met them. If college has taught me anything thus far, it would be this: while you do have to work hard, and I mean HARD, to succeed, you also have to make time for other activities. My first semester of college was rather miserable as I made it a point to study all the time and wound up wearing myself out too much. During my second semester, I made sure to take time to hang out with friends, read a book, or even play games on the computer in between assignments and classes. I earned a 4.0 GPA that second semester; proof that hard work and no play is not always the best strategy. My college experience is valuable to me because it has changed my outlook on working and study strategies, and I've made great friends I'll never forget.

Stepping onto the cement pavements and staring at the breath taking buildings before me, I was initially intimidated by the reputation and appearance of the campus. I've heard a lot about the University of Michigan, how many prize winners and intellectuals emerged from the pool of students. I yearned to join their ranks, to walk among successful men and women and be proud of my efforts and what I've accomplished. College has provided me with infinite possibilities and many opportunities to pursue my interests, and even to try new things! Who knew running for charity would be so fun? Who knew there was a club that feeds squirrels? I'm grateful for the opportunities presented before me, but at the same time, because of all these choices I have, sometimes I still wish I haven't taken full advantage of all the resources at my arsenal. I'll continue to do well in school, but also I'll be more willing to try my luck at other activities, perhaps tight rope walking or juggling. And who knows what my endeavors will result in.

Life-long friends, life-changing experiences, wonderful open-minded edcuation, close work with expert professors

what i hWhat I have gotten out of my college experience is that i can depend on my professors that to give me all the right information to be able to be an outstanding individual when i finished with my studies ill be able to have the proper knowledge that i need to do my job. the college environment at itt-tech instituted is very friendly and all the professors are very passionate about what they teach and you can tell that they have a great knowledge of what they're teaching. over all i think that the college that i attend is great for me cause they offered all types of help and they don?t let any body fall behind. they give you all the necessary tools to be able to pass the class all you got to do is take fully advantage of it.

I feel when I graduate I will be fully prepared for the workplace.

I will be starting the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing in May 2010. Although I did not have a very good experience in the RN Studies program at the UofM, the FNP program is supposed to be much better run and respected. I look forward to becoming a FNP, being able to provide care for patients of all ages. I am especially interested in providing comprehensive and holistic care to my patients. I believe in empowering my patient and their families to make knowledgable decisions about their healthcare, and support those decisions once made.

What I got out of my college experience was how to be an independent and resourceful person. I faced many challenges along the way, mainly one of a financial nature. I come from a middle class family but found it necessary to hold down multiple part time jobs while taking a full class load in order to pay for housing, books and tuition. I led school tours at the Natural History Musuem between classes, worked in my dorm libraries so that I could find extra time to study, waited tables, walked dogs and commuted back to my home town on weekends and vacations to continue working as a physical therapy aide. I had the goal in mind to earn my degree from the University of Michigan and accomplished that goal by working not only hard but smart.

Aside from thought-provoking lectures and enlightening discussion sections, my college experience has also brought me together with dozens of fantastic new friends from all over the country. Being able to learn and collaborate with thinkers from all over the globe is an intellectually-stimulating experience, and one that supports well-rounded learning in numerous disciplines and from many perspectives. All of the opportunities for student involement on campus have taught me that with the right time management, it's possible to make a difference in the world or find other people who share common interests. Being able to shape a personalized college experience has enabled me to learn by experience and explore a variety of things I could continue doing later into my life.

College is a lot of money, but at the end of it all it's well worth the loans I've piled up. Going into college I thought I knew a lot already. I thought I knew who I was and who I wanted to be, but I learned that everyday experiences can always mold you into someone better than you ever imagined you could be. The day I went to college I was a shy soccer player, determined to be a doctor. Beyond that I didn't know who I was. I learned through a study abroad program that I was meant to be a doctor overseas! I learned through heaps of volunteer activities that I was destined to spread the gospel to the underserved. I lead successful organizations and fundraisers for people in need. I came out of college a daring rugby player, an international traveler, and an outgoing advenurous achiever. I learned so much inside and outside the classroom that made me the success I am today. Now I'm completing the medical program at my rival university, and everyday I discover more about myself while making my dreams a reality.

I have learned so much than what has been taught in the classroom. I have learned how to live with people with different habits, personalities, and beliefs than myself. I have learned how to manage time better than I really ever thought possible. I have learned the value of a dollar, how to be independent, and how to ride public transportation. My parents have become people whom I respect, not people whose only goal in life is to embarass me. My siblings have become friends, my friends have become like siblings. My life is so much more enriching now than before I came to college. Before, I looked to tomorrow, and thought about who I would hang out with. Now, I look to my future, the job I will hopefully someday have, and the problems within the medical field that I can help solve. College has taught me to be a better student, friend, daughter, employee, and person. I know that the information I've gathered here cannot be learned elsewhere.

If only I had known what college life would be like, I would go back in time and tell myself to hurry up, finish high school, and jump right into college. At the time, high school seemed like a secure, exciting place where I could be with friends, where I had all the stimulation I needed from extracurricular activities. Looking back, I would like to remind myself how wrong I was. College has really opened my eyes to the world, not the cozy little bubble that I'd lived in before. I would tell myself to take full advantage of all the resources offered here, not only the academics but also the plethora of activities - volunteer, career, and just for fun - available everywhere on campus and off. Of course, I'd also remind myself to study harder and take those college students that visited my class seriously - university work really is harder, the exams really are longer, and the classes demand so much, but for every effort I put in, I get an experience I would have never gotten from my little high school world.

Robin, On the cusp of a new chapter in your life?college?I would like to give you some advice. The most important piece is this: Do not be afraid of failure. C.S. Lewis once said: ?failure are the fingerposts on the road to achievement?. College is about growing up and living life. During this time, you will fail at something. It could be a class that you are struggling with, a date that didn?t go so well, or a high school friendship that could not survive the distance. Do not let that stop you from pushing forward and achieving what you really want. You will get through it, no matter how far you fall. You will come out a stronger person. I would also like to encourage you to participate in the college live and take part in what campus and the city you live in has to offer. Keep an open mind. You never know who you might meet and what you might learn. Lastly, the most simple piece of advice I could ever give you: smile, laugh and have some fun!

My perception of college in high school involved copious amounts of studying in a world that revolved around academics and grades. Obviously, when I came to college and experienced the splendor that is independence, I realized that there was a lot more to college than academics ? quite a lot more. My first month at college was bittersweet due to the plethora of duties with which I was bombarded; along with taking care of my grades, I now had to do my laundry, feed myself, keep myself in shape, and most importantly, make new friends. I quickly discovered that my impression of college in high school was drastically different from the reality. Assuming I had a way to advise myself in high school, I would tell myself that college is more than a transition to a higher learning. It is a transition to higher learning in independence and character building. I would warn myself that the first month is one of the most difficult times due to transitions and trying to find your own niche. While it might seem comfortable to stick with what you already know, it is better to take a risk and explore something new.