University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

I wish that I had known that I would be mostly on my own in finding opportunities (internships, summer jobs related to my field of study, study abroad, etc.).

I wish that I would have known how to plan my schedule more efficiently.

I wish I had known how to relax. A lot of the pressures flying around end up affecting you, which affects your performance in class and the overall college experience

In-depth information about each program offered at the university

Whereas a lot of times in high school it was possible to rely on your intelligence to carry you through, it doesn't work that way anymore here at this school. It takes a lot of hard work and studying outside of class in order to do well. Office hours are an indispensable resource that every student should use whenever he/she doesn't understand a concept. In addition to these study habits, I wish I knew how competitive this school was - it is very intense.

The bredth of opportunity for every interest group.

One thing I wish I had known is how time consuming the work/studying is.

I wish I had joined a fraternitie earlier. The experience was very different than I thought it would be.

Before I came to Michigan I wish I would have know that it was so liberal. It doesn't bother me much except on election years. But besides those few months, it's not a problem.

That my high school had not prepared me for the courseload so that I would be more mentally prepared for the difficulty.

How to find out about my professors before enrolling in the class (ratemyprofessors.com, etc.).

This was a pleasant surprise, but when weighing my options I wish I had known there were so many parks and trails around Ann Arbor. I love living in the city but being able to get out into nature very easily anytime that I want.

How much work i would be having to do, and the money i would have to spend.

If you're not good at meeting people, it's easy to feel isolated here. I wish I had known how to socialize better before coming to campus. I also wish I had known how much walking I'd have to do and that I'd be exposed to the weather a lot more.

How much I would miss it when I finished

I wish I had known that transitioning to college is harder than it seems for most. Take easier classes at first to get adjusted to college life, then rack on the hard ones to challenge yourself in newly-formed, familiar environment.

You HAVE to keep up with your work and study HARD.

Nothing. I enjoyed the discovery.

I came to U of M knowing that the academics would be tough and the competition even tougher at times. Beyond the classroom, I knew very little., and I wouldn't have had it any other way. Every semester I discover new organizations and meet new people that offer me incredible insight and experience. Each new aspect of my diverse University teaches me a little bit more about myself, molding me into a more cultured and prepared individual for after graduation.

That my student ID number would have more of an identiity and more value than I as student do. That the 8 months I am at school are not worth $40,000 tuition. That professors tend to favor some students over others and even though they make themselves very available they show some students more attention than others.

A lot about college admissions

The Greek scene was a lot bigger than I expected. People who are Greek do not socialize that much with those who are non-Greek. It's easy to slip between the cracks academically because the social life here is so big. In some departments, such as math, the Graduate Student Instructors do not seem to care if all their students are understanding the material.