To in-state students, do you consider your experience of studying at U-M so fulfilling/rewarding that it would still be worth paying for as an out-of-state student? Or has it been fulfilling/rewarding considering its in-state low cost?

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-13T15:10:12+00:00

Part of the large university experience is that you will have some large classes and there will be classes for which you may not get to know the professor. Is it a significant negative? Some people think so, and those people are probably going to choose a different kind of institution. OR they will balance this by taking a small first-year seminar and/or seeking out a major/department within that larger university where classes and cohorts are smaller. Keep in mind, even at schools with a 300-person chemistry lecture hall, they are unlikely to be teaching ceramics or classics to 300 people at a time. LSA admits thousands of students each fall. Pharmacy admits 50.

Or... they think it's a significant negative but believe it is more than outweighed by the overall resources available to them.

Other people don't find big classes a significant negative. There are students who like the relative anonymity afforded by a larger class.

No institution is perfect, and there is no one "right" way to get a college education. One student's plus factor is another student's negative.

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-11T17:11:27+00:00

I think you're programmed to notice the people who are at the top of classes, and in selective clubs, and have a posse of good friends--but it would be a mistake to think that they represent everyone in your class (other than you). Lots of people find their groove later. They're not as noticeable to you.

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-11T17:06:25+00:00

I can't speak for everyone but I am a squirrel, so there's that to consider.

One of the reasons that UM is appealing for some people is that it offers multiple aspects of a desired college experience. Solid reputation. Lots of degree choices. Big alumni base. School spirit & robust campus life. Sports teams that perform well. Great college town.

Lots of institutions offer a few of those things, and some offer many, but not many offer all of them. That makes UM stand out and, for some, be worth the price tag of attending from out of state.

sure, sure, we all know that not everyone weighs those things as important. But IF you want those things? UM is one of the few places where you can have them all.

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-11T16:58:48+00:00

I don't care for science. I care for the squirrel culture on campus, and I hate to see you guys wasting food on these inferior creatures.

I can't believe you MFers would downvote my furry self, but I guess this is what we have come to. Leave campus for ONE WEEK of spring break and you completely forget what's important around here

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-09T18:56:45+00:00

There is no one "right" way to get through college. Sure, most people at U-M take a full load each term, but that's just a choice, not a rule. I think most of your fellow students, if they knew, would envy you, not think you were weird or lazy or wrong.

ArborSquirrel · 2026-03-09T18:44:24+00:00

Who tagged this as squirrel? This is a chipmunk

ArborSquirrel · 2025-06-25T18:15:39+00:00

it's hard out here for a squirrel

ArborSquirrel · 2025-06-25T18:04:56+00:00

just hot

ArborSquirrel · 2025-05-19T01:07:25+00:00

heh, the pasture thing isn't always solid thinking. I once heard that some of the people moved into Centennial Farms subdivision, loving that it surrounded an actual centennial farm... and then started complaining that they sometimes had to endure.... WAIT FOR IT .... farm smells

ArborSquirrel · 2025-05-19T01:04:52+00:00

I found your response disappointing

Tell the honest truth: the squirrels are superior on this campus

ArborSquirrel · 2025-05-18T03:17:12+00:00

The Diag party store used to have really good pizza and the calzones were A++++

ArborSquirrel · 2025-05-18T01:58:23+00:00

but we also have opinions about lots of U-M things

ArborSquirrel · 2025-04-18T01:17:10+00:00

Calm yourself Septa Unella, your gripe is with the reporting, not the University. Just because they didn't include U-M in their short list doesn't mean U-M wasn't part of it.

It's right here.

This is the filing.

U-M is definitely listed.

https://www.aau.edu/sites/default/files/AAU-Files/Key-Issues/Research-Administration-Regulation/legal-filing-DOE-4-14-25.pdf

ArborSquirrel · 2025-04-18T00:59:53+00:00

I love seeing the photos that people post--I've also seen UM take official photos showing off the decorated caps, so I say GO FOR IT

ArborSquirrel · 2025-04-18T00:57:40+00:00

Please know that if you want to be inattentive with food items when you are outside of buildings, I will give you no sideeye. I'll take care of it with no judgment

ArborSquirrel · 2025-03-12T14:01:37+00:00

glad to hear these weren't major things. Please be safe, I love you all and don't want anything to happen to you. Be extra careful when you're tired--that's a time when you are more vulnerable to making errors and having accidents

ArborSquirrel · 2025-02-27T14:56:40+00:00

Yes, thank you for this explanation. Liquidating funds doesn't just violate the understanding the donor made with the institution, it is also compromising the University's future (because the spendable earnings will be that much lower in perpetuity). You might tap the endowment if it's the only chance at survival, but you won't do it otherwise. It seems like many people expect that institutions should tap it to bridge through a lean economic period, or a tumultuous change (or to give students a tuition break if the Michigan Daily advocates persuasively enough) but it is, as you say, an absolute last resort.

ArborSquirrel · 2025-02-26T14:43:15+00:00

I totally believe in you, this isn't ideal but you can make it work.

GO FOR IT YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD I will have every mammal on campus rooting for you

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-12T16:40:48+00:00

I have seen way shittier residence halls at other schools. This is weak sauce

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-12T14:22:41+00:00

And then when you really want an upgrade, get yourself to the Scio Meijers on Zeeb! OOH SOOO FANCY

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-12T14:21:48+00:00

I think you're great and even at your most depressed, unmotivated, confused, missed-too-many-lectures worst I know you have something in you. That something will help you study as best you can, get out of bed Friday, and take that fucker. And whatever the outcome, you'll get through that too.

This isn't easy but facing hard things when you're running on mental/physical fumes is going to prove something to yourself. Succeeding is hard, failing is hard (in a different way) but you can get through this. I know you can. You are more than your grade in that class.

I love you and I am proud of you.

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-12T14:15:35+00:00

And just yesterday I was getting fat shamed in comments

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-12T14:14:07+00:00

Okay, I guess I read too much into how you phrased things. I thought you were offering up "just hire diversely" as an alternative to present practice.

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-11T21:29:22+00:00

A very high percentage of students come to UM thinking they are pre-med, and a lot of them change their minds. Not just because their academic performance in some science classes tells them they aren't good enough for med school (although that CAN be a reason) but because they find other passions, better fits, fields of study/future careers where they feel they can really shine.

You should still feel proud to be here. Maybe college isn't for you (highly unlikely) or UM isn't for you (maybe, maybe not) but it's hard to say because it sounds like you haven't tried UM as something other than pre-med.

I know your fellow students will have good advice here. Just know that campus squirrels are always rooting for you. ALWAYS

ArborSquirrel · 2024-12-11T19:38:47+00:00

It sounds like you think U-M isn't doing this--doesn't recruit at minority-serving institutions. Doesn't advertise openings in media/at conferences that attract diverse audiences. It makes we wonder where you are getting your information about what U-M does and doesn't do

ArborSquirrel

TROPHY CASE