The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

As is typical of large universities, students will experience UM in proportion to the effort they invest. There is no shortage of opportunity, whether academic, cultural, or social, such that all but the most insular or painfully shy individual will be able to find what he or she requires to succeed in and out of school. So the beauty of Michigan is that everything is within your grasp; the downside is that "everything" really is comprehensive. You can meet arrogant, spoiled rich kids, hyper-competitive rivals, slackers, party freaks or you can enjoy many welcoming, kind, intellectually curious, and appropriately hard-working, socially normal folks.

For me, though, Ann Arbor is the icing on the cake - or maybe the second layer. While not the most diverse city around, is is relatively progressive, with a good mix of midwestern and east/west coast values. There is as much culture as you'll find in much larger places, a commitment to the environment, and plenty of recreational venues.All in all, a great university, but not for the passive.

4th Year Male -- Class 1981

Social Life: A+, Campus Aesthetics: B

I am from Nevada, and I started my college search without any idea of where I wanted to go. I thought I wanted to be an engineer, but I wasn't even sure about that. Luckily the U of M ended up on my list and I was accepted. I was still unsure about where I wanted to go when I went to visit the campus. But when I left I was sure. And after finishing my first year, I am very happy with my decision. The campus is beautiful, and Ann Arbor itself is probably my favorite town ever (and I'm from Las Vegas). Going to see any of our great sports teams is crazy. And the other students are awesome, just being around other engineers is really what helped me decide that I definitely did want to study engineering myself. The diversity is incredible, there are so many brilliant people from all over the world. Besides our prestigious engineering school, U of M has top notch academics all across the board, it's pretty hard to go wrong with Michigan whatever your major ends up being. The whole far from home thing hasn't really been a problem for me, though it would have been nice to have help from my parents moving a few times... And if you're worried about the cold, I actually enjoyed the winter, though I had an adventurous attitude toward it to begin since I had lived in the desert my whole life. And at least the springs, summers, and falls are unambiguously beautiful. My first year experience has been amazing, far better than I ever expected. I really look forward to going back in a few weeks. Go Blue!

1st Year Male -- Class 2011

Education Quality: A+, Collaboration/Competitive: B+