Student Profile
Marissa
- Class: Freshman
- Major: Neuroscience
- Gender: F
- High School: John Glenn High School
- Transfer Student: N
Big Picture
I don't know how many times I've heard this: Michigan is what you make it. But honestly, it's true. You can chose to stay in your room all the time, or you can go out and do something. We're not all about frat parties and football.We have lots of volunteering organizations, ethnic organizations and academic interest organizations. People complain about how big Michigan is. I can walk to class and say hi to several people that I know. You meet new people everyday. You get to know people in your classes, in the organizations and teams that you join, and the people you live near. Everyone has school pride. We will admit that Michigan has it's faults. But when it comes down to it, we all love our school.
Academic Life
Professors might know your name. Professors teach lectures of hundreds of kids everyday. If you want a professor to know your name, you have to make an effort. My anthropolgy professor knows the names of lots of kids in my lecture and will talk to them before class. That's because these students made an effort to introduce themselves. I really recommend taking a first year seminar. You have a small class of about 20 students and it is taught by a professor, not a GSI. You get a chance to really get to know a professor. I also learned a lot from my seminar, and you can take them on just about anything. Class participation depends on the class. Often professors ask the class questions. I have never had a class where a professor wasn't responsive to questions from students. Hell yeah we have intellecual conversations outside of class! I met my bestfriends here at Meijer Madness and we ended up have a long conversation on religion, and I had just meet these people. I work in the cafeteria and I hear people all the time talking about politics or what they learned in class.
Student Body
Most people who go to Michigan are from Michigan. But the girl who lives next to me is from New Jersey, I work with a girl from Wisconsin, and a guy in my math group is from Korea. And that is only three people I've meet since coming here. Students have a tendency to group with other students who have similar backgrounds. Asians with Asians, middle class kids with middle class kids and so on. I don't really see that as a bad thing. Each group goes through different things, and it is important to have people who understand. Also this doesn't mean that you don't meet lots of different people and have the chance to be friends with them. Most students wear jeans and Tshirts to class. Some people dress nicer and wear skirts and button down shirts and so on. Lots of other people dress casually, and some people even wear sweats and pjs to class, although that is not as common. What drives me nuts is that tons of girls wear leggings with Ugg boots. I personally don't think leggings look good with nothing over them. They are not a substitute for pants!
The Best Things
The great weather! Just kidding. The people.
The Worst Things
Sometimes sports are put ahead of academics.
