Slow news day: Why did you choose M?

Born and raised in MI, I was going to football games when I was 8 and always a fan.  But my older sister went to Michigan so I (wanting to one-up her and full of hubris) only applied to Columbia, U Chicago, NW, and Princeton.  Duly collected my rejection letters, swallowed my pride, and applied to Michigan one semester later.  Got in, loved it, and the rest is history.  All worked out for the best.

I wanted a superior union card. 

Grew up a DIEHARD M Football fan because of my dad. That left me with little doubt about where I wanted to go. Was generally a good student and the rest is history. 

I actually wish I had taken a few more visits to other schools for the experience, but I honestly cared so little about going to any other schools that I didn't visit my safety schools or anything. I just applied to the directional schools, Michigan and held my breath!

Growing up in Metro Detroit, my Asian immigrant parents stressed it from a very young age that U-M is a very good school and made it clear that was at least the floor for where I should go to college (crazy insane Asian parent expectations; no pressure right?). I didn’t even know Michigan was a university at that point, I just thought they were a football team. So I slowly began to prefer U-M to MSU football (Henne to Manningham 2005 PSU was the first game I watched) and became a full on fan during 2006-2007 transitioning to crazy diehard in 2008-2009. Was able to get into and graduate from Michigan and the borderline insane fandom only grew.

I followed my high school boyfriend to Boston University my freshman year, only to have him break up with me three days before school started. Totally boneheaded decision on my part to follow him. I had been interested in Michigan in high school because I had family there, so I transferred my sophomore year. Any of you who have kids in similar situations: do not let them follow boyfriends or girlfriends to college!  On the bright side, it made me love Michigan even more once I got there. 

My dad took a job as a professor at UofM when I was three. First football game that season. Tai Streets was a teaching assistant at my second grade class. That was 1997. Hooked on Michigan ever since.

I will admit that I did want to follow in my parents' footsteps and go to Cal for undergrad. But it didn't really make sense to pay out-of-state tuition for an equivalent education. (Plus I didn't get in, and UCLA didn't have the same appeal).

I didn't attend. Grew up in Toledo and took a day trip when I was young. I remember seeing a cool botany center, tasting something called everyman's fruit and touring the stadium. I even got a piece of the astroturf that was discarded into the stands when they were replacing it that year.

Middle of my list of schools. Preferred to go to Columbia (legacy), specifically a "BA + BS" in 5 years program that was pretty lucrative/difficult to get into. We didnt want that to jeopardize my chances to get into the university so wanted to be sure i'd be evaluated for just entry also ---- they said to "check the box" of the school we wanted to be evaluated for after the 5 year program. We did, they told us after I got a very thin envelope in the mail that I was never evaluated beyond the 5 year because I picked the school that hosted the program and the same school can't evaluate me twice for admission. We fought back to no avail and that was done. I was wait listed at Univ. of Chicago (and didn't want to wait), and got into Carnegie Melon, but didn't know enough about it to consider, so I looked at my state schools (PSU, wisky, UM). We planned a road trip to at least 2 - but after visiting UM, I made my decision - for better or worse. 

It ended up being the cross-section of schools I was accepted to and visited. Michigan was... my density!

All these years later, I think the life lessons I got at Michigan were far more valuable and impactful than the challenges I faced in the classroom (Computer Engineering and Stats major). I struggled more than i excelled, but it propelled me to understand my deficiencies. I wish I had the glorified campus experience that many seemed to - but I had my own unique experience that has led me to where I am today - and its hard to complain. Make choices, live with the consequences. I tell my kids that every day. 

My dad (when alive) was brilliant, far smarter than me, and lived the life of the entrepreneur / professor / PhD that he was... always buried in books, learning etc...  I always wanted to be in "fun" crowd... I landed somewhere in the middle both in Michigan and in life.

I spent a good chunk of my childhood in Texas, where I was born to Michigander parents. Neither of them had gone to Michigan, but I had a cousin who went to school there and for whatever reason I really gravitated towards it. I was so dedicated to it that my parents had even at some point considered trying to do the prepaid thing. We moved to Michigan at 14 and then it became a really easy decision. I still wanted to UM and out of state school wasn’t financial realistic anyway. I ended up applying to a number of in-state schools, and ended up choosing the best one. 

I always thought I was going to go to UM because my dad went there and was always a huge Michigan fan. Then I found out about Michigan Tech. It took me a very long time to decide between UM and MTU (I was accepted to both), but I ultimately chose Tech because it felt like a better fit, even though I knew Michigan was a much better school. Truth be told, the "Michigan Arrogance" was palpable at some events I went to for accepted students, and it kind of turned me off to Michigan. I'm still a big Michigan fan, but my first loyalty is definitely to Tech now.

My best friend from HS and I were planning on going to Eastern Michigan and rooming together. We didn't have our sights set very high. After touring Ypsi, we decided to shoot into Ann Arbor before hitting 23 north to Saginaw. We had never set foot in the town before. We drove past Angell Hall and the Law Quad, looked at each other and said we are going here. Then we drove past Crisler and Michigan Stadium and that sealed the deal. I didn't apply anywhere else, which, looking back, was pretty stupid. Thankfully I got in. I still don't know why I was accepted. I had gone to a "prep" school, prep meaning preparing for the ministry either as a parochial teacher or minister. It might have been the 4 years of Latin, 2 years of German and 4 years of math and sciences that got me in, because it certainly wasn't my B+ average.

My buddy also got in but, having moved to Grand Blanc after we graduated high school, he decided to live at home and go to UM-Flint. That's still the University of Michigan, right?

It chose me. I was a disorganized kid who had been to four different high schools after his parents divorced, and I got lucky, getting offered the Michigan Competitive Scholarship. I still remember waking up after a Friday night of partying, realizing that there was some test (the ACT?) that I was supposed to take that morning, and running down the street from the Huron Towers to Huron High School to take it. Later, I got a letter saying that I was being offered the scholly--of whose existence I had to then been unaware. In retrospect, of course, I was incredibly lucky. 

Because I grew up in MI and as a major M football fan!

Also, I liked playing school and wanted to do that at a high level. 

My dad said "you should go to Michigan". So, I applied to one school, got in, done.

Truth be told pretty much my whole family went to U of M. Three of us siblings along with dad, a great grandpa and a cousin. We were instate like many of you and had a local booster in our small mid michigan town (he provided guidance and a scholarship, but I always felt he had pull in the admissions office as he always insisted to help wait-listed students and iirc he was often successful). I believe I was accepted on my own merit, as i meticulously counted points and "gamed" the admissions system. I only applied to Ann Arbor, which was idiotic in hindsight, but it seems like many on this board were that same version of idiot, so at least there's that. 

When I received my undergrad acceptance letter, I was surprisingly also given advance acceptance to the Dental school (Dad's path, not mine). I ventured off on my own and ended with Econ & French majors. Upon Graduation I left the US and have lived abroad ever since.

Ironically my youngest sister and I are the most die hard Michigan fans, but my other sister who went to State and my older brother who never struck me as particularly loyal to U of M, live in A2 and have the best shot by a large margin at putting their kids there.

I have 4 kids and I really doubt any of them will end up being educated stateside due to Europe's good quality and virtually free education. Also, selfishly I would rather remain geographically close to my kids all things considered (and it pains me to admit that, but I'd also not wish as much debt on them as has burdened all of my siblings and I). 

We lived in Michigan all through growing up and I was a huge UM sports fan from probably the age of 8 ish onwards. 

I was always a math and science kid growing up so engineering was a natural fit for me and having one of the best engineering schools in the country helps. I toyed with the idea of going to some smaller schools to continue running track and cross country but I don't think there was ever much doubt that I wanted to go to Michigan. Applied, got accepted and went.

I was between Michigan and a private ACC school. Two completely different feels and completely different weather. When I visited Michigan, it just kinda had that magical feel to it that is hard to describe. I could feel the tradition, and prestige and it just felt like there was an aura around the school and city. My heart was decided and that was that

It was the only school I properly applied to and the only school I ever wanted to attend, since I was a kid. I was raised in a U of M family watching Michigan sports, and I understood from a young age that the education was top notch. When it got time to start making decisions, I was getting full ride offers from Purdue-level schools, I interviewed with an MIT alumnus who said he'd give me a positive review and that I'd be almost assured entry, but I only ever filled out the application for Michigan engineering. When the acceptance letter came, all the other schools were just noise.

My time on campus wasn't always a smooth ride, but if given the chance to make the decision again, I'd choose the same thing 10 times out of 10.

hockey and mom's passing.  came down to michigan and another well-known school out east and being as how we were living in SE michigan i decided that i would rather be an hour from home and not 10 or 12 hours.  there would've been no way dad would see me play hockey in college if i was out east.  dad and i had lived kind of like bachelors since mom died, the older siblings were out of the house, and i just couldn't see being that far away from him and home as a 17 yr old freshman.  i was also a 4th generation michigan grad, with an older brother who'd gone there, too.  that was part of the deal. 

They said yes.

1. Butch Woolfolk - went to the same high school, (I was in elementary school when he went to my high school).    Being an out of stater, this is what put Michigan on the map for me.

2. My dad (the first in his family to graduate college) was successful enough that out of state tuition was not a deal breaker.

3. Great engineering school 

4. Great at other things in case I hated engineering

Applied, but wasnt accepted (which I expected).  Watching the Fab 5 solidified my fandom - wore black nike socks during every middle school & high school basketball game.

Had some younger extended family members graduate.  One family member because really good friends with Lloyd Carr through bringing him in for speaking engagements, to the point now we just call him "Uncle Lloyd".

Grandfather knew Braylon (called him Stan's kid) and the Curry brothers from coaching at Bishop Gallagher H.S.

I lived 20 minutes from campus and my dad was a big Michigan football fan. He used to take me to football games all the time when I was a kid. I never saw the beginning of a game. He would wait until after the first quarter started and buy tickets off a scalper to get in really cheap. LOL.

Really never thought about going anywhere else except for Notre Dame or Dartmouth. I was just too lazy to travel that far from home back then. 

Went to the law school because they had some course offerings that were in line with my academic interests in undergrad.  Michigan was easily the best fit for me and I had no desire to stay in Georgia for school.

Also knew some people that were attending the dental school up there at the same time.  Spent most of my time with that crowd instead of the law crowd (dental students party so much harder than law students).

I was drawn in by the brand name of the school. The combo of academics and sports made it a cool school in the northeast.
 

Plus I was very familiar with Ann Arbor as I had family there (though I never actually visited campus until freshman orientation). 

Why are we assuming I had a choice?  The University of Michigan is the only school that accepted me*
 

*also the only school to which I applied

My dad was the son (one of seven children) of Polish immigrants and very smart, but he grew up during the Great Depression, so there was never any thought about him going to college. He enlisted in the army, fought in WWII for 19 months all across Europe, and then came home to work in a factory. I was his fourth (of six) children and a very bright kid, so he decided when I was about five years old that I would be the first person in my family to go to college. 

When I was 13, an MSU uncle from my mom’s side used some corporate tickets to take my dad and me to the 1971 Iowa game in Michigan Stadium, which the Wolverines won 63-7. There were more people in the stadium than lived in my whole county! It was an amazing atmosphere! I decided right then and there that I would go to Michigan, completely naive about the challenging admission standards. It was the only school to which I applied.

I ended up getting my bachelor’s degree, and then marrying my wife (who I met at U of M) three weeks later. We stayed straight through at U of M and both got master’s degrees. We ended up having two daughters who both went to U of M and who both married M grads.

Thank you to my sparty uncle for introducing me to Meeeechigan!

I became a fan of Michigan in fourth grade because of football. And then I visited the MSU campus multiple times in high school and really didn't care for it. Even though I got my letter of acceptance at Michigan, I was moved out of the state because my parents got a new job down in Florida and out of state tuition was WAY too expensive for me. So I became a Gator. 

But yes, my love for Michigan started because of football. 

It was the school I could afford. I was paying my own way, and the East Coast (& Midwestern and West Coast) Ivies gave me little money because they didn't believe me and assumed my folks could/would pay.

Flagship academic university in Michigan.  I was a good student.  Close to home.  My brother was already attending.  Many friends from high school also wanted to go to Michigan.  I loved the campus and the football and basketball teams.  No brainer for me.

I had limited to no connection to Michigan. Grew up in MO, visited Ann Arbor when I was 4 in 1971, but that's it. For some reason, I always liked the football team.

My college choices included UVA, UNC, Wisconsin, and Emory, which was pretty much out because I wanted to go to a school with a football team.

My sister got married during the application period of my senior year of high school. One of her bridesmaids was a long time family friend, she happened to be in the engineering program at Michigan, and was wicked smart. She suggested applying to Michigan.

I was rejected at UVA, waitlisted at UNC, so M was my third choice, and glad it was, although I wonder what would have changed in my life if I had attended another school. Interesting how your choices can affect your life's trajectory.

Fast forward 35 years, daughter accepted at Michigan, chose to go to ASU Honors (it was $50K less/year), and so this is probably where the Michigan family lineage stops.

Grew up in East Lansing, Dad was MSU PHD in Geology, both parents Canadians, Quebec/New Brunswick.

Brother was Chem E at Michigan, so I thought I'm gonna repeat the feat.

Nastiness is the only word to describe the courses. Hardest degree.

After a decade in biz, got a Masters in Landscape Architecture from MSU, loving the fresh air ever since, have MSU & UM season tix. Great mixed family from both schools and its a shitshow  of fun when we play.

Alot of shade always on this blog on MSU, but it's a great tailgate, and normal folks know enough to respect UM.

Go Blue, Go Green, it's all Michigan

Michigan was the best and cheapest school I could go to. For you young whipper snappers, tuition and fees was around $3,300 when I began. Add books, and it was several hundred more. I was able to make enough between grants, work study, and a summer job with Ford Motor, to mostly pay for school. Those days are long, long gone.

To be totally honest, living now in Illinois, I most likely wouldn't go to Michigan today. Out of state tuition is 52k. Add room and board, along with books, along with other expenses, and it would be pretty much impossible. But I'm still incredibly glad to have gone to Michigan. What a privilege to have a Michigan education and Michigan degree.

Growing up my family rarely watched sports. Occasionally, as in 1984, we would watch the Tigers play. Or in the rare moment as a teenager that my parents weren't watching TV, I would catch an NFL game. As a kid I would lay in bed listening to the Tigers radio broadcast on my transistor radio, so my love of sports began young but not because of my parents. Up through high school I really had no affiliation collegiately, but many people I knew were MSU fans so I became one too.

Went to college at a private school in TN and while there I began to become more interested in football in general and college football specifically. This was in 1988, Michigan went to the Rose Bowl and I began to research Michigan history. I came away in awe and quickly became a Michigan fan (this was also about the time I became an MJ/Bulls fan so my sports fandom was quickly taking shape away from my initial formation) as I loved the history, the coaches, players and everything surrounding the program. The school colors, uniform and stadium all went a long way in solidifying my decision. 

I didn't choose UM, UM chose me.

To be honest, I was born into it.  My mom is a huge fan, I didn't really have a choice.

1. Cool helmets

2. Bo. (This was clearly before the Dr. Anderson issues came to light. Now I'm for removing the name/statue.)

3. Green and white are almost as generic as the "COLLEGE" sweatshirt. 

I went to the 69 OSU game with my Dad as a small kid. That sealed it. Then, I was waitlisted for East Quad and the RC. I was headed to UW in Seattle, but then UM came through with a scholarship which was out of the blue. It was my happiest day, ever!

I attended M because it was THE best athletically and academically. In 1966. Still is.