| We have several Nobel Laureates and 5:1 student faculty ratio. But this isn't about whether my school is better. I will say, however, that I applied to UM, was accepted and chose not to go.
My contention is simple:
A gigantic university, supported by the government, located in a dying state will never be first rate.
I don't put all that much stock in rankings, but UM was once ranked #8. What is it now #25? That's an incredible decline. The chancellor bolted for Columbia. What's the average SAT score, 1200?
I think most people regard UM as a second rate Northwestern.
Again, many of the graduate programs are manifestly excellent... and a PhD or a JD from UM certainly impresses me. But as an undergraduate institution it's simply not very good, and by what metrics I've seen, is worsening. |