Alchemy

Something incredible has happened: University of Michigan has bested Michigan State's financial aide by a lightyear. But you know what? I almost wanted to attend MSU. I had hoped that it would offer me amazing aid, while UMich upheld its reputation as a penny pitcher. But it was quite the opposite. UMich offered me over 90% of the cost to attend in scholarships, work-study and grants(mostly scholarships), and the rest in loans. It costs literally $2000 in loans to attend UMich now. MSU, however, offered me grants, workstudy, and loans, loans, loans, and more loans. It cost almost three times as much to attend MSU. Had MSU even matched UMich(and it should really try, since UMich is usually considered superior) I might have attended. Darn it.

I'm a URM, and every other URM I know that's attending MSU is getting loads and loads of need-based academic scholarships but I'm not getting anything. My stats are far superior(it's not my hubris it's truth), and so are my EC's. They're bragging(which only bothers me because I wanted to attend the school). I should get more scholarships than someone with 1440/2400 SAT. I really should, but I didn't. That 1440 SAT got a full-ride on work-study, grants, and scholarships--and he/she wasn't even apart of the Spartan Advantage Program.

I called MSU and they said that I don't have a shot at any scholarships. It's all done.

I just thought that a diversity starved, second tier state university would try its best to attract as many high performing URM it could--it sure did last year with a friend of mine. But I guess I was wrong.

Go Blue.

garland

Go Blue indeed! Diversity is very important to UM (hey, they took it to the Supreme Court), so that might be why they gave more money. It's a great school--try to attend an admitted student event to see if you can work through what you like and don't like about it. MSU is a great school, too--it's surprising from what you say that they didn't give you more scholarships, but they seem to have made their position clear.

I bet you'll love UM!

Alchemy

I did visit UMich, and by the time I left I bled maize and blue. I loved it. I wouldn't mind attending the school at all. It's just intimidating, and I don't see anyway to make it smaller.

I might join the Residential College....or the Michigan's Community Scholars Program(something I'm very interested in, I considered a year off to do those things). That'll make the university smaller.

I'm also afraid of being stuck on North Campus. That's something I REALLY hate the idea of.

Alchemy

Yeah...but still...MSU was my safety, and I liked Lyman Briggs and the ASP program.

GoBlueAlumMom

You have the right idea in shrinking down a big school, getting involved with activities of interest. By doing that, you'll find your niche. And, remember, everyone else is in the same boat to start off. If you loved your visit, you love the school/Ann Arbor even more as a student.

Picking up on your comment about Lyman Briggs...are you interested in the sciences? Michigan's RC is more humanities focused, but not a requirement. You may want to check into that further. A big advantage is that the RC is housed in East Quad, a prime location on Central Campus.

Congrats on receiving that excellent financial package.